503C43 ////AMG

True indeed, it seems if the swap is going to cost anywhere in the neighborhood of 10k it would be wiser to buy an E55 as I will obviously get more for my $$$$ PLUS I would be the proud owner of 2 AMG's . I am still going to do the math on the swap but after this thread it appears I may be biting off more than I can chew

FLYNAVY

I don't disagree that an E55 would be a more financially sound decision, BUT, if you choose to go through with the swap, I'd ALSO agree that a rebuild is definitely not a must. You can find low mileage motors out there that will work just fine. If I were to overhaul anything, it would probably be just the top end (if that) and the trans (not sure if the 210 guys had the same problems the C43 community has had).

As for the M, she is basically done now, save a couple cosmetic tweaks (evo III rear spoiler w/ adjustable CF lip, CF front lip, VF blower in the distant future). I'm seriously considering picking up a cheap beater DD though, as I am having a harder and harder time justifying driving this beauty 70 miles a day during the week to and from work.

KJWHIT

1st of all i'm not one to hijack a thread but if 503c43 wants to drop a 5.4 in his c43 by all means lets let him and if we can give him advise by all means. i mean that is the point of these forums and just to B/S. but as oh lord has to go on a ramble about how bad of an idea it is and put his negativity comments in . it sounds to me like he has nothing better to do with his time. And wow the ignorance of just bringing in the jersey comment WOW you really impressed me with that one lol like we've never heard that before..... so 503c43 if you want to do that im with you cause im only 24 years old and i already started to think about doing it as a proud owner of a c43.

ohlord

OP that several members made sense enough for him to consider the costs and his ability to complete the swap.
Another JJersey schmuck with a chip is hardly needed.
But you be sure to advise us if you ever figure out how to do yours

Saaboteur

Can you elaborate on the electronics issues? My understanding is that everything is swappable - rip the 4.3 out, put the 5.4 in. All of the reading I have done on here and from what I've been able to find from club202 says that the swap is extremely straightforward as far as swaps go. It's not like swapping in, say, an RB26 into an S13 or S14 240/Silvia or a newer straight 6 into an E30 M3 or even just an E30 (I've witnessed myself the work in wiring required for the latter).

The 4.3's manifolds and accessories need to be swapped onto the 5.4, but that's about it. Regarding the transmission, if the engines are basically from the same family, one would expect the transmission bellhousings to mate up just fine, so you could keep the trans as is. And there are other members who have trans from E55s in their C43s, from what I understand.

I've been meaning to post a thread about the swap requirements for a long while, as I haven't been able to find all the information consolidated in one place, and I will do so soon.

ohlord

the tcu the ecu and the das are all married to each other.The E55 trans is set with shift points and torque converter for that engine.So he would need the 55 trans.
Not trying to dissuade him from doing it, just a little advice on what it entails and costs/time he might want to consider.

503C43 ////AMG

From what I understand money-one is currently running a stock C43 ECU with his 5.4L but is in the process of setting up a stand alone unit as he was having trouble tuning the C43 ECU but he has a HIGHLY MODDED FRAKEN43, I asked him myself in this thread.....

https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...ml#post4234972

I'm hoping we can get money-one to chime in here so instead of a bunch of speculation we have actual experience regarding the swap... Not trying to say anyone's thought's or ideas are wrong but I would love to hear from someone who actually brought out the checkbook as well as spent some time under the hood on this swap.....

svt ricco

i agree with ohlord on the electrical issue, i read somewhere here (someone with a swap) that he is having problems with the ecu/tcu (i can't remember) adapting. i wanted to do a swap before but when i read that thread i just told myself to forget it.

now, if someone sells a c43 with 55 on it for cheap, that's a different story. i don't want to go thru the headache of the swap. i am not mechanically gifted so i'd leave it to the pros.

Jovsky

Sorry for thread jacking, but I got to see your car in this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...ft-club-2.html and I just want to say that your car is awesome!!!

ProjectC55

You're incorrect I am sorry to say.
All he has to do is drop in the motor. The rest of the parts that you mentioned are still all stock in my car.

(You will have to transfer the water pipe fixture which is plugged in the back of the passenger side 4.3L cylinder head and transfer it to the 5.4L cylinder head. It's for the tranny cooler that comes on the C43.)

My car runs better than fine. This install is the same for ALL the 5.0L cars and 4.3L cars. I think it's the BEST mod you can do for a C43. They sell alot of these motors on Ebay now. I've seen them go as cheap as 2500.00. It's just like swapping out the 2.5L motor in a E36 325i and swapping in the 3.2L motor in the 325i from an E36 M3. I' have done that swap myself as well with my 94 325. The C43 is no different.

I'm with u guys though. I still don't think the OP is gonna make the move.

C43AMG

Listen to the man, his car is a beast !

ProjectC55

You are absolutely correct! And if you're 5.4L did not come with a manifold,just throw the C43 mani right on there.

ProjectC55

Dave the Rave hope to see u soon bro. Happy Labours day!!


There are Two turbocharged C36's out here that have been racing against my other friends Highly modded W211 E55 that I'd love for you to see. Complete beasts ALL three cars. As a matter of fact you've seen the E55 in NJ at the LET tuning session. He put down 500+whp at the event. 11.5 second E55. It was green with the E63 bumper.

Sorry to have high jacked this thread fellas.

Jovsky

From the difficulty level 1-10, and 10 being the hardest, how difficult would it be to swap the motor with the 5.4L? Do you really need thorough knowledge and capability as one member claims?

99CEEFOURTHREE

Oh Lord I did I write how much a conversion should/shouldn't cost? Did I EVEN COMMENT ON IT? Yes you are knowledgeable and experienced when it comes to these cars but there are procedures to shrink the pumpkin sized diamater of ones' head! I just commented on how miserable your life must be. Why? Your ignorant and sarcastic comments rub people the wrong way here.....Its quite obvious as dozens of members here have commented here NOW and in the PAST. 503C43 is a good guy trying to get the right info for a good decision. So im from jersey and a schmuck? See people like you hide behind computers and feel safe to be sarcastic and ignorant.We can see right thru you! Just the type of guy that is not allowed to talk in front of his wife/g.f because he spits nonsenseHave fun with yourself!

jumph4x

Cosigned, hahaha.

503C43 ////AMG

WOW, apparently I don't spend MY money fast enough for you guys. What about my posts make you guys think I am not serious about my car?? I like to look at every option before I drop my hard earned money on components for my car. I have made mistakes in the past where I wished I had gone a different direction after spending $5k+ on a build, I have learned from my mistakes.

It took me a week to find the crystal fogs I wanted, ordered and installed

It took me 2 weeks to find the HID kits I wanted for my head lights and fog lights, ordered and installed

It took me 2 months to decide what rims and tires I wanted, ordered and installed

It has taken me about 2 months to decide what suspension I wanted, it has been ordered (vogtland springs + bilstein shocks + K-MAC camber kit) and should be here in about a week.

As far as the 55 motor I am still on the fence, it seems that it will take around $5k at least to do this project and for a little more than double I can have another entire AMG. My original plan was to do the swap AFTER my 4.3L went kaput, I only have 111k on it and it runs GREAT. I use this forum to get GOOD advice from people who have DONE the MODS or are in the KNOW. If you don't have anything positive to contribute PLEASE DON'T POST.

99CEEFOURTHREE

Well sais 503c43 im with ya!

LantanaML320

Don't listen to nay sayer's I did something even more difficult when I swapped out the 3.2L engine in my Crossfire (same as R170 and very similar to W202 an W208) for a V8. I found an amost zero miles CL500 engine and was able to program the CL500 ECU to my car as if it came from the factory that way. I was into it for $3,000 until I found a buyer for my old V6. the project ended up costing about $2,500. The only special parts needed was a set of C43 exhaust manifolds. I didn't need to change the trans or anything else. Putting a n/a 55 in your car is simple. Putting a 55K in is more difficult only becuase the 55K uses a Bosch ME2.8 and I believe the C43 uses a ME 2.0. the trick to making the computer work is to have the donor computer unlocked and then programmed to the car using Star DAS in developer mode. One thing you won't have to worry about which I was able to do was store the Chrysler VIN number into the donor ECU.

Another option to consider is a 5.0 with either the factory super charger or a rear mount turbo. The 5.0 has lower compression than the 43 or n/a 55 and can produce more power with a turbo than the 55K. 5.0 are dirt cheap to find as well. I paid $1,600 for mine. It came out of a car the was totaled in the rear almost as soon as it left the dealerhip.

jumph4x

503C43 ////AMG: "I USE caps LOCK intermittently and LOVE to END sentences UNNECESSARY punctuation LIKE this ???!?!?!?!?! Also I wanna do 5.4L swap lulz, wut do you guys think?????"

ECTurboGSX

Wow, everyone needs to take a step back and recollect themselves. There is no need for any of the hostility in this thread.

The crossfire information above was very informative as is the insight from ProjectC55. I happen to have a 5.4L M113 sitting in my garage waiting until after I move to find a new home in the C43, so I enjoy reading through threads like this. If you don't have something productive to add, please restrain your inner-******* and just don't comment. Thanks.

blackbenzz

5.4L engine will drop in. Same trans.

503C43 ////AMG

It is really surprising to see you post something like this as the threads I have seen you post in the past were very informative and mature, perhaps I judged too soon. Please don't post in the thread if you don't have anything productive to add, it is a waste of everyone's time including your own

LantanaML320

Is this about a normally aspirated 55 or supercharged 55? Normally aspirated would be VERY simple and not expensive! Mechanically you just bolt in in as there is nothing really mechanically different from the 4.3. If you want a properly tuned normally aspirated 55 I would suggest using the ECU from a CLK55. It can be unlocked and programed to the car with STAR DAS in developer mode. Enignes are on Ebay all the time.

FLYNAVY

He's talking about an N/A 5.4L m113. Real cool swap on the crossfire BTW