C43 '55' swap thread
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 672
Likes: 15
From: New Zealand
C43 w/clk55 Organs
Yeh Sulaco, I didn't realize just how much was changed in the 00 until It was too late, fortunately I hadn't had kids yet definitely couldn't do it again ha ha.
My old C43 engine looked like that at 94,000.. the servicing showed extended intervals on low quality oils and the engine had noisy lifters(one was stuck and tapped permanently), where as the 5.4 I got at 148,000 with full mobil 1 history was near new inside, no carbon build up and rockers were silver,smooth and quiet.
Suspect compensation elements like oil with high amount of cleaners
My old C43 engine looked like that at 94,000.. the servicing showed extended intervals on low quality oils and the engine had noisy lifters(one was stuck and tapped permanently), where as the 5.4 I got at 148,000 with full mobil 1 history was near new inside, no carbon build up and rockers were silver,smooth and quiet.
Suspect compensation elements like oil with high amount of cleaners
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,649
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
I replaced mine with a 5.4 W209 engine. In this case it is necessary to use the original C43 oil pan and oil pump (same for other new models like W203, W171). If you take a W208/210 engine, you can take it as it is.
I also needed to use my old wiring loom, because connectors were diffrent (probably W208/210 will be equal to C43). I had to take the throttle flap from C43 and to mount the knocking sensors you need to dismount the air intake bridge (need 2x gasket).
The new engine was also fitted with the secondary air mixing (pump + valves). Fortunately even the old engine didn't have this option, the connectors were present. But unfortunately connectors ere different, so I needed to find the correct connectors.
Another big job for me was to change the engine from right hand driven (starter on the left) to left hand driven (starter on the right) and the heating system connection at the cylinder head was closed because the engine was never used inside a car.
You can keep control unit for engine and transmission but they needed to be reprogrammed. It is difficult to find one who knows what he is doing in electronics.
You can also keep the rear differential gear. For me it is not necessary to drive 300 and more, I am more interested in acceleratioon...
With sport air filters and sport catalyst I measured 396,4 HP.
I also needed to use my old wiring loom, because connectors were diffrent (probably W208/210 will be equal to C43). I had to take the throttle flap from C43 and to mount the knocking sensors you need to dismount the air intake bridge (need 2x gasket).
The new engine was also fitted with the secondary air mixing (pump + valves). Fortunately even the old engine didn't have this option, the connectors were present. But unfortunately connectors ere different, so I needed to find the correct connectors.
Another big job for me was to change the engine from right hand driven (starter on the left) to left hand driven (starter on the right) and the heating system connection at the cylinder head was closed because the engine was never used inside a car.
You can keep control unit for engine and transmission but they needed to be reprogrammed. It is difficult to find one who knows what he is doing in electronics.
You can also keep the rear differential gear. For me it is not necessary to drive 300 and more, I am more interested in acceleratioon...
With sport air filters and sport catalyst I measured 396,4 HP.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
I thought the swap was simple. Looks like things are different.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,649
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
Dr. B,
i think it is a straight forward swap if you use 210/208 engine. if you use a diff engine there might be a bit more work, not positive as reports are conflicting. also with 208, there was a change to me2.8 last two model years and not sure if that is going to make a whole lot of difference as you can dress the engine. 203/209/171/230 are the most modern engines that you can fit in but not so sure it is so straight forward.
i think i understand popey24's 209 swap now.
1. have to change the oil pan and oil pump (take from the C43)
he seems to be referencing 215,220,163, not 210 or 208. and he is unsure about 171,203,463
2. have to use the C43 wiring loom
3. have to use the C43 throttle body (btw it's smaller than the w209)
4. have to install the knocking sensors by removing the intake (requires 2 gaskets)
5. the new engine has secondary air mixing (pump + valves) and the C43 loom has a connector but it is the wrong connector. so you must replace the secondary air mixing (pump + valves) with the part that has the correct connectors which im guessing is not found on the C43 engine,,, so what is the part no????
6. he had some issues changing the drive-side (assuming he sourced his engine from a different country) - also seems his engine was never used
7. he had an ecu reprogram (which may make sense as the cam profile on the w209 is different) - my question here is how essential is this step he claims 396,4hp. i want to know if he ran before the tune and how he arrived at that number (it must be crank, no way at the wheels)
additional considerations: watch coil packs and alternator, may need off old engine for old connectors
sorry this post doesn't have any new information, rather just a summary and more questions
i think it is a straight forward swap if you use 210/208 engine. if you use a diff engine there might be a bit more work, not positive as reports are conflicting. also with 208, there was a change to me2.8 last two model years and not sure if that is going to make a whole lot of difference as you can dress the engine. 203/209/171/230 are the most modern engines that you can fit in but not so sure it is so straight forward.
i think i understand popey24's 209 swap now.
1. have to change the oil pan and oil pump (take from the C43)
Correction.... The engine you source retains the oil pump portion that bolts to the block because the 43 one doesn't mate up correctly. The pickup is swaped and the upper oil pan needs to be ground down slightly where it contacts the pump. Nothing that will affect the sealing just to allow for clearance.
2. have to use the C43 wiring loom
3. have to use the C43 throttle body (btw it's smaller than the w209)
4. have to install the knocking sensors by removing the intake (requires 2 gaskets)
5. the new engine has secondary air mixing (pump + valves) and the C43 loom has a connector but it is the wrong connector. so you must replace the secondary air mixing (pump + valves) with the part that has the correct connectors which im guessing is not found on the C43 engine,,, so what is the part no????
6. he had some issues changing the drive-side (assuming he sourced his engine from a different country) - also seems his engine was never used
7. he had an ecu reprogram (which may make sense as the cam profile on the w209 is different) - my question here is how essential is this step he claims 396,4hp. i want to know if he ran before the tune and how he arrived at that number (it must be crank, no way at the wheels)
additional considerations: watch coil packs and alternator, may need off old engine for old connectors
sorry this post doesn't have any new information, rather just a summary and more questions
Last edited by mickey13; Dec 15, 2016 at 09:16 PM.
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From: A.D., U.A.E
2000 (W202 C200) & 2000 (W202 C55)
Mickey,
Most of info. you provided are correct,
1) C43 harness should to be use, cause of differ ECU connectors between ME2.0 & 2.8.
2) must to use C43 TB, ME2.8 TB has square connector & it's fully ECU controlled, while C43 TB uses round connector & simi-full controlled.
3) no need to change knock sonsers, both got the same.
4) no need to replace the Air pump, you can use your stock one, and both ME2.0 & 2.8 sharing the same connector.
*i don't think 396hp can be reached, unelss if doing full Exh. system/upgrade cams with heads/air intake/ECU tuning,,
not sure if "popey24's" done all these upgrades..!?!?
"ZAYED"
Most of info. you provided are correct,
1) C43 harness should to be use, cause of differ ECU connectors between ME2.0 & 2.8.
2) must to use C43 TB, ME2.8 TB has square connector & it's fully ECU controlled, while C43 TB uses round connector & simi-full controlled.
3) no need to change knock sonsers, both got the same.
4) no need to replace the Air pump, you can use your stock one, and both ME2.0 & 2.8 sharing the same connector.
*i don't think 396hp can be reached, unelss if doing full Exh. system/upgrade cams with heads/air intake/ECU tuning,,
not sure if "popey24's" done all these upgrades..!?!?
"ZAYED"
Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: the Hague, the Netherlands
1998 W202 C43 ///AMG 5.4
https://mbworld.org/forums/c36-amg-c...went-dyno.html
no cams or headwordk done.
just different exhaust with E-bay shorty headers , and tweeked ECU.
close enough to 400.. at least i think.
no cams or headwordk done.
just different exhaust with E-bay shorty headers , and tweeked ECU.
close enough to 400.. at least i think.
Member
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 108
Likes: 3
black w202 C43 / Black e93 328i / Smoke Silver 560SEL
for those of you who did the swap already, how did you get the plug on the back of the right head out? Mine seems completely stuck.
Edit: I got it. only took 3 hours of grinding and around 400lbs of force on a lever. I wish they made the rods and pistons out of whatever unobtanium that cap was made of.
Edit: I got it. only took 3 hours of grinding and around 400lbs of force on a lever. I wish they made the rods and pistons out of whatever unobtanium that cap was made of.
Last edited by m00nsh0t; Dec 26, 2016 at 08:43 PM.
Member
Joined: May 2016
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black w202 C43 / Black e93 328i / Smoke Silver 560SEL
yeah. I was surprised when it didn't just come out, then I tried using a slide hammer and it still wouldn't. There's remnants of a bunch of permatex sealant in the hole, so that's probably why. I cleaned that and used some new permatex to seal the new fitting, I don't think it will leak.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 384
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From: West Palm Beach, FL
'99 C43, '88 560SL
Hi all, I want to say thankyou for this thread! thanks to all the helpful information in this thread i went ahead and bought a 2003 w209 clk55 motor. correct me if im wrong but i havent seen anyone do the swap with a w209 evo motor so am i the first?
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Joined: Oct 2013
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
not the first but definitely a smaller club. will you do it yourself? let us know how the swap goes, what else you end up doing and what your thoughts are on the performance improvement.
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From: West Palm Beach, FL
'99 C43, '88 560SL
Last edited by brad_c43; May 19, 2017 at 09:29 AM.
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
yup, planning the swap for thanksgiving should be me and a buddy driving up to his dads shop for two days to get the swap done. paid 1800 for a motor with 90k miles swap should be free or minimal costs cause free labor and i love posting this picture because how many other c43's can haul their engine swap by themselves?
using a 43 to haul a trailor? That like a Porsche pulling a caravan 
Here in Swizzyland you can't get a w202 haul hook assembly on a C43 as this option was never homologated officially, so if you did try it would be an immediate road ban and a no-no
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Joined: Feb 2017
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From: West Palm Beach, FL
'99 C43, '88 560SL
http://www.curtmfg.com/part/11815 I did the whole install myself and i had a nice employee discount so hitch and wiring ran me ~$160
Last edited by brad_c43; May 19, 2017 at 10:14 AM. Reason: added info
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this option was not available für alle Mercedes cars
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 384
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From: West Palm Beach, FL
'99 C43, '88 560SL
Just because he factory didnt offer it why shouldnt we be able to tow with our vehicles? Its still safe to do so, so why not?
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Land of mountains, cheese, chocolate and watches
12' W204 C63 AMG coupe "T-Rex", 12' W451 Smart Fortwo Pulse (99' W202 C43 AMG + Ultima Can-Am sold)
Just wondering if the new generation AMGs are authorized by the Factory to tow or not. Never have seen one with something hanging on the rear...
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if not you are very lucky!
in my country, the land of horny hooter blondes
we have annual inspections with stupeed regulations, AMG cars with tow hook was never official, if tow hook was added, car must be re-inspected with re-registered documentation with the new tow hook option for safety reasons.
Last edited by KJI3jflarryfe93; May 19, 2017 at 01:16 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 384
Likes: 41
From: West Palm Beach, FL
'99 C43, '88 560SL
do you have annual vehicle inspections at government test center?
if not you are very lucky!
in my country, the land of horny hooter blondes we have annual inspections with stupeed regulations, AMG cars with tow hook was never any official, if tow hook was added, car must be re-inspected with re-registered documentation with the new tow hook option for safety reasons.
if not you are very lucky!
in my country, the land of horny hooter blondes
we have annual inspections with stupeed regulations, AMG cars with tow hook was never any official, if tow hook was added, car must be re-inspected with re-registered documentation with the new tow hook option for safety reasons.
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your car ownership is very fortunate and cheap.
congrats.
goverment in my country consists of enviromental fascists!
these nasty people are working hard choking us cars owners slowly with hefty taxes for fuel, annual car tax, road tax, number plate tax, annual vehicle inspections.
soon the government fascist will implement tax for us people breathing air and cows farting causing carbon dioxide pollution.
yikes! 
congrats.
goverment in my country consists of enviromental fascists!
these nasty people are working hard choking us cars owners slowly with hefty taxes for fuel, annual car tax, road tax, number plate tax, annual vehicle inspections.
soon the government fascist will implement tax for us people breathing air and cows farting causing carbon dioxide pollution.
yikes!
