C43 '55' swap thread
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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)
Good to hear about your 43 purchase but a pity it was in such poor condition. I imagine that if you drop in a 55 engine, make sure your suspension and brakes are in AAA condition. You will need it for sure. Also take special care when checking that you transmission is also in good condition ans capable of taking on the extra torque. Don't forget that your 43 is in old lady and needs gentle hands when driving and nice warming up before taking her on a trip to the sky 
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
S0, I read this stupid thread and realized "OH WOW I CAN JUST BUY THIS GIANT 5.4 AND JUST DROP IT IN?????!!!!!" cant think of any reason not to do that,almost sounds too easy. SOOOOO on its way is a 2002 clk55 motor with 97k on it. Ill install end of sep. I printed out all advice on this forum so thanks for forcing me to spend ridiculous amounts of $$$$ ; ) but hey I bought my clk55 motor for 1700 shipped. so 1700 for 80 hp.
Ill post pics soon---not sure how my c280 sport springs/no pads/koni sports will look/ride??? well see....
Ill post pics soon---not sure how my c280 sport springs/no pads/koni sports will look/ride??? well see....
Thread is stupid but yet you're going to do the swap? Or am I reading to much into this? Mmm maybe its a newby thing.
Mmmm sorry we forced you with all our good advice and gun to your head to spend 1700.00 on a motor.
I spent 5k yep 5000.00 and enjoyed every cent spent on my motor.
Some folks spend 10k plus for 100+hp or maybe you have not checked out what it costs to modify these cars!
BMW's are no different such is the life of owning German luxury bud. 1700.00 is nothing compared to the add up costs of some other mods that wont do what the 5.4l motor does $ to hp for the C43. Well i hope you'll enjoy your purchase. I hope
PS if you're pissed off about your car,just sell it and don't come here ranting about your poor decision about purchasing a car that was obviously beat to hell that you knew, and decided to purchase!
Last edited by ProjectC55; Aug 31, 2012 at 09:56 AM.
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1998 c43 amg
dripping with sarcasm and smiling
I love it--its an awesome forum where I can download diagrams of water fittings and get all the info that I need. Im super apprciative of all the effort you guys put into it. I was joking because now I have a new obsession and $$$ dump--its your fault.
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1998 c43 amg
itds actually mainly projectc55's fault---I read all your posts re dropping in the long block and leaving all elkse stock and it working so I pulled the trigger--I agree 1700 SO CHEAP---I am very happy
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1998 c43 amg
ecu question---
Ive got my clk55 longblock and Im going to replace all the obvious stuff on the block--wear parts. I see that "eurocharge" and "dynotune" offer e55/c55 ecu flashes that alledgedly give me a bit more hp------has anyone tried it? Is it worthwhile/do you think they would be able to flash the c43 ecu to account for the upgrade in displacement??? or better to leave everything alone and just transfer the parts over?
----I rebuilt my entire suspension and brakes including dropping the whole rear end to look for rusty bits----I think will be adequate for the conversion...
thanks
----I rebuilt my entire suspension and brakes including dropping the whole rear end to look for rusty bits----I think will be adequate for the conversion...
thanks
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1998 c43 amg
question about the intake manifold/knock sensors/harness
Im in the middle of the swap and it appears I need to use the intake mainfold off my c43 and place it on the the clk55 motor?? due to the knock sensors/ harness----is this the case? Ill just ask this last question and if no reply Ill get the point and find some other forum----
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1998 c43 amg
oh thanks Saaboteur---I appreciate it---the shop that is helping with the swap said that I oversimplified and intake manifold needs to be swapped but iot looked the same to me---thats probably what they meant....
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
I'm foaming at the mouth to yank the 260,000 mile 4.3l out of my '99 and replace with "something better."
Sure, I could save up and get the 5.4l from the 210 or 208 by the end of the year (2013) but I'm thinking I should be more patient and take a shot at the fabled w211 5.4k?
Has ANYONE actually seen a car completed with this swap that was a success?
Hell, it would almost be easier/more worthwhile to get the kompressed 3.5l M112 from the C32 AMG. I imagine that would still be better than the N/A 5.4?
Sure, I could save up and get the 5.4l from the 210 or 208 by the end of the year (2013) but I'm thinking I should be more patient and take a shot at the fabled w211 5.4k?
Has ANYONE actually seen a car completed with this swap that was a success?
Hell, it would almost be easier/more worthwhile to get the kompressed 3.5l M112 from the C32 AMG. I imagine that would still be better than the N/A 5.4?
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From: Chapel Hill, NC/Montreal, QC
1995 C36 AMG, 1998 C43 AMG
Maybe the 32 engine is a touch lighter, but I do not think it's worth it in any way. If you're going to go through the headache of wiring up an sc, do the W211 5.4k
"it’s the 5.4-liter V-8, a masterpiece of a motor that pumps out 349 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque." -http://www.caranddriver.com/features...e55-amg-page-7
"Power (SAE net): 349 bhp @ 6100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm" - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
How would the 32 v6k be better than the 5.4na? Much more work figuring out kompressor wiring, plus anything else that may be different with the newer gen engine. And then you have the same horsepower as the 5.4l but about 50lbs+ less torque??
Maybe the 32 engine is a touch lighter, but I do not think it's worth it in any way. If you're going to go through the headache of wiring up an sc, do the W211 5.4k
"it’s the 5.4-liter V-8, a masterpiece of a motor that pumps out 349 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque." -http://www.caranddriver.com/features...e55-amg-page-7
"Power (SAE net): 349 bhp @ 6100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm" - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
Maybe the 32 engine is a touch lighter, but I do not think it's worth it in any way. If you're going to go through the headache of wiring up an sc, do the W211 5.4k
"it’s the 5.4-liter V-8, a masterpiece of a motor that pumps out 349 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque." -http://www.caranddriver.com/features...e55-amg-page-7
"Power (SAE net): 349 bhp @ 6100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm" - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: America
1999 C43 AMG, 2005 E55 Wagon
How would the 32 v6k be better than the 5.4na? Much more work figuring out kompressor wiring, plus anything else that may be different with the newer gen engine. And then you have the same horsepower as the 5.4l but about 50lbs+ less torque??
Maybe the 32 engine is a touch lighter, but I do not think it's worth it in any way. If you're going to go through the headache of wiring up an sc, do the W211 5.4k
"it’s the 5.4-liter V-8, a masterpiece of a motor that pumps out 349 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque." -http://www.caranddriver.com/features...e55-amg-page-7
"Power (SAE net): 349 bhp @ 6100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm" - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
Maybe the 32 engine is a touch lighter, but I do not think it's worth it in any way. If you're going to go through the headache of wiring up an sc, do the W211 5.4k
"it’s the 5.4-liter V-8, a masterpiece of a motor that pumps out 349 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque." -http://www.caranddriver.com/features...e55-amg-page-7
"Power (SAE net): 349 bhp @ 6100 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 332 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm" - http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...t-drive-review
If I have unlimited budget = I'm paying a shop to turn my C43 into a C55 Kompressor monster. If, for one reason or another, I can't make that happen, I just want to explore all options. Granted, the 5.4 direct swap would be cheapest and easiest by far. 99% that's what I'll do.
nd4spd13 I nearly bought your C43 before I bought mine, but couldn't come up with the cash. I wanted to buy that extra engine, too! Do you know if he still has it?
And can some 5.4 swap owners give a real comparison? A youtube video destroying an E46 M3 would be heavenly
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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 would also consider the S/C 5,4 swap in a C43 as pure evil 
, providing some knowledgeable Geek gets all the electronic modules talking together and using the same wave lengths
, providing some knowledgeable Geek gets all the electronic modules talking together and using the same wave lengths
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: California
Obsidian Black C43, Silver C43, Silver Carlsson E-class wagon, Brabus G-class
I know that most people who did the swap used engines from MY 2003, but I'm looking at an engine from W209 CLK55 to do my swap. Are there any differences other than having more HP?
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Germany
C43 AMG 5.5 - 396.4HP
Oil pan and pump is different. You need to take the original C43 one.
There also is no water outlet for heating pipe (only inlet). It is simply closed (don't know why, wonder how it works in W209)). You need to drill out and glue a plug for the hose.
There also is no water outlet for heating pipe (only inlet). It is simply closed (don't know why, wonder how it works in W209)). You need to drill out and glue a plug for the hose.
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From: California
Obsidian Black C43, Silver C43, Silver Carlsson E-class wagon, Brabus G-class
SickC43Owner, I'm still looking or a shop in the bay area that would do the engine swap. I remember seeing a post few years back about a shop who would do the swap for you and even source out a used engine. If you know of a shop, let me know. Thanx.
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From: fremont CA
99 c43
Swap complete 👊
Swap is done
Easy swap- motor from s55 , swapped upper and lower oil pans , oil pump, no grinding for clearance - removed coolant pipe from c43 engine and installed into the 55 engine-motor fired right up- night and day difference.
Easy swap- motor from s55 , swapped upper and lower oil pans , oil pump, no grinding for clearance - removed coolant pipe from c43 engine and installed into the 55 engine-motor fired right up- night and day difference.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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)
Great news and it shows that the swap is relatively straight forward apart the change of oil pans and a couiple of other parts.
Give us some more comments on the drive feeling!
Give us some more comments on the drive feeling!
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from what year did you take this engine from?
is it a w220 S55 AMG?
how many oil pans are there on these engines 1 or 2?
so you swapped c43 upper lower oil pans and oil pump and put them into the S55 engine.
isn't it possible to run e55 or s55 ecu in c43 after engine swap?
these ecu's have accurate software for 5.4 liter engine vs modding a c43 car paired with 5.4 liter engine and stock c43 ecu?
