Gingerninja789

Hello,

Right I have a c180 w202 1998 looking at a 55 conversion.
I understand almost goes straight in a c43 other than water pipe and few little bits.

Does that mean I need basically a c43 doner car swap everything and then drop the 55 in?
Or is it possible to buy a e55 doner car and use rear subframe, loom etc everything on my c class w202 or are they completely different?

Also is the c180 alot different? Is prop back.. Driveshafts diff etc same as a c43. Or will I need c43 everything or even e55 bits if they fit. Please help lol.

503C43 ////AMG

Doing a 55 swap in a C180 (or any other C class for that matter) is not like doing the swap with a C43. The 43 and 55 motors are both M113's but with different bore, stroke, etc... This is what makes the swap relatively easy with a C43. Attempting this swap on a C180 will require lots of modification

Your best bet is to obtain a C43 and do the swap then, not only will it make the swap much easier but you will get the suspension, tranny, diff, etc...

Gingerninja789

Cheers for reply. Only doing this because will be cheap insurance etc. Yes I understand will be big job but instead swapping everything from a c43 complette car to the c180 then dropping the 55 unit in, can I not use a complete e55 and use diff driveshafts wiring etc off that? Or will noting match up? Like engine to car loom etc or even e55 sub frame. Thanks

NitrogenBalance

4500.00 would have gotten you one of the cleanest 43's around engine bay empty and ready for a 5.5L.

You will spend more than 4500.00 on parts/labor/time trying to get this right in a C180. That said if your dead set on getting a V8 in there I would look into an LS1 swap or maybe a 2JZ straight6. These two examples can make twice the M113 power for half the cost.

Gingerninja789

Cheers. To do the 43 conversion I was going to buy a rotten one and lirally swap everything. What is needed for the other two conversions mentioned and what other items are needed remembering I have the slow old c180 lol. Cheers

hoontastic

might you save years worth of insurance money just starting with a c43?

DRBC43AMG

You will certainly need bigger brakes (front and rear) than what you have on the 180 I definitely recommend you find a C43 to begin with then drop a 55 engine inside. It will be much much easier and definitely cheaper when you hit the bottom line , not unless you have easy access to tools and a good workshop, not unless your bank account has no limits

Gingerninja789

I'm only 21 so insurance would be stupid, the best way I can think is swap everything off c43 as got acsess to tools etc. Only thing I worried about is electric key will it still work? Also conversion can't be that hard just swap everything in one go like front sub frame with everything still on it like brakes, shocks etc if it's possible same with rear end - diff, disks etc all together then plug car loom to c43 engine loom ?? if possible anyone no? Cheers

hoontastic

sounds like fun and a bag of hurt to me.. have you priced the actual monthly difference in insurance rates between the cars?

justinwrock

Your going to have to strip the car down to a shell and transplant the body harness from one to another. Not impossible, but a PITA.


I do not know if your C180 was equipped with a SmartKey, but if not, your going to also have to swap steering columns to get the steering lock. You might have to swap the body harness to get all the sensors installed for the ESP/ABS/Brake Assist. Then there is the matter of the front/rear subframe. I do not know if they have the same/similar mounting points.


Its not impossible, but one helluva job to do!

hoontastic

let's say the difference is $100/mo * 12 * 4 years = $5000. You could pick up a pretty nice c43 for $8k. So will the swap after all is said and done cost less than $12-13k?

Gingerninja789

Shorly the chassis wouldn't have changed, to much work for merc. So in theory sub frames and everything will just bolt up. Biggest issue is I don't want to change interia loom. Does anyone no if I will need to.

Also if I can buy a rotten one or even written off. Will be very cheap to do and save me lots on insurance because of age.

Cheers.