Utilising M156 engine and gearbox
05-21-2018, 10:40 PM
#1
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2017 GLC43
Utilising M156 engine and gearbox
Having owned and driven 3 ML500’s and currently in a GLC 43, I Amy toying with the idea of putting a M156 engine and gearbox from a wreck into a hot rod for something completely different.
I can not find any references to anyone doing this so came here for some advice... hopefully.
My questions are thus:
Can the ECU be utilised seperatley to the BCM with drive by wire systems and instrument cluster or does an aftermarket ECU need to be purchased?
If using the complete wiring harness from the donor car, can system be deactivated from the Canbus system or will this shut down the whole system?
does anyone know if using the M156 or other engines in a different application other than Mercedes bodies?
Thanks in advance,
JB
I can not find any references to anyone doing this so came here for some advice... hopefully.
My questions are thus:
Can the ECU be utilised seperatley to the BCM with drive by wire systems and instrument cluster or does an aftermarket ECU need to be purchased?
If using the complete wiring harness from the donor car, can system be deactivated from the Canbus system or will this shut down the whole system?
does anyone know if using the M156 or other engines in a different application other than Mercedes bodies?
Thanks in advance,
JB
05-22-2018, 10:13 AM
#2
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W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
Not even remotely feasible. You're going to be MUCH better off by buying a real M156-equpipped vehicle and putting on it a body kit resembling the other car / SUV.
05-22-2018, 12:34 PM
#3
Best bet is getting the engine and matting it to a T56 trans or something similar and running a standalone ECU (Motec for example). Wont be cheap.
Much cheaper to build a LS3 or LS7 even
Much cheaper to build a LS3 or LS7 even
05-22-2018, 01:40 PM
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W204 C63 Coupe, W166 ML350 BlueTEC, 928GT, C5 Z06 & IS300 race cars, EQE 4Matic+ on order
^ This. If you're going to do a swap, go for something that has a lot of support and is relatively cheap and easy to work with like a GM crate motor, and even then you're still going to have a ton of issues putting it all in a Mercedes chassis.
05-24-2018, 01:34 AM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
The fact that you're asking this question tells you all you need to know. You're not capable of pulling this off without someone with alot more knowledge of mb systems etc... to do the job. If you cant live without a 156 in your hot rod the easiest path would be a donor car. if you were local to me i'd say hell yea lets make this happen.
05-24-2018, 05:50 AM
#6
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There is someone here in South Africa that has successfully fitted an M156 engine (not sure what gearbox) into a Toyota Hilux 
Search for either "TOYOTAHOLICS AFRICA" page on Facebook, or search for Quentin Boylan and chat to him directly.
Search for either "TOYOTAHOLICS AFRICA" page on Facebook, or search for Quentin Boylan and chat to him directly.
05-24-2018, 08:53 AM
#7
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Mounting the engine was the easy part
It can be done but to do a unique project take a lot of time, research, and money. I wanted to do a unique car and installed a Viper V10 in an old 1959 big fin Plymouth. I didn’t realize how hard it would be to do the electronics after I had already mounted the engine and was past the point of no return. Talk to serious racers and they may have figured out how to reprogram the computer to ignore everything but the motor. That did the trick for me. It will either run perfectly or not at all. But if you get it right it will be incredible! Good luck.
