CL55 -> CL65 engine swap
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 12
Likes: 1
From: USA
2003 E55 6 speed manual, 2005 Speedriven CL65, 2006 CL55
CL55 -> CL65 engine swap
Hi everyone! I have two awesome AMGs- a 06 CL55 Kleemann and a 03 E55 where I built the engine and 6 speed manual swapped it! I love working on these cars and I especially love the E55 because I have put so much blood, sweat, and tears into that build. I was going to sell the CL but I couldn't bring myself to do it. It's a beautiful car, my family and friends love it, and it's got such a cool story how I got the car. But all the modifications were done by Kleemann many years ago and even though I've owned the car for years, it has never truly felt like I've made the car "my own"...
I've always been intrigued by the M275 engine- more specifically the 65 AMGs and I found a listing once for my cars' "brother"- a black obsidian over Java CL65 and it gave me an idea... what if I rebuilt a 6.0 AMG engine and swapped it into my CL? Then I'd have one of each- an M113k that I built in my E55 and an M275 I built. Fast forward to now...
Somehow, I got extremely lucky on facebook marketplace and recently acquired TWO 6.0 liter engines from part outs- one from a 2006 S65 (for parts such as wiring harness) and one from a 2009 S65 (lower mileage- this will be the block I use). To make it "authentic", I also got the "V12 Biturbo" gauge cluster from the 06. I am going through Mercedes Swap Shop to pair my 65 ECU to my EIS in the 55. I've been slowly but surely cross-refrencing parts but I'm just wondering if anyone has ever done this before? What are some things I need to be aware of- during the engine rebuild and actually swapping it into my car?
I've always been intrigued by the M275 engine- more specifically the 65 AMGs and I found a listing once for my cars' "brother"- a black obsidian over Java CL65 and it gave me an idea... what if I rebuilt a 6.0 AMG engine and swapped it into my CL? Then I'd have one of each- an M113k that I built in my E55 and an M275 I built. Fast forward to now...
Somehow, I got extremely lucky on facebook marketplace and recently acquired TWO 6.0 liter engines from part outs- one from a 2006 S65 (for parts such as wiring harness) and one from a 2009 S65 (lower mileage- this will be the block I use). To make it "authentic", I also got the "V12 Biturbo" gauge cluster from the 06. I am going through Mercedes Swap Shop to pair my 65 ECU to my EIS in the 55. I've been slowly but surely cross-refrencing parts but I'm just wondering if anyone has ever done this before? What are some things I need to be aware of- during the engine rebuild and actually swapping it into my car?
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
W220 S500, W204 C220d
im not sure about your exact cars and their stuff, but the 65 models usually use a 5 speed gearbox instead of a 7 speed, because of the torque. the 7 speed might shred itself if you keep it, so its probably best to upgrade to the 5 speed
good luck with the swap, it sounds really cool!
good luck with the swap, it sounds really cool!
