Engine swap
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
CLK W208
Engine swap
hey everyone, i'm thinking of swaping my engine from the v6 320 to the v8430, a 430 motor is being offered to me at a great price and i'm thinking about it. I know everyone is gonna say just buy a 430 or a 55! but i am not going to do that this car has lots of sentimental (SPELLING?) value for me and i am not selling it or trading it so please don't come at me with all the eceonomic talk about saving the money. Now here is my question: in order to do a plug and play swap what other parts do i need other than the engine and the ECU? mine is a 99 320 withouth the tiptronic, can i use the 320 trans on the 430? i need a list of what parts i exactly need and if this would be a plug and play swap provided all the parts? any info would be greatly appreciated. thnx in advance.
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Joined: May 2008
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1999 clk 320
If you do it get the tranny with it, the whole engine electrical harness including the brain(ecu), water hoses, starter, front springs,A\C lines, and motor mounts. And there will be more, you'll figure it out.
Just know this.
Your car won't be as sentimental to you after this.
Just know this.
Your car won't be as sentimental to you after this.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
CLK W208
would the tranny off of the 320 work with the 430 motor i'm looking at the old posts and they all say that the trannys are all the same just different programings. is this true?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
CLK W208
If you do it get the tranny with it, the whole engine electrical harness including the brain(ecu), water hoses, starter, front springs,A\C lines, and motor mounts. And there will be more, you'll figure it out.
Just know this.
Your car won't be as sentimental to you after this.
Just know this.
Your car won't be as sentimental to you after this.
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Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 149
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
2002 CLK55 AMG cabriolet
The reason people say to just buy the 430 or 55 is because these things have bad enough resale value as it is so your actually taking value out of the 320 at a faster rate rather than putting it into the 430.
Last edited by clk430convert01; Jun 2, 2008 at 10:30 PM.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
CLK W208
Belive me I understand that I'm a portfolio manager i clearly understand the money aspect of it, but as i mentioned this car has a ton of sentimental value to me and i will never sell it, it will go down to my kids. with that in mind weather it keeps it's KBB value or not is not a factor in this situation, what matters is that the car runs great and has a powerfull engine in it. thanks for your advise, i completly agree with you but my situation is different than many other motor swaps out there.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 285
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frankenstein 2001 CLK 430
Belive me I understand that I'm a portfolio manager i clearly understand the money aspect of it, but as i mentioned this car has a ton of sentimental value to me and i will never sell it, it will go down to my kids. with that in mind weather it keeps it's KBB value or not is not a factor in this situation, what matters is that the car runs great and has a powerfull engine in it. thanks for your advise, i completly agree with you but my situation is different than many other motor swaps out there.
Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
CLK 430
i think the best thing to do in your case is to find a salvaged clk430 (rear damage or roll over) to do the swap... you could even do it yourself if you have the space and mechanically inclined... this way you will have all the parts and not missing anything and when you finish from the salvaged car you can sell it with the old parts from your car to a junk yard...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
Belive me I understand that I'm a portfolio manager i clearly understand the money aspect of it, but as i mentioned this car has a ton of sentimental value to me and i will never sell it, it will go down to my kids. with that in mind weather it keeps it's KBB value or not is not a factor in this situation, what matters is that the car runs great and has a powerfull engine in it. thanks for your advise, i completly agree with you but my situation is different than many other motor swaps out there.
Still not convinced and want to proceed with your project?
No problem. Projected "conversion" costs are anticipated to exceed $35,000. For me to get started, I'll need a 50% deposit in advance. Would you like my Paypal info?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,775
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles
CLK W208
Fine....we understand you. Park your CLK320. Go and purchase a 2nd car, whether it be a 430, 55 or the new C63.
Still not convinced and want to proceed with your project?
No problem. Projected "conversion" costs are anticipated to exceed $35,000. For me to get started, I'll need a 50% deposit in advance. Would you like my Paypal info?
Still not convinced and want to proceed with your project?
No problem. Projected "conversion" costs are anticipated to exceed $35,000. For me to get started, I'll need a 50% deposit in advance. Would you like my Paypal info?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
Thnx chappy, i have already talked to a certified MB tech and $5-7k is my cost(the whole swap including motor, tranny, ECU and harness) but thank you for the offer. but i know you are very knowledgable when it comes to w208s and i was wondering if you can tell me if i can save some money and use my existing tranny if i'm going with the 430 engine, i've heard they are the exact same tranny and the codes that i found for them are also identical but i would love to hear your toughts on it.
Here's some light reading for you....
http://www.mobilverzeichnis.de/merce...uster_w208.htm
BTW, the research costs alone to complete your one-off/custom project could easily top 100 hours.
Let us know how the project develops.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
Never mind....I see you've already done your research on the transmission....
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....5&postcount=10
https://mbworld.org/forums/showpost....5&postcount=10
