2004 clk320 manual transmission swap ;)



Anyway I found fancier way :-D
"Variant Coding -> Coding According to plant data" and change byte (number) #11 from 29 to 09. That is it



I was getting CEL due to missing ETC (TCU) and ESL(shifter)
Had to update ECU's configuration
Still it's probably possible to do it through Implicit coding, or you can do it by changing 6E to 68 on this screen


I finally passed California smog check! Right after the swap I was told by a smog check station that I have to go through inspected at a BAR referee center. I called them yesterday and they told me that they don't care about transmission swaps. With that answer I went to the same smog check station and after short discussion they agreed to test my car
. Now i'm 100% street legal! BTW after driving for about 700 miles all emission monitors were in "ready" state. Overall impression of clk with manual transmission: really, really awesome, it's so much better than with automatic transmission. It completely changed the character of the car. Now it's fun to drive (not bmw m3 e46 fun-to-drive, but much closer to bmw 330ci e46) especially with upgraded suspension. The transmission has short shifter (out of the box) so it shifts quick and precise, not as good as Tremec tr6060 but better than Ford's MT82 (Mustang 5th gen), probably one of the reasons is that I have brand new shifter assembly. BTW guys from FCP-Euro are using the same transmission on their c300 racing car.
I'm still running stock (for 320 convertible) 3.45 diff, not as good for highway as 3.27 but little bit more torque at the wheels
(716.6 transmission has higher gear rations than 722.6).Next step is Quaife LSD



TheSmokingTire already featured similar car, clk430 with CrossFire transmission.
I saw your comment on YT, I'm sure that c55 swap will be as easy as mine
. Definitely you'll need different transmission (for example BMW https://pmcmotorsport-shop.com/produ...-GS6-53BZ.html) but the rest you can use from manual c320: pedal box, hydraulic lines, clutch master cylinder, etc.
In terms of coding it should be the same. To make sure all you need is to disconnect TCU and Transmission Shifter (electric connector), update the coding and try to start the car. Mercedes doesn't require to press a clutch pedal to start (unlike CrossFire) so no need of additional wiring for the test. I can help with coding.


"Mercedes-Benz Repair" at Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View, (650) 593-1300 ask Elliott.
Last edited by dzmitry; Nov 15, 2019 at 11:50 AM.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG


If you'll decide to really do the swap, I can help you with exact part numbers.
In terms of coding.... hard to tell, I've never worked with m272 ECUs, but I think it's possible.
If you'll decide to really do the swap, I can help you with exact part numbers.
In terms of coding.... hard to tell, I've never worked with m272 ECUs, but I think it's possible.


2. Coding might me a bit more challenging, I will try to figure out more details during the weekend.
3. No you won't hit the rev-limeter. Yes, there is 4k rpm rev-limiter (at least for ME2.8 ECU) but it only applies when a car is standing still. Even when I was using TCU emulator (car was thinking that it's on Neutral) there was no problem to exceed 4k rpm when the car was moving.
2. Coding might me a bit more challenging, I will try to figure out more details during the weekend.
3. No you won't hit the rev-limeter. Yes, there is 4k rpm rev-limiter (at least for ME2.8 ECU) but it only applies when a car is standing still. Even when I was using TCU emulator (car was thinking that it's on Neutral) there was no problem to exceed 4k rpm when the car was moving.[/QUOT
1. I'm located in lebanon,and if u know from where to get this custom driveshaft and ship to me , I will be thankfull❤
2. I wish if u can help me with the coding ! need ur help! and I'm really excited to experience the manual trans on my car

3. Mine (ME2.9) , I don't mind if It don't hit the rev limiter when the car on standing still , what I care about it's to hit the rev limiter when I'm on first gear and second gear. thank u ❤❤


2. I wish if u can help me with the coding ! need ur help! and I'm really excited to experience the manual trans on my car

3. Mine (ME2.9) , I don't mind if It don't hit the rev limiter when the car on standing still , what I care about it's to hit the rev limiter when I'm on first gear and second gear. thank u ❤❤
2. I will try to help you with coding. I need to do some research, but I won't be fast.
3. I think you have ME9.7 in our car. I don't worry about rev limiter


Regarding to clutch there are couple of options:
1. If you are not going to race your car then this setup can handle 5.0 engine. There were couple of stories from crossfire club about guys swapping 5.0 engines in their manual crossfires. Also I've seen thread where a guy installed 716.6 transmission (I think from slk320) into his w202 c43 track car (not sure it might be even 5.4 swapped car). I'm hopping to do 5.0 swap into my car and kipping this manual transmission.
2. There is a company which is making clutch/flywheel kits for m112/m113 engines Rennsport Factory
3. Since the weak point is going to be transmission itself (it's only rated for 272 lb-ft) there is an option to swap BMW transmission. PMC Motorsport
4. There are always stories about swapping Tremec transmission
Last edited by dzmitry; Mar 23, 2020 at 07:09 PM.
Funny I see you did this on a clk, I picked up another one of these transmission in hopes of swapping one into a clk! Albeit I want to do one on a w208
EDIT: also i see PMC makes a adapter for the m113 and the zf transmission from the e36. That's pretty nifty!
Last edited by jikjakz; Mar 24, 2020 at 11:36 PM.


Funny I see you did this on a clk, I picked up another one of these transmission in hopes of swapping one into a clk! Albeit I want to do one on a w208
EDIT: also i see PMC makes a adapter for the m113 and the zf transmission from the e36. That's pretty nifty!
If you going to do that on w208 try to find later models with Bosch ME2.8

What else do you have planned for the CLK? I see you got a quaife lsd. Have you gotten around to installing it? That was another thing I was disappointed to find out in mine was that it had an open diff. Haha.


What else do you have planned for the CLK? I see you got a quaife lsd. Have you gotten around to installing it? That was another thing I was disappointed to find out in mine was that it had an open diff. Haha.

I do have a lot of plans :-D plus I already did a lot (brakes, suspension, etc. You can look though my posts), but the next step should be 5.0 swap (I even made working ECU for that).
And LSD I installed couple of months ago, here is the thread https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...e-install.html
Does anyone have any ideas. I am about out of them myself.


Does anyone have any ideas. I am about out of them myself.




What else do you have planned for the CLK? I see you got a quaife lsd. Have you gotten around to installing it? That was another thing I was disappointed to find out in mine was that it had an open diff. Haha.
Thanks for all the info and work on this guys.



