Okay, I searched the forum but didn't really answer my question... I have a 2002 (W208) CLK55 AMG with the stock naturally aspirated M113 engine. If I buy a wrecked E55 (2003-2006) from Copart, can I swap the M113k engine into the CLK55 W208 without too much brain trauma? From what I can gather, the ECU will need to be re-programmed, and it looks like fuel pump/pressure and the SC clutch pulley clutch will need to be addressed. But if I'm going from an M113 to an M113k, is this a "doable" swap? Any thoughts from people who have done this swap? Thanks in advance.

 

I'm very curious as well.

 

My research indicates that it's doable but you need to bring the ECU and some of the wiring harness from the E55. You also need to build a "hybrid" oil pump because the two chassis have different sumps.

 

Okay, that's encouraging.. If I get the wrecked E55 I will have those parts. I assume the E55 ECU needs to be re-programmed to my VIN, etc. It looks like there are places that can do that so shouldnt be a problem. I'm guessing that the hybrid oil pump means just mix and matching the sump pump and pick-up from the M113 to the M113k so it will fit into my chassis. I know this swap has been done before, has anyone seen a decent write-up on what is involved?

 

Def. watching this thread - looks exciting!

 

I've done quite a bit of digging here and on other forums and have never found anything substantial in terms of documentation. Like you said, people have done it, but there's not much out there on the actual process.

 

I'm interested in this as well. How does this swap compare to bolting on a Kleemann? Last time I was looking for wrecked cars with M113K's they weren't exactly giving them away. I know the Kleemann is pricey, but how much of a headache are we dealing with vs. cost? I'm no stranger to engine swaps so I'm definitely on board with this.

 

I agree that the Kleemann blower is an option; but feel like I can't make an informed decision until I figure out what is involved with the M113 to M113k swap first. I hope BlackBenzz sees this post and chimes in with his thoughts/knowledge...

 

It is definitely possible and has been done. You need the ECU, the engine harness, the heat exchanger and pump, and a few small odds and ends.

 

Thanks for the info East Coast Euro, that is helpful. So, as far as "black boxes" go, the only one I need from the donor car is the ECU? I assume I need to get it re-programmed, right?

 

Yes you will need the ECU and reprogram it. If you don't have a egs52 tcu in your car (you probably do because it's an 02) then you will need to swap that over but then you would need to custom tune that for your differential gearing. You will need a custom upper radiator hose and as someone mentioned a hybrid oil pump because the oil Port in the block is in a different location and the pan is also different.

 

This makes me smile seeing posts like this and people doing this to Merc's. I have a S62 touring swap at the moment and my CLK55 is supposed to be my "stock" car that I can order any part for by just providing the VIN. Haha.

Props to you for taking this on and any others that have gone before you. It seems like the motor swaps are few on this side with Mercedes vs BMW's. I could be wrong, as I never looked into it that much. Best of luck and I'm keeping my eye on this.

 

Thanks ECE, this is good info - much appreciated. I feel like I can move forward. I'm going to mention, however, that this project isn't going to happen real fast. The CLK55 is my son's daily driver (handed down from me), and we are planning to do this swap as a project together. First step will be to find a donor car (probably Copart, as mentioned above) then find the time. That second think is going to be the hardest part probably. I promise I will update this post when things start to move, but it could be many months...

I think the reason there aren't as many MB swaps is that MB made it so difficult with the electronics and engine start authorization coding, etc. I've never worked on a BMW but my sense is that this isn't as big of in issue with them. I actually told my son we may need to look at bimmers or a mustang or something if we're going to do a swap. He really likes his CLK55 though (he has good taste..). I also have an E55 and an ML55 so I kinda wanna see if I can do this swap then maybe, who knows, do another for me

 

Just what I wanted to hear. Hoping for lots of documentation!

 

If this does go ahead please keep the forum updated with lots of detail!

 

Don't want to disappoint anyone, or even gives any bad feeling about this swap,,

but it's really much $$$$$, and much time, with big headache..!!

-;ZAYED;-

 

This is what I was thinking. For curiosity, what are people using for coding? I was a tech years back and doing ECM stuff and having to log in to German website and all...That's the part that always prevented me from going down rabbit holes with Merc's. I had a GT1/DIS setup for my BMW. I could pretty much tackle anything I needed with that. If there is something similar that people are using, I would be interested to know. I'm sure there are some "startek" computers out there.

I actually work in the collision industry and our mechanic runs a newer Autel unit. He can look and see pretty much everything my W208 has but there are a few things it can't get into. One that bugs me to no end, the roadside assitance/M-Brace stuff. I can't see that with his scanner to turn that crap off. The CLK55 is my daily but I don't drive much so I have just lived with it.

 

There are knock-off Startek hardware/software packages on Ebay that I looked into. Based on what I read, you can put one together with an old laptop that has a serial port (certain IBM Thinkpad or Dell) along with a package of specialized cables and software that link to the car. That hole enterprise seemed a bit sketchy to me; mainly because of the learning curve for just one or two uses. This was my big road block too. However, what changed by thinking was an issue I had with my E55. They receptacle for the ignition key was physically damaged when someone broke into the car and vandalized it or tried to hotwire it or something. I took the ignition receptacle out and sent it to a guy in Chicago who advertised a repair service on Ebay. He said he could not repair the existing one, but if I bought a used one he could re-program it to match my car. Sure enough, he did it and it works perfectly. This gives me confidence that there are knowledgeable people out there that can program these Mercedes black boxes. I found another place, I believe they were in Boston, that said on their website that they do the ECM reprogramming although I have not actually spoken to them yet. Regardless, assuming this hurdle is overcome, I don't think the remaining mechanical issues are too difficult. I would even say they appear easy, but I know from experience that can't be true (had to replace a balance shaft on an E350 once, what a pain in the...).

The real issue in my mind, at this point anyway, is what the donor car is going to cost. Unless I'm missing something here, it seems like the donor car will have all the major components required, so that should be the only big fixed expense, along with the cost of farming out the re-programming which I'm assuming will be about $500 but I could be way off on that..

 

If you want quality computer work done and even an estimate call eurocharged. They can and have done the work before.

 

I have done this swap last year in 2018 on W208 CLK55 2001, also have done the same swap on a W209 CLK55 2003 and finally done M157 engine swap on my W204 C63 AMG 2013.

On the W208 Swap, as long as your car is 2001 or 2002 it is doable, as the ECU is the same = harness is the same (ME2.8 compared to ME2.0 for 2000 or less). There are couple of things you need to take care of which, in my opinion, are the most difficult:

First is the Oil Pump and Crank Case.. Here you need to do some magic to get the NA engine pump fitted on the M113K.

Second is the harness and ECU programming: I know it is not straight forward and need expert to do it.

Other things are easy like the headers and fan etc etc etc.

 

AMG Lover, thanks for sharing your experience; that is the exact type of information I was looking for, from someone who has actually done the swap. My CLK55 is an '02 so should be ME2.8. I have a couple of follow-up questions from your post:

1. What's involved in getting the NA oil pump fitted to the M113k? From the sound of it, it must be more than just swapping it over. Do I need to modify it somehow? Please explain this part a little bit more please.
2. You mention the crank case, what needs to be done with there?
3. Who did you use for your ECU programming? Did they do good work?

Thanks again-

 

Don't mention it man will always help everybody as much as possible.

1 - You need to use half of each pump to make one pump that would fit on the M113K using M113 crank case.

2 - Use the M113 crank case on the new engine to make it fit and sit on the W208 cross member. The whole issue of oil pump comes from here.

3 - The whole job was done in UAE - Sharjah, a good workshop there who has done for me 3 swaps and also done dozens before ie V12 M275 on CLK and R129 SL, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!

 

Ha, I should have noticed that you are in Saudi Arabia; I'll check with Insame1's guy and a few others here in the States for the ECU work. When you say the crank case, you mean the oil pan, right? If I'm swapping the oil pan, the oil pump work shouldn't be too difficult with everything right there. Great to talk with someone who has gone through this already.

 

I went to the EPC and pulled up some images for reference. There is an upper and a lower oil pan. Is the upper oil pan (#5 in the picture) along with the lower pan (#50) what needs to be swapped out when you say the crank case?





Here's the pump, just for reference. Looks like there is a pump (with the sprocket) and the pickup. I assume there are the two parts with need to be mix and matched.

 

You need to deal both the upper and lower pan. The hybrid pump is required because the port oil Port in the 55k block is in a different location than the NA 55 block so the NA oil pump won't line up properly. You cannot use an E55 W211 oil pump