E-Class (W124) 1984-1995: E 260, E 300, E 320, E 420, E 500 (Includes CE, T, TD models)

F#@K the 3.0L Engine, Time for something else!

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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 09:24 PM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
F#@K the 3.0L Engine, Time for something else!

I had it with my power train, thats the engine and transmission! Horrible for a car that just passed over 100k miles. Tranny slips and leaks, engine leaks and won't idle right, alternator gone bad, fuel pump relay went bad 3 times in three years including changing fuel pumps and recently while during my weekly fluid check I checked the antifreeze resovior to find nothing but oil.

This 3.0 is going to the dump, the power train-not the car itself.....I'm seriously looking into a ford, chevy, or maybe even a newer 500 series power train, yeah the money can't be cheap cause I love the car but more power is a must. How come nobody here ever speaks of a mustang engine swap? 5.0 ----a true 500CE then without the sensitivity these mercedes engines have or maybe from an old corvette??? Input please......!
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 10:16 PM
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E
The M103 engine has time and time again proven its reliability and to some extent -- its affordability. As with ANY engine, early abuse due to a lack of oil changes and maintenance in general will leave the remaining elements in the system messed up. Instead of swaying away from a strong, proven engine, why don't you take a step back and figure out if you would enjoy a GOOD running M103, whether that be from rebuilding yours (head only) or swapping in another.

It is uncommon for the transmissions to show any signs of wear at 100k, hense why I believe it was due to prior negligence.

To get a correct idle, I suggest you either hand it off to an Indy who is very familiar with the Bosch CIS-E system or buy yourself "Bosch Fuel Injection & Engine Management" book by Probst to read and learn. It has every technique and way to service CIS-E so your idle can become normal again. This was definitely the best $20 I've spent on a book for this car!
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 10:16 PM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Do a 3.6l build/swap with a Eaton Roots or a centrifugal SC?
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 10:17 PM
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1989 190e
IMO don't mess around with the 5.0. But I am pretty Chevy biased....

If it were me I'd drop a 350 in there. Parts are cheap, and you can get more horsepower out of it just by breathing too hard while you drive haha

I plan on swapping either a RB25 or 1jz-something-or-other in my 201 some day. Seems like an easier swap. Less fabrication.

or what saijin_naib said! A guy in Australia mated a 3.6 to a 6speed from a newer c-class plus I think they will use the same motor mounts as any 103 series engine

Last edited by Wolfe190; Jan 26, 2010 at 10:20 PM.
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Old Jan 26, 2010 | 11:39 PM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
^ m104 engine. Same engine as the 2.8l in my car, just with bore/stroke/cam/crank.

Not sure about compatibility between m103 and m104 in terms of engine mounts.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 12:37 AM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
ps2cho I got the book, and read it over the summer well the sections that covers our cars, and no heads are not the only issue, also the fuel system, assuming its the alternator for electrical (no the battery), Tranny shifts when it wants to fluid fine hi or low, and performance wise very very limited to what can be done! I'll invest my money else wear! What do you mean this engine has proven proven and proven?

So whats with the 3.6L engine? What years and models?
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 12:45 AM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
C36 AMG is most likely source. Unless you can find a E36 (not likely, mostly Japan I believe).
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 03:06 PM
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From: Bellingham, Wa
1989 190e
Originally Posted by Saijin_Naib
C36 AMG is most likely source. Unless you can find a E36 (not likely, mostly Japan I believe).
And they are hard to find. AMG only. 286 hp stock I believe

Word on the street is that the ones to look for are 95-96
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 03:30 PM
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lots of cars
Actually a 5.0 ho would be a better option because of the sump on the oil pan and they've been fitted on 190s.
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Old Jan 27, 2010 | 07:27 PM
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300TE / 300E / 300CE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883b7...018A6&index=63
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Old Jan 28, 2010 | 01:36 AM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Why 95-96 Wolf?

I can understand if you have the 94/95 coupe (as you'll have the same HFM fuel management and should have same MAS and Wire harnesses), but even then, the M104 used for the C36 stayed (I believe) the same across the whole run of the C36.

For me, I think it'd be easier to tear down my 2.8l M104 and just build it into the 3.6l M104 using the AMG specs. Won't have to worry about switching from CIS-E to HFM and changing wire harness, etc.
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Old Jan 28, 2010 | 08:08 AM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Oh yeah, you guys are coming around now, LOL!
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Old Jan 28, 2010 | 11:12 AM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Are there any writeups on the 5.0 engine swap?
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 12:02 AM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Its gonna happy guys, a 5.0L engine setup.... I already seen the engine and all from a 94 mustang and of course fuel injection. Now its gonna be a long slow process but will be done!!!
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 12:32 PM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Hah, nuts.

Please, PLEASE detail everything that was needed and post it here. A guide like that is extremely valuable.
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 12:57 PM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Right now I'm looking into seeing what I'd need to do to do 5 speed manual for the tranny!
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 03:04 PM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Wow, this just in.... a guy not far from here on craigslist is selling his engine, tranny, wiring, and all accessories from his 2000 CLK320.... only would be interested if it would be a direct bolt in on the motor mounts and such....anybody knows?
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 08:59 PM
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1989 190e
Definetly not a direct bolt up. V6.
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Old Jan 31, 2010 | 11:51 PM
  #19  
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
close? or need new brackets?
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Old Oct 4, 2010 | 02:27 PM
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"88 300CE- First Year Production
Aight fellas, I got the engine from a 1987 ford mustang that had the 5.0L HO engine supposably from a donor car from ford so because it couldn't get a title and driven on the regular it has under 5k miles.....I wanna post pics but the computer and camera isn't working together, well soon I'll start by driving the car up to the local car wash and power wash the whole underneath and engine bay, then remove the radiator and transmission!
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Old Oct 4, 2010 | 05:44 PM
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1990 300ce 24v I6
Nice :P Plenty of cheap parts to make that engine haul ***.
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Old Oct 4, 2010 | 08:16 PM
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Depends on the day
i smell a win thread.
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Old Oct 4, 2010 | 11:29 PM
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e400
I don't know as much about cars as most of the people on these forums..But if you're complaining about the reliability of the M103 engine,
THEN YOU ARE IN A REAL TREAT WITH THIS 5.0L MUSTANG ENGINE!

Make sure you take good care of the engine and transmission, because it will not be able to handle all of the wear and tear the M103 and M104 engines will.
My friends dad loves mustangs and he has 3 of them, and he was telling my stories about people he knew that have put their cars in NUETRAL reved them up a little, dropped it in drive
AND GUESS WHAT...??

Their transmissions just gave out right then and there..He said one transmission literally just shot parts out all over the place, and they had to get whole new transmissions..
And one of the stories he was telling was about a Mustang, and the other i can't remember.

But anyways, ive put my car in NUETRAL reved it up, dropped it in to drive atleast 10 times in the past year..And my Tranny isnt even noticeable worn at all.

Point im trying to make is...
NO WAY IN HELL IS A MUSTANG ENGINE/TRANNY going to be more reliable than the M103 or M104 engine.
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Old Oct 5, 2010 | 03:19 AM
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Err, yeah, because revving any automatic car and putting into drive is a really good idea....

Why would you do it? If you want better take off, just load up the torque converter and mash the gas....
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Old Oct 6, 2010 | 01:16 PM
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Enzo, my Benzo
I'm contemplating this exact same thing....wanted to do a 2JZ swap instead...
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