Ggo

Just got this in a couple days ago, my buddy sold this to me for nothing. Of course it's. It running, #6 lost all compression, he seems to think it's the head gasket. It has a M103 in it currently but I was playing with the idea of putting a 2jz GTE VVT and trans (auto) in it. This will be a labor of love so logic goes out the door. I've combed the threads for my specific vehicle and found a few very old threads, it's 2017 and I need up to date info from people who are experienced in this arena. I want to know what I would need to accomplish this apart from the mounts which I've sourced on eBay so getting the thing in shouldn't be too crazy. Electronics, AC, etc..... is where I'm lacking solid info.
Can anyone help?

QVHK

I think it would be a huge challenge and a money pit trying to fix this car which might have been idling for years with original problems further complicated by neglect, aging and weathering. Your safest best is simply find a good used M103 engine to renew this CE's life. If you are going to replace the original engine with an extraterritorial one then you should go to those forums that help people with extreme conversions, where there are no limits, money is no object and determinism drives everything, like implanting a Corvette engine onto a Jaguar...... A forum member here <marque> dropped a Mazda RX7 1jzgtze vvti engine onto a W124. Look up his post in the picture thread.

Ggo

I still desire to do this swap, I know it’s possible and it would be a great accomplishment. I expect it to be challenging but that’s the reason I’m doing it in the first place. I just need some guidance. I’ve seen a few past threads but no real info or details, I just need some real info on this swap.

QVHK

Judging from the level of recent participation in this 124 chapter, I am afraid you may be disappointed. The W124 is nearly 30 years' old and on and off I am amazed how the younger generation would be attracted to the W124. It is heavy and prone to all sorts of problems due to past neglects, abuse, or mindless modifications. Nevertheless, there are still enthusiasts trying to turbocharge the W124 to claim nearly 1000 PS (search for TurboBandit). However, trying to implant a non-Mercedes engine onto the W124 is entirely another territory. If you yourself has no engineering expertise, this project would be a wild gamble. Although when money is no object, there is still an opportunity cost of investing the money onto a more certain project where you have access to the necessary professional help, workshop support, etc. Good luck to you whatever your decision.

Ggo

Well you are right, I’ve loved the look of the coupe 300ce since I was a child. It’s a beautiful car. I am an engineer by trade and I’ve done swaps before but it was Toyota to Toyota. Currently the engine has 268000 miles and a blown head gasket. The swap to 2jz is not popular for this car in the states and it would be fun to do, but I see your point. My other option is to fix my current engine and keep her running for a while more. I also stand corrected, I have the early version of the M104 engine 1991 300CE. I am still torn, I know it’s going to be difficult, they sell the mounts in thailand so I know it can be mounted based on extensive research, but still you do have a point. $$ being the deterrent. I know once I go into this swap it’s going to be a $ pit. You seem knowledgeable, how do you like your Benz? What kind of mods did you do on yours?

QVHK

I too love the C124 body lines so have restored one inside out.

Modifications-wise, I have replaced the 3.07 differential with a 3.46 one so the engine is more responsive and more suited to the terrain in Hong Kong; I also replaced the auto-transmission with a 5-speed manual gearbox - it totally transforms the car. The key is to find a donor car with all the necessary hardware (pedal box, flywheel, propeller-shaft, etc.). I also upgraded the front brakes to E320's, i.e. larger rotor with 4 pistons. The good thing sticking with W124 and Mercedes parts is most parts are interchangeable W124, W126, W201, - I heard you can even install a 6-speed gearbox from the M111. The main consideration is the bell housing, but I heard in the US you can practically mix and match extending your choice across many brands. I too wanted to turbocharge my M103 (the M103 has more room, literally and virtually) for modifications than the M104. However, there are too many constrains in Hong Kong - availability of parts, professional expertise (the masters of the golden era have all retired), and some excessive modifications can cause troubles with the authorities. So I am satisfied with the current state of my CE. Appearance-wise, I purposely kept the Lorinser style as AMG would be too common. I have white dials on my instrument cluster to blend with the car's colour. Being a RHD makes it very rare in this part of the world.

Well, there are many unknown resources of rare W124s and used parts in South East Asia (Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Japan) but be very careful when shopping from these regions. On body-parts, there are many after-market copy-cats which I heard are cheap but of poor quality. You will have better luck trying to source parts from Germany and Europe as a whole.

Ggo

Thanks again for your insight, I am impressed by the knowledge you have on the W124, this is the reason forums are created so people like you can share your knowledge with the rest of the world. Thank you for taking the time to respond. Ultimately my main goal is to fully restore my CE to its former glory, I like the mods you did, do you have pics of the car? I would love to see how it looks.

QVHK

There are a few pictures of my CE in post #3085 under the Sticky W124 E-Class Picture Thread. The engine was also overhauled a few years back, and you will be surprised why new, genuine parts are still abundantly available for the W124, as it was a model that was successfully sold in huge volumes all over the world across many regions over a decade, from 1984 to 1996. With proper care and maintenance by real enthusiasts, it is highly likely that the W124 will outlast many other modern classics. There are so many on-line resources about W124 maintenance and repair, where there are virtually no stones unturned, that DIY is always possible as least in terms of initial diagnostic and first line fixing.
I also wish to suggest that you pause and think about it before embarking on a huge project. I guess classics are not your cup of tea, but instead of spending time and money on restoring an old dog from scratch, you can perhaps find one that is ready for performance upgrades and personalization. Occasionally there are some gems of well-loved W124s coming onto the market at reasonable prices. The car you now have can become a parts car. I believe it is not mechanically sound and the bodywork is a nightmare to the body shop.

Ggo

Apart from the body and engine, the interior is fine, just needs some Love. The 2jz swap is an ambitious project that will require time and $$$$$. My other option is to just pull apart the head and change the gasket etc...... Get her running and focus on getting the body and interior up to your status. Your car is beautiful by the way, that’s how clean I envision my 300ce to be. I got her from a friend for a very cheap price, he practically gave it to me for free. The head gasket work I can do by myself, Just time really. But I can’t get that 2jz swap out of my head. the garage in that video is located in Malaysia and they install 2jz in everything over there including W124. But like you said, it will cost time and $$$$. Just how much I don’t know.

QVHK

Passion is what drives everything. The M104 stock performance is 214 PS plus and minus aging and traditional performance upgrades like airbox, exhaust, etc., but such would still be way below your intended level with the 2jz. The CE has a very strong cage and chassis, even heavier than its 4-door version because of the reinforcement to achieve a frameless window. I guess as you have an engineering background, you would pursue modifications rationally and knowing the critical numbers and limits. I understand from past discussions that the W124 chassis and gearbox would be able to handle 500 PS; to go beyond would be to do it at your own risk. The US is the land for crazy modifications so if you bump into the right minds you might be able to pursue your 2jz-in-CE dream.

Ggo

So the removal of the blown M104 has been completed, motor mounts for the 2jz swap are on its way, I’ll post pictures when they come in. I’ve seen this swap done by members in the past, I’ve contacted them to no avail. My main issue is the wiring, once I have the 2jz vvti in I’ll start the wiring process. If anyone has any info on the wiring, that would be really helpful. I’m getting the 2jz wiring diagram, I don’t have the 1991 300CE wiring diagram as of yet.

killme613

Hi! Any news on this project? looks promising. I too am in the process of restoring a CE that was not taken very good care of.

marques

Wiring is not too bad. Just take your time. I wired my 1j vvti to my 300ce. I used the 1j ecu to run car and tap in the existing harness for the guages such as water temp and tachometer etc. I did mine thru trial and error. I' be happy to help but I'm not on here to often... I have a bunch of toddlers to look after.

marques

this should help

teahead

Would be a shame to do all that work only to stick another automatic transmission in it.

marques

With the automatic its a little slow off the line with my 3.27 gears (upgrading soon to 3.69) but I'm spinning my wheels once boost hits. Once I get my shift kit installed and my hi stall TC it will be just as fun as a stick. There are a bunch of JZX100's automatics( 1jzgte vvti_- that's what I'm running) running 10-11 sec 1/4 miles.

teahead

WHere'd you get your wiring diagrams?

Really would like some for a 94 e320. Mainly for the seats (both power and heat circuits).

marques

Just browsing the internet....

ohollenbeck

Start here, website of gxsr, member here and on the 500Eboard forums.

http://www.w124performance.com/

start searching through his documents, amazing the stuff he has cataloged and made available for all to use.

gxsr is among the elite of Mercedes knowledge base...

Ggo

anomander

how’s the swap going?