StevethePilot

Does anyone know what it would take to swap out the V6 in my GL 320 CDI for the V8? I mean, is it truly that prohibitively expensive?

nynd

Is it doable - I'd say yes! You would probably need a motor, cataylic system and engine ECU/PCM and wiring harness. Costly - yes, I think if you can find a complete setup at a wrecker you could do it. Honestly, I'd say you probably have better luck selling this the diesel and picking up a gas version. As well, you'd need a gas version cluster (as the rpm's are different as well as diesel glow plug telltales etc).

Other thing in doing something like this would make the truck difficult to sell. Just imagine the questions and then when its in need of repair, imagine that going into a dealership (if the individual isn't handy).

Fourdiesel

Did you mean a GAS V8? or the 420CDI from Europe?

pteam

why? it would cost $10,000 + if you really want more power (less mpg) maybe a bigger turbo or ecu boost?

BlownV8

What do you not like about the 320 CDI engine?

Joyride

I would love to see the V8 Diesel engine in NA. Don't know why they wouldn't sell it here. They sell it in all other markets. That was the reason why i bought the 550 initially (when the GL was my primary driver), with the hope that they would eventually get the V8 Diesel here. But they never did, and it doesn't look like they ever will... So i did trade the 550 for the 350 BLUETEC, but only after I gave it to my wife.

LEOSOPHIE

Reminds me of the 1970's when the 5.7 liter Oldsmobile diesels blew up and were replaced by 5.7 liter Chevrolet gas engines. I was stupid enough to own 3 of them in Chevy trucks.

justthebest

I'd echo the point about the tune / other modifications if power is your concern. I think the combination of 1) cost of parts, 2) time spent to figure out if this is even physically possible, 3) time spent on tracking down reasonably priced replacement / substitute parts, 4) finding a shop that's competent enough to pull this off, etc. etc. etc. wouldn't outweigh the cash lost in trading up / over to a GL550.

Max Blast

Think he means to swap in the 420CDI motor, folks. Frame the discussion appropriately.
I think it'd be easier to import a 420 and federalize it.

njb8199

I would LOVE to have a GL420CDI. I would think that it would be prohibitively expensive to import it, depending on what they use to value the vehicle at the point of importation and then servicing it would be another headache unto itself.

500 lb/ft TQ would be lovely to have though.

StevethePilot

ECU, nope. Bigger turbo? Kaboom. So tell me why it would cost $10,000+?

StevethePilot

Of all people, I wouldn't have expected you to ask me that question! Fellow kerosener!

StevethePilot

It's not ... big? I'd like the extra torque and HP. Without going the "let's push it well beyond the design limits with 'programming' <wink-wink> or a Kirby Vacuum Cleaner motor bolted to it".

PS The ECUs and add-ons have always been, at best, questionable in their actual performance increases.

StevethePilot

I actually read somewhere they're phasing out the V8 diesel altogether because it doesn't sell as well ... in markets where 8 cylinders never sell well anyway. Unbeflippinleivable.

StevethePilot

You're kidding, right? Have you actually looked in to the process of importing a car not already permitted in the US? I was going to try and import a Land Cruiser diesel before I bought the GL. Same chassis, easily swappable bumpers/shocks/lights, simply not permitted. I was actually about to import "parts" (the front end of a Cruiser from Australia) before I gave up.

StevethePilot

Precisely my thoughts. But importing a car that is less than 25 years old (at the time of manufacture) and is not on the "list" to be allowed to be imported is just not allowed. The closest I could get would be if I were a diplomat who owned one when I came to the U.S., brought it over for my own use only and took it home with me rather than selling it.

The true mo%#$^$*I@*er of it is that the damned things are assembled in country! They have the engine here! If one were to, say, fall off the truck ...

Max Blast

Yes. And I still think you'd be less worse off going that route. One's a much bigger PITA than the other, but both alternatives will be painful at best.

mdadgar

Umm, no, they are not. It's trivially easy to get a LOT more power out of a turbocharged engine. Trivially. You just decide how much longevity you want to give up in exchange for more power now and you set the boost level accordingly. The V6 TD will have a relatively low ultimate power limit as these things go due to the very small turbos used (current turbo BMW 6 cylinder issues have the same "problem" - BMW also chose small turbos to give a very linear power deliver experience at the expense of absolute power generation ability).

NA engines are a totally different story - I agree with you here.

- Mark

Fourdiesel

Whew!! I thought for a moment I was going to have to call the mental health folks!!

StevethePilot

Okay, so ... I'm currently over 100,000 miles in a 2007. How much longevity do I have versus how much should I give up? Chances are a "significant" boost in power will result in an exponentially more "significant" drop in life expectancy, especially at this point. Then there's the fact that, as you stated, the V6 will have a relatively low ultimate limit anyway. Hmm, sounds like the kind of thing that makes a guy want a V8 instead!

BlownV8

Just trade it in and get the V8 model and call it a day. In the end, if you modify your vehicle, you will have a Frankenstein with little to no resale value and possible registration issues. It will be cheaper to get one the way if was made from the factory.

The second option is get the Kleeman KD box and see what it will handle. I don't think it will affect the longevity of the engine by any significant measurement. If you don't like the power after the KD box, sell it and get a 550 or 450.

mdadgar

No arguments there - I was just pointing out the misconception about tuning software and turbos.

I'd love a V8 diesel myself. My old 2002 Duramax pickup was spectacular and that only had 300hp/520lb-ft. They are up to 397hp/765lb-ft now out of the same displacement!

I've often coveted the V12 turbodiesel that VW put in the 45-state Touaregs some years back, too.

- Mark

pteam

I still stick by my comment that it would cost $10k+ to take the engine out, buy a new bigger engine and put it in especially at a shop charging $100 an hour labor or something like that. Plus signifcant downtime.

If you want more hp buying a 550 might be a better option, but honestly who needs more HP in a 7 passenger SUV? If you want more hp and actually be able to use it I suggest buying a sports car. Heres one of mine you might like:

800 horsepower supercharged v10. I spent well more than 10k just supercharging and engine work, not actually replacing the whole motor.

StevethePilot

Drool-drool-drool! Unfortunately the Touareg wasn't (at the time) a large enough vehicle for me. But oh that V12!

STP

StevethePilot

If you watch this and this, you'll see why short of more towing capacity the GL320 is about the perfect vehicle for me. This guy's got a nice Airstream, I'd like a slightly heavier one.

Blown, I know you love your V8s, and I do to, but I'm more interested in "oomph" than "vroom" when it comes to my SUV.

Oh, and seriously? A Vette? Nah. Pony car for me.