W460 Engine swap
I have updated the exterior of my w460 1982 to a full w463a g63 brabus from 2020.
Now interior and engine must we swapped to fit the exterior. Right now a m117 5.0 engine out of a s class w126 is inside with automatic transmission.I am planning to built a M113 or m156 engine in my w460 G class.
I will also take the interior (seats), dashboard and instrument cluster.
I'm considering 4 options as donor vehicle.
ML55 amg pré-facelift (before 2002) W163
- Engine: M113 5.5
- ECU: Bosch ME2.0
- Transmissie: 5G 722.6
- Costs around 3000 euro
ML55 amg facelift (after 2002) W163
- Engine: M113 5.5
- ECU: Bosch ME2.8
- Transmissie: 5G 722.6
- Costs around 4000 euro
ML500 (W164)
- Engine: M113 5.0 (eventually upgraded with a m113 5.5 amg engine afterwards)
- ECU: Bosch ME2.8
- Transmissie: 7G 722.9 (internal TCM)
- costs around 8000 euro
Ml63 AMG (w164)
- Engine: M156 6.2
- ECU: Bosch ME9.7
- Transmissie: 7G 722.9 (internal TCM)
- costs around 13000 euro
What would you suggest as a donor vehicle considering my whishes?
I know that tuning/programming the ME2.8 is easier then ME2.0. how important is this?
Is this swap even possible with the m156 and corresponding ecu?
Hopefully you can help me.
Many thank from the Netherlands!!
I have updated the exterior of my w460 1982 to a full w463a g63 brabus from 2020.
Now interior and engine must we swapped to fit the exterior. Right now a m117 5.0 engine out of a s class w126 is inside with automatic transmission.I am planning to built a M113 or m156 engine in my w460 G class.
I will also take the interior (seats), dashboard and instrument cluster.
I'm considering 4 options as donor vehicle.
ML55 amg pré-facelift (before 2002) W163
- Engine: M113 5.5
- ECU: Bosch ME2.0
- Transmissie: 5G 722.6
- Costs around 3000 euro
ML55 amg facelift (after 2002) W163
- Engine: M113 5.5
- ECU: Bosch ME2.8
- Transmissie: 5G 722.6
- Costs around 4000 euro
ML500 (W164)
- Engine: M113 5.0 (eventually upgraded with a m113 5.5 amg engine afterwards)
- ECU: Bosch ME2.8
- Transmissie: 7G 722.9 (internal TCM)
- costs around 8000 euro
Ml63 AMG (w164)
- Engine: M156 6.2
- ECU: Bosch ME9.7
- Transmissie: 7G 722.9 (internal TCM)
- costs around 13000 euro
What would you suggest as a donor vehicle considering my whishes?
I know that tuning/programming the ME2.8 is easier then ME2.0. how important is this?
Is this swap even possible with the m156 and corresponding ecu?
Hopefully you can help me.
Many thank from the Netherlands!!
Have you ruled out newer M157 and M17x engines?
Ofcourse lots of sensors need to be coded out of the ECU to prevent it from going into limp mode.
At this point im busy to disconnect the ML55 AMG engine with Kleemann supercharger setup to transfer over to the G wagon.
I found out that i can copy all 4 speed sensors from just 1 abs reluctor ring + sensor. Later on i will make the abs system work. But just to make the car drivable.
Now i need to make just 1 abs sensor on my G wagon. Do someone know if the sensor of the output axle from transmission can be measured? If so i could take the signal into a arduino and modify according to diff. ratio. Then I should be able to transfer the engine and trans without any aftermarket wheel speed sensor.
If taking sensor data out of the 722.6 wont work, i can also put a reluctor ring on the axle from transmission to diff and multiply that by the factor of the diff. Making a abs sensor on the drive axle should be easier then to implement an reluctor ring inside the rear axle....? Or does someone know a good method to put abs sensors on w460 axles?
I will keep you updated,
Last edited by BlackMerry; Jul 11, 2022 at 02:46 PM.






