SL/R129: 1994 sl500 v12 swap
#1
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1995 sl500
1994 sl500 v12 swap
I came across this engine at a junkyard that is selling a 1992 sel600 v12 engine for $600. The engine runs fine but it has a blown head gasket (80K miles). The guy said he will include the engine, transmission, all the computers and wiring harness and the throttle body actuators for $600. So...before people all start screaming at me saying I will need a transmission, I will have to rebuild throttle bodies, I need to find computers..yada yada yada...its going to be alot of money might as well buy a sl600....Heard it before and I want to try something different and maybe see if this is a feasible option considering i will be provided EVERYTHING I need for the swap. Yes I know i will have to rebuild throttle bodies and most likely wiring harness, but for $600 is it worth it?? Besides the obvious things like engine mounts and exhaust manifold...obviously not the same....would this basically be plug and play??
Also I am a DIY'er so I can do most of this stuff myself and from watching videos I will most likely have a MB mechanic time the engine as i dont think i feel like bending some valves in those heads..
Opinions???
Also...A decent runing driving sl600 is around 7k on the low end..and those have more than 100k miles and I got my sl500 for 1k and it has 91k. Done some repairs myself and im at 2.1k now so im about 5-6k out from a (in my opinion) heavily used sl600...and to be completely honest I doubt those throttle bodies have been rebuilt so just for insurance I would need at least those done and thats around $700-1000 for the pair, and maybe a couple other misc things so its more like 8k.. I imagine since I will be provided everything I should only end up spending 3K to do the swap??? And im including the throttle and engine harness rebuild in that quote.
I would prefer some constructive opinions good and bad...
Also I am a DIY'er so I can do most of this stuff myself and from watching videos I will most likely have a MB mechanic time the engine as i dont think i feel like bending some valves in those heads..
Opinions???
Also...A decent runing driving sl600 is around 7k on the low end..and those have more than 100k miles and I got my sl500 for 1k and it has 91k. Done some repairs myself and im at 2.1k now so im about 5-6k out from a (in my opinion) heavily used sl600...and to be completely honest I doubt those throttle bodies have been rebuilt so just for insurance I would need at least those done and thats around $700-1000 for the pair, and maybe a couple other misc things so its more like 8k.. I imagine since I will be provided everything I should only end up spending 3K to do the swap??? And im including the throttle and engine harness rebuild in that quote.
I would prefer some constructive opinions good and bad...
#2
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If the '94 car needs an engine, this may be a worthwhile project. But if I were to invest hours of my time, I might find a difficulty presently unseen.
If the '94 car runs fine and you really want a V-12, selling the '94 and buying what you prefer to own is the path of least resistance to your goal.
If the '94 car runs fine and you really want a V-12, selling the '94 and buying what you prefer to own is the path of least resistance to your goal.
#3
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Too much work, effort and sorting and finding parts to swap a V12 in. Mine as well just buy a clean R129 V12. Even if you do it all yourself is it really worth the time?
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1995 sl500
Ya I get that on the time aspect of everything. I had bought the car from a guy who said he had owned it for some time and was sitting outside in a car port that has a roof but no sides, so basically exposed to everything but the rain and sun. Unfortunately a rat lived in there. I did inspect the vehicle and the only damage I could find is a couple vacuum lines got chewed through. Also it has ABS and ASR light on and from reading the codes the only thing that seems to be causing the ASR and ABS light is:
socket #7: (Idle speed control, electronic accelerator) Right EA/CC/ISC actuator (left cylinder bank) (M16/1), Starter lock-out/backup lamp switch, Closed throttle position contact switch
Socket #8: (base module): Voltage supply for LH-SFI control module interrupted, Voltage supply for accessory equipment control module interrupted, Voltage supply for ABS control module, ABS/ASR control module or ASD control module interrupted.
So as you can see 1 of 2 things is wrong.. either the rat chewed through a wire or the contacts are dirty. Will have to check that becuase the car basically sat outside but I have a feeling a rat chewed through a wire.
Currently the engine only backfires and pops when you crank it over (sometimes it will start and run fine, other times it will start and have a surging idle and run rough) My guess for that issue is the crank sensor but these modules could have something to do with it. No code for the crank sensor though so im not sure. This is primarily why im considering the v12 swap. Engine is good because ive driven it and I can probably sell it for a few hundred maybe and that would basically cover the cost of the $600 purchase price of the v12 engine
socket #7: (Idle speed control, electronic accelerator) Right EA/CC/ISC actuator (left cylinder bank) (M16/1), Starter lock-out/backup lamp switch, Closed throttle position contact switch
Socket #8: (base module): Voltage supply for LH-SFI control module interrupted, Voltage supply for accessory equipment control module interrupted, Voltage supply for ABS control module, ABS/ASR control module or ASD control module interrupted.
So as you can see 1 of 2 things is wrong.. either the rat chewed through a wire or the contacts are dirty. Will have to check that becuase the car basically sat outside but I have a feeling a rat chewed through a wire.
Currently the engine only backfires and pops when you crank it over (sometimes it will start and run fine, other times it will start and have a surging idle and run rough) My guess for that issue is the crank sensor but these modules could have something to do with it. No code for the crank sensor though so im not sure. This is primarily why im considering the v12 swap. Engine is good because ive driven it and I can probably sell it for a few hundred maybe and that would basically cover the cost of the $600 purchase price of the v12 engine
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1995 sl500
Small update:
I got the computer box open, noticed the computer in the back had a blown fuse..Anyone know what this one does? Also does anyone know how to remove the computers? Pulled on it a little and they didnt budge..just want to make sure they are not secured by a latch somewhere
I got the computer box open, noticed the computer in the back had a blown fuse..Anyone know what this one does? Also does anyone know how to remove the computers? Pulled on it a little and they didnt budge..just want to make sure they are not secured by a latch somewhere