W211 AMG Discuss the W211 AMG's such as the E55 and the E63

3.06 gear swap info

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Old May 2, 2023 | 10:30 AM
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E55 AMG
3.06 gear swap info

Hello again to everyone!

I have been looking into, and reading about gear swaps for our cars on these forums. I have a few questions for anyone whos done this or has any advice. what exactly is involved in doing this swap? As far as parts needed outside of the ring and pinion? Around how much have been people been paying all in to do this swap? Ive sourced the ring and pinion from the dodge forums, but would just like to know what Iam getting myself into. As always, thanks for all of your help and insight
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Old May 2, 2023 | 12:53 PM
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mgLipGD
I have the gears but they were done in like 2014/15 and not by myself so I can’t speak to the install and parts needs. I will add that while you have it all apart to think about adding an LSD which I had done at the same time so save on cost down the road. I don’t know what I paid off hand but 2014/15 labor rate surely won’t help you in 2023.

Then make sure you get update TCU and of course TJ Merry is the man for that job hands down.
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Old May 2, 2023 | 02:50 PM
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E55 AMG
Originally Posted by black06c230
I have the gears but they were done in like 2014/15 and not by myself so I can’t speak to the install and parts needs. I will add that while you have it all apart to think about adding an LSD which I had done at the same time so save on cost down the road. I don’t know what I paid off hand but 2014/15 labor rate surely won’t help you in 2023.

Then make sure you get update TCU and of course TJ Merry is the man for that job hands down.
thanks! I hadn’t planned on an lsd , but it looks like I may add that to this as well. Seems like this could be long tube header money lol … I only say that because I’ve only had the car a couple months , and was going through the various options of what I was going to tackle first . Had to tackle maintaince items first, and I ordered a 83mm pulley earlier today. How do you like the gears ??
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Old May 2, 2023 | 08:59 PM
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I have done my own, by myself. You will more than likely need a case spreader to get the carrier back in so you will have to buy/borrow or make one. I did it without and it was a pain but doable.
You will also need a reprogrammed TCU so don't forget that.
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Old May 2, 2023 | 11:33 PM
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Hey I just got a LSD and wanted to try stock gears. So I have have my fully assembled 3.06 geared diff that I’d be interested in selling you. It’s just nice to do it this was as you’ll have minimal down time also I can sell you the carrier bearings and axle seals. I also have a spare TCU let me know
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Old May 3, 2023 | 02:14 AM
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Originally Posted by Kingmarco3
thanks! I hadn’t planned on an lsd , but it looks like I may add that to this as well. Seems like this could be long tube header money lol … I only say that because I’ve only had the car a couple months , and was going through the various options of what I was going to tackle first . Had to tackle maintaince items first, and I ordered a 83mm pulley earlier today. How do you like the gears ??
I am the worst person to ask anything about my trans setup. I rarely drive the car and couldn’t recall the changes from so long ago. To me it just drives like a normal car. I don’t track it even though it’s setup for all that. Except for TJs TCU update which I can tell is a game changer.

Trans Setup
high stall TC
3.06 gears
LSD
TJ Merry TCU
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Old May 5, 2023 | 08:57 AM
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E55 AMG
Originally Posted by W21163
Hey I just got a LSD and wanted to try stock gears. So I have have my fully assembled 3.06 geared diff that I’d be interested in selling you. It’s just nice to do it this was as you’ll have minimal down time also I can sell you the carrier bearings and axle seals. I also have a spare TCU let me know
my goodness I wish I had noticed this post earlier. I would have done this in a heartbeat. I already committed to purchasing the ring and pinion from someone on Lx forums. that sounds awesome though smh. Hell send me a pm with your pricing. I may buy both lol
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Old May 5, 2023 | 10:14 AM
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This place is a joke.
You may regret doing this, I did. I had a 2.82 in mine from an SL55 and ended up going back to the stock 2.65. The only thing it helped was our long 2nd gear, it felt better with the 2.82. The trade-off and problem is both our short 5th gear overdrive on long highway drives and our short 1st gear. I was screaming at 3000 rpm between 85-90mph. First gear is already almost unusable. With the 3.06 it will be completely unusable, you will have no traction and end up even slower than the 2.65. I suppose if you're building a car for roll racing the 3.06 may be ok, but for a regular street car I'd advise against it. I wish I could change the transmission gear ratios to suit our engines better...a longer 1st, shorter 2nd and taller OD, or swap in the newer 7 speed ...now that would be perfect! I suspect MB used the 5 speed ratios they already had for other models without our torque curve to save money. I also removed my wavetrac lsd as it caused more problems than it helped. It made my car slower on the street, and really pissed off the traction control to the point it would slam the throttle shut then slam it back wide open, amongst other issues such as wet traction.
​​​

Last edited by E55Greasemonkey; May 5, 2023 at 10:22 AM.
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Old May 5, 2023 | 10:29 AM
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I never really noticed any big changes with the 2.82 since it was a small step up.The 3.06....for sure. It will definitely change the entire driving characteristics of the car from up shifting to coasting down.
But for me like Greasemonky said,with my roll racing I only use 3rd and 4rth so it "3.06" put me right where I needed to be rpm wise. If I do a 1 mile or 1.5 mile I would go back to the 2.65 or maybe the 2.82.
I would love the 7 speed as that would be a game changer for sure !!
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Old May 5, 2023 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by E55Greasemonkey
You may regret doing this, I did. I had a 2.82 in mine from an SL55 and ended up going back to the stock 2.65. The only thing it helped was our long 2nd gear, it felt better with the 2.82. The trade-off and problem is both our short 5th gear overdrive on long highway drives and our short 1st gear. I was screaming at 3000 rpm between 85-90mph. First gear is already almost unusable. With the 3.06 it will be completely unusable, you will have no traction and end up even slower than the 2.65. I suppose if you're building a car for roll racing the 3.06 may be ok, but for a regular street car I'd advise against it. I wish I could change the transmission gear ratios to suit our engines better, or swap in the newer 7 speed ...now that would be perfect! I suspect MB used the 5 speed ratios they already had for other models without our torque curve to save money.
​​​

what’s wild about this post , is that this is exactly how I thought our cars would have reacted to that gear ratio . But then I purchased an e55 finally, went to the forums , and read all of the great reviews on the 3.06 swap. So let me be clear as to what my goals are and you guys can chime in.

I don’t ever plan on taking the car to the track . If I do, I suppose it will be to dial the car in and see how it reacts to certain future mods I suppose.

80 percent of the “fun” that I have is from a roll . This car will practically live on the highway.

I was looking for bang for buck mods, and maybe even some that would make the car a little unique. For example . I don’t want to put anything smaller than an 84mm pulley on the car, as I want the car to run efficiently without trunk tanks, and all of the other supporting mods etc. I figured I’d go 84 mm, xl exchanger . long tubes, and 3.06 gears and call it a day.

Somebody tell me Iam not crazy lol

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Old May 5, 2023 | 11:10 AM
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If it is going to "live" on the highway maybe the 2.82 is better for you.
Now don't get me wrong, a 3.06 gear with an overdrive transmission is nothing really "crazy" and if you go with a little taller tire like most do you will be fine. Hell my Crown Vic has 3.23 gears with a 4 speed trans from the factory.
But still, leave it alone with stock gears and make a little more power, 80mm pulley, or go to the steeper gears.
Also on a side note the 2.65 gears were/are capable of around 200mph, I have seen documented 192 and 194mph at 6,200 rpm respectively so if you want to go that fast....leave them in . LOL

Last edited by SICAMG; May 6, 2023 at 06:44 AM.
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Old May 5, 2023 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Kingmarco3
what’s wild about this post , is that this is exactly how I thought our cars would have reacted to that gear ratio . But then I purchased an e55 finally, went to the forums , and read all of the great reviews on the 3.06 swap. So let me be clear as to what my goals are and you guys can chime in.

I don’t ever plan on taking the car to the track . If I do, I suppose it will be to dial the car in and see how it reacts to certain future mods I suppose.

80 percent of the “fun” that I have is from a roll . This car will practically live on the highway.

I was looking for bang for buck mods, and maybe even some that would make the car a little unique. For example . I don’t want to put anything smaller than an 84mm pulley on the car, as I want the car to run efficiently without trunk tanks, and all of the other supporting mods etc. I figured I’d go 84 mm, xl exchanger . long tubes, and 3.06 gears and call it a day.

Somebody tell me Iam not crazy lol
3.06 is better suited for lower speed racing, the c55 and c32 have 3.06 gears and they aren’t conducive for highway use. 3000rpm at 80 mph.
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Old Jul 11, 2023 | 11:58 PM
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07' E63
Since the “powerband” kicks-in starting at 3000rpm as found on the M156’s, their 7-Speed 722.9 Tranny paired with a Swapped-in 3.06 Final Drive Gear w/LSD gets me right at 55mph @ 3000rpm in 4th, 78mph @ 3000rpm in 5th, just where it needs to be!
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Old Apr 19, 2024 | 03:31 PM
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2004 sl55 amg
Originally Posted by Kingmarco3
Hello again to everyone!

I have been looking into, and reading about gear swaps for our cars on these forums. I have a few questions for anyone whos done this or has any advice. what exactly is involved in doing this swap? As far as parts needed outside of the ring and pinion? Around how much have been people been paying all in to do this swap? Ive sourced the ring and pinion from the dodge forums, but would just like to know what Iam getting myself into. As always, thanks for all of your help and insight
I know this post is old but im currently in the process of doing this myself should have everything here next week what I did was purchase a complete rear differential from an 2009 sl63 that came with a limited slip and 3.06 gears then purchased a TCU put of a 2004 clk55 because they came with the same 5 speed transmission and factory 3.06 gears so should keep the car from going into limp mode. Also if I'm not super happy with the swap I have all my original stuff to put it back to stock. Can post an update after the work is completed. But I'm not expecting this to be like adding a 73mm pulley but should be a decent kick up and should still cruise around 2550 rpms at 80 on the highway.


My bad I thought this was a r230 forum imagine you could do the same tho.

Last edited by Seanmac; Apr 19, 2024 at 03:37 PM. Reason: Wrong car
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