W212 / W204 / W205 Limited Slip Diff (LSD) Swap Cross Compatibility
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2011 E63 AMG
[Solved] W212 / W204 / W205 Limited Slip Diff (LSD) Swap Cross Compatibility
Hey all, I recently got a W212 2011 E63 AMG (last year with the m156). As most of you probably know, until recently AMG didn't fit cars with LSDs as standard, so I'm looking to swap one in. I wanted to confirm a couple of things before I drop money on a diff that may not fit.
- The 2010-2011 E63 uses a 2.82 ratio diff and the later 2012-2016 models use a 2.65 ratio - I'm pretty certain of this based on listings for both LSD and non-LSD diffs
- Based on these thread one and thread two, it seems that the diffs on the w204, w205, w212, plus a bunch of other 2006+ Mercedes are all cross compatible from a fit perspective, with the exception of the rear cover which can easily be swapped.
- I'm looking to buy a W205 C63 AMG LSD (these are the easiest to find with low miles in 2022) and swap it into my W212 since both have a 2.82 ratio. Is anyone able to confirm that it will fit, provided that the rear cover is swapped?
Last edited by delfin_driver; Apr 6, 2023 at 01:52 AM. Reason: Solved the issue
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2011 E63 AMG
So I ended up taking the plunge and bought a used LSD from a 2018 W205 C63 AMG. The diff was installed today and fit like a glove. No whines or clunks. Only the diff cover needed to be swapped over.
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I had a shop do it. I do most of the work on the car myself but taking the diff out on these cars requires part of the rear suspension to be disassembled on one side so it's not something that's easy to do at home.
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From: Orange County, CA
W222 S550e, C207 E550, W212 E350
Wow, this is amazing news, I was looking into this but only searching for aftermarket options such as WaveTrac, Quaife, OS Giken. All seems to be discontinued or not compatible with my model. Would you happen to have any info on the ratio diff for my 14' E 550 C207 RWD Coupe? (Based on the W204 platform, but unsure what open diff it uses)
I would be interested in pulling the trigger on this sooner than expected, especially since it is using OEM parts. Which rear cover did you switch to? The 205 one mounted up to your W212? And did you use the fluid specs from the W205? Sorry for the bombardment of questions, but this thread got me excited about an LSD again.
I would be interested in pulling the trigger on this sooner than expected, especially since it is using OEM parts. Which rear cover did you switch to? The 205 one mounted up to your W212? And did you use the fluid specs from the W205? Sorry for the bombardment of questions, but this thread got me excited about an LSD again.
Last edited by S550e; Apr 6, 2023 at 03:58 PM.
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If you don’t mind me asking, what did the shop charge for the install? Also, what did the diff end up costing you? Thanks.
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2011 E63 AMG
Haha it's ok to be excited - unlike BMW, Mercedes LSDs are hard to come by, hence the need for creative solutions. To answer your questions:
- Idk what the ratio is for your E550 but this should be easy to find. Just search for diffs for your car on ebay and you should be able to quickly find the right ratio. I would also confirm that the diff for the E550 is the same as for the W204 C63.
- To clarify my install - I swapped the LSD from a 2018 W205 C63 into a 2011 W212 E63. The only part that was different was the cover so I swapped the original W212 cover onto the W205 diff. The mating surfaces are the same but I believe mounting holes are different. As an aside, the covers look very similar so there's a chance the W205 would have fit on my car but I played it safe and decided not to have the shop experiment more than necessary.
- Fluid specs are pretty universal for all of these clutch type LSDs - 75W140 limited slip oil. In fact even the E39 M5 I had before my AMG used the same fluid. I can't remember the exact MB spec but I used Castrol Transmax Limited Slip 75W140. I think it previously used to be branded as Syntrax.
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The labor for the install was $500 which at a Bay Area shop that charges $220/hr in labor is very reasonable given the amount of work involved. I would also have them inspect/replace the mounting bushings and flange seals while they're in there. In my case, the flange seals on the new diff were damaged and needed replacement.
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E63 AMG
The diff was $990 + tax + shipping. The nice thing about W205 diffs being a direct replacement is that they're still recent cars so finding a nice one is easy. I was choosing between one with 31K miles and 44K miles. Ended up getting the one with 44K miles bc it looked more clean on the outside but the point is that with that kind of mileage you can't go wrong.
The labor for the install was $500 which at a Bay Area shop that charges $220/hr in labor is very reasonable given the amount of work involved. I would also have them inspect/replace the mounting bushings and flange seals while they're in there. In my case, the flange seals on the new diff were damaged and needed replacement.
The labor for the install was $500 which at a Bay Area shop that charges $220/hr in labor is very reasonable given the amount of work involved. I would also have them inspect/replace the mounting bushings and flange seals while they're in there. In my case, the flange seals on the new diff were damaged and needed replacement.
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FWIW I think the M156 cars with the P30 package have a 3.36 final drive but don't quote me on that.
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From: Orange County, CA
W222 S550e, C207 E550, W212 E350
Thanks for the detailed response. After doing some research, I am almost certain that my car shares the same differential with the W204. There aren't any on eBay specifically listed for E 550, but the C207 E350s are the same 2.82. I was also looking at a couple of W205 units and there seems to be a good amount of them. I just have a few more questions before I actually purchase a unit but your help so far has been incredible.
1. Is there any sort of 'rebuild' kit I can look into, just to replace any basic seals or rings around the carrier? Kind of like a 'While you're in there' type of deal?
2. Does the LSD have to be serviced? I intend to keep this car for a while, and I do not want to add any more outrageous service costs. Do the clutch packs need to be replaced? Sorry if I am using the wrong terminology, frankly I don't know a lot about all the types of LSD's but I just know I want one.
And after all this research, the Wavetrac might fit my car after all, and they state 'maintenance-free' and similar terms.
1. Is there any sort of 'rebuild' kit I can look into, just to replace any basic seals or rings around the carrier? Kind of like a 'While you're in there' type of deal?
2. Does the LSD have to be serviced? I intend to keep this car for a while, and I do not want to add any more outrageous service costs. Do the clutch packs need to be replaced? Sorry if I am using the wrong terminology, frankly I don't know a lot about all the types of LSD's but I just know I want one.
And after all this research, the Wavetrac might fit my car after all, and they state 'maintenance-free' and similar terms.
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Joined: May 2022
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From: San Francisco, CA
2011 E63 AMG
Thanks for the detailed response. After doing some research, I am almost certain that my car shares the same differential with the W204. There aren't any on eBay specifically listed for E 550, but the C207 E350s are the same 2.82. I was also looking at a couple of W205 units and there seems to be a good amount of them. I just have a few more questions before I actually purchase a unit but your help so far has been incredible.
1. Is there any sort of 'rebuild' kit I can look into, just to replace any basic seals or rings around the carrier? Kind of like a 'While you're in there' type of deal?
2. Does the LSD have to be serviced? I intend to keep this car for a while, and I do not want to add any more outrageous service costs. Do the clutch packs need to be replaced? Sorry if I am using the wrong terminology, frankly I don't know a lot about all the types of LSD's but I just know I want one. And after all this research, the Wavetrac might fit my car after all, and they state 'maintenance-free' and similar terms.
1. Is there any sort of 'rebuild' kit I can look into, just to replace any basic seals or rings around the carrier? Kind of like a 'While you're in there' type of deal?
2. Does the LSD have to be serviced? I intend to keep this car for a while, and I do not want to add any more outrageous service costs. Do the clutch packs need to be replaced? Sorry if I am using the wrong terminology, frankly I don't know a lot about all the types of LSD's but I just know I want one.
And after all this research, the Wavetrac might fit my car after all, and they state 'maintenance-free' and similar terms.As for other servicing, I was looking into this as well and the information on how long clutch packs last is vague. Some people say they go 40k miles, some say 200k miles. My personal experience has been that the diff on my E39 M5 still locked up at 130k miles, although I can't comments on whether it would have felt better when new. What I can say is that replacing the clutch packs is a pretty involved process and you probably want it done by a professional if you're not already considering it because you need to set the right preload on the clutches and the right backlash on the pinion gear. To that end the labor to get all of these things replaced is a lot. I was quoted a minimum of $1500 in labor to get a diff rebuilt, not including removing/reinstalling the diff in the car, whereas it cost $500 to just swap one in. This is bay area pricing, but still, if you can get a unit with <60k miles, a rebuild makes no sense.
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Was there any issue with the electronic aspect of the w205 diff? Can I just take the electronic solenoid thing off and just use the backplate off the w204? Trying to figure out if I can use the w205 with 2.82 on my w204 but the backplate has the electronic locker on the w205. Can I just take that off and forget about it or is there a special procedure for that????? Please hit me back asap
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2011 E63 AMG
Was there any issue with the electronic aspect of the w205 diff? Can I just take the electronic solenoid thing off and just use the backplate off the w204? Trying to figure out if I can use the w205 with 2.82 on my w204 but the backplate has the electronic locker on the w205. Can I just take that off and forget about it or is there a special procedure for that????? Please hit me back asap
