I love diesels, my 71 220D has never let me down. My wife and I also have a 90 300E 2.6...Gas... I want to put the 2.5 Diesel Turbo into it. What do I need for this conversion? Can I reuse my transmission or do I also need to change that out. Also where is a good place to find a good used motor, complete?

Thanks

It should not take more than 350 hours to change it.

You must have a full donor vehicle to change = wire harness, engine, transmission, differential, radiator, and electronic modules.

Before you do anything else you should check with your states DMV/RMV and find out about fuel conversions and what the particulars are regarding that. In my state the title is modified when changing fuels, you need to cover the legal bases or you could end up with a decent car that is caught in legal limbo.

Usually at the very least you need an engine from the same model year or newer, you may need documentation of that.

MBs a pretty modular in most respects so having a complete carcass available to cannibalize is the best way, a nice low mileage rear end wreck would be a nice way to go about it!

Why not just buy a decent 300D 2.5 and save yourself the hassle?

__________________

90 300TE 4-M
Turbo 103, T3/T04E 50 trim
T04B cover .60 AR
Stage 3 turbine .63 AR
A2W I/C, 40 LB/HR
MS2E, 60-2 Direct Coil Control
3" Exh, AEM W/B O2
Underdrive Alt. and P/S Pulleys,
Vented Rear Discs, .034 Booster.
3.07 diffs 1st Gear Start

90 300CE 104.980
Milled & ported head, 10.3:1 compression
197° intake cam w/20° advancer
Tuned CIS ECU
4° ignition advance
PCS TCM2000, built 722.6
600W networked suction fan
Sportline sway bars
V8 rear subframe, Quaife ATB 3.06 diff

That has crossed my mind, easier said then done however.


I have checked the rules here for the switch, I looked into it when I was oing to add a 5.9 Cummins to my 62 Dodge... until it was totaled by a girl that hit it while parked.

Best leave the 300E as a 300E & replace it with a diesel.
You dont need the hassle of the conversion & you end up with a cross breed.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I did this in a W201.
One day to pull the tired 2.6 gasser & trans. out of the rust free, so. cal. body.
One day to pull the 2.2 diesel out of the deerslayer
One day to mate the diesel to the gas trans.
One day to install.
It takes twice as long the first time. I could do it again in 2 days.

I already had the diesel donor at no cost. The 2.6 gasser was cheap.

If you have to purchase the donor diesel car, it may be more expensive to do this than it would be to sell the gasser and buy a diesel. If you enjoy this type of project (your sick like me), and have way to much time on your hands (so I've been told), then go ahead. If you are smarter than I, then take the advice of others here and buy a diesel car already made.

__________________
Greg
2012 S350 BlueTEC 4Matic
2007 ML 320 CDI
2007 Leisure Travel Serenity
2006 Sprinter 432k
2005 E320 CDI
1998 SLK230 (teal)
1998 SLK230 (silver)
1996 E300D 99k, 30k on WVO
Previous:
1983 240D, on WVO
1982 300D, on WVO
1983 300CD, on WVO
1986 300SDL 237k, 25k on WVO (Deerslayer)
1991 350SDL 249k, 56k on WVO - Retired to a car spa in Phoenix
1983 380 SEC w/603 diesel, 8k on WVO
1996 E300D 351k, 177k on WVO

I'm sorry, but this struck me as hilarious!

Good assessment, Roy!