So one my friends that knows a ton about cars was talking to me about Mercedes (which is an area he really doesn't know much on) and said that he would put an engine from a Lexus LS400 into a Mercedes. I told him that would be pointless if the Mercedes engine still worked but then I thought that perhaps if you had a Mercedes missing an engine or has a blown one (beyond repair, or would cost too much to warrant a rebuild) that maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea, although a purist wouldn't appreciate that. So what would your feelings be on a Mercedes with out a Mercedes engine? I know Jaguars without Jaguar engines are common and I have seen Ferraris without Ferrari engines.

One of the baddest w123 cars I have ever seen had a small block hot rod Ford engine. It was built right and looked good. The thing you have to watch for on the 123 cars is the front cross member that will interfere with the oil pan on most engines.

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Jim

The engine in a Mercedes is the most durable part. If you have a bad one you should be able to find a salvage engine that bolts in without having to modify it.

A benz with a lexus engine? I suspect it would not be appreciated by either group. An unloved orphan puppy.

Hell, the cost to adapt it to the mercedes would pay for a good used benz motor.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have seen a lot of such jobs, toyota, nissan, isuzu diesels in 115, 116, 123 and 126 chassis - it may excite you for a moment, but honestly there is something about a MB engine in a MB chassis that completes the car. Even a miserly and slow 240D is enjoyable compared to a Toyota 1KZ-TE 240D.

All such cars have ended up as basket cases.

For gas engines I have seen toyota 2JZ-GTE engines put into 300E and E320 124 chassis and 201 chassis - useless venture, toy engine in a toy car works OK - for the amount spent one could have bought a used M104 engine and worked it up.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

As long as it makes you go faster it's fully acceptable It's only when it doesnt when things get realy weird...

I think the main reason why people put non MB engines in to MB chassis is the availability of performance parts. I've seen a 2JZ in a 190E before, and honestly I thought it was pretty cool. Plenty of aftermarket parts for the engine, and it was insanely fast.

If it makes you happy, do it.

^^ what bugs me is that why go through a hair pulling session when you can buy a cressida and literally drop a 1JZ in there or use a shoehorn and drop a 2JZ in there. Its built to accept the JZ engines.

You dont eat elephant meat as steak, you eat beef from a cow as steak.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)

I can't imagine an upside to this.

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Chief

1991 350SD

Well I'm not planning on doing this as right now i am just looking to save up my money to buy my first car, probably a Mercedes diesel, which obviously will not be very fast. But maybe in the future I would consider it, but I would still rather have a Mercedes powered Mercedes

Someone here in Houston was selling a 1982 500sel with a ford 302 with 4 spd,didnt last but 2 days on CL, would of liked to of seen and test drive that one and for $1500. it sounded like a deal .

Engine swaps have there place, but I would not want to swap a diesel MB motor out since it really is the main reason I have the car.

I have seen some nice SBF swaps though, pretty cool but I'd pass. As far as swapping a Lexus motor in HE11 NO!

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82 MB 300TD, 87 Audi 4000TQ, 05 Audi A4 avant 1.8T 6spd (Wifes), 63 356C, Samurai VW 1.6TD, 71 NSU 1200C, 71 Toyota Hilux, tractors and junk

Its your car, do what ever you want.

I probably wouldn't do any of these swaps to a Mercedes because I find the engines they come with to be just fine. But I was going to swap in an Eagle Premier 3.0 into my Delorean and someone did a full on custom 2jz swap(FL guy to boot!)

Many older Benz sedans aren't that valuable, so If a properly-done engine swap can preserve the car, rather than see it go to the crusher, I have no problem with that.
Occasionaly, I thought about swapping a small-block Ford V8 & tranny into my rusty, tired automatic 240D, as that car wasn't a feasible rsstoration candidate. But I was able to sell it as is for a decent price. Hopefully, I won't need to consider any engine replacements for one of my nice diesels.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

I California I don't think you are allowed to put another make of Engine into a Car.

You might get away with putting a Gas Engine into a older Diesel Mercedes because there is no bi-annual Emissions test. And, I doubt it the City Police woud notice.

A non-mercedes Gasoline Engine in a Gasser Mercedes would be caught at the next Emission Test.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Here in Northern Virginia, no emission test for any vehicle 25 years and older, or diesel vehicles built before 1996.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW