So what parts can be used from a complete donor 94 E320 as far as updating my 87 300D.

Body parts, suspension, interior?

Have found the donor and hope to go get here at the end of the month (as soon as my kids are our of school) and make a little vacation trip to the beach for them.

Hood, grille, headlights, most of the interior (door cards, seats). Wheels if you want the completely updated look. I don't blame you for wanting to do the switch... I find the facelift W124 to be one of the best looking Mercedes models, ever.

For suspension bits you're better off buying new.

-J

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The front and rear sway bars are interchangeable; check first to see if there is any difference in diameter, either in the middle of the bar or at the ends. The E420 has larger sway bars as has the 320TE, the 500E, and some others, but the 300D and E320 may be the same, since they both have 6-cylinder engines. Stiffness is proportional to the fourth power of the diameter.

Even though many of the parts are the same, the ones from the donor car are seven years newer than your car's parts. That in itself may be an advantage.

The E320 may have a dual aux fan; this can be swapped into your '87 although it is not a trivial project -- you have to pull the radiator and pretty much everything else in that area.

The transmission will probably be sufficiently similar. The E320's speedo should have the same ratio as your '87 but the tach is different, I think.

The E320's climate control system has an air filter that you may want but it may be necessary to swap the entire climate control system, probably not worth the effort. Also note that the facelift models (1994-95) have a different windshield wiper assembly that would have to be swapped too.

If you do the front sheet metal (hood, grille, etc.) you must do it all. The old hood won't work with the new grille, etc. Note the location of the Mercedes star.

The E320 will have a much better stereo with better speakers and a trunk-mounted amplifier. A CD changer is an option for that version, available used on line for less than $100. You will need the entire wiring harness from the donor car. If you are stripping out the interior anyway it would be a good opportunity to install the new wiring. Take lots of pictures as you strip out the radio, accessories, and harness. Remember to get all the speakers. The radio antenna is different; you may want to retain the '87 version.

Your '87 has a glove box while the '94 has a passenger air bag. Moving the passenger airbag to your '87 may not be feasible, I've never tried it. The dash from the 1994 E32 can be modified to accept a glove compartment although you may have to scrounge some parts and do some painting.

Probably more that others will think of.

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Front rotors calipers lca definitely

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My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Great responses thanks!

Donor car is a better looking car than mine. Has the no reverse issue. Too bad I couldn't just swap the engines! But I'm sure that would be a monumental task since the 94 would have all the computer issues etc.

I'll just have to get them side by side and start looking the project over.