Moving 05 CDI engine/transmission to 05 E320 wagon - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

engatwork · #1 06-05-2013, 06:56 PM

I'm thinking about purchasing a crashed 05 E class CDI and put the engine and transmission in the E320 wagon I just purchased. Plans are to try to pick up the whole car to make sure I get the electronic bits, wiring harness etc... Any thoughts on the subject regarding the electronics part of the swap. Does anyone know if the wiring harnesses are interchangeable between the two where all I'd have to do is swap the puter?

pawoSD · #2 06-05-2013, 07:35 PM

I would imagine the harness for a CDI would be quite a bit different from a gasser. I do however, highly support this swap! You'd have the only diesel wagon post 1987 out there! Or one of the only anyway....

ROLLGUY · #3 06-05-2013, 07:45 PM

It would be a very ambitious project for sure. I can't imagine that the complete wire harness from the front seats forward would not be able to be switched. The only thing that might be different would be the length of the wiring that is wagon specific. If there is a wiring connection between the front and rear of the car (unlike the 123's), you should be golden. If both engines, dash boards, seats and carpet were removed from both cars, it should be pretty easy to put the Diesel harness in the gas chassis. Be aware that the key and ignition switch may have to go with the wiring, computer, and engine. Keep us posted if you do decide to do this, it sounds fun!

grease lightnig · #4 06-05-2013, 08:44 PM

The point of this is to spend lots of money so that you can prove that you can do it. Are you doing this to run WVO because you drive 200 miles a day carrying a lot of stuff. Other wise it would be a lot more practical to buy an 07 R class or ML diesel.

Converting Gas cars to diesel is a money loosing proposition on almost every front. And you are talking about two expensive cars.

I will say Mercedes has lots of engines in the same car and they could not make different wiring for all of them. I am willing to bet that the computer will just plug into the fuse box the dash will also just plug in and the engine harness already goes to the just installed computer.

It might actually be better to buy a very used CDI. Unless you can find the perfect wrecked from behind 05 CDI. If you buy a used one you can install the gas engine in the diesel and resell it to cover some of the cost. Assuming your time and talent is worth it. Good Luck I want to see pictures. Block off the EGR while the diesel is out of the car disconnect the cooler also.

moon161 · #5 06-05-2013, 09:20 PM

Rule out potential legal problems wherever the car will be registered. I hear some register under a 'flag of convenience' w/ a friend or address across state lines when possible or necessary.

engatwork · #6 06-05-2013, 09:26 PM

I'm in the process of cleaning the sludge out of the existing engine and have not made up my mind yet. Car is showing right at 200k miles and has not been treated very well in regards to oil changes. Since starting to clean things up it has started to smoke on start up and acceleration. It is going to at least need valve stem seals I suspect.

Skid Row Joe · #7 06-06-2013, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engatwork

I'm in the process of cleaning the sludge out of the existing engine and have not made up my mind yet. Car is showing right at 200k miles and has not been treated very well in regards to oil changes. Since starting to clean things up it has started to smoke on start up and acceleration. It is going to at least need valve stem seals I suspect.

I'd start looking for a right year model wrecked W211 with what looks like an untouched good V6 gas power plant in it - at the very most in a R&R engine project on that car.

Alastair · #8 06-06-2013, 06:18 AM

Forget it! Be Cheaper And more practical for you to Import a Proper diesel car version!

EVERY electronic device, ALL the wiring,--in fact, practically everything would need to be changed over.
--Things like the electronic dashboard, the Transmission with all its electronics, All 'body' electronics ABS, Climate, ARB and whatever else its got etc....

The 'Gasser' and Diesels are made on completely different production-lines. There are huge differences.
Mercedes use different wiring-looms for practically every vehicle, nothing much is similar between the two subject vehicles.

All the electronics communicate by CAN-BUS, and if something is missing/wrong then the system either shuts down (No Start) or goes into limp-home. All the electronics 'black-boxes' are 'coded'

Dont waste your time and money trying to convert a 'late' Gasser to CDi--Pointless! Guys have tried putting CDi into different vehicles, Ive never heard of a successful transplant yet,--Except the Blutec W201 190 that Mercedes-Benz themselves made.....

ONLY option would be a stand-alone engine computer that will also comm up with the existing electronics, as far as I know--such a device does not exist.

You would have MUCH more luck in using the earlier OM.606 engine, at least That can be made to run Without electronics,--but you will still have all the trans and body-electronics to worry about--without the engine-ECU they would all shut-down....

engatwork · #9 06-06-2013, 08:03 AM

Thanks for the reality check. I did not realize there was that much difference.

clacker · #10 06-06-2013, 09:42 AM

Even Mercedes commented themselves when they made the 190E with a modern CDI, saying it was a monsterous task to have all the systems communicate. CanBus systems need everything installed and functional or things go down, meaning no communication making diagnostics very hard to get it running.
There are europeans making stand alone systems for the engine management, it is in its infancy yet and very expensive ($thousands) but it does exist now, mostly for boat repowering and offroad vehicles it seems.
It would probably be easier to graph a wagon body onto the sedan chasis then to repower it...or just buy an R class cdi. I
t would be much easier to install a pre CDI diesel engine, no worry about modules and wiring, it could be done easily enough.

layback40 · #11 06-06-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

Forget it! Be Cheaper And more practical for you to Import a Proper diesel car version!

EVERY electronic device, ALL the wiring,--in fact, practically everything would need to be changed over.
--Things like the electronic dashboard, the Transmission with all its electronics, All 'body' electronics ABS, Climate, ARB and whatever else its got etc....

The 'Gasser' and Diesels are made on completely different production-lines. There are huge differences.
Mercedes use different wiring-looms for practically every vehicle, nothing much is similar between the two subject vehicles.

All the electronics communicate by CAN-BUS, and if something is missing/wrong then the system either shuts down (No Start) or goes into limp-home. All the electronics 'black-boxes' are 'coded'

Dont waste your time and money trying to convert a 'late' Gasser to CDi--Pointless! Guys have tried putting CDi into different vehicles, Ive never heard of a successful transplant yet,--Except the Blutec W201 190 that Mercedes-Benz themselves made.....

ONLY option would be a stand-alone engine computer that will also comm up with the existing electronics, as far as I know--such a device does not exist.

You would have MUCH more luck in using the earlier OM.606 engine, at least That can be made to run Without electronics,--but you will still have all the trans and body-electronics to worry about--without the engine-ECU they would all shut-down....

X2,
I was trying to think of a nice way of saying this Alastair but you beat me to it. Even the gas fuel pump will be a problen so there goes the idea that all will be the same in the back end. Drive by wire is great as long as you dont wish to change it in any way.

ROLLGUY · #12 06-06-2013, 10:08 AM

If we are talking two identical cars except for the seating arrangement (sedan vs wagon), then I don't see why it could not be done. Yes we are talking about changing EVERYTHING over except the sheet metal body! As I said earlier (not the same words), it would be an enormous task, but I still believe it could be done successfully if both cars were side by side, and each part from the donor vehicle removed properly and tagged, and then installed in the wagon. This is not rocket science. Again, the only difference I can see with the wiring from the sedan, is the lack of length for the wagon. Everything else should just change over from the donor sedan to the wagon without modification in any way. If you have the $ to purchase a wrecked (rear, side or mild front damaged) sedan, and the ambition to take on a project like this, it is my opinion that you should do it! I know if I had the same thoughts that you have had about this, I would have no problem taking on a project like this if the $ and space and time were available to me. That is just me of course. The problem with some of my projects is just that, a lack of $, space, and time.......Rich

Alastair · #13 06-06-2013, 10:27 AM

Well--NOTHING is Impossible!

But--Bloody Difficult!

There is one glaring issue in your plan.....

The SLS System.--Assuming the estate has SLS of course....

No doubt--This is 'electronic' on the newer cars, rather than just a Hydraulic system--Like what I'm used to!!

Not sure of the features of these new cars--But I believe there is all suspension/body electronic management...?

Maybe earlier SLS could be adapted to the estate-car, or somehow the original SLS modified to allow it to run the 'diesel' control system....

I dunno--Seems a whole load of trouble, I know I wouldn't even think about it--except on a gloomy Monday afternoon's daydream!

ROLLGUY · #14 06-06-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastair

Well--NOTHING is Impossible!

But--Bloody Difficult!

There is one glaring issue in your plan.....

The SLS System.--Assuming the estate has SLS of course....

No doubt--This is 'electronic' on the newer cars, rather than just a Hydraulic system--Like what I'm used to!!

Not sure of the features of these new cars--But I believe there is all suspension/body electronic management...?

Maybe earlier SLS could be adapted to the estate-car, or somehow the original SLS modified to allow it to run the 'diesel' control system....

I dunno--Seems a whole load of trouble, I know I wouldn't even think about it--except on a gloomy Monday afternoon's daydream!

You do have a point there. That definitely throws a wrench in the works.