Feasability?- CDI drivetrain swapped into E320 wagon - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ROLLGUY · #46 08-01-2018, 11:02 PM

I am working on getting the wagon smogged, and man what a hassle it is! I am glad I am a Diesel guy, and don't have to deal with this too much!
I started this thread over in Tech Help, thinking it is the best place for it:
2004 E320 no CEL- I found out why, and you won't believe it
I still have two readiness monitors that won't set. The main one is the secondary air system. The users in Tech Help are submitting some helpful info, and I am thankful for that.
2004 E320 drive cycle & secondary air monitor not ready
If anyone here has any ideas, please share them. Thanks, Rich

ROLLGUY · #47 08-03-2018, 03:14 PM

I found out I had a bad secondary air pump relay. I pulled one from my other car and that fixed it!
I will be enjoying the wagon for a while, until I can get everything ready to do the swap........Rich

jay_bob · #48 08-03-2018, 04:57 PM

Yeah the emissions system on a gasser is no fun.

I hate messing with my small engines (lawn mower, generator, power washer). Those are the only gas powered devices at my house. They only get Ethanol Free gas, luckily I am close enough to a recreational lake that the gas station near my house can sell it.

Whenever my wife and I build a house (after the kids get out of school) I plan to install a military surplus MEP-802 or 803 generator just so I can have something diesel powered. I have one of those Home Depot "5 kW" generators on a cart and they are good for running the fridge and a few lights but not much else.

tjts1 · #49 08-03-2018, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jay_bob

Yeah the emissions system on a gasser is no fun.

Really? Emissions on 2000+ gassers in California is rediculously easy since there's no tail pipe test. Just CEL, visual and OBD2 check. You can easily diagnose any problem through OBD2 and w211/w203+ cars have the added advantage that you have access to the proprietary MB codes as well. You basically know if the car is going to pass before you take it in. Pre 2000 gassers need a tail pipe test on top of all that which increases the chance that you'll fail.

97 SL320 · #50 08-04-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

You basically know if the car is going to pass before you take it in. Pre 2000 gassers need a tail pipe test on top of all that which increases the chance that you'll fail.

Yep, it was a real mess to get 70's 80's cars to pass given the stuff barely passed when new and there was no way to pre test unless you had a gas analyzer.

The emissions stations in my state were prohibited from doing a pre test to see if the car was able to pass, it had to go through the test and info reported to the state. I think some of this was to show that dirty cars were being fixed and the program needs to continue rather than " see, the cars are clean all by themselves. "

The only down side to OBD2 testing is trouble code limits are sometimes set too tight. ( 95 - 6 MB had an issue , early 2000 GM truck had cat efficiency trips even with low mile cats. )

sixto · #51 08-12-2018, 05:27 PM

How about a second parts car?

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-mercedes-benzl-cdi/6667706058.html

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

ROLLGUY · #52 08-13-2018, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixto

How about a second parts car?

https://palmsprings.craigslist.org/cto/d/2005-mercedes-benzl-cdi/6667706058.html

Sixto
98 E320s sedan and wagon
02 C320 wagon

Yes, I already saw that in the CL alert thread. I called and have not received a response yet. My friend likes the idea of a W211 wagon so much, he wants one too! This will make a great donor......Rich

vwnate1 · #53 08-13-2018, 11:33 AM

Be *very* cautions here Rich ~ I've been down this road, we're both in California and the AQMD / CARB hates to re certify engine swaps of any typ, more so Diesels from Gassers .

The issue isn't making it pass every emissions test, that's just labor & time and lots of it ~ the # 1 issue is the VIN that tells the State's smog test computer "this car is gasoline" ~ the DMV's computers will know this and even -if- you get the document allowing you to skip the annual smog testing, the DMV's computer will flag it for verification inspection every renewal ~ loose that certificate and you're screwed, no copies allowed and they flat refuse to issue new ones if yours gets lost damaged .

I hate to be a downer here but I've seen many great projects get finished then forced to be scrapped or sold out of state at a dead lo$$ because of failure to understand just how difficult it is to make it legal .

ROLLGUY · #54 08-13-2018, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Be *very* cautions here Rich ~ I've been down this road, we're both in California and the AQMD / CARB hates to re certify engine swaps of any typ, more so Diesels from Gassers .

The issue isn't making it pass every emissions test, that's just labor & time and lots of it ~ the # 1 issue is the VIN that tells the State's smog test computer "this car is gasoline" ~ the DMV's computers will know this and even -if- you get the document allowing you to skip the annual smog testing, the DMV's computer will flag it for verification inspection every renewal ~ loose that certificate and you're screwed, no copies allowed and they flat refuse to issue new ones if yours gets lost damaged .

I hate to be a downer here but I've seen many great projects get finished then forced to be scrapped or sold out of state at a dead lo$$ because of failure to understand just how difficult it is to make it legal .

That is why I will be taking the car to the referee. They will make everything right in the DMV computer. I am now worried about this at all.

vwnate1 · #55 08-13-2018, 12:17 PM

O.K., let us know how it goes .

You're going to have a wonderful car when finished .

You must know the referee ~ some years back I knew a 20 + year old guy who did the station inspections for the state, he was cool and would sign off anything as long as you did it properly ~ most referees have a mandate from above to refuse any fuel swaps no matter what .

Keep us posted .

tjts1 · #56 08-13-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vwnate1

Be *very* cautions here Rich ~ I've been down this road, we're both in California and the AQMD / CARB hates to re certify engine swaps of any typ, more so Diesels from Gassers .

The issue isn't making it pass every emissions test, that's just labor & time and lots of it ~ the # 1 issue is the VIN that tells the State's smog test computer "this car is gasoline" ~ the DMV's computers will know this and even -if- you get the document allowing you to skip the annual smog testing, the DMV's computer will flag it for verification inspection every renewal ~ loose that certificate and you're screwed, no copies allowed and they flat refuse to issue new ones if yours gets lost damaged .

I hate to be a downer here but I've seen many great projects get finished then forced to be scrapped or sold out of state at a dead lo$$ because of failure to understand just how difficult it is to make it legal .

Did you take it to the refferee station first to get the new sticker on the door jamb? Did you use a CARB engine that was the same model year or newer than the chassis?

It's funny, after driving the C320 wagon for a while I find myself in the market for a W211 E500 wagon but for completely different reasons.
https://youtu.be/E4dqCJkdvpA

ROLLGUY · #57 08-13-2018, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

..........................
It's funny, after driving the C320 wagon for a while I find myself in the market for a W211 E500 wagon but for completely different reasons.
https://youtu.be/E4dqCJkdvpA

I think a CDI wagon with the 6 speed would be even better! I imagine this combination is available in Europe. About 18 years ago I went to Germany, and drove around in a Diesel MB 6 speed manual sedan, and it was a rocket ship! I was not into 'Benz's then, so I don't remember what model it was. I do know that it was fast and fun to drive.......Rich

atypicalguy · #58 08-14-2018, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjts1

Did you take it to the refferee station first to get the new sticker on the door jamb? Did you use a CARB engine that was the same model year or newer than the chassis?

It's funny, after driving the C320 wagon for a while I find myself in the market for a W211 E500 wagon but for completely different reasons.
https://youtu.be/E4dqCJkdvpA

That e500 thing in the video looks rather slow. If you're going to swap something, put a compressor motor into it at least.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

sam735 · #59 04-09-2020, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLGUY

I think a CDI wagon with the 6 speed would be even better! I imagine this combination is available in Europe. About 18 years ago I went to Germany, and drove around in a Diesel MB 6 speed manual sedan, and it was a rocket ship! I was not into 'Benz's then, so I don't remember what model it was. I do know that it was fast and fun to drive.......Rich

Did you give up on doing this swap?

ROLLGUY · #60 04-09-2020, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam735

Did you give up on doing this swap?

Thanks for resurrecting this thread! To answer your question, not really, just postponed. I have so many other projects that I have to finish. Another BIG reason is that I have not found a donor car yet. If I find a good candidate, the project may get moved forward.....Rich