I came across a M104 engine from a 92 300SL-24V. Is it possible to fit this engine into a 90' 300CE M103. I would also be running an Independent Engine Management system so no issues with engine wiring harness.

Perhaps this has been discussed briefly before but I thought I would seek the opinions of the experts here on the feasibility and ease of doing so since I would be running an Independent Engine Management system with this new engine. Thanks for all input.

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Rgds
Brandon
300CE BRABUS AB4

Yes. A M104 will bolt-up.

:-) neil

Neil, now I remember the C36 project you did. Just a question or two for you.. if I were to use an independent engine management system such as motec or microtech, would i still have to tackle the fussy wiring harness issue?

Also, I guess the transmission would work in sync with the M104 too?

Thanks man.

Rgds

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Rgds
Brandon
300CE BRABUS AB4

Only if you wanted the cruise-control to work, and ABS. I don't know if you can make the ABS work without the factory engine computer.

I would contact Donnie Drummonds of MB Autowerks (sponsor) and ask him.

:-) neil

Alright. Thanks Neil.

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Rgds
Brandon
300CE BRABUS AB4

Doesn't your 300ce come with a 3.0 dual overhead cam engine? The only difference that I'm aware of between the 300ce and 300sl engines are the camshafts which result in 11 extra hp and ? torque in the sl.

Hi there, mine's the early 90' Euro 300CE with the M103 engine 188bhp.

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Rgds
Brandon
300CE BRABUS AB4

it'll fit
tranny bolts right on

if it's a 1990-1992 300CE engine into M103 computer, be sure to get its ECU or buy an aftermarket tach with shift light and program the second set of cams at whatever RPM you want.

mine is set at 3500rpm. leave some cash leftover to bore/stroke it to 3.4L with AMG specs! next mod is turbocharger and install my 190E 2.3-16 5 speed manual tranny. and YES it'll bolt right on too

sorry, but I have to verify that: the transmission from a 2.3-16 (717.404) will bolt onto a M103/M104???

So the manual 5 speed transmission from a W124 300E-24 or a R129 300SL-24 etc. (maybe they never sold it with manual transmission in the USA but here in good ol' Europe ) should bolt onto a M102 as well?

If that is the case, (mostly?) all trannies from M102 and M103/M104 are interchangable...

Many thanks in advance,
bis denn,
Christian

1989 300TE
1984 2.3-16

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I see this thread is 2 or almost 3 months old, but I just looked at it. What's weird is that in the US anyways, the 1990 300CE also had the M104 engine in it, not the 103 like the original post indicated. Lot's of people didn't realize the coupe had that engine in 90 already.

Gilly

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Gilly,

Some parts of the world got models and variants that others didn't. Here in Australia, like in the USA, the 300CE with the M103 was replaced very late in '89 with the M104 version. Here it was even badged 300CE-24 and was standard with 5-speed auto tranny (that I believe yours was not). I believe in some countries both the 300CE and 300CE-24 were available simultaneously for some years. At the same time here in Oz, the 300E-24 (124 sedan with M104) also became available and was sold alongside the 300E (with M103) up until the introduction of the 2.8 and 3.2 litre M104 (with HFM). Some markets also got the 300TE-24 but we did not.

Getting back to the topic of the thread, I find myself asking "why?". As someone who often drives both a 300TE and an E320 coupe, I personally find the M103 superior to the M104 in all respescts except for peak power and torque output. I find the power delivery of the M103 to be more progressive and it is certainaly quieter than the M104 (and also a little easier to work on). As a friend who works as a tech at a local MB dealership once said to me "The M103 was one of the best engines they ever made. A pity they stuffed it when they put the 24 valve head on it". In fairness I should mention that I am only comparing the M103 (3 litre) with the later M104 (2.8 and 3.2 with HFM). I have not driven the early M104 (3.0 with KE) as referred to in this thread. I do have another friend who owned an '87 300E for many years which he thoroughly enjoyed. Eventually he decided to update to a late '89 300CE-24 which he ended up only keeping for a few months, wishing he could have his old 300E back again. Food for thought for those who think the 104 should be better than the 103.

Greg

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124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
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201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.

Greg
Yes, that's why I mentioned "in the US anyways", because I realize MB does things differently in different parts of the world, some countries are less restrictive and MB can try things a little sooner.

Gilly

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trannies are interchangable. the 190E 2.3-16 is not DIRECT bolt on. it'll require some 'mods' to make it fit

what mods are required to fit 190e 5speed into 1990 300E?

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I learned today that the 90-92 s320 came with a five speed. After that till 97 it was an automatic. Will the five speed bolt on to the m104? Of course interior mods would have to be made as well as a clutch fit in. Has this been done? An automatic swapped for a standard in the sl320 series?

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