What is the difference between the engine bay and front end of a 190E 2.3 and a 190E 2.6?
I know that the hood latch bar over the radiator can detatch on the 2.6 and not the 2.3.

The reason I am asking is that I have a 1986 190E 2.3 8v that I am putting a newer engine into. The engine I am putting in is a 3.0L I-6 from a 1986 300E.
I need to know what has to be changed on the front end to make it fit. I know that the radiator and A/C condenser need to be moved forward to accomodate the longer engine.

What do I need to change to make this all happen, and is there anything else that will have to change?

All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Pictures would really help too! Thank you in advance!

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86 190E 2.3 8v 325,000kms (~203,000MI)
86 560SEL 347,000kms (~217,000MI)
88 560SEL 315,000kms (~197,000MI)
89 190E 2.6 175,000kms (~109,000MI)
90 300SEL 360,000kms (~225,000MI)
91 300E 187,000kms (~117,000MI)

Basically the whole front core support is different, and you'll need the 2.6 radiator and condenser. I THINK the firewall is different as well, not 100% on that one.

You need a donor 2.6 car for that swap!

The complete radiator core support area must be changed! Including the hood locking system.

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I looked into this myself ages ago.

The six cylinder 190E (the 2.6) has a different 'slam panel' (the bit the bonnet latches onto), and thus different radiators. So you will need to change the front if you put a six into a 2.3. A have seen it done though and don't think it's a big deal. In an ideal world you would start out with a 2.6, as making that a 3.0 is really not a big deal.

There's discussion of it on www.mercedes190.co.uk and a few members have done engine swaps there, including a 3.2-24v, 3.0 12v, and even changing a 2.0 to a 2.3-16.

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190E's:
2.5-16v 1990 90,000m Astral Silver
2.0E 8v 1986 107,000m Black 2nd owner
http://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall.jpghttp://www.maylane.demon.co.uk/190esmall2.jpg

Thanks for the input everyone! The link has been quite helpful pentoman! I have also found LiVn It UP's engine swap thread to be quite informative. This should keep me busy for a while!

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86 190E 2.3 8v 325,000kms (~203,000MI)
86 560SEL 347,000kms (~217,000MI)
88 560SEL 315,000kms (~197,000MI)
89 190E 2.6 175,000kms (~109,000MI)
90 300SEL 360,000kms (~225,000MI)
91 300E 187,000kms (~117,000MI)

In my researching for this project, I have come across a couple places that say I will need the motor mount brackets for the 2.6 in order to make the 6 cyl engine sit properly...
The motor mount bracket is the part circled in the attached picture, right?
Since I have a whole donor car, will the ones from the 300E work, or will I need to buy parts specifically for the 2.6?

Thanks for your help!

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
86 190E 2.3 8v 325,000kms (~203,000MI)
86 560SEL 347,000kms (~217,000MI)
88 560SEL 315,000kms (~197,000MI)
89 190E 2.6 175,000kms (~109,000MI)
90 300SEL 360,000kms (~225,000MI)
91 300E 187,000kms (~117,000MI)