I have a 1990 190E 2.6 with a whine int he rear diff. It is very likely the beginning sign of the rear diff going bad or failing...several shops including the MB dealer all agree it is going to need replaced. I asked around and got the bright idea of putting in a used one myself...ya touchy...maybe win maybe get another bad one and loose! In any case the new one that he cheap shop found can be installed next week for only$1850.00 And I dont have any way of coming up w/ $1000 so it is a mute point. WHat I am interested in is ...a guy who seems to know the car says I can swap a 1986 or 1987 resr diff frfom a 190E 16v w/ the limited slip option in it with out any problems...at teh most teh diff flanges would need to be changed. ANy one got any input on this? The car would really beneift from the limited slip in the cold season here in Illinois...ice is not the light weight rear wheel drive car's friend and sometimes we do get caught out in the benz and teh ice sneaks up before we can tuck her away for the long winter nap she deserves. SO..ANy one know if I can swap a limited slip diff w/ a 3.27 rear from a 1986 190E 16v into my 1990 190E 2.6?

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

How long have you had the car? I am no pro, but I have been concerned about some rear end whine since I bought my 190 a little over a year ago. Seems that they naturally have a little whine, and the noise seems to be transmitted into the cabin of the car quite readily. I have read elsewhere on this board about "Redline Heavy Duty Shock Proof Gear Oil" eliminating this noise, but have yet to try it. I have a 1992 190E 2.6 with 95,000 miles on it, and have decided that my first priority is sound deadening material in the trunk and spare tire storage area. Of course I could be wrong, only time will tell.

I too owned a 1990 190E 2.6 for 4 years and at first I thought it was making a little too much noise. It never got any worst. I work at an Independent Mercedes Dealership and I've noticed that every 2.6 190E makes exactly the same noise that mine did.

Yes, i too have heard the 190E likes to make some noises, and I swaped Mobil 1 synthetic rear diff oil in to the case and it seems to have quieted down some. I do agree that the noise will likely not get much worse very quickly if at all, HOWEVER, I was working under the assumption that the noise may get worse and if so will need worked on...if we accept this...wouldn't a limited slip rear diff make a nice addition. THese cars like to slip and spin on wet or slippery surfaces, why not try to clean that tendency up a bit? DOes anyone know if the 86-87 190E 16V limited slip diff will bolt in place of my 1990 190E 2.6 NON limited slip? I have hear that a 86 has a different abs sensor mounting and is more difficult to swap out than the 87.
Thanks for all the other help on the actual diff noise

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

My 1990 190E 2.6 has had a whine in it since I got it at 130K. I have since put another 90K on it and it has not changed a bit or has it given me any problems. I put it some stuff made my Lubro Moly that supposed to quiet the noise and it really didn't do anything. I will continue to change the lubricant as always.

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1990 190E 2.6
1996 Grand Voyager 3.3
1985 Mustang GT 5.0 5 SPD
1982 Suzuki GS 750T

I have a 1991 190e with a 5 speed and 87,000 miles. Does it have the same differential an an auto? I'm pretty sure its limited slip and no ASR. Its quiet but its leaking. Not enough to leave drops, just enough to get it dirty. I going to keep an eye on it, especially with the prices I've seen on this thread

The 190E 2.6 from 1990 has had rear end whine on almost all cars! We installed many under warranty esp on the1992 & 93 models. The 16V rear will work on the 2.6 cars upto 1992. Very hard to find in the old junk yard!!
There was a "red fische" topic on ways to reduce the noise inside of the car, including an insulation blanket under the rear seat! Also special rear supframe mounting bushings so that the noise wasn't transfered into the cabin area.

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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

M.B. DOC,
Thanks for the help. I was told that a 1986 16v has a different ABS sensor for the rear diff than the 1987 16v and that the 1986 sensor would have to be modified or left off if I used it in a 1990 car. The 1987 rear diff ABS sensor if supposedly the same as the 1990. Do you have any word on this? I do have a 1986 ( of course ) 190e 16v rear diff lined up for less than $450 at a salvage yard. Did all 16v models have the limited slip diff ?
What is and how do I find a "red fische" onthe rear diff that you mentioned? Can I do a search for it onthe forum?
Thanks

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

WHat were the standard rear diff ratios from 1990? I am told the 16v ratio is 3.27. Curious how this will compare to the current onw in the car and if I will see a benefit from it.

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

It would be nice if it gave it more low end torque!

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

You just use the ABS sensor that comes the 16V rear diff that you receive!! NO modification to the sensor. BOTH the 1986 or 1987 diffs will work.
The early 2.6's used a 3.07/1 or 3.27/1 ratio. The 1992 & 93 used a 2.88/1 ratio. Should be stamped into the RR corner of the diff housing. Manual trans cars use a HIGHER number ratio rear!

__________________
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

What is the ASR option that people mention about the rear diffs?
How do I know if mine has it or not?

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Call Rick Ellinger of RC-Imports at: 301-762-4205 (http://www.rc-imports.com) he has all the proper tools necessary to rebuild your LSD.

Moreover, hey may have a rebuilt one in stock and do a swap at perhaps 50% of your $1200 quote.

I have a 3.07 limited-slip diff (LSD) in my wagon with the AMG M104 engine, and it is holding up well and no whines.

Heed his advice and use ONLY SWEPCO 201 80W90 differential oil (already has the modifiers for limited-slip).

Rick races, and knows what lasts and protects the diff since he checks the diff after EVERY RACE, and finds VIRTUALLY NO WEAR while running SWEPCO.

Check out SWEPCO at:
http://www.swepcousa.com/lubesite/products/h201.htm

Purchase from RiteGear at:
http://www.ritegear.com/SWEPCO/201.htm
Don't forget to change out the manual gearbox.

For those with automatic trannys, while you're at it, pickup 2-gallons of SWEPCO 714 20WT ATF, and your shifts will be better (I've tried RedLine, and Mobil 1):
http://www.ritegear.com/SWEPCO/714.htm

Porsche 928 racers who have essentially the same MB automatic gearbox, swear by it.

Best of luck,
:-) neil
1988 360TE AMG
1993 500E

i have two 190e 2.6, 1989 and 1993. my 1993 has whining noise in the differential gearbox and my mechanic told me to replace it. but he suggest also to change the hub bearing which is expensive to replace.im sure the bearing is fine only the gearbox is making noise especially when i rev up to 50 mph. compare to my 1989 190 i could not hear any whining noise from the gearbox. so i plan to swap the gearbox, but how hard to to take out the gearbox. i could do some stuff for my car but when it comes to this im not sure how hard to swap the two gearboxes.need help

It's an easy swap. Disconnect the axles and driveshaft and unbolt the differential. Not sure if both year models are exact.