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  #16  
Old 07-11-2000, 06:06 PM
makakio
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SIMPLE QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS:

I'd like to someday own a 560SL, but the USA-spec bumpers are sooooooo ugly compared to the slim, designed-for-the-car euro ones. Can one simply order the euro bumpers and swap them onto a US-spec car (as can be done with headlights)?

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  #17  
Old 07-12-2000, 07:44 AM
LarryBible
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Cmcon98,

I have already considered your suggestion. I currently have two older manual transmission MB's. It's a relatively new, or new one that I would like, such as a manual transmission, late model E Class. They are plentiful in Germany.

Somehow in my mind, it's psychologically more difficult to tear apart a new or almost new car to modify it. But I have considered it. If I knew I had everything I needed from the donor car, I would do it. If the complete donor car were sitting in my shop next to the recipient car, so that I knew that I would have every nut bolt and obscure bracket or trim piece, I'd tackle it in a heartbeat.

I am going back to Germany for two weeks in September, and if I knew EVERY single part to get off the car in the junkyard, I'd do it. And believe me, I haven't ruled this out.

Thanks for your suggestion and encouragement,


------------------
Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles
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  #18  
Old 07-12-2000, 08:52 AM
CMCon98
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Larry,
I'll bet if you explained to the German junkyard what you were doing, they'd work with you after you got back to the States in the event that you forgot some part from the donor car. I would also check to find out if you will run into any computer issues when doing this. This would be a big project, but if done carefully, the swap should be undetectable, and you'd have the car you want. Plus, imagine the puzzled looks on other M-B owners' faces when they looked at your car and saw the manual trans lever sticking out of the console. That alone might make it worth it. As you can see, I'm not much of an auto trans fan, unless the vehicle is a big luxury car.
Good Luck!
Colin Connor
'71 Triumph TR-6 (4spd+o/d)
'72 BMW 2002 (320i 5 spd)
'82 Volvo 245 (4spd+o/d)
'82 MotoGuzzi 500 Monza
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  #19  
Old 07-12-2000, 04:08 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 217
Theres a place in Hamburg (Germany) which takes care of all the paper work, and the shipping process. I dont know exactly how much they charge, but they claim they can deliver any car to anywhere in the world, and they do all the work. With the exchange rate now in Germany, you could get into a relatively new 124 coupe in a manual *DROOL*. I've seen a 94 going for about 25K DM, which is about 12k USD--not bad at all. The only problem I see is that you might not get all the options you would get on a US spec MB, such as A/C, leather seating, or a moonroof. I will try to find the place, and phone # as soon as possible...



------------------
Agron
1989 300E
Monotoned Smoke Silver
97 Style Replica E420 Rims 205/55/16
Euro Headlights
Clear Corners
20% Tint
12" Sub-enclosure
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  #20  
Old 07-12-2000, 04:15 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 217
OK found it.....

Here is the website..check it out
www.richterimpex.de


Hope this helps....



------------------
Agron
1989 300E
Monotoned Smoke Silver
97 Style Replica E420 Rims 205/55/16
Euro Headlights
Clear Corners
20% Tint
12" Sub-enclosure
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  #21  
Old 07-12-2000, 09:19 PM
Alex Kouliy
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Larry,
Finding a car with a shot transmission and doing the swap thing is the way to go, IMHO. Two years ago my employer contemplated transfering me to the USA and I enquired about the importation of my one year old canadian-spec vehicle to the US. That proved to be such a monumental pain in the A$$ that I quickly abandoned the idea and negotiated an alternate plan with my company (at the end of the day the transfer did not happen).
On a more technical note, you are probably well aware that the final drive ratio for an automatic typically differs from the manual version. Nevertheless, a rear end from a similar US model could do the trick. For example, there is specific final drive info on the 86-93 w124 series.
300E auto - 2.87:1 / 300E 5-speed - 3.07:1
Potential rear-end donors are 260E auto and 300E 4-matic auto - both have 3.07:1.
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  #22  
Old 07-12-2000, 09:48 PM
makakio
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What about them bumpers, guys? Should I post this on it's own?
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  #23  
Old 07-13-2000, 12:16 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 72
quote:
Originally posted by makakio:
What about them bumpers, guys? Should I post this on it's own?


Dear Makakio,
Yes, it is possible to convert a 560sl or any other 107/116 from US to Euro bumpers.
I had my 1980 450sel converted and it now looks great. You can use a set of bumpers from a US 1973 450sl or try to obtain a pair of euro bumpers from a dealer or junkyard.
Front: You will need to have the brackets for the US bumper removed as it is welded to the body. I am not sure on the 107 but on the 116, studs have to be welded to support the euro bumper. The location should be self evident as there should be holes already drilled for that purpose. You will also need to get rid of the little studs that hold the rubber piece that goes between the US bumper and body. After the body work is done it is all a matter of bolting on the euro bumper.
Rear: Much easier. Holes for US bumper shocks have to be covered as well as holes for rubber piece between body and US bumper. Holes should be drilled for euro bumpers, the location can be felt by running your hand behind the rear valance panel. There should be holes already drilled at the factory on the chassis, just have new holes drilled to match the factory holes. That should cover most of it. Let me know if you have any more questions about the conversion.
Best regards,
Joe Brasileiro
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  #24  
Old 07-13-2000, 12:32 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 5,318
Larry -

You didn't say what car you wanted to convert, but if it is one that had a US manual version in some form, (201, 123 or 124), you can get the small parts from the dealer. That is what I concluded with my 280E conversion.

You need the big parts (transmission, linkage, flywheel, clutch disk) that are specific to the engine you are converting, but the hydraulics, pedals, etc. are the same.

What scared me the most was the possibility that the crank would be different, but at least on the 280E it is the same.

Good luck
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  #25  
Old 07-13-2000, 07:18 AM
LarryBible
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Alex Kouliy,

Thanks for the information. Yes, I have considered the final drive ratio. But I already have a Manual Transmission 124 car. What I really want is a manual transmission 210 car. I found them to be quite plentiful when in Germany last week.

My original post was questioning shipping one of the cars that I left drool on in Germany, to the US. Then the suggestions started coming in about changing a US car to a stick. This is probably more practical from what I've seen.

Thanks for the info and keep it coming,

------------------
Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 523K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles
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  #26  
Old 07-13-2000, 02:50 PM
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JCE JCE is offline
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Join Date: May 1999
Location: So Kalifornia
Posts: 2,189
Is it easier to bring in a Euro car if you declare it a parts car - non operational?

------------------
JCE
87 300E, 65k miles
Smoke Silver
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  #27  
Old 07-13-2000, 06:48 PM
LarryBible
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JCE,

What a great question? I will research this one further.

Larry
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  #28  
Old 07-13-2000, 06:56 PM
roas
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Larry,

Just curious, are you after a gasser, or diesel E-Class?

------------------
Ross
96 C280, Greenish Black
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  #29  
Old 07-13-2000, 07:25 PM
makakio
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Jbrasile - thank you for the detailed feedback! I'm trying to get a read on why you never see converted bumpers (especially in CA, where there are no "safety inspections") as I think the euro versions are soooo much better looking. IMO - that goes for any 1970-1990 sedan as well!
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  #30  
Old 07-13-2000, 07:38 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Near Williamsburg, Virginia
Posts: 367
The EPA used to give an individual one lifetime exemption on an imported car. I don't know if they still do. My brother-in-law has used his exemption, he used his wife's exemption, his mother's exemption, and a neighbor's exemption. DOT requirements still applied.

------------------
Robby Ackerman
Past President
Virginia Section MBCA

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