Thinking of picking up an ML.. can a om606 fit it?
 

Hey guys, sorry if this is the wrong place to post. Please move/delete if so.

I'm considering picking up a 99 ML that someone is selling for super cheap because the "engine is toast." Anyhoo.. I got to thinking, if the M112 will fit in a w210 and a w163, and an OM606 fits in in a w210.. and I love diesels.. could an OM606 fit (length) in a w163?

Of course, anything can fit if you are good enough with a grinder and a welder. What I mean is will it fit relatively easily considering the scope of the swap.

Can't find anyone who has done that swap, but I am considering taking it on. Suggestions, ideas?

No chance it would fit without re-engineering the entire driveline. Even if you had infinite time and resources to actually pull it off, it'd still be a crappy old ML that wasn't worth an engine to start with.

*Short answer: YES

*Long answer: YES


The ML could accommodate an 8.1 GM V8 behemoth!

A *dinky* M606 would fit with ease......

Just out of curiosity... what about the driveline is so incompatible? Only thing I can I can really imagine is the front differential interfering with the engines oil pan.

-EDIT-
Meant half-shaft, not differential.

:rolleyes:
Wondering? How many engine swaps have you done?

I did my first engine swap/install in my late 20s. It's not that big a deal. An I6, 5.9 NA Isuzu for a Dodge 440 c.i. V8. It mated-up perfectly with the existing Chrysler 727 AT transmission.

OP: it's doable, without a doubt.

Oh, I am sure it doable. Its more a question, I guess, of how easy it can be done. If it's a plug and play swap and all I have to do is address engine and transmission management electronics and wire harnesses then cool beans.

On the otherhand, if I have to go modifying oilpans crossmembers or adjust the transmissions resting position then I would probably rather find something else to put my efforts into.

My project was a breeze. But, I had some excellent advise to do it.

You're going to have to dig up the stats of tolerances of the respective models, before embarking on this potential project. I'm certain it's doable though. The ML is a fine vehicle, and the M606 is bulletproof. I owned one for 15 years. Once you get your stat and measurement numbers from the MB, go from there. Good luck on your project!

Skid Row Joe, thank you. Been looking online for dimensions on the OM606 but so far coming up dry. And if anyone out there has a picture of an ML without an engine in the bay I would really appreciate it.

Once upon a time I put a 6.2L diesel into an El Camino, and it seemed like smooth sailing until the engine was lowered in. Crossmember/oilpan interference, AC box no longer fit in its stock location, the rear firewall had to be deformed behind the passenger cylinder head because the stock engine mounts held the engine too far aft for that "little" engine bay, and if the engine/trans was any farther up it would need a custom driveshaft.

...been there, done that. Don't want complicated, lol. :D

IIRC, later years of the ML either was available with the 3.2 liter I6 M648 or the V6 3.0 M642 turbodiesels. Unless your time is hobby time, and part of the challenge is doing it on-the-cheap, it might be more worthwhile shopping for one of those.

I think the M648 was an E class (w211) engine and M642 was used in the later w164 chassis among others and used a 722.9 transmission and if I recall, has a different bellhousing entirely.

They did however use the I-5 OM612 CDI engine in the w163 from day one, but only in markets outside North America. The fact that Mercedes avoided the OM606 for thr w163, even though it was in planning and development while the OM606 was widely used, is also why I question fitment. Or it could have just been somehow emissions regulations related.

Hoby time, on the cheap, with no major physical alterations and stock fitment is my goal with no or very little fab work. Basically hoping for it being no more difficult than swapping say... a m112 for an m113.

I gotta agree with duxthe1 on this one. The first thing I thought of was having to make a custom drive shaft and possibly then having to deal with extreme driveshaft angles. Next would be engine mount perches. Building a custom exhaust probably won't be cheap. The list goes on...........

I have no doubt it can be done, though. I've learned through years of experience that you can accomplish any automotive task if you're willing to invest the time AND spend the money.

In 18 years as a mechanic... plenty. The 163 with a V8 doesnt have much room up front. Tack on another two cyls and the front of the motor would be well into the radiator in addition to the other issues already mentioned. If the op were to actually pursue the swap I'd guarantee what he ended up with would be worth even less than the sum of its parts. In this day and age 163s are crusher fodder as soon as repairs reach 4 digits.

I would expect some modifications of various items to be necessary to do a good job on this swap. Some are expecting none here. I rather doubt their opinions are valid. Go for it, as I'm certain it could be done. It'd be one heck of an SUV, and economical to boot!

I don't think an OM606 would fit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...psed6a8857.jpg

Here is an ML270 OM612 (essentially a stroked OM605 DOHC Inline 5) looks at how close the radiator fan shroud is to the motor and that the radiator hose has to run up and over the top of the fan. A 606 will be 4-5" longer for the 6th pot. OM602 would fit because the OM605/612 fits. However fitting and bolting in and running are two different things.

However I'd think you could get ahold of euro ML270 motor mount arms to get close to bolting an OM602 into the frame rails.

Then comes the transmission.

Also as far as I know the M112 does not share a bell housing with the OM606. So you're stuck there. You could potentially get an M104 722.6 which will bolt to the back of the 602/605/612, but then how will you control it? PCS has a controller but it isn't cheap. Then adapt to the ML transfer case, which I think the tailends of all .6s are the same so that might not be too hard.

Sounds like a ton of engineering and money to build a W163, which the only good thing about W163s were the M112/3 and .6 combo, the rest of the truck is a poorly built electrical nightmare which you will probably only make the electronics more confused by running stand alone trans controllers and a mechanical pump diesel.

$15,000. And save several years of headaches and wasted money.

Mercedes Benz M Class ML320 CDI Diesel AWD 4MATIC Navigation Camera | eBay

Skid is right, ANYTHING can be done with imagination, TIME, and MONEY. Decide what the last two are worth to you and go from there.

You could build a 6x6 ML590 with a Cummins and G63 6x6 axles and a unimog transmission. Why not?

How about an OM642? should be a little shorter and wider and might be a good fit. Sounds like a pain though with all the electronics. I entertained all kinds of things in wanting to make my old range rover diesel. Realized, the best thing is to just find a diesel range rover ;-)