Install Difficulty for 2.82 Differential on 400e - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

90free400e · #1 01-13-2004, 04:53 PM

I can get my hands on a 2.82 diff for 500$ plus shipping. What is the install difficulty. Can i just jack it up on stands and put it in in a few hours? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

y2kimmel · #2 01-14-2004, 08:24 AM

Use the search function for E420 / 400E differential and you'll get more info. I believe that I've read 4-5 hours (if you're doing it yourself, for the first time). Shop could do it in 3-4. I also seem to recall that you'll need to but the magic box to install behind the dash so that your odometer is corrected once the new diff is in.

I think you'll use your existing diff. cover instead of the one that comes with the 2.82.

Hope thsi helps.

Troy
1995 E420

samiam4 · #3 01-14-2004, 07:11 PM

So your wanting to install a 500E diff in a 400E correct?

I believe they are different beasts. One is a 1.1 litter diff and one is a 1.3 litter diff.
Does your 400E have ASR?????

Michael

90free400e · #4 01-14-2004, 10:26 PM

no it doesnt have asr. I dont think the 2.82 was in the 500e. It was from old sclass and the 400se and 420sel.

samiam4 · #5 01-14-2004, 10:47 PM

I'm pretty sure it won't be a bolt in fit=0(

Stu ritter always talks about his E-class. He put the gears out of a 450 diff (w posi?). Then machined the ABS locating piece and set up with new bearings. Not a cheap venture... $2000+. The gear ratio was ?3.07.
Basically, Mercedes for a long long time had 3 differential volumes and the internal parts were the same with a volume class. The cases vary to fit different subframes-ie bodys.

If I'm wrong-let me know!

Michael

omegabenz · #6 01-15-2004, 03:58 AM

You probably want the 400SE W140 car limited slip differential.

Look up SUBMAN he did it!

90free400e · #7 01-15-2004, 11:06 AM

no subman did the 2.82 diff swap. On his site he has a walk through. Im pretty sure it is a bolt in fit, at least thats what 2 mechanics have told me, and submans was too

gsxr · #8 12-09-2004, 12:31 PM

just stumbled across this old thread... anyway, the E500 and E420 diffs are basically the same for models with ASR. The E420 without ASR has a different housing that has a hole for the ABS sensor on the pinion shaft. Yes you can swap diffs pretty easily. If you want limited-slip, that's a whole separate problem though and not cheap either. I'm trying to search for info on the ABS sensor for non-ASR models, the number of teeth vary with gear ratio. I think if you change gear ratios on a non-ASR diff, like 90free's car, it can screw up the ABS computer because it will be getting an incorrect speed signal. (BTW - the 500E does have a 2.82 diff, ASR only.)

90free, how does your car do on panic braking with the new 2.82 diff installed?

90free400e · #9 12-09-2004, 05:08 PM

i nver got the 2.82 on my car. Im finishing up my nitrous install then looking at 3.07's or 2.82. Still havnt heard back from potomac german

gsxr · #10 12-09-2004, 05:29 PM

I would have sworn you did the install - maybe I got you confused with someone else though! BTW, I think I was off-base on the ABS thing, the toothed sprocket (stator) needs to match the gearset, so if you swap the whole diff it's all good. My bad there.

If you want a 2.82 gear ratio for a non-ASR 400E, you need the 400SE/S420 rear end (also from non-ASR car). There are three available under $300 right now:

1992 Mercedes 400 140 Typ, (400SE), w/o ASR trac cntrl--U Stk#041583
$300
J.C. Motors Used Auto Parts USA-FL(Opa-Locka)
1-305-687-7878

1992 Mercedes 400 SE 4.0L,AT,CHECK IF ASR TRACTION Stk#4A026
$270
E Auto Parts Inc USA-FL(Jacksonville)
1-800-366-9815

1992 Mercedes 400 SE 12-91,RWD Stk#04G114
$250
Japanese & European Auto Parts USA-FL(Tampa)
1-813-663-9741

Potomac only has them *with* ASR, for $500, but another place in Rhode Island has a few with ASR for - get this - $174!

Remember you can't use an ASR diff in your car because it won't have the spot for your ABS sensor. ASR cars use two axle output sensors instead of a single pinion speed input sensor....

gsxr · #11 12-09-2004, 05:35 PM

In case you missed it, here's a great tutorial on upgrading to the 2.82 diff in a 400E:

http://tom.actionfit.com/2_82_Differental_Swap.html

Note that you need a 1992-94 400SE diff only, from 1995-up they came standard with ASR.

90free400e · #12 12-09-2004, 10:10 PM

gsxr thanks for the replies. Ill give that florida number a call tommorow. 300 bucks? Wow. Maybe ill order it this weekend

. What are 400e's with 2.82's running these days. Im trying to get into the 13's and theres no possible way to do that with the 2.24. Its sooooo sluggish off the line. Maybe the nitrous will help that

.

gsxr · #13 12-10-2004, 12:16 AM

With a 2.82 rear and a 75 shot, removing as much weight as possible (backseat, trunk, etc)... you might just get into the 13's if you don't have traction problems. Drop your tire pressure down to 20psi and do a good burnout, so it will hook up. You don't want any wheelspin, unlike the front-wheel-drive ricer crowd... if a Benz V8 is spinning the tires, it's losing time! (Trust me - BT, DT, have the 60' times to prove it...)

Keep us posted on how it goes.

90free400e · #14 12-10-2004, 06:01 PM

will do. I just did a new intake. Removed the airbox from top. Used a pvc 90 degree 3 inch bend then some pipe and a filter. It pulls like crazy all the way through the top. It opend the car up so much. Anyways i got the shrader valve on my fuel test port on the stock fuel rail out so now i have fuel.. Just a matter of drilling the holes in the intake and screwing everything in.