Reply With QuoteIt should be a direct swap with the motor and the transmission. You will probably need the driveshaft as they are not the same length as the ones found in non-AMG models.Originally Posted by Vincent Hor
Hi! I am a newbie to this forum. I am from Malaysia and I own a 1997 C280 I6 RHD. A friend has presented to me an offer to buy a Japanese LHD C36 parts car. The available parts are the compete C36 engine, 4 speed gear box, propeller shaft, rear differential, instrument cluster, and ECU.
Wire harness is for the LHD.
My questions
1. What are the problems that I may face with this swap?
2. Is it as simple as plug & play?
3. Can the wire harness from my C280 be fully compatable to this C36 engine?
Appreciate the advise from the experts here.
Last edited by Vincent Hor; 12-26-2012 at 05:01 PM.
It should be a direct swap with the motor and the transmission. You will probably need the driveshaft as they are not the same length as the ones found in non-AMG models.
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VISIT THE W201nW202 YOUTUBE PAGE:
http://www.youtube.com/user/W201n202
1999 Mercedes C230 Kompressor / Rust Bucket, No MODS
2001 Mercedes E430 Sport
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
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W202FTW, thanks for your quick reply/advise. I believe the motor tranny, prop shaft & diff will bolt on easily. Yes, i will have the drive shaft too.
My main concern is the wire harness compatability. The donor car is LHD such the harness is too short. If I can be very sure that my RHD wire harness is fully compatable to this C36 motor then i think this project will be ON.
However I did notice that the AMG instrument cluster is slightly different from mine. On the C280 the adjustments for trip reset, clock and instrument panel lights adjustments are the press button type located at the side while the C36 donor car adjustment is done using the press/turn stalk type located on the lower & centre of the instrument cluster.
Seems to me that the C280 is a later version.
Thus I am quite concern about the compatability & complication I may face. The donor car is still in Japan.
what year c36 and what year c280?
either way, if you swap just the engine, that'll bolt straight in
Yes you're right - the instrument clusters will not be compatible. I've already tried the 94-95 clusters into my 96 280 and the connectors are different. I suppose if you wanted to make them work you could try to cut and splice but there's no guarantee that would even work. Does your current cluster have a light for ETS?
====================
VISIT THE W201nW202 YOUTUBE PAGE:
http://www.youtube.com/user/W201n202
1999 Mercedes C230 Kompressor / Rust Bucket, No MODS
2001 Mercedes E430 Sport
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
====================
Sorry, what's the ETS? Don't think my C280 cluster has that check light.
It's the traction control system.
====================
VISIT THE W201nW202 YOUTUBE PAGE:
http://www.youtube.com/user/W201n202
1999 Mercedes C230 Kompressor / Rust Bucket, No MODS
2001 Mercedes E430 Sport
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
====================
Merry Christmas. Here's some pics of my C280. It's already fully fitted with original C36 AMG kits, AMG Exhaust, 17'' AMG Monoblocks.
Next project will be AMG 4 pots brakes & ARB.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]886
Last edited by Vincent Hor; 12-25-2012 at 05:16 AM.
Very Nice. Painting the door moldings would complete the look.
1994 C280
1996 C36
2005 C55
2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design
1999 Porsche 911
......dang now I know where all my money went.
thats a very pretty 202. any pics of the '77?
good luck with your swap!
Nick, thanks. Sorry misquoted it's not 1977 instead it's 1997 and that's the car in the pics.
Original post duly edited.
You dont need to change anything. The C36 is effectively the C280 but bored out to give it a bigger displacement. Take the engine out of yours, drop in the C36 engine and away you go. You may even be able to use the existing wiring loom.
You never had me, you never had your car
The VIN for the Japan C36 is WDB2020281F071239
Appreciate if the experts here can share with me regarding how much thicker are the sway bars (Front & rear) of the C36 compared to the C280.
These are the front brake calipers from the above C36.
I have also got the rear calipers, all rotors ( the front are huge!), rear rotors are vented, AMG sport springs, absorbers (bilstein with AMG stamped on it) sway bars for front & rears. All items are in very good condition.
I need opinion on the spring pad thickness. What's the best combination that you guys have? The pads that came with springs are 4 dots for front and 3 dots for rear.
Last edited by Vincent Hor; 12-31-2012 at 04:46 PM.
Vented rear rotors? Sounds like the donor car is a 1995 model. If this is the case the front calipers and rotors will not swap over unless you also swap the wheel bearing carriers. The springs have the same rates as what you have in the 97 as the C36 used the same springs but ones that were the shorter of the production run. Sounds like a fun project.
1994 C280
1996 C36
2005 C55
2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design
1999 Porsche 911
......dang now I know where all my money went.
Thanks for the heads up. Appreciate it. Will work on it over the weekend ahead & report accordingly. Humm! Wheels bearing carrier as well. I think that makes sense.
Here is a picture of the 94-95 hub next to a 96-later hub. Not a huge difference but enough to make things not fit. In my case I was upgrading 96 C36 calipers and rotors to a 94 C280. The 96/97 C36 calipers and rotors differ from the ones used in 95 so you will need to swap bearing carriers as well. Not to bad as you have the whole parts car. Your front calipers should have AMG engraved on them being the 95 version.
96/97 C36 front brakes (Calipers have ATE and piston size engraving)
Last edited by mbsickness; 12-31-2012 at 07:20 PM.
1994 C280
1996 C36
2005 C55
2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design
1999 Porsche 911
......dang now I know where all my money went.
Thanks again mate. Indeed very helpful. And yes, AMG is embossed in the front calipers.
its rare to see another w202 being modded in malaysia.
thats a very nice and neat looking 202.
looking forward to see this thread.
best of luck, from JB.
Hi! Nice to know my fellow country man is here too. It's hard to get anyone to share information about the AMG C36 back in our land. Even the C280 is almost unheard off.
I am from KL.
yes the c280 is rare over here and the c36/43 dont exist at all.
I went on the easy way and swapped a japs motor into my c220.
would love to see the c36 swap tho.
There are a few C36 in Malaysia. I have personally seen two which were taken in by my dealer friend. I was offered but didn't buy it. One unit was bought by my friend a British who lives in Malaysia & is married to a local Chinese girl.
He also uses the same mechanic as mine. I did mention about this car at www.merzclub.org
BTW here's pics of my previous C220. Some of you would have seen these pics in the net. It's got Carlsson wheels & Carlsson RS rear spoilers which is a very rare item.
Last edited by Vincent Hor; 01-01-2013 at 05:32 AM.
Back to the original question. I believe the engine swap should be straightforward but make sure to swap the ECU as the programming is different. The transmission is one area which could be tricky as you have the 5 speed electronic version in your car and the 4 speed in the C36 is a vacuum unit. make sure to grab the lower half of the air cleaner box from the C36 as that too is an AMG modified item.
1994 C280
1996 C36
2005 C55
2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design
1999 Porsche 911
......dang now I know where all my money went.
Sorry for the silly question. Are you referring to the front or rear bearing carrier or is it both the front and the back?Here is a picture of the 94-95 hub next to a 96-later hub. Not a huge difference but enough to make things not fit. In my case I was upgrading 96 C36 calipers and rotors to a 94 C280. The 96/97 C36 calipers and rotors differ from the ones used in 95 so you will need to swap bearing carriers as well. Not to bad as you have the whole parts car. Your front calipers should have AMG engraved on them being the 95 version.
96/97 C36 front brakes (Calipers have ATE and piston size engraving)
As far as I know it is only the front. I did not change the rear setup on my car. But I have read where you will need to trim the rear splash shields a tiny bit but that is all.
1994 C280
1996 C36
2005 C55
2013 Volvo XC60 R-Design
1999 Porsche 911
......dang now I know where all my money went.
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