One of the most common engine swaps for a 190E is the installation of the bigger M103 3.0L motor. The swap from the smaller 2.6L M103 to a 3.0L M103 is a direct bolt-on swap (assuming the engines from the same cutoff years are used) and gives a small increase of around 30HP. Another option is to swap in the CIS version of the M104 engine found on the earliest M104 powered cars (1990-1992 300CE and 1990-1993 300SL). The injection system is still CIS and the ignition system is still EZL, but additional work is required to make the swap complete.
Time | 10 hours |
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Cost | |
Difficulty | |
Parts Required | |
Applicable models | W201 (specifically 1992-1993 190E 2.6, other models need adaptation) |
The M104 A/C manifold's low pressure hose cannot reach the connection point at the edge of the fender on a 190E chassis. The W124 has the connection point closer underneath the brake booster line and is about 5 inches shorter. Additionally, the high pressure hose is slightly longer and uses a 90 degree bend that is not compatible with a 190E 2.6 A/C condenser.
Using the original 190E A/C manifold hoses not work entirely either. Mounting the 190E A/C manifold to the engine block introduces a problem where the A/C compressor can no longer be mounted to the accessory bracket.
A solution to fix this is to use the M104 A/C manifold (104 230 04 56 is NLA, aftermarket solution: Four Seasons 55586) and have both hoses custom made. The upper hose needs to be simply matched to the original length of the 190E part and the lower hose comes out to around 20cm (I would try 19.5cm for an easier fit. 20cm is slightly too long). An additional option is to have a high pressure diagnostic port installed as well since this port will be lost from switching to the M104 A/C manifold.
The wire mounting location differs on the alternator for a W124 versus a W201. The alternator for the W124 will work, but the wires will be kinked in an unnatural position. You will need to reclock the alternator by removing the screws holding the 2 halves of the alternator together and turning them to match how a 190E alternator looks.
The M104.98x now has an updated version of CIS that is not directly compatible with the older version. Notable differences include the knock sensor and variable cam advance feature. There are two approaches to getting the wiring completed for this swap.
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