Project E36 AMG

[EVLC36]

Hey Guys

Well as some of you know I bought a 320CE Benz about a month back which was reportedly a 3.7 Brabus engine - odd as Brabus never made a 3.7, haha!

I have confirmed it is in fact the 3.2 Mercedes Motor, with a Brabus tuning kit - cam and control module which takes the motor up to about 180kw and 340nm.

Now while this is OK and it is certainly no slouch, I am already missing the power and torque of the AMG 3.6 motor, so here begins my hunt, and hopefully a project!

What I aim to do is as closely replicate the original AMG E36 coupe, with a few twists for superior performance.

Obviously I already have a full genuine AMG Gen I bodykit, and genuine staggered 17" AMG Mono II alloys (although I wouldn't mind finding an 18" set again) so the car is almost there exterior look wise.

What I do need/want to add is the AMG ducktail spoiler and genuine AMG exhaust tips, colour code the wheel centres, and leave the lips polished.

I plan to replace the cloth interior with a black leather coupe interior - all 4 seats, headrests and door cards - I know of a blue one for good money that I might just get redyed...

And of course the important bit - the 3.6 AMG engine - which I think I have located!

I plan to keep my 5 speed transmission rather than the 4 speed from the C36/E36, and 3.06 ratio diff vs the 2.82 of the C36/E36, this means I will have considerably better acceleration while still enjoying low motorway revs.

I will get some nice tubular headers made up for it to replace the cruddy log style ones, and have a true dual 2 1/4 exhaust system with x pipe crossover made up.

Other things which would be good to do are a P&Ped head, and adapt E34 M5 manifold and E36 M3 ITBs, to the motor which Carlsson successfully did on their 3.7 motor, but shall see when the time comes!

Suspension wise the car is good and it already has nice 4 pot stoppers with decent sized discs - although C36 brakes would be nice.

This will not be a quick project, more of a long term goal, as I see myself owning this car for a long time - one of the coolest looking cars ever IMO :P

Currentish pics of car:






Wheel Plans:







Any feedback, suggestions would be great.

[fifalex]

It all sounds really good...
But would it not cost you less to sell this and buy a real E36?
And if you're going through the effort of an engine conversion, would you not rather put something that wasn't offered from factory? I know it's a lot more work, but a V8 would be very nice.
And unlike putting a V8 into a normal sedan (lets face it, how cool is this when you could just buy a 500E), you can put one in a coupe which will be something almost no other coupe has, which in my opinion would make it almost worth it.
Then again, maybe a 500SL would be a better option?

[EVLC36]

Originally Posted by fifalex

But would it not cost you less to sell this and buy a real E36?

Probably would but as they don't exist in NZ not really an option, as it is my car is the only AMG kitted W124 coupe I have actually seen.

And if you're going through the effort of an engine conversion, would you not rather put something that wasn't offered from factory? I know it's a lot more work, but a V8 would be very nice.

The difference is putting a C36 engine into a car that already has an M104 is not hard at all - as everything will bolt straight up, as engine swaps go it truly could not be easier. An M119 on the other hand would need engine bay mods, electronics and lots of other stuff done to accomodate.

[Inspector]

Buy this and import it into NZL, job done??

E36 AMG Coupe - MBClub UK Forums

[EVLC36]

Probably wouldnt be able to register it until 2015..

[Inspector]

Good parts car then, if it is within budget. Seriously, this could be the way to go here, all the bits you will ever need are all together in one package. The Pound is very low compared to the NZD, and you will have access to spares after the conversion, not to mention the possibility of selling them too.

Let me know if you have a driver’s seat going at any stage - please.

Another option would be to twin turbo your current car. There are a bunch of people who could help you through it on these forums.
Every now and then in moments of semi madness I think I'd like to TT one of my Cabbies.....

[fifalex]

How much would the engine + work cost in the end?
Maybe that money spent on your 3.2 would yield better results?
A supercharged 3.2 would be a more unique idea than an E36 engine, and might cost the same?

btw, how come that UK E36 for sale has no bodykit on it?

[EVLC36]

Out of budget unfortunately Martin - I have potentially located a bent C36 already, so not too much of an issue.

Adding forced induction to an N/A motor is considerably more expensive than a 100% bolt in engine swap - E36 project is the simplest possible way of extracting reasonably power out of the C124 chassis.

[E36AMG]

Originally Posted by fifalex

btw, how come that UK E36 for sale has no bodykit on it?

I think that out of the 68 E36 Coupé produced, (24 RHD and 44 LHD), about one third is without the bodykit. The ducktail was not part of the bodykit from MB, but perhaps somebody had it fitted anyway.

[fifalex]

Only 68 were ever produced?