FOR SALE 1989 300CE M113/6-speed swap, Pearl Black/Black, 200kkm, BaT auction (Nashville, TN)

[Bogeyman]

Sorry, I had to bring this one over here.

VIN: WDB1240501B058595

No Reserve: M113-Powered Euro 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: M113-Powered Euro 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #219,047.

bringatrailer.com

Datacard:

https://www.lastvin.com/vin/Pgkjo2NzXx72Va4qZ

M113-Powered Euro 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE 6-Speed​

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This 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300CE is a European-market example that was imported to the US in 2021. After the current owner’s purchase in 2023, the car was modified with a 5.4-liter M113 V8 linked to a six-speed manual transmission, and AMG lower panels and flared wheel arches were added to the body. Recaro CSE front seats were installed, and the cabin was reupholstered in black leather and updated with a Kangaroos Team short-shifter, a Blaupunkt head unit, and an AMG-branded steering wheel and instrument cluster. The car rides on 17” OZ Aero 3 wheels with Bilstein B8 shocks and H&R lowering springs as well as upgraded sway bars and brafstyke calipers. An ASD locking differential, a sliding steel sunroof, wood trim, and automatic climate control are among the other highlights. This modified W124 is now offered by the seller on behalf of the owner with a clean Carfax report and a clean Tennessee title.​

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The bodywork was modified with flared wheel arches at CMS Motorsports in Los Angeles, California, and an AMG decklid spoiler, bumper fascias, and rocker panel covers were installed. The body and grille were then repainted in Blauschwarz (199), according to the seller. A heckblende license plate filler panel has been installed, and other details include a sliding steel sunroof, a power-telescoping antenna, a single eccentric-sweep windshield wiper, and fog lights.​

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Kwiek Classics in Nashville, Tennessee, handled the drivetrain conversion and other mechanical work, according to the seller. AMG-branded 17” OZ Aero 3 wheels are wrapped in 235/45 front and 275/40 rear Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires. Bilstein B8 shocks with H&R lowering springs have been installed, and chassis upgrades are said to include Sportline bushings, polyurethane rear subframe mounts, a 500E-specification front sway bar, an H&R 20mm rear sway bar, S600 front brake calipers, E55 rear calipers, and braided stainless-steel hoses.​

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Recaro CSE front seats offer power-adjustable bolsters and lumbar support, and the cabin was re-trimmed in black leather with contrasting stitching and perforated seat inserts at New Life Upholstery in Reseda, California. Wood trim accents the center console, which houses a Kangaroos Team short-shifter. A Bluetooth-capable Blaupunkt Frankfort head unit was installed along with replacement speakers. Automatic climate control was standard equipment.​

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The AMG steering wheel frames a replacement AMG instrument cluster that includes a 300-km/h speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and auxiliary gauges. The six-digit odometer shows 614 kilometers (~382 miles). Total mileage is unknown.​

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The 5.4-liter M113 V8 was reportedly sourced from a 2002 S55 AMG, and it is equipped with custom headers that flow into a Supersprint exhaust system.​

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Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 716-series six-speed manual transmission and an ASD locking [185mm] differential with 3.07:1 gearing. A lightweight flywheel and 260mm clutch assembly sourced from The Kangaroos Team have been installed. Photos taken during the build are presented in the gallery. The Carfax report shows no accidents or other damage from its first entry in 2021.​

 

[ArauzMotoring]

That’s really cool!

 

[duuder]

Kinda surprised bat didn't TMU in the listing details... They're very quick with that

 

[gsxr]

Well, this is interesting. The car previously sold for $40k on MBM in May 2023 (click here). It had an indicated 192kkm at the time, and the odo numbers were misaligned, which could mean an inoperable odo. Naturally, the builder reset the fake-AMG speedo to zero with the engine swap, because neither the body, engine, or transmission have zero miles?

Given that Kwiek swaps are ±$50k or so, the owner likely is into this build for six figures. It will be interesting to see how the No Reserve auction ends.

Anyway. Several things about this build do not inspire confidence. Few bits I spotted from the sparse photos provided:

• SuperChina™ late LCA's and steering links / tie rode ends
• 500E front sway bar center bushings are old / not replaced
• 500E front sway bar outer bushings are aftermarket, without Teflon liner
• Front brake dust shields completely removed, exposing ABS sensors & hub teeth to dirt / water
• Rear brake dust shields cut instead of installing correct size shields
• Flex discs old / not replaced
• Rear LCA plastic covers were present in 2023, now missing
• Strut dust boots not attached to strut mounts
• Stock 6-cyl subframe
• Stock 185mm differential and axle shafts

Those last 2 items are inexcusable for a high-dollar build like this. The 2002 S55 AMG 5.4L engine was rated 355hp and 391 lb-ft. Mercedes only used the 185mm diffs with engines up to about 180hp, or 205 lb-ft torque. Beyond those power levels, Mercedes upgraded from 185mm to 210mm diffs. This AMG M113 engine has nearly TWICE the power and torque limits of the 185mm diff. The tiny 6-cyl diff bushings will probably "need replaced" at every other oil change.

Hope buyers Google the VIN and find this thread so they're aware of potential weak points.

 

[TerryA]

I like the concept and in the pics it looks great! Although, if I were bidding I would want to see this car up close and personal.

Also, to add to gsxr’s list it has NO CATs making it unregistereable in most states plus pedestrian euro headlights = 4 fog lights.

 

[Bogeyman]

Picky, picky, picky, Dave. You would have to go and spoil it for me...

 

[gsxr]

Good catch, Terry, on the lack of catalysts! I'm surprised a commercial shop would build this, since it's illegal under both federal and state laws. Doesn't seem like a smart move.

If the bumper lights are OEM/Genuine AMG, those should be auxiliary high beams wired in parallel with the headlights, so they turn on automatically with the high beams. However, I'm not sure how to identify the early/square Gen1 bumper lights to confirm this.

Car looks great, but the mechanical concerns will require some $$$ to rectify if you want to actually exercise all 355 horses and 391 torques.

 

[gerryvz]

Picky, picky, picky, Dave. You would have to go and spoil it for me...

Yes, now we know who the mysterious @cascade really is, with the Punch Lists and all.....

 

[gsxr]

Interesting update from the seller below. At least no "fictional invoices" were created to inflate the "cost" to create this.

"The mechanical conversion was performed by a shop in which the owner was a partner. The body work, paint and interior were performed by industry friends of the owner. Because of this there are no traditional invoices. ​

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We could have produced paper work but that’s not really how things happened and we want to represent the car honestly. Invoices were mere text messages paid by bank wire, Zelle etc. Everything was done by a team of skilled professionals over the period of 18 months and executed at a very high level."​

 

[duuder]

That paint vid looks pretty good... I had barely any receipts with my mechanic from 2009 - 2017 for various vehicles I owned... more like 2/3 hand ridden notes here and there

I'm much better at it now