Gambled and lost?

[NCCoder]

I've been trying to research my questions, but I can't find straightforward answers, and find only dead links and vague answers.
I picked up a differential unit from a w140 420 SEL with the 2.82, but it appears it is too new ('97, I believe) as there is no provision for ABS\VSS sensor in the case. This is for my '94 e420. I'm guessing I could use the ring gear and pinion themselves if I could find someone to transplant into my existing housing, correct?
My car is not an ASR car, but I have found an earlier unit that is from an ASR car. Can I use that housing and clip the wires from the ASR sensor to keep the juice inside? As I understand it, the housing itself will fit, but I will need to swap over the rear cover.
Any other chassis that have "compatible" housings? I keep seeing w113, R129, but never a "yes, this will fit\no you need..." kinds on answers.
Thanks all!

 

[gsxr]

I've been trying to research my questions, but I can't find straightforward answers, and find only dead links and vague answers.
I picked up a differential unit from a w140 420 SEL with the 2.82, but it appears it is too new ('97, I believe) as there is no provision for ABS\VSS sensor in the case. This is for my '94 e420.

Yep, from mid-1995 model year (there's a VIN break) the sensors moved from the diff to the rear wheel carrier. You need a donor from 1992-1994, or early 1995, without ASR (single sensor on the side of diff).

I'm guessing I could use the ring gear and pinion themselves if I could find someone to transplant into my existing housing, correct?

Yes, however very few shops have the ability to do this CORRECTLY on a Mercedes diff. Read this article. And the cost may be prohibitive.

My car is not an ASR car, but I have found an earlier unit that is from an ASR car. Can I use that ASR housing and clip the wires from the ASR sensor to keep the juice inside? As I understand it, the housing itself will fit, but I will need to swap over the rear cover.

This will not be any help, you'll end up with the same problem you have now with the '97 diff. The ASR housing has 2 sensors on top. You still need the single sensor at the pinion to keep ABS functional.

Any other chassis that have "compatible" housings? I keep seeing w113, R129, but never a "yes, this will fit\no you need..." kinds on answers.
Thanks all!

This has been covered in the past, but you may not have found the threads when searching. See the document linked in post #4 here:

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/threads/will-this-w140-diff-fit-my-400e.15931/

If you want 2.82 specifically, the 92-94 140.04x chassis WITHOUT ASR is the donor you need. If you can live with 2.65 gears, those are 100% bolt-in from a 1990-92 500SL, 129.066, without ASR. The model years are critical. 93 500SL will not work at all, and late 95 S420 will be the same as the 97 you already have. When buying parts, get the VIN of the donor at a minimum, and if possible also get photos to confirm that it has the single ABS sensor at the pinion required for your non-ASR .034 chassis.

 

[NCCoder]

Thank you for the concise answers! I guess I'll be posting in the "for sale" section...