OWNER Rouven036

[Rouven036]

Got access to a single bay workshop with a 2-post lift for the next 2 days.
Took the car out of the storage unit and removed the engine. Due to lack of access to my beloved Wilbaer engine balancer - I had to take out the transmission first. This just proved again to me that I don't like to do an engine removal on a E5E this way at all. Definitely easier and faster way is taking out the engine together with the transmission as one unit but requires the wilbär unit and with a cost of north of 3000€ this is just not justifiable.
Later in the evening I have to transfer the new engine to that workshop. Have to load the engine on a trailer and pull it there.
Put in the new LH controller and nbr. 3 EZL trim plug.

 

[Rouven036]

Together with my brother we lifted the engine down from the assembly stand and then on our small trailer. Our spines are still in place . work will continue tomorrow.

 

[Rouven036]

That's the wilbär engine ballancer, allowing super steep inclination angles to drop in the engine transmission assembly into the tight W124 bay without any issues, means doable by one person alone.

 

[gsxr]

That's the wilbär engine ballancer, allowing super steep inclination angles to drop in the engine transmission assembly into the tight W124 bay without any issues, means doable by one person alone.

Nice! What does the Wilbär widget cost? I usually drop the transmission out the bottom so the engine can come up vertically, since I don't have a fancy balancer that allows steep angles.

 

[Rouven036]

I also had to split them this time and I hated it. The wilbär costs around 3k€ - prohibitive.
In the past days I had access to it through my old workplace but management changed so no tool access anymore unfortunately.

 

[gsxr]

I also had to split them this time and I hated it. The wilbär costs around 3k€ - prohibitive.

Oooof. Yeah, that's a lotta dough. I'd shell out for a Werner-Weitner engine stand first before the Wilbär.

 

[Rouven036]

Engine is in.
All went good except one thing, my car had originally the 8-rib belt drive.
Went with the 6-rib setup of the AMG engine and the spring tensioner.
I had unbolted the ac compressor from it's bracket and left it in the car in order not to loose the ac charge.
Once I dropped the engine in and was about to bolt on the ac compressor I found that the compressor doesn't fit the bracket?
How or what you guys did to convert to the 6-rib belt?
Is there another compressor bracket?
I can't use the 8 rib bracket as it is lagging one of the mounting points for the spring tensioner.

I was under the impression that I can run the 8 rib compressor on the 6 rib setup.

OK found the culprit. The AC compressor bracket of the w140 is different. I need A1192361930

 

[gsxr]

Yup - you figured it out. The AC compressor bracket is different between 8-rib and 6-rib. Need to swap that out. The 6-rib setup with auto/spring tensioner is soooo much better. It's worth the effort to swap.

Looks like you can use either A1192361830 or A1192361930. There's a couple on eBay. Miiiight still be available new from the dealer, you'd have to ring them and ask.

 

[Markus-MD]

it is the Front Valve are different in this poit.Mean the Holes for the Tensioner.Maybe i remember me that was one Hole other and the Bracket for the Ot sensor (Diagnostic must cutoff.But not sure .This was i fittend an 985/950 Frontvalve cover.
The Same Problem was on my M104 to fitted the new style Tensioner.AC Komp not compatiebel aaaarrrggghhh

 

[Markus-MD]

The Main Problem too find the right comp.i have fitted my old one and have welded the holes nuckel new .than cutting thread and fine

 

[Rouven036]

I need to look that up Dave. Bracket 1930 is NLA, I was probably the first person calling the parts department at the dealership this morning... I saw 1830 online but not sure if they are for the spring loaded tensioner?

I did a short time hack to get the car of the lift and back to the storage unit. I removed the upper centering bushing so that with the lower forward bolt and with the nut to the ac hard lines on the backside the compressor is aligned and I can apply the belt. 3 screws not bolting up.

Then most importantly, it's alive! Not without a heart beat skipping moment....or two:
I bled the coolant system, filled about a liter of engine oil through the oil filter housing to get oil to the pump and the remaining quantity normally through the filler, topped up power steering and zhm fluid, hooked up the battery, unplugged the crank sensor from the ezl and crank it up to built up oil pressure first.
I fixed my view on "the right gauge" and got nervous after the needle didn't move up after 5 seconds. Stopped, again, this time cranking maybe 10 seconds - still needle not moving up.
God damned I started sweating. Quickly re-asessing in my mind if I had plugged in the lower wiring connector responsible for the gauges, yes I did, and the sensors, yes sure - I triple checked that.
Looking again at the instrument and noticed I was looking at the coolant temperature gauge.... I was so fixated on the movement of the needle that I did not notice the scale behind.... Again cranked it over and surely, oil pressure was there almost immediately.
Plugged back in the crank sensor plug into the ezl and the engine fired up right away!
What a feeling!!!
Then also I noticed that the lights in the cluster didn't turned off, again, ha di connected terminal 61 on the alternator and on the connector block, yes I did - just increased revs a bit and lights went off but came on again when resting in idle speed.. So maybe the new 150A alternator isn't that good? Need to check that.
I let her sit idling until the radiator got hot and then switched her off and called it a day as it was 1am again.
Tomorrow I will keep her running for a little longer to get the valve lifters also proper bled as they are ticking slightly still... But as they were sitting for a couple years they are surely quite empty.
Also I noticed that the engine runs a bit rougher than a 5L as well has a slightly different sound. The liter displacement difference shows here I guess....

Here a short video, taken just after she fired up.

 

[gsxr]

I need to look that up Dave. Bracket 1930 is NLA, I was probably the first person calling the parts department at the dealership this morning... I saw 1830 online but not sure if they are for the spring loaded tensioner?

Yup, both 1830 and 1930 are for the spring tensioner. -0335 is for the older manual tensioner.

Still don't know the difference between 18 and 19...

 

[Rouven036]

Quick update, 1830 also NLA at MB however picked one on ebay... The installation has to wait until next visit home as it won't arrive in time before my flight out...
The documentation on the ebay site als refers as alternative part number to 1930...so maybe same part only different manufacturer? Anyways - happy!

 

[TimL]

Congratulations on having installed the engine @Rouven036- it must feel great to have accomplished that after a long wait! Hope you will enjoy the driving experience- please share your thoughts once you had ample opportunity to drive it. Really curious how the two compare!

 

[Rouven036]

Thanks Tim, yes I will but it will have to wait until my next visit. Overall I am very happy that the engine swap is completed now... I kept the car running for about 40min and then just drove it one round through the adjacent roads. Checked fluid levels and for leaks - so far all good.
Then cleaned up the workshop and parked the car back into the storage unit. Kept the NEEZ evo's on the car. Ample space for big brakes...about the look, I m not sure yet if I ultimately prefer them over the Rials.
Topics to be addressed:
- alternator seems not charging well, have another 150A and the original 110A. Lights go off in the instrument st around 2k rpm
- to install the 1830 ac compressor braket
- reconditioning the amg badges for the air filter housing and glueing them on
-swapping the valve body and modulator pressure cell from the amg transmission along with the transmission badge. Keep in mind only the valve body has been modified with a different spring kit as well as the modulator pressure cell.
My transmission is fully reconditioned so it wouldn't make sense to swap it at all.
Here some final shots and a video after all lifters have filled up.

 

[Rouven036]

Today was the last day in good ol' Germany.
Surprisingly the AC compressor bracket showed up in the mail. It looks like it will fit, surely on the engine and with spring tensioner. But also looks much more likely to fit the E500E AC compressor.
Part as such arrived super clean and labeled by the seller...
Part number again as reference 1192361830

As commented earlier, the installation has to wait until next turn.

 

[Rouven036]

Some updates here...some might remember my slide throttle evo1.
Since many years I wanted to built a real sport engine for it and keep the original engine (it was mechanically never modified or opened) aside.
The slide throttle system was installed on the stock engine in 2009 till I took the decision already like I believe 6-7 years ago to sell the slide throttle, convert the stock engine back to CIS-E and start to put the plan into realization.
Slowly the engine built project was initiated. I bought parts over a range of about 16 years which all major basic compinents were together back then.
All started with a standard 2.5-16 Block (repeatability in case of engine failure) bored out to evo bore size, further modified with ventilation windows in the crank mounting gallery, oil squirters etc.
A fine ballanced evo2 crank.
Evo1 full CNC cylinder head with dtm sized valves
DTM amg intake cam adjuster of 1992
DTM cylinder 1 recognition device on the exhaust cam
Speacial made pistons and connecting rods by IRP
And some very unique items of Mercedes-Benz Sport-Technik. Now, one has to know Sport-Technik was the own, internal racing division of Mercedes-Benz which also delivered the power trains for the famous le mans winning c9 and following group c cars. Both were untill end of season '90 strong competitors to AMG. ST teams were Maas Schons (MS) racing and Snobeck for example. Sport-Technik was dissolved and partially merged with amg in end of 1990 and since then Amg got the stripes on their which originated from Sport-Technik (remember the sportline logo? That's Sport-Technik!
Now back to the project... I got some über rare parts such as an NOS Sport-Technik magnesium oil pan and the ST (in short) magnesium roller barrel throttle system, much rarer than the already rare original slide throttle dtm parts which now finally found a purpose.
Now the parts are merged in a evo1/2 st/amg chimera.
Project details were in various occasions, like cam selection, cam adjuster travel setup etc. done in alignment with a man which was and still is highly involved in such projects even so he is meanwhile retired but was working during his active time first for ST and later for amg.
Recently the engine is in the last phase of it's build, with readily adjusted timing, tested oil circuit and cam adjustment function only final assembly of components such as accessory belt drive etc. are yet to be done.
Plan is to get it in feb/march into the car with a new transmission (keeping all original components aside) and a evo2 ratio 3.46 or possibly 3.67 ratio diff - so maybe it is ready to run in summer 2025.

 

[Rouven036]

Meanwhile the engine is completed, alternator missing but that's just a bolt on. Now waiting until feb/Mar to send the car there for installation. Meanwhile I sourced a 3.67:1 ratio abs/asd diff (stock evo1 3.27:1, evo2 3.46:1) and eventually also a 3.92:1 unit. Depends pretty much how the engine would work best. Guys I talking to do recommend the 3.92 ratio but on the other hand I pretty like high constant speeds at the highway and a 3.67 still gives me around 156 km/h at 5000rpm. The engine will rev till 9k.
Also researching some manufacturers and retailers for titanium fasteners and a manufacturer for a carbon fiber driveshaft.

 

[sheward]

Mechanical art!

 

[Rouven036]

Meanwhile I put also a original AMG ducktail on the 190e 3.6
Removed the MOVIT brake calipers and send them for repainting as paint was quite bad.
They are going to be yellow - same color code as on my evo1

 

[Rouven036]

Refurbished the brake calipers and got them painted in Dandelion Yellow from Mitsubishi. Same color as my Evo1...
Next step, refurbishing the valve cover.

 

[gsxr]

Nice! What dimensions are those front brake discs?

 

[Rouven036]

Those are our discs! 320mm, rear silver arrows as normal 300 were NLA.
Disadvantage of the brembo/porsche caliper is that 16" wheels will not fit. Ultimately will try to get a set of 8" aero 3 piece

 

[Rouven036]

Small update, valve cover of the M104 is done, photos will follow.
The NOS AMG body kit for 201 is soon on its way and will arrive hopefully in good order.

For the 124, bought an NOS ducktail version with amg stamping which shall arrive soon.

 

[Rouven036]

Here now some photos of the newly painted valve cover of the 3.6 and current status of the M117 of the W123.

The M117 build shows only on this single photo various bits and pieces of the engine families: 119.96, 119.97, 119.98, 103/4 and the self developed stuff...

 

[Rouven036]

NOS AMG ducktail pics, it's the version with the AMG casted into the center piece. Suits the car as the part is produced in 10/92

Bought from user @Amgmercedes.parts.fulloptions

 

[Rouven036]

Some update here. Back in Germany at the moment, and as you might remember I have the ac compressor bracket on the 6L pending for replacement which will take place in the next two days. Then will get the mot and h certification done.
Then since about 18 months I am contemplating of what to do as I got a strong itch for a P-car. After much of thinking I decided to sell my really deeply beloved Evo2 and go for something with a similar nature, manual, analogue, naturally aspirated high revving & limited. Also I was seeking within the limitation for something a bit more special (as my ac-less evo2 is too) instead of ac-less I opted for a special color of the pts range.
Here she is, the dark sea blue substitute, 911 S/T

 

[Rouven036]

Worked on the 500E yesterday and swapped the AC compressor bracket. 2130 went out and 1830 went in. All fits now as it is supposed to be. To do that job the anti roll bar has to come down, just to keep it hanging on the outer mounts, belt and belt tensioner, crank pulley and damper (6 13mm hex heads. It's super tight but possible...then I went on and swapped the regulator fro.m the old to new 150A BOSCH alternator which is now still not charging! Definitely crap out of the box. So to swap it for the old trusty 110A unit is left for today.

 

[Rouven036]

Here a photo of the last day with the evo2, awaiting to be collected by a transporter.
I went the next morning 650km to Hamburg, to hand over the car personally to the sales agent which was very important to me. The car was sold within 2 days, generating a Facebook viewer count on the sales post of over 230k within a 3 days and the car was actually sold for the asking price. Amazing outcome and still feel to have done the right thing with selling the car through an agent who has a strong reputation for excellent cars.

Here initial traffic of 3 days:

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I have had approached also Mechatronik and someone acting for a scout for hwa and Mercedes heritage and must say the handling was shady in either case offering really low prices for either own or company mark up. Not recommended.
Nor I wanted to deal with the sales myself

 

[Rouven036]

Worked on the 500E yesterday and swapped the AC compressor bracket. 2130 went out and 1830 went in. All fits now as it is supposed to be. To do that job the anti roll bar has to come down, just to keep it hanging on the outer mounts, belt and belt tensioner, crank pulley and damper (6 13mm hex heads. It's super tight but possible...then I went on and swapped the regulator fro.m the old to new 150A BOSCH alternator which is now still not charging! Definitely crap out of the box. So to swap it for the old trusty 110A unit is left for today.

To complete the story of the new Bosch 150A alternator, so in fact it was toast out of the box only starting to charge above 2500 RPM or so. Quite disappointing the fact that I ordered the unit new a couple of years ago and can't return it now due to the time between purchase and install.

On the upper side, driving the car for a couple of kilometres this time really showed the difference between a 5L and 6L. While not pushing load or revs above 4000 the increased torque is instantly noticeable. The car appears like it just lost a couple of hundred pounds. Feels more responsive and effortless when pulling forward. Really cool.

Also to say, the catless 500SL with cis-e 960 motor is quite crispy, strange generally as the intake manifold is much less ideal in runner geometry than on the 97x engines. Probably the fueling makes a difference...

 

[Markus-MD]

To complete the story of the new Bosch 150A alternator, so in fact it was toast out of the box only starting to charge above 2500 RPM or so. Quite disappointing the fact that I ordered the unit new a couple of years ago and can't return it now due to the time between purchase and install.
On the upper side, driving the car for a couple of kilometres this time really showed the difference between a 5L and 6L. While not pushing load or revs above 4000 the increased torque is instantly noticeable. The car appears like it just lost a couple of hundred pounds. Feels more responsive and effortless when pulling forward. Really cool.
Also to say, the catless 500SL with cis-e 960 motor is quite crispy, strange generally as the intake manifold is much less ideal in runner geometry than on the 97x engines. Probably the fueling makes a difference...

Nice Triothe 90s are the best

 

[TerryA]

@Rouven036,
What a nice collection of MBs! And in BLACK ! My favorite color.

 

[gsxr]

To complete the story of the new Bosch 150A alternator, so in fact it was toast out of the box only starting to charge above 2500 RPM or so. Quite disappointing the fact that I ordered the unit new a couple of years ago and can't return it now due to the time between purchase and install.

I have a couple of new (reman) Bosch alternators in the box on a shelf... hope they are good.

On the upper side, driving the car for a couple of kilometres this time really showed the difference between a 5L and 6L. While not pushing load or revs above 4000 the increased torque is instantly noticeable. The car appears like it just lost a couple of hundred pounds. Feels more responsive and effortless when pulling forward. Really cool.

YES! This is what I notice as well. The extra 50-60hp isn't readily apparent, but the torque between 2k-4krpm is VERY obvious. I like your description, "the car appears like it just lost a couple of hundred pounds". Yup, that's it! Much more responsive and effortless even at part throttle.

 

[Rouven036]

@Rouven036,
What a nice collection of MBs! And in BLACK ! My favorite color.

Thank you Terry!

 

[Rouven036]

YES! This is what I notice as well. The extra 50-60hp isn't readily apparent, but the torque between 2k-4krpm is VERY obvious. I like your description, "the car appears like it just lost a couple of hundred pounds". Yup, that's it! Much more responsive and effortless even at part throttle.

Thx Dave! That's the best I could describe it!

Will need to see if there is any production or reman date on that other alternator I have here with me. Should be a unique case but still sucks big tme!

 

[Rouven036]

My second Porsche built car (after the 500E) but first one with a Porsche crest arrived last night, or better the ship arrived. Looking forward to unload it but might not be before Sunday or Monday until all procedures are done. Looking forward.

 

[Rouven036]

After a week until custom documents were ready, yesterday at 3.20am I received a call that I shall come to the port for custom inspection and collection. Surely didn't take me time to get up and head to the port. About 40min later I was there and unloaded the car. As usual here a bit crude and hence always a must to attend and to guide... All worked out and by around 5am everything was done and we left with the car on a tow truck. First act was to wash it, doing the first oil change as its just a year old now. And do some minor touches such as a original wooden shift knob in reminiscence to the lightweight spirit of the 917, carrera gt etc.

 

[TimL]

Congratulations @Rouven036! Cool and rare car. I'm sure it will make you forget about the Evo II you sold

 

[lowman]

Congratulations my friend Porsche looks greaaaaat ,and im Loving the wooden gearknob. Really fine detail
Personally not a massive fan of such newer cars,as they are just " too much of everything"...but yours looks fantastic in that spec.
What is your mission with this car then?

 

[Rouven036]

Thx Stefan! Yeah I fully get you and I am not a fan of newer cars either. But why then such a move - let me try to explain it but might be a long one:
So, generally I learned in 2022 what is the difference of a sporty car i.e. a AMG Derivate and what is a sports car. Even in its lowest power configuration it was world's better than the by that time actual AMG GT.

During the said event in 2022 on a Spanish mountain road, at an AMG! event was a comparison drive between different amg and competitor models. All 500+ hp except a basic Carrera 384hp (3L twin turbo, PDK) convertible. This seemingly "underpowered" car was by far the most joyous experience of all.

1. the accuracy (despite being a entry level and convertible, of brakes, steering and suspension.​

2. the power could be used all the time where others constantly battled with the traction control.​

3. general cabin quality impression with much more leather options and no rattling nosies as common on the amg gt for example.​

Then in 2023 I drove the first time the current gt3 and was blown away by how immediate everything reacts and feels on this car. Double wishbone front end was also on my SL65 BS but it is miles away from the feel you get in these Porsche GT cars.

Then there is the matter that the manual transmission shift is beautiful with a still naturally aspirated engine that sounds amazing at every revolution. Chris Harris described it as a musical instrument.

Then the digital, new age stuff. I am quite fine with it as all important controls are still performed by real switches and the style is for a modern car simplistic, or almost to say outdated compared to all other recent stuff.

The interior/exterior design, inside with the "simple" electronics, the dashboard remained very slim, not such a heavy clumsy thing like in most modern cars, also I sit with my 1.9m perfectly "inside" the drivers space with perfect geometry between seat position, steering wheel position and pedals. Also I really like the exterior with it's simple yet sophisticated and understated shapes.

Then the limited, special edition factor on top with all it's change from the standard GT3 Touring...

Price, yeah price is outrageous. But considering the purchase price and sale price of my evo2 and the added amount - we speak about an actual total spend for this car of 50k € (excluding annual service cost for the evo). An amazing deal with something of a similar spirit of the evo2, with its high revving, manual setup less the homologationspecial aura but also limited availability. For about the same money of an S/T you can buy a limited edition McLaren 675LT, Ferrari Sf90 or way less a 296, but these cars - all highly depreciated for various or obvious reasons. These aren't it for me, too much show off, too digital, automatic or just too powerful. Besides the SL65 BS which was a brute weapon, I drive quite a number of high powered EV's and that stuff is just too much, not to say outright dangerous in unskilled hands and simply to fast to enjoy on country roads.

That brings me back to the experienc in Spain, where a lower powered car can be more fun and engagement to drive, especially with a rewarding drive train which YOU have to work.

So، OK a bit of a long post..simply said the GT3 Touring or the pinnacle S/T as in my case, is the only modern enthusiast car I would ever buy, or better said, I have bought because of all it's described attributes.

As an old modder, I replaced the monochrome tail light bar today with a red one, wired in a magnetic trickle charger plug in the front bumper and some small other touches. Check out the badge on the charger...