- Joined
- Feb 23, 2023
- Messages
- 138
Hey everyone! Been a long time since I've posted here.
Over the last month, I've actually scrapped the C55 project and decided to build something even cooler.
Quick story: my C55 was an 06, but it runs on the older 05 and earlier electronics. My end goal with the car was always to eventually swap an M156 6.2L into it, but because of the older electronics, that becomes an absolute nightmare. The engine itself is easy enough to physically bolt in, but getting all the electronics sorted out afterward is a completely different story.
So here's the new plan.
I saved all of the C55-specific parts from the car. The C55's are very rare cars, and a lot of the body and interior parts are C55-specific. The front end is longer to accommodate the V8, the gauges are different, the rear bumper and trunk tray are different for the dual exhaust, and there's a lot more I could list. Fortunately, all of that stuff can be swapped onto a normal V6 car.
Here's a few pictures showing some of the differences between a normal W203 and the C55. There are more differences than you might expect, which is why I wanted to save all of the C55-specific parts.
As you can see here, the front end is VERY different. the C55 got the front end off the coupe brother to the w203, the w209!
bit of a 1/4 shot. you can see it here too. front end is VERY different.
you can see here, the gauge cluster is different than the normal sedan cluster.
here is images of the rear, you can see the C55 got the quad outlets. its not just exhaust and bumper changed. the entire spare tire well and everything was.
These images show most of the aesthetic differences between the C55 and the normal W203's. there is MANY mechanical differences Aswell.
It's also pretty easy to find an 06/07 V6 sedan, and those have the newer electronics that I need.
So the plan is to find an 06/07 V6 sedan and use that as the foundation for the entire build. The main reason for going this route is the newer electronics, which should make the M156 swap much easier than trying to make everything work in my original C55.
Luckily, I saved all of the C55-specific parts from the car, including the body panels, longer front end, interior pieces, gauges, rear bumper, trunk tray, and all of the other little C55-specific parts. I also saved all of the suspension work and other upgrades I've already done, so none of that is going to waste. I'll be transferring as much of it over to the new chassis as possible.
Then comes the fun part: the M156 6.2L.
The end goal is basically the ultimate W203 AMG sedan that Mercedes never made. I'll have a C55 body and interior, all of my upgraded C55 suspension and drivetrain parts, the newer electronics from the 06/07 chassis, and an M156 6.2L under the hood.
So the final product will essentially be a W203 with a C55 body, C63 engine, fully redone and upgraded suspension, and a C230 VIN.
The M156 is a completely different animal. It's a high-revving, naturally aspirated 6.2L that actually wants to be pushed toward the top of the RPM range. That's exactly what I'm looking for. It feels much more alive, sounds incredible, and has a lot more potential for the kind of build I want to do.
The M113 is a great engine and I understand why people love them, but its character just isn't really my style. I don't want this car to just be a big torque machine. I want something that feels angry and mechanical when you get on it, and the M156 fits that vision so much better.
The W203 is smaller, lighter, I like the styling more, and overall it just fits me better. I enjoy driving them more, and I've always liked the way they look and feel.
That's really the whole reason I'm going through all of this. I'm not trying to build a W204 on a budget or recreate something Mercedes already made. I want to build the combination that Mercedes never built, but that I've always dreamed of owning: a C55-bodied W203, fully upgraded underneath, with the M156 6.2L.
I'm pretty excited about this one. It's going to be a big project, but I think the end result will be worth it. stay tuned!
Over the last month, I've actually scrapped the C55 project and decided to build something even cooler.
Quick story: my C55 was an 06, but it runs on the older 05 and earlier electronics. My end goal with the car was always to eventually swap an M156 6.2L into it, but because of the older electronics, that becomes an absolute nightmare. The engine itself is easy enough to physically bolt in, but getting all the electronics sorted out afterward is a completely different story.
So here's the new plan.
I saved all of the C55-specific parts from the car. The C55's are very rare cars, and a lot of the body and interior parts are C55-specific. The front end is longer to accommodate the V8, the gauges are different, the rear bumper and trunk tray are different for the dual exhaust, and there's a lot more I could list. Fortunately, all of that stuff can be swapped onto a normal V6 car.
Here's a few pictures showing some of the differences between a normal W203 and the C55. There are more differences than you might expect, which is why I wanted to save all of the C55-specific parts.
As you can see here, the front end is VERY different. the C55 got the front end off the coupe brother to the w203, the w209!
bit of a 1/4 shot. you can see it here too. front end is VERY different.
you can see here, the gauge cluster is different than the normal sedan cluster.
here is images of the rear, you can see the C55 got the quad outlets. its not just exhaust and bumper changed. the entire spare tire well and everything was.
These images show most of the aesthetic differences between the C55 and the normal W203's. there is MANY mechanical differences Aswell.
It's also pretty easy to find an 06/07 V6 sedan, and those have the newer electronics that I need.
So the plan is to find an 06/07 V6 sedan and use that as the foundation for the entire build. The main reason for going this route is the newer electronics, which should make the M156 swap much easier than trying to make everything work in my original C55.
Luckily, I saved all of the C55-specific parts from the car, including the body panels, longer front end, interior pieces, gauges, rear bumper, trunk tray, and all of the other little C55-specific parts. I also saved all of the suspension work and other upgrades I've already done, so none of that is going to waste. I'll be transferring as much of it over to the new chassis as possible.
Then comes the fun part: the M156 6.2L.
The end goal is basically the ultimate W203 AMG sedan that Mercedes never made. I'll have a C55 body and interior, all of my upgraded C55 suspension and drivetrain parts, the newer electronics from the 06/07 chassis, and an M156 6.2L under the hood.
So the final product will essentially be a W203 with a C55 body, C63 engine, fully redone and upgraded suspension, and a C230 VIN.
Why I want the M156
As much as I like the M113, I've never really been a huge fan of its character. To me, the 5.4L always felt a little lazy. It makes a ton of low-end torque and is a great engine, but it never had the top-end or excitement that I personally want from a performance V8. It doesn't really scream when you wind it out, and honestly, it has always felt more like a big truck engine to me than a high-strung AMG V8.The M156 is a completely different animal. It's a high-revving, naturally aspirated 6.2L that actually wants to be pushed toward the top of the RPM range. That's exactly what I'm looking for. It feels much more alive, sounds incredible, and has a lot more potential for the kind of build I want to do.
The M113 is a great engine and I understand why people love them, but its character just isn't really my style. I don't want this car to just be a big torque machine. I want something that feels angry and mechanical when you get on it, and the M156 fits that vision so much better.
Why don't I just get a W204 C63?
I know someone is going to ask this, so here's my answer: yes, the W204 is newer, and some people would probably say it's a "better" car. I don't really agree. I own a W204 and I've driven quite a few of them, but I just love the W203 more.The W203 is smaller, lighter, I like the styling more, and overall it just fits me better. I enjoy driving them more, and I've always liked the way they look and feel.
That's really the whole reason I'm going through all of this. I'm not trying to build a W204 on a budget or recreate something Mercedes already made. I want to build the combination that Mercedes never built, but that I've always dreamed of owning: a C55-bodied W203, fully upgraded underneath, with the M156 6.2L.
I'm pretty excited about this one. It's going to be a big project, but I think the end result will be worth it. stay tuned!
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