Mercedes-Benz 190 D W110 Gets M20 Engine Swap From BMW M3

You won’t exactly win a popularity contest with purists by putting a BMW motor under the hood of a Mercedes classic. But as polarizing as it may be, no one can argue the uniqueness of this W110 re-imagination. Plus, the M20 motor from the E30 3-Series will help the old saloon achieve significantly more power than the original power unit’s 54 horsepower.
 

Turbocharged E30 Mill
The famous BMW straight-6 motor now lives under the hood of the 1965 Benz. The transplanted heart is aided by a turbocharger for added torque and power. And the unit is mated to the BMW’s 4-speed automatic transmission. The power source has been reworked by Bisimoto Engineering to extract as much power and torque from it as the transmission will allow.
 

Comfortable Cruiser
The goal with this project from the outset was for it to be a comfortable and reliable cruiser, able to handle long road trips without any issue. And the new mill certainly provides that. The exhaust system is built to be as quiet as possible, though it can’t do much to block the sound of the turbo!
 

No Hints of BMW
Taking a peek under the hood of this restomodded Mercedes will not show many traces of a BMW origin. The intake manifold and valve cover feature the Mercedes-Benz logo and the three-pointed star. The build also features a rear diff from a W108. The wheels are also sourced from the aforementioned W108 generation.
 

Air Ride
In addition to the plush interior, the air ride suspension system helps achieve a comfortable ride for the long cruises and trips. It also allows the car to show off a low-to-the-ground stance when parked. The combination of classic and modern styling features make the car truly unique.
 

Unique Creation
According to Tony, the car’s owner, he was drawn in by the Fintail aesthetic of the Mercedes. The ‘Heckflosse’ was a prominent styling feature back in the day, and it has gained even more significance as the decades have passed. Regardless of how you feel about the BMW engine, this sleeper 190 D will capture the imagination of everyone in its presence.