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I just received a phone call from a friend in Spain telling me that he found a 2008 smart 451 diesel (33kw) crashed. He works for the insurance industry in Madrid.
I wonder if will be a good idea replacing my gas engine for the diesel ....
Comments welcome
Gus, I've had the same thoughts. Sounds like the power plant can be changed out as a unit. However, the ECU mapping (or the ECU itself) would have to be swapped also. Fuel tank and lines, filter, etc. different for diesel? Lastly, no support from USA smart centers and the car would not be certified by the EPA.
Other than those issues, the swap should be easy.
I just received a phone call from a friend in Spain telling me that he found a 2008 smart 451 diesel (33kw) crashed. He works for the insurance industry in Madrid.
I wonder if will be a good idea replacing my gas engine for the diesel ....
Comments welcome
The validity of the claim that it is a 451. I understood that there were NO 451's made with diesels ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
The validity of the claim that it is a 451. I understood that there were NO 451's made with diesels ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
John
John a trip to the smart Germany site allowed me to configure a car with a Cdi with 45PS they did quit offering it in Canada. Seems like a lot of money to spend to create a car that is not emissions compliant and not supported by any dealer network. Even if I lived in a state that did not require me to get the car inspected I can't see how that would be cost effective...
karl
Keep in mind that even if you could get the diesel power plant exchanged the car will never pass state emissions standards. Also it will be expensive to ship a wrecked auto across the Atlantic... US customs also has standards and requirements for importing EU only cars. Customs may not release the car from the port of entry.
on diesel-powered passenger cars (my '98 VW New Beetle TDI was exempt), but I'm sure you would be violating the law on tampering with the OEM emission settings by replacing what the car came with. Also, IL EPA would catch it as a change because the VIN would say its a gas-powered and not diesel-powered car.
The shipping of the motor/transmission and associated controls will pass right through customs as a hobby off road power pack. I doubt there would be any import duty if shipped from France, Germany, Italy or Spain... I shipped whole motors back and forth from Germany for several years...But you must customs declare it for hobby or competition off road use.
The costs for the prep (no oil or fuel), crate, and shipping can be reduced some by disassembly down to the max weight DHL/UPS/FedEx will handle door to door. If it goes as a complete assy the size and weight will require formal trans shipper by boat...as air costs will kill the deal
Now the bad news:
If you live in a emission testing state you are permanently hosed... those folks are smart enough (just barely) to notice diesel vs gas motors
OK let's assume you are like me and for the next few years are still in a state or county that does not require emission testing
Now you need to get the diesel power pack working in your gasoline configured fortwo
This is not a simple as dropping out your power pack and slipping in the diesel variation that fits exactly and has almost all the same electrical connections... as said above the fuel system and vapor management systems from the diesel will be needed (they have different sensors that are required)
You also need the SAM from the diesel or an exceptionally crafty technician with a MB computer and access to the software accounts so they can change the cars "Personality" from gas to diesel on all the black boxes
BTW if you have not figured it out, the diesel motor must come with it's original transmission
Bottom line is.... technically it is very possible to do this swap... but to make the morphed car run, a LOT of black boxes must all be on the same page
There are 6 or 7 black boxes in the Lil Bugger and if you carefully read your owners manuals out there ...Mercedes Benz also installed the crash recorder Black box in our USA smarts....
Linear Mode
