The engine itself is coming out, but I know with Ferrari electronics and factory systems there’s a ton of supporting stuff that can make or break the swap.

Here’s what I’m already planning to grab:

• Complete engine wiring harness
• ECU / ECM
• All sensors (crank, cam, knock, temp, etc.)
• Throttle bodies / intake manifold
• Fuel rails, injectors, and high-pressure pump
• Exhaust manifolds / cats (if they’re still good)
• Power steering pump, alternator, and accessories
• Any mounting brackets or cradle pieces

But I’m sure I’m missing some critical Ferrari-specific items.

Questions for anyone who has done a Ferrari (or similar exotic) engine swap:

1. What “must-have” parts from the donor car saved you the biggest headache?
2. Did you need the full body control module, immobilizer, key, or any other security electronics?
3. Any special Ferrari modules (like the gearbox control unit if it’s a DCT, or the E-Diff) that have to come with the engine?
4. What about cooling system parts — radiator, intercoolers, hoses, or the electric water pump?
5. Any tips on making the factory harness work with a aftermarket ECU or stand-alone setup if needed?
6. What did you end up wishing you had taken but didn’t?

I’ll post progress pics and an update once I start tearing the donor apart. This is going to be a wild one — real garage build, no trailer queen.

Drop your experience, lessons learned, or horror stories. Every bit helps!

Thanks in advance,

I’m dealing with a weird intermittent no-start on my 2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS 550.

Symptoms:

• Battery is fully charged (tested good voltage).
• Key goes in and turns (or push-button start works).
• Sometimes the car does nothing when I try to start it — no crank, no click, dash lights are on normally.
• After sitting for a while (sometimes 10–30 minutes or longer), it suddenly starts fine like nothing was wrong.

It’s not every time, which makes it extra annoying. The car has been otherwise running okay when it does start.

I’ve heard this could be related to:

• Electronic Ignition Switch (EIS) module issues (common on these cars — solder joints or internal failure)
• Starter relay or a sticking relay
• Some kind of “Drive Authorization” module glitch
• Parasitic drain or a module not going fully to sleep
• Or possibly a weak connection somewhere that resets after time

Has anyone here run into this exact or similar problem on a CLS 550 (or other W219 CLS / W221 S-Class era Mercedes)?

Questions for you:

1. What fixed it for you? (EIS repair, relay replacement, module reset, etc.)
2. Did you need a Star Diagnosis / Xentry scan to pinpoint it?
3. Any temporary workarounds while diagnosing?
4. How expensive did the fix end up being?

I’ll update the thread with what I find once I dig deeper (planning to scan it soon). Photos of the dash or any error messages if they appear.

Real talk only — let’s help each other out with these German electrical gremlins.

Thanks! — David | What’s In Your Garage

• Multiple Chevy (LS/LT platforms, trucks, etc.)
• Ford (gas and possibly diesel)
• Mercedes (modern models)
• Infiniti (Nissan/Infiniti platforms)
• Dodge (gas and Cummins diesel)

I’ve been looking at the HP Tuners MPVI4 + VCM Suite because it has strong coverage for GM, good Ford support (including newer models and recent EEC-V additions), and some Chrysler/Dodge vehicles. It also has limited but growing support for certain Nissan/Infiniti models.

A few things I’m wondering about:

1. For those running a similar mixed fleet — is HP Tuners your main tool, or do you still need separate bench tools (like KESS3, Autotuner, or WinOLS) for the Mercedes and Infiniti side?
2. How well does the MPVI4 handle newer Ford and Dodge/Chrysler vehicles in real-world use? Any limitations you’ve hit?
3. For Mercedes — do most people just send it to a pro tuner, or is there decent OBD DIY capability with HP Tuners on certain models?
4. What extra gear do you pair with it (wideband O2, etc.) for good data logging and tuning?
5. Overall — is the credit system and MPVI4 worth the investment if you have 5+ different brands in the garage?

Drop your experiences, wins, frustrations, or recommendations. I’ll update this thread once I make a decision and start logging some data.

Looking forward to real garage talk — no fluff, just useful info from actual builders and tuners.

— David | What’s In Your Garage

This is the perfect place to kick things off in our community!

We all have stuff parked in the garage (or driveway, barn, or storage unit). Whether it’s a daily driver, a weekend cruiser, a full-blown restoration, a wild engine swap in progress, a clean classic, or even a pile of parts waiting to become something awesome — let’s see it and hear the story behind it.

Rules for this thread (to keep it fun and useful):

• Post at least 1–3 photos (or a short video if you want)
• Tell us: Year/Make/Model, what it is (daily, project, trailer queen, etc.), current status, and what you’re planning next
• Feel free to share what you love about it or the biggest challenge you’re facing
• No gatekeeping — every build and every level of project is welcome!

I’ll start it off: I’ve got a mix of Chevy, Ford, Mercedes, Infiniti, and Dodge vehicles in various stages. One is getting serious tuning attention right now, and another is waiting for some bodywork. More details coming in my first reply!

Can’t wait to see what everyone is working on or driving. This thread will stay active so keep updating your posts as your projects move forward.

Let the garage doors open — drop your pics and stories below!

— David | What’s In Your Garage