ickdeep

Hey guys,
So I've been thinking doing all sorts of mods to my wonderful C300 and I wanted to see what it would look like. And instead of it being everyone, I thought I'd made a thread that we all can post the modifications we'd done to our cars. And any helpful tints to people wanting to do the same.

Here is the stuff I've done:

- Tint : 35% all the way around (WA limit). Cost me $150 with lifetime warranty


- Black out Emblems (Badges on back, runners on front and back, side makers) : Really easy, just got some plasticdip and did it on a sunny day



- New grill : Found this online ($100'ish). Easy swap, took 20 mins max


- Painted Rims Black : I really wanted to get aftermarket rims but I couldn't really afford at the time so I decided to get my rims painted black. I had a friend with a body repair shop help me and it came out really nice.


- X-Pipe : First of the non-visual upgrades. I got this one from Amazon from like $96. Got it install for $50. Was really worth the upgrade. I suggest it to anyone wanting to customize their W204

Link for sound : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xFnoYI2Gy4


And thats it for now.

Future upgrades:
- Lowering w/ H&R coilovers: Something like this http://imageshack.com/a/img853/3586/j2r7.jpg
- Vinyl roof to glossy black
- Trunk spoiler
- Spacers

Thank you for reading this,
I really suggest everyone post their own experiences on here for everyone to learn from!

ickdeep

Anyone else want to post? I think this will be a great thread for people wanting to mod. their cars as well.

edgalang

I don't have all the pictures...but below is my top 10 favorite mods I've done so far (first one #00 didn't count). I'm currently researching dash cams and I'm sure it's going to replace one of the items below for my top 10 once it's implemented.

#00*********************************************** ******

MOD: Debadged emblems
Pros: Cost effective solution that allows the car to be semi-anonymous to non-enthusiasts.
Cons: May confuse the attendant when valeting your vehicle if there are a dozen other "white Mercedes" on the lot.
Notes: I always debadge my cars regardless of the make/model. This is the first mod that is done before the car even leaves the dealer lot.

#01*********************************************** ******

MOD: Beltronics Pro 300 (hardwired radar detector)
Pros: Small, Light, Inconspicuous, with a Battery Guage.
Cons: No arrows like a V1, for detecting highway patrol pass-bys.
Notes: Best value RD for the money. I had a V1, but it is easily identified from the outside and is prone to getting stolen. Escorts are also generally heavier (from experience), and they generate more windshield chatter.

#02*********************************************** ******

MOD: Tints, 3M 20% all around
Pros: Cooler (temperature wise) interior
Darker tints = more anonymous by drivers, pedestrian, thieves.
Cons: Darker tints are more prone to be ticketed by highway patrol. Already received a ticket for the 20% fronts. In the future I will do a blend of 35 front/20 rear to be more subtle.
Notes: I also experience less road range/harrasment by other drivers (most likely because of increased anonymity).

#03*********************************************** ******

MOD: Tow Hook front license plate mount (allows me semi-freedom to drive with no front plates)
Pros: REMOVABLE! Normally stored in the trunk and installed only for special occasions (example to clear fix-it tickets).
Cons: Not a tooless install. Would prefer a more up front twist on/twist off approach for quicker install/removal.
Notes: Used only on rare occations where I must park in city/county owned parking spaces for an extended period or to clear fix-it tickets.

#04*********************************************** ******

MOD: Tires, (Preferably Michelin Pilot Super Sports)
Pros: The SINGLE most significant mod you can do to ANY car is tires. There is no other mod that can improve acceleration, braking, and handling more efficiently than better rubber (other than shedding weight or adding more tire).
Cons: Price & potential loss of MPG to do additional rolling resistance.
Notes: If wear/cost is too great or an all-season tire is required, replace with Michelin AS/3 (Best all-season tire).

#05*********************************************** ******

MOD: WIDER Wheels (not to be confused with larger diameter wheels): 8.5 front & 9.5 rear (ideal setup for wider 235F/265R tires)
Pros: Wider contact patch! Assuming the replacement wheel is the same weight, you are essentially gaining better acceleration (from a dig), braking and turning from even the OEM tires.
Cons: Inconvenient to replace individually if it gets damaged many years later. Potential loss of MPG to do additional drag.
Notes: Looks is subjective, but if done right, this mod satisfies both looks & performance in terms of upgrades.

#06*********************************************** ******

MOD: ECU tune (OE-Tuning M276)
Pros: More HP & Torque.
Better FUel Efficiency (claimed)
Better Throttle response
Cons: Bench Flash only (inconvenient).
Notes: I have no allegance to a specific tuner, but I do believe it's good practice to use local dealers for potential troubleshooting down the road.

#07*********************************************** ******

MOD: Front Chin spoiler (Carbon Fiber - Godhand style)
Pros: Better aerodynamics = better fuel efficiency (Click on my sig below to see charts...installed after 1/18/14) ~2+ MPG improvement
Cons: Inconvenient to replace if it gets damaged many years later.
Notes: As for MPG, this can go both ways. Higher downforce would improve grip but lower fuel efficiency; however in my case it lowered the car's overall Cd instead (completely unintentinal) and improved the Hwy miles to 30+ MPG.

#08*********************************************** ******

MOD: Aluminum door lock pins.
Pros: Sits flush with the door when locked.
Cons: Price.
Notes: Although originally classified as cosmetic, I find this mod functional because my elbows no longer hit the extra long OEM lock knob when dealing with parking garage tolls.

#09*********************************************** ******

MOD: Vinyl wrap front bumper (lower center, post facelift).
Pros: Cheaper than paint, but higher quality than plastidip. Done mainly as a test to see if I wanted that part of the bumper painted later down the road.
Cons: Inconvenient to replace if it gets damaged many years later.
Notes: Although originally classified as cosmetic, it did save my lower bumper from scapes & scatches after running over a loose tire in the middle of the night.

#10*********************************************** ******

MOD: LED interior lighting. Replaced all interior incandescent bulbs with PUTCO LEDs.
Pros: Drastically improved light output.
Cons: Expensive. Light output may be too bright for some at night.
Notes: Very high quality LEDs that are NOT polarity specific.

JaredP

You got your secondary cats removed as well? I'm getting the X-Pipe done, but I'm not certain if I want the secondary cats removed as well. I've read that they are just resonators, so there is no change to the catalytic system. And from videos I've watched, removing secondary cats gives some backfire crackle.

Also, nice post edgalang, lots of info.

ickdeep

I swapped out my resonator for the x-pipe.

Thank you for that post edgalang!

JaredP

Oh I see, I didn't notice the second picture was from a different perspective. Your secondary cats are still there.

luc1f3r

Not nearly as detailed a list but here's what I've done since I got the car at the end of January.

Passport 9500i / hardwire / mirror mount
Smoked Side Markers
Tint - 5% all around / eyebrow / 50% entire windshield
HID's & LED's
LED Dome Lights
Grill
Roof & Trunk spoiler
AFFALTERBACH Hood Badge
AFFALTERBACH Trunk Badge
AFFALTERBACH Steering Wheel Badge
AFFALTERBACH Comand Cover
Painted Taillights
Painted Side Markers
xpipe install
New License Plate
All Weather Floor Mats
HID Resistors
Stereo Install - 2 8w's JL1000.1, bandpass box, blow through, false floor
Backup camera / VIM
XO Luxury Berlin
Spoiler Paint
Lug Covers
TPMS Sensors
Short Door Pins
Wheels Powdercoated
Puddle Lights
Caliper Paint
Broadway Mirror

Future wants:
Lower - HRSS
Louder - Needs moat exhaust roar.
Faster - Tune
Flashy - Renntech DTM wing & bigger tires

c350nubie

@luc1f3r: that is a lot you got done in just a couple months
Here is what I did:


Eurocharged ECU tuned
AZN Optics LED 8000k eyebrows and side marker
Smoked side markers
C63 style gloss black grill
3M CF 1080 wrapped interior trim
3M Matte black wrapped window chrome trim, fog light chrome trim, trunk chrome trim
3M Matte black wrapped front bumper (lower center)
Debadged C350/emblem
(My car came tinted so it is nice, no need to do more)


Next in the list going to do in order:
Magnaflow X-pipe
Bilstein B6s shocks (looking for a shop to replace)
Light smoked tint head/tail/fog lights, side mirrors
Eibach anti-sway bars front/rear
Replace OEM bi-xenon head light bulbs
Replace OEM fog light bulbs to whiter
Police combat
Wheels 18" or 19" and Michelin Pilot AS3

Moonlight_C300

Great thread topic!

Over the weekend I blacked out the rear emblems.



Also blacked out the chrome around the DRL's, the grill and lip on the bumper.





Next on my list is Gloss black roof and x-pipe.

ickdeep

Got around to De-Badge the back of my car today. I used a blow dryer, cotton thread (couldn't find flose), and adhesive remover. Took about 20-30 mins and I think it looks a lot cleaner now.

xzotik1

19" wheels
c63 507 grill
red calipers
custom intake
roof spoiler
carbon brabus spoiler
100% kappa speaker system
kappa 5 amplifer
parametric EQ in the glovebox


'''''more to come.

xzotik1

Ok.... edit. Lol

xzotik1

xzotik1

Andriy242

Lol @xZotik1. You know there is an edit post button right??? Lol

Sweet project though

ickdeep

Installed some AZNOptics Eyelid LED. They were $35 and took like 15 mins to install and I think they are really nice and is an easy upgrade.



Left one is LED and Right one is normal bulb


I took this photo but my normal light's havn't warmed up enough

JNATC

Here is what I have done so far:
5000k HID
5K AznOptics Eyelids and Side marker bulbs
Yellow fog light bulbs
Smoked my tail lights and side mirror turn signals
Clear Smoked Side Marker lenses
Lamin-x headlight tint(Smoke) and yellow fog light tint
Blue LED interior lights
Chrome door pins
18" LM Reps from Power Wheels Pros...225/40 all around
HR Super Sport Springs
Removed C350 badge
Removed lower door trim
PlastiDip Mercedes Logo and rear chrome trim piece
Painted grill, chrome fog light surround, and lower window trim with PlastiDip (left chrome on grille and upper window trim to go with wheels)

JNATC

More pics

ickdeep

That looks awesome!

How much were those LED lights for the license plate? Were they easy to install?

JNATC

Thanks!

They were real easy to install, just remove the carpet liner from the trunk lid and reach in there. They came in a kit I got off eBay. The kit was like $45 for 18 lights I think.

ickdeep

What kind of LED did you use? get them from a part store or order them online?

JNATC

Got them off eBay. Just generic leds I imagine. They work great tho and they are can bus so no errors.

Moonlight_C300

Haven't done anything to the car recently. But I did wash it. Then it rained the next day Story of my life!

C300BLK

Wrapped my roof and chrome side trim in gloss black vinyl today. Clear side markers are coming in next week.

goldenears

All panels on the car fitted with 4mm Silent Coat dampening mat.

Front and Rear speakers upgraded.

Front

- 2x Gladen Tweeters
- 2x Gladen Crossovers
- 2x Gladen SQX Line 165 Component Speakers

Rear

- 2x Gladen SQX Line 165 Component Speakers

Boot

- 2x Gladen US-08 Slim Active Subfoofers