importfan21

Looks sick!

So this makes 3(?) supercharged C43s in MD? Holy crap! I gotta meet up with you folks.

DRBC43AMG

That is one great looking conversion. Looking forward on hearing some figures that come out of that engine. Is it a 43 or 55?

manifestyou

It is a 4.3, I did not want to do an engine swap, like the idea of keeping my 43 a 4.3 likenitnis supposed to be, but kicking it up a notch with a blower.

DRBC43AMG

Good work Man! Any numbers available? Any upgrades with the tranny or rear diff?

manifestyou

Not yet waiting for ecu tune and then the testing will start at speed should be posting some things when they finish it for me and I'll be home in July to drive it. Worst case when I get back I'll work on numbers.

FrenchBenz

ChampagneC gave an idea with his wrapped B-pillar. Mine were "shot", I could barely see the simili CF trim on the exterior B-pillar so I decided to wrap them as well with 3M CF vinyl wrap. Here are a few pics of the final product (I really like the look):

503C43 ////AMG

IMO they don't look quite right with a matte CF look. You should try and hit them with some clear coat and see how they look.

FrenchBenz

I thought about getting the gloss CF vinyl wrap but in the end I went with this matte CF look, I quite like the look and feel with the rest of car; it stands out a bit more. I might get the gloss one and try it since it's fairly quick and easy to do.

ChampagneC

good work! i think once you see it in person, you realise how good matte looks, all the other rubber and black plastic window trim looks matte so it work perfect. i think gloss would look a bit 'cheaper' and when the sun hits this 3M bam it gets an awesome glow to it

FrenchBenz

I'm not sure this has been already covered in here but if yes, mods, feel free to move this where appropriate....

I decided to tackle the brakes part given that I am starting to have a spongy pedal feel and really have to dig into the pedal to decelerate hard! This is most definitely linked to pads and fluid behind a bit old. The rotors have less than 2 years on them and I've down less than 20,000 miles. Anyway, I pulled the trigger this morning and bought the following goodies:

- Goodridge G-Stop SS brake lines (#34030)
- Hawk HPS Performance Ceramic Brake Pads
* Rear: HB371F.600
* Front: HB497F.776
- ATF Super Blue Racing Fluid (#706302)

I heard some great reviews from fellow C43 owners on the Hawk HPS brake pads. Will let you guys know how it changed the braking performance after the install.

KJI3jflarryfe93

@ a.depuineuf

I noticed your car mods below the picture of your car.
What color LEDS did you use inside cabin?
Full white or other color?

I did this mod to my car recently.
I put blue LEDS inside my cabin on front dome and rear cabin lights.
Maplight has white zenon looks.
Glove compartment has blue LEDS.
Sunvisor make up mirrors will soon have white LEDS
Trunk has blue LED
License plate illumination has white LEDS.
Front parking lights has white LEDS, looks like zenon to match my low beam zenons.
Fogs will soon have white LEDS.

Anyone fitted LEDS to factory frosted glas on C43?
Does it look any good?
Any pictures of this mod?

Is it worth buying LEDS for frosted glas?
If yes?
I will buy LEDS for rear tail lights, 3rd brakelight, front fender side turnsignals and front daytime/turnsignal lenses.

Blue LEDS for cabin and trunk gives really cool looks, color matching my illuminated AMG doorsills @ nite.
I'm more than happy.

FrenchBenz

Hey kowalski,

I have replaced standards lights with full white LEDs for all front and rear cabin lights. Glove box, trunk, and rear license plate are also full-white LEDs. I bought all of them form superbrightleds website.

Not sure about the frosted glass though... Personally I do not really care about them but I guess it would give the car a newer look. No pics to show unfortunately.

Great looking door sills btw. Wanted to do it but did not pull the trigger as I have more important things to take care off before. Great cosmetic mod though.

KJI3jflarryfe93

hey buddy
thanks for the info.
try get some blue leds this is highly recommended, it will give ya different look @ nite, I promise!
It looks ****

did you have difficulties yanking out the bulb for maplight?
I don't know how to open and axxes the bulb?
I told my personal mechanic to fix this and install the whitey led for me.

I will take some shots when I get my car back from service including new mods for 2013.

FrenchBenz

No worries man, it's dead easy... Check those threads for more info:
- 1998 C43 Interior LED Kit
- LED conversion interior-exterior done guide

Plus this awesome How-to youtube video:

Somalia757

So most of these parts are for the C43 but some parts I guess can fit the C36.
However, as far as spring and shock set ups arent they tuned for the added weight of the C43??

nd4spd13

Unfortunately no one has really been able to find out. The C43 is actually lighter than the C36 by 100lbs or so. Personally, I'm running Vogtlands made for the C36 on my 43 with no problems. Handles just as well as my 36 did

benzslo

here's a couple pictures of my recently installed renntech airbox, and kleemann headers. Parts are attatched to a 5.4 55 engine.

PJmak

That must have cost an arm an a leg

benzslo

Gotta pay to play

Pagz

Benzslo, any other pics of the headers? how much did they effect sound or performance?

Cheers

benzslo

I do have one other picture of the other side but it is even worse to see much. Should have taken some pictures before the install or on the lift. I had them ceramic coated beforehand. Slightly louder because there are no cats now, but still very tamed and respectable.
I will have a very nice custom made section of exhaust for sale. Vibrant muffler and resonator- both polished, custom made on a c43 with all proper hangers and fitment, stainless, mandrel bent 3", tig welded. It was louder than I want but alot of you guys would probably like it.

Pagz

That's ok just wanted to see how they collected,as it pretty tight in there 4-1 seems unlikely? ,it looks like 1/3 collect into one then 4/2 into the other and both merge to one above the steering box is that correct?. Are there any clearnce issues around the box?

benzslo

I've seen lots of headers and honestly they could have done these MUCH better. But there is really nothing else out there.

yes the right side is kind of 3 into the collector as one primary joins another before the collector.

The left side has each pair of primaries collecting together, running around the steering gear, and then into a 2-1 collector after it. the #8 primary is a joke.

There was zero fitment issue with the steering gear. I did have to tweak the heat shield on the left motor mount. And the front left pipe needs a little clearancing as it wants to touch the oil pan right before the main collector.

All in all for this kind of the thing the fitment was good. I was not thrilled with the design, but it's better than stock.

If you're right hand drive I can't speak for fitment issues, don't think they were designed with that in mind..

RobertM27

How long did the process of putting on the headers take? Did it involve raising the engine to get them to fit? or was it done with the engine in already?

benzslo

I did it with the engine in but you need to jack up the left side of the engine to get the left side header in. Not a big deal. I also removed the AC line and washer resevoir to really open it up- probably not necessary. It wasn't too bad, I did it at my work on a day off. I did a bunch of other things also and also replaced all the studs for the headers, you also have to get it hooked up to the remaining exhaust depending on what you are doing, it's not exactly bolt on, I did some customizing.

You could probably do it a little faster, I was taking my time. The install really wasn't bad at all, definitlely do it with the engine in. I've seen people on this site say the engine needs to come out, that is bs.

FYI the Kleemann headers are no longer available for these cars, you have to find them used. It may help to know they're the same headers for CLK55/430. If you keep a watch out though you'll find some eventually.