MPOW33R

Howdy all !! Finally got my hands wrapped around my dream !!
Picked up a 2003 G55 Designo w. 67K Miles.. MINT
Silver on Black with Blue Stitch

81 Year old owner, drove about 5k miles a year, dealer serviced
you name it , its got it !! Im elated .. I do wish it was supercharged
but the truck smells and looks new and i stole it so Im happy
and not looking back at all. Just got it back from MBZ of Walnut Creek
and all they had to say was " sunroof drain clogged " so I had them
fix that and also a note saying "keep an eye on rear main seal"


I own a 99 Arctic white C43 designo -
Past Ive had 1 w209 E500 , w211 E55 and w211 E63
and this w463 just shuts sh*t down,
I have a hard believing I'm awake when I pop into the garage.

Parts I have ordered already-

Depo Projectors
3 bar grill
Square to Oval fog light mod
Headlight Shroud with DRL LED Strip
Smoked markers

Next step is

Brabus front springs -1"
G550 Shocks
22" Brabus wheels (i really enjoy them)
Better sound system (comand 2.0 sucks w211 command 50 was so much better)
Back Up Camera

- done !!

Happy to hang amongst you others and hope to ask a million questions
and have everyone tell me "search" =)


Here is the monster -

sterz85

congratulations on the purchase, looks great!

if you don't mind be asking, what ballpark did you end up paying? 40k-45k?

MPOW33R

Yes indeed just around that ball park =)

3WD

Congrats...Your G55 looks amazing!!

Let us know when you're ready for the BRABUS upgrades... =)

Thank you!

sterz85

How's the G55 treating you?

Any new mods to show?

MPOW33R

I thought you would never ask !! Im in awe still! and
hands down best vehicle out of many Ive ever owned.

ps - really wish I had an 05 up for the supercharger or
09 Up for the updated instrument cluster.
pps - i might sell this soon for a 2010 + upgrade or G63

Full 2010 Update + 15 DRL LEDs
Projector Headlights, 6500K DDM Xenons, Headlight Shrouds + DRLs, 2010 Center Grill, 2010 Oval Fog Lights with PIAA ION Bulbs,
2015 Tail Lights, 2012 AMG Pedals, 2010 Side View Mirrors, Smoked Side Markers, Magnaflow exhaust system,
2015 G550 Big Mouth Brush Guard to show DRL LEDs received today, 5/4/16 which completed my conversion.
Will update the steps in a new thread or possibly my for sale thread.





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sterz85

Wow, looks amazing. That's a lot of updates.

Did you go with the DEPO headlights? (could you post a link to the headlights/LED covers?)
DDM - last time I remember hearing of them is years ago when they offered the E36 M3 bumper for the crazy price of $150

Why not throw on the G63 bumper/mirrors?

The jump to the 2010 would be nice, bluetooth and the updated interior. I'm looking at a 05 G55k this weekend. Have spent weeks researching what to do to get bluetooth in the car (phone and streaming music).

MPOW33R

Thank you !! I did go with DEPO headlights and Fog lights
and they are great, really tough working with the city light bulbs ,
the space is really limited. other than that they've been great. So pick
your bulbs, make sure they work and then install the housing. Also make sure
you aim and adjust the headlights correctly before locking everything down
because its a p.i.t.a to adjust after !!!

I vowed to either buy the G63 or to not do the bumpers especially on an 03.
If I had a 2010 I would go brabus, but a G63 to me should just be a G63.

I personally like the 55 side views better, and if i had done the 63 bumper
I would have done the 63 Side views. My truck today looks identical
to a 2016 G55 because of the DRL LEDs.

I bought a $45 Kinivo BTC450 bluetooth adapter, had it intergrated because I hate
wires showing. its so so so easy, Ive only paired it once, and it auto connects
everytime, very easy to use and awesome quality. Make sure you buy the
noise filter that is an option. It works wonders. Pandora, Music, Audio Phone Calls, SIRI
no problemo

Paid $400 to have every single squeeak and rattle taken out and fixed.
Its so quiet its crazy

pps - mine might be for sale and its dialed and done, cali car 2 owners if interested PM =)
found an ecu upgrade for $499 for give or take 40hp 45tq

drew138

Congrats. Looks great. I too like the g55 side mirrors over the g63 mirrors. I've considered back dating them if/when i ever upgrade to a next gen G.

zhehbka

how did you wire DRL LED's?

MPOW33R

I didn't personally wire them so I'm not exactly sure - mine turn on at ignition per OEM wiring diagram . however they came with the shroud and the LED strip plus a little junction box for each side so that when you turn your headlights on the LED strip dims down by 60%. And back to 100% when Head lights are switched to Off .

America

Congrats on your new buy and nice updates. Have you done the G550 shocks yet? If so, how do they compare to the stocks? I have a 04 G55 and at times the bumpiness is too much. I've also purchased the newer g55 wheels but not installed yet.

MPOW33R

Interestingly I was on the horn this morning with 4 x 4 club . He told me changing the shocks alone between 2002 and 2004 will not help the ride one bit you do have to update the shock and spring of a G550 which will in turn raise our car by 25 mm . He said the ride change is dramatic and much much better as long as you're OK with the truck going up In height. He said between 2002 and 2004 the springs are lower than 2005 and up although they're still AMG so the alternative option should be be to get G550 socks and 2009 and up G55 Springs.

I am gravely on the fence to sell my truck for either a 2010 G55 or G63 so I have not decided on the $1500 comfort suspension update .

sterz85

Could you post a link to lights/DLR you purchased?

America

Few guys mentioned they replaced our 03-04 G55 with G500 shocks and made a difference. Think I would try that first before replacing G550 springs and shocks. Don't want to change the G too much from stock. If I don't like that much, I'll buy a a G550 or G63 like how your thinking.

MPOW33R

Since I can not post the link, here is the item #

eBay item number:131419423809

Seller was amazing, since my paint code is 744 an older silver
and my absolute favorite color on the G, he painted the shrouds for
me and sent them within 10 days. Fitment perfect, paint quality 9.9/10.
In his kit he supplies the module to control the DRL LEDs, LEDs color, style,
size and shape are 100% OEM Match. I searched a ton before buying these.

MPOW33R

Ive only read the G500 shock stories from really old threads,
and in more recent I read the G550 shock update into 02-04 G55s.

fourbyfour told me this morning that, the only reason you hear someone
say the G500/550 shocks helped 02-04 is because theyre new shocks compared
to their old used. he said "its a matter of physics" and got mad and was very
firm in saying its our springs that cause the harsh ride not our shocks.
He said 02-04 have a lower AMG spring set then any other w463.

He had some great points all which made sense however he got really riled up
by my questions lol.

My 03 rear "appears" to sit low, so Im thinking to swap the rears only
to G550 shock and spring, or 2010 G55 Springs with G550 shocks lol
I just dont know how that would work as far as destroying my handling
or not, but the way I see it, its not a race truck nor does my N/A go
sooo fast that im worried about cornering...

So many options and the worse being a 2015 G63 for sale sitting 3 miles from my house with 4K miles, matte black with black on black diamond stitch interior eghhh, I know I know shock swap is much much cheaper

MPOW33R

FRESH UPDATE !!! OEM 2015 G550 Brush Guard

hubert

Got shocks from G63 for sale if u interested. Under 1000 miles on them.

MPOW33R

Always interested PM the price and part # please

MPOW33R

Found another G63 nearby thats got myy attention , im super tempted but really enjoy my truck A LOT. eghhhhh ill take any PM's that have interest in mine shown above. Really don't know where im going with this but I guess you can call it a "feeler"

F456toG55

i have a 2005 G55 and I swaped absorbers to G500 absorbers
it is like night and day
it was harsh and dangerous when fast on small roads, it is now much much much more comfortable and i think the handling is safer

America

Which brand of G500 shocks did you us? Thinking about doing mine, my back is begging me to do, LOL.

F456toG55

I bought from mercedes dealer the part numbers (2 of each, can't remember which one is front or rear)

A006 323 02 00
A005 326 17 00

670€ total

sterz85

What are your thoughts between the G55 and G55k? Is the G55k really the only option after having both?