powerplyer

Hello,

I am new to this form and new to owning a Mercedes. I have a 2000 S430 and was interested in a few upgrades. Can someone point me in the right direction.

1) I am planning to upgrade the wheels to AMG 18" from chrome 16". I keep hearing about preformance improvements. My question is what really improves? Is the ride stiffer less gas milage etc.. By the way will 2000+ sl rims fit on the car, I saw a good deal on ebay for SL rims

2) Is there any tail for this car?

3) I saw a Mercedes s-class with some kind of chrome trimming around headlights; what is the best place to buy that?

4) I love the way the car looks now, but I just want to make it look a litte different, any suggestions would be helpful.

5):Last question can I change the headlights on the car from regular to Xeon?

6) I have the analog phone in the car now, how can i change it to a digital system without spending that $2300+install for a cell phone.

Thanks in advance for all help.

Ps. is anyone interested in selling me their Navigation CD, I am lookign for one for California. I have the one that came with the car, I was looking for an upgrade.

JustinTRW

I can only really answer your first question.

Larger wheels, assuming they are heavier, will cause your car to lose horsepower on the ground. Therefore, you will suffer a slight acceleration penalty. Unless you get wider tires, there is not really a performance (handling) improvement. A lower profile tire may perform better as a tire, but you will not notice much in grip unless you go with a different compound. The ride will be a little less supple because of the lower profile, and if you get a wider tire, you will feel more bumps (because the wider tire hits more bumps). You may suffer a slight gas mileage penalty due to the loss in power.

jl88

1) No performance improvement will be noticed. If anything, it *might* slow down your car, but I doubt it. Ride quality will not decrease because the airmatic system will handle it well. Plus, the 45 profile tire is still plenty to maintain a good comfort level. The SL wheels might fit; I believe the offset is similar. However, there are plenty of people that are selling the sports package 18" wheels. Go for that option first.

2) Lorinser makes a spoiler. Check out Ansonn's car.

3) Ebay or performanceproducts.com. You can find them for less than $100

4) The sports package will always look good, tho it is very common. Brabus, Carlsson, Lorinser are all popular mercedes tuners. It all depends on what kind of look you're going for.

5) Yes you can

6) I seriously doubt you can change. From what I can remember, there is no digital upgrade if you purchased the car with the analog system. My answer is no.

vraa

hmm.. looks like i'm late!

powerplyer

All,

Thank you for the feedback. JL I checked out the website you sent me, really good. I could not find the Xenon lights there, however I found them on ebay for $800. If you have any other websites link plese send them my way.


Thanks again and happy driving.

Dizzy

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=24818

Xenon group buy.
Email Tim to get the latest...$280 if we get 20 or more to order.

Dizzy

powerplyer

Hello,

Thanks for the replys. I have regular non Xenon light now. I read that this is possible. The person I am buying the new Xenon lights from say I have to take the car back to the dealer and have them reprogram for Xenon light is this true, if so do any one know how to do it at home. It would save me a $125 (hour labor charge).

Dizzy

I would highly recommend you run a search and also look at the link. Not all Xenon retrofit kits are created equal. $800 for one on Ebay sounds like a complete rip off. SOme kits require you to splice wires while some require no splicing and are simply true plug and play. Most of the ones I've seen on ebay do require some splicing.

Run a search on HID. You'll find this topic talked about a thousand times. Some dealers charge for the service, $30-$50 was what I've heard. Some dealers don't charge at all. It depends on your dealer.

Phone issue. No upgrade path. You have to purchase a new phone system. Here's some advice. Save your $2500 and goto Radio Shack or Best Buy and buy a $30 earpiece for your phone. I personally don't need my passenger's listening to my phone conversations while I'm "gasp" driving while talking on the phone. My 2000 S430 came with it but I refuse to sign up for service or even use it. My Sprint PCS phone and headset works better than anything Mercedes can come up with.

Dizzy

Ansonnn

1) I am planning to upgrade the wheels to AMG 18" from chrome 16". I keep hearing about preformance improvements. My question is what really improves? Is the ride stiffer less gas milage etc.. By the way will 2000+ sl rims fit on the car, I saw a good deal on ebay for SL rims

If you have the stock AMG body kit, you should stick with AMG wheels. The best looking AMG wheel I think is the new 2 piece CL wheels. It looks like the Brabus Monoblock VI on Jl88's car which is also another nice looking wheel with or without a AMG body kit. Make sure it is at least 19 or above. 18 inches doesn't look too appealing on an S class.

2) Is there any tail for this car?

Check out the pick below.

3) I saw a Mercedes s-class with some kind of chrome trimming around headlights; what is the best place to buy that?

www.performanceproducts.com

4) I love the way the car looks now, but I just want to make it look a litte different, any suggestions would be helpful.

Lower it! Either with RB Tech or Wheel Supply lowering kits

5):Last question can I change the headlights on the car from regular to Xeon?

Yes, but so far use only the 2000-2002 headlights. I haven't gotten the 2003 headlights to work yet. I got the 2003 taillights on! I will post pics soon.

6) I have the analog phone in the car now, how can i change it to a digital system without spending that $2300+install for a cell phone.

Not sure on this one.
Thanks in advance for all help.

Ps. is anyone interested in selling me their Navigation CD, I am lookign for one for California. I have the one that came with the car, I was looking for an upgrade.

powerplyer

Lizzy and Anson,

Thanks for the feed back. I am waiting on the new headlights. The person todl me you just have to plug it in and take it to the dealer for reprogramming. I have also ordered the headlight rings. I am still debating on the rims. I have 16 inch chrome on them now which look good. The only problem I see it that they create a lot of road noise. I have about 75% thread ont them. I took it to the tire shop and they told me the thread is warped. The only thing I could do is get new tires. So I inquired about just upgrading to 18" rims and tires.

Anson,

You Mercedes looks really nice. Different, but nothing drastic.

Ansonnn

Thanks for the comment, Powerplayer. Appreciate it. Post some pics of your car when you get a chance.

powerplyer

Again, thanks for all the feedback. I will post pix as soon as I upgrade, otherwise it looks like any other s class.

I have one additional question for the ppl with a S-Class parts catlog. Can someone tell me if the following are Xenon Headlights.

220 820 11 61
220 820 12 61

Thanks in advance for the help.

Another quick question. I called a couple of my loacal MB delars and they are telling me that it is impossible to convert a 2000 S430 from regular to Xenon, it this true. If not can someone recommand a good mercedes place, in california, San Jose area.

Dizzy

Most MB dealers will not install a retrofit kit. Technically, it'll void the warranty on the lights and possibly the electrical systems attached to the lights.

Most MB owners either install the retrofit kits themselves or find an aftermarket shop to install it for them. Run a search on San Jose shops to find the threads that might have recommendations on which shops to goto.

Once the kit is installed (a good kit is true plug and play, no splicing) you have to take it to the dealer to set your car's computer to "Xenon On" Look at the HID threads for this info.

If you are purchasing the $2000+ HID light and ballasts, then you'll probably want to find a shop to install it. I haven't taken my 2000 S430 apart yet, but I do recall on my 98 Honda Accord, I had to remove the front bumper to take out the headlights to replace them. For MB, I wouldn't be surprised if it were that complicated as well.

Since you're in San Jose, one of the "capitals" of the import racing world, there are hundreds of shops in that area that might be able to help you install your lights or do any other modifications for you.

Dizzy

MBguy_850

Here is a front grille shot of the Lorinser DTM package on my black S500.

powerplyer

can someone tell if it is leagl to have Factory Xenon light on a S430. I have been to a few MB dealears and no one wants to turn "Xenon on" Can I do this a home somhow? They give me all kinds of stories. One dealer said it was impossible. The other dealer told me I would have to buy a retrofit kit. The third dealer told me it was not legal. Can someone recommand some in California, Bay Area San jose. that will do this install. I have a S430 with non-Xenon lights and I bought a pair of Xenon lights, I have even uninstall the old ones and all the plugs match. What will this "Xenon On feature do" Can I change it from the FSS consule?

Thanks again for all the help!

Ansoom, maybe you can tell where you go to get thing done for your S Class.

Dizzy

which kit did you get? How much?

They need to go into the Star computer system, plug it into your car, and select Xenon On.

Run a Search under "HID" and you'll find about 50 threads talking about this very same issue.

Dizzy

powerplyer

Dizzy,

I did not buy a kit. I bought the ful Mercedes Xenon headlights. I just want to replace the existing non Xenon lights with the ones I bought. I put the model number in a prevous post.

Dizzy

Ahh..cool...so how much did it cost for the factory ones? Where did you order it from?
Thanks!

Dizzy

powerplyer

Dizzy,

I got them off of ebay for $500.00. Good quality

tmushy

where can i buy the 2003 tailights?

apricotscrub

buy from dealer, i got them 155$ each

Ansonnn

We're doing a group by on the 2003 Tail lights for $125.00 (excluding applicable CA sales tax). Shipping is extra but if anyone on the board is within a 50 mile radius, I will bring it to their door and help them install it if they want. These tailights have that extra plastic pin and bolt removed for simple screw on install. Please let me know.

sportlichE430

Those '03 taillights also work on 2001 S430?

PS: You got to dump those 16" wheels, they're pre-internet bubble era:p

Ansonnn

with no problems at all. Connector and everything is pretty much the same. Please let me know if you would like to be included in the group buy by today's end. Thanks!

Phil

powerplyer

Ansonnn,

Sign me up, I am very much interested. By the way is it for the pair. I live in the bay area, CA. Closer to Fremont.