New Member Here!!! Current project in progress...
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
New Member Here!!! Current project in progress...
Hey everyone,
I am new to the forum, and wanted to thank all the people who share their knowledge on this site. I've done many thread searches already, and have found everything that I was looking for.
Current project: (will post before and after pics when I'm done)
1. Depo projectors
2. 8000K Xenon
3. W211 Mirror Turn Signal
4. 05+ OEM Sport Grille
5. Clear Fog Lenses
6. Polished Stainless Exhaust Tip
7. 35% Tint
8. 07 Smartkey
Next Project
1. Cross drilled rotors
2. EBC Redstuff Ceramic Pads
3. Double DIN Navigation
I am new to the forum, and wanted to thank all the people who share their knowledge on this site. I've done many thread searches already, and have found everything that I was looking for.
Current project: (will post before and after pics when I'm done)
1. Depo projectors
2. 8000K Xenon
3. W211 Mirror Turn Signal
4. 05+ OEM Sport Grille
5. Clear Fog Lenses
6. Polished Stainless Exhaust Tip
7. 35% Tint
8. 07 Smartkey
Next Project
1. Cross drilled rotors
2. EBC Redstuff Ceramic Pads
3. Double DIN Navigation
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
#7
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If you plan to race or something, they might not be the best choice.
Some people have complained about fade.
I only experienced it once, after driving VERY hard DOWNHILL for 3 miles.
I have the C32 brakes too.
Overall, my rotors still look like new, it's been over 6 months since I did pads and rotors, and I can still see the original crosshatching.
In daily driving they are great and should last 2X as long as
the stock pads.
If you want performance go with Porterfield, but they are expensive.
Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; 04-19-2007 at 09:47 AM.
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
I don't have AMG brakes, or the 05+ Sport brakes. I have the older 2004.0 sport model. They don't make a Akebono for my model unfortunately.
What would you recommend between the Hawk and the EBC Redstuff Ceramic?
What would you recommend between the Hawk and the EBC Redstuff Ceramic?
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
Got the new key, grille, and fog light lenses in yesterday. The key is nice! My Depo's, Mirror Blinkers and Exhaust Tip should be in any day now...
I can't see how an HID kit would make the Depo's melt. HID's produce less heat than a halogen bulb. And Kelvin Temp. of 8000K has nothing to do with heat, but color output only. I can definately see that if someone installed 100W, or even normal 50-55 "Hyperwhite" type bulbs, that would definately cause the headlights to melt.
I can't see how an HID kit would make the Depo's melt. HID's produce less heat than a halogen bulb. And Kelvin Temp. of 8000K has nothing to do with heat, but color output only. I can definately see that if someone installed 100W, or even normal 50-55 "Hyperwhite" type bulbs, that would definately cause the headlights to melt.
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C320 Coupe
there was cases that depo headlight will melt, although not often, but it's possible, just a heads up buddy, if i have a sedan and not a coupe, i'd definiately spend the money on Depo rather than ****ty OEM bi-xenon
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Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
without pics!...
Just messin' with you. Way to go. Good luck with those DEPO's. That was the only one that I was iffy about seeing. Just make sure you get the appropriate HID kit that you won't have to set Xenon to present. Nothing is worse than having to drive at night without headlights. Just not safe.
Just messin' with you. Way to go. Good luck with those DEPO's. That was the only one that I was iffy about seeing. Just make sure you get the appropriate HID kit that you won't have to set Xenon to present. Nothing is worse than having to drive at night without headlights. Just not safe.
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without pics!...
Just messin' with you. Way to go. Good luck with those DEPO's. That was the only one that I was iffy about seeing. Just make sure you get the appropriate HID kit that you won't have to set Xenon to present. Nothing is worse than having to drive at night without headlights. Just not safe.
Just messin' with you. Way to go. Good luck with those DEPO's. That was the only one that I was iffy about seeing. Just make sure you get the appropriate HID kit that you won't have to set Xenon to present. Nothing is worse than having to drive at night without headlights. Just not safe.
I already installed the HID in my stock frosty headlights. Beam pattern really isn't all that bad. Haven't had anyone flash brights at me. I have a Lumenux HID kit I bought off eBay for $180 shipped. They were advertised having a "smart ballast" that doesn't cause the headlight error to come up. I had the headlight error come up on 2 occasions, but the lights stayed on and didn't flicker. I turned the car off, and back on, and the error disappeared. I read on another thread that people with kits like mine, should wait a minute from a cold start before turning the headlights on. My local dealership is really cool, so I am going to have them program Xenon=on at my next oil change.
I went to order a 06 style automatic shift knob at the dealership today, and it's friggin expensive! Wholesale price on it was $224, list $288. I'm going to hold off and figure out a cheaper alternative to my ugly black leather/plastic one.
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
Parts are here... w. pics
I finally have all the parts in! Everything will be installed on Friday.
So I ordered some of the parts (W211 style mirror LED's & Stainless Exhaust tip) on eBay from a seller who is supposedly from Canada. It turns out he's really in Taiwan, but it is all good since shipping only took 3 days. I have ordered several items now on eBay from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and it's def. worth the price savings. EMS shipping from Asia has never taken more than 3 days.
I'm adding another mod to the list, as I found a set of 05 C230 Springs from someone on eBay. I got them for $87 shipped, which I thought was quite a deal. I'm only going to install the fronts, and I can't wait to get rid of the 3" fender gap!
More pics to come once everything is installed.
So I ordered some of the parts (W211 style mirror LED's & Stainless Exhaust tip) on eBay from a seller who is supposedly from Canada. It turns out he's really in Taiwan, but it is all good since shipping only took 3 days. I have ordered several items now on eBay from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and it's def. worth the price savings. EMS shipping from Asia has never taken more than 3 days.
I'm adding another mod to the list, as I found a set of 05 C230 Springs from someone on eBay. I got them for $87 shipped, which I thought was quite a deal. I'm only going to install the fronts, and I can't wait to get rid of the 3" fender gap!
More pics to come once everything is installed.
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I finally have all the parts in! Everything will be installed on Friday.
So I ordered some of the parts (W211 style mirror LED's & Stainless Exhaust tip) on eBay from a seller who is supposedly from Canada. It turns out he's really in Taiwan, but it is all good since shipping only took 3 days. I have ordered several items now on eBay from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and it's def. worth the price savings. EMS shipping from Asia has never taken more than 3 days.
I'm adding another mod to the list, as I found a set of 05 C230 Springs from someone on eBay. I got them for $87 shipped, which I thought was quite a deal. I'm only going to install the fronts, and I can't wait to get rid of the 3" fender gap!
More pics to come once everything is installed.
So I ordered some of the parts (W211 style mirror LED's & Stainless Exhaust tip) on eBay from a seller who is supposedly from Canada. It turns out he's really in Taiwan, but it is all good since shipping only took 3 days. I have ordered several items now on eBay from Hong Kong and Taiwan, and it's def. worth the price savings. EMS shipping from Asia has never taken more than 3 days.
I'm adding another mod to the list, as I found a set of 05 C230 Springs from someone on eBay. I got them for $87 shipped, which I thought was quite a deal. I'm only going to install the fronts, and I can't wait to get rid of the 3" fender gap!
More pics to come once everything is installed.
good mods welcome
#20
Akebono is pretty decent. Rotor friendly, and almost dustless.
If you plan to race or something, they might not be the best choice.
Some people have complained about fade.
I only experienced it once, after driving VERY hard DOWNHILL for 3 miles.
I have the C32 brakes too.
Overall, my rotors still look like new, it's been over 6 months since I did pads and rotors, and I can still see the original crosshatching.
In daily driving they are great and should last 2X as long as
the stock pads.
If you want performance go with Porterfield, but they are expensive.
If you plan to race or something, they might not be the best choice.
Some people have complained about fade.
I only experienced it once, after driving VERY hard DOWNHILL for 3 miles.
I have the C32 brakes too.
Overall, my rotors still look like new, it's been over 6 months since I did pads and rotors, and I can still see the original crosshatching.
In daily driving they are great and should last 2X as long as
the stock pads.
If you want performance go with Porterfield, but they are expensive.
I tried TireRack but they don't carry the front pads anymore.
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
Yeah, I know that exhaust tip isn't ideal, but it beats the 2 little peashooters that are there now. I looked at the other style, and the black part would stick out like a sore thumb on my brilliant silver. Maybe one of these days i'll buy a real exhaust.
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
Everything installed!
I know this thread sucks without pics... but bear with me til tomorrow, as I will post pics. Its been raining for 2 days, and it's gonna be sunny tomorrow.
So here's some initial thoughts of the install...
The transformation of my 04 is amazing. I'm still amazed. My car looks like a new model now.
I wish I had just bought new fog lights completely. The clear lenses alone are much better than the frosted lenses, but the inside of the fog light has some white plastic showing, so it's not perfect.
The Depo headlights look very nice. Much better than I expected. Too bad the projector doesn't perform as good as it looks. I have an HID kit, and the road is illuminated well because of the sheer volume of light, not from good optics. I've driven through rural unlit roads at night, and they light up the road well. They don't shine very wide like OEM Bi-Xenon, but shine front heavy like stock halogen headlights. I think that these Depo's would be horrible with halogen bulbs though. The cutoff is very sharp through the projector, no one should be bothered by the lights. ..... The bad thing is there are severe hot spots. When I post pics tomorrow, you will be amazed and how bad it is.
I have a theory on why I think the hot spots are so severe. The H7 bulbs seat into the Depo's 180 degree's different from OEM lights. The tab at the base of the bulb point up in OEM headlight, and they point down in the Depo's. Aftermarket HID bulbs always have this blue tube that runs parallel to the light bulb. It is designed to alter the beam pattern to minimize glare to oncoming traffic. The bulb sits backwards in the Depos. I will test this theory, and post my results. I'll probably have to use a dremel and cut the tab off, so I'm not exactly thrilled.
The aftermarket W211-look blinkers look nice. They fit tight during the install, but the fit looks OEM. At night, when blinking, some of the light bleeds into the inside of the mirror assembly where you can see it . It's a little distracting, but kinda cool in a way. They are really bright, and match the blinker of the Depo's pefectly.
On a side note about "chrome" turn signal bulbs. The sylvania silverstar 7507AST and the 1156AST I think are the best. They blink as bright as OEM bulbs, and they reflect this bluish, silverish, color that looks pretty clean. I bought chrome bulbs, and I returned them. They blinked so dimly, that they even looked dim at night. They also blinked this strange amber color. Other people have had similar results.
It's amazing how much the 05+ grille changes the front of the car for such a little change.
Pics to come tomorrow...
So here's some initial thoughts of the install...
The transformation of my 04 is amazing. I'm still amazed. My car looks like a new model now.
I wish I had just bought new fog lights completely. The clear lenses alone are much better than the frosted lenses, but the inside of the fog light has some white plastic showing, so it's not perfect.
The Depo headlights look very nice. Much better than I expected. Too bad the projector doesn't perform as good as it looks. I have an HID kit, and the road is illuminated well because of the sheer volume of light, not from good optics. I've driven through rural unlit roads at night, and they light up the road well. They don't shine very wide like OEM Bi-Xenon, but shine front heavy like stock halogen headlights. I think that these Depo's would be horrible with halogen bulbs though. The cutoff is very sharp through the projector, no one should be bothered by the lights. ..... The bad thing is there are severe hot spots. When I post pics tomorrow, you will be amazed and how bad it is.
I have a theory on why I think the hot spots are so severe. The H7 bulbs seat into the Depo's 180 degree's different from OEM lights. The tab at the base of the bulb point up in OEM headlight, and they point down in the Depo's. Aftermarket HID bulbs always have this blue tube that runs parallel to the light bulb. It is designed to alter the beam pattern to minimize glare to oncoming traffic. The bulb sits backwards in the Depos. I will test this theory, and post my results. I'll probably have to use a dremel and cut the tab off, so I'm not exactly thrilled.
The aftermarket W211-look blinkers look nice. They fit tight during the install, but the fit looks OEM. At night, when blinking, some of the light bleeds into the inside of the mirror assembly where you can see it . It's a little distracting, but kinda cool in a way. They are really bright, and match the blinker of the Depo's pefectly.
On a side note about "chrome" turn signal bulbs. The sylvania silverstar 7507AST and the 1156AST I think are the best. They blink as bright as OEM bulbs, and they reflect this bluish, silverish, color that looks pretty clean. I bought chrome bulbs, and I returned them. They blinked so dimly, that they even looked dim at night. They also blinked this strange amber color. Other people have had similar results.
It's amazing how much the 05+ grille changes the front of the car for such a little change.
Pics to come tomorrow...
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2004.0 C230 Sedan
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