My car progress
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
My car progress
Hey everyone. I don't have many pics right now and what I do have is mostly in the same spot (I take the pics on my way out the door or when I get home) so I'm not trying to impress on my photography skills, but I did want to get something of my car into the forum. So, here goes a few pics from very stock, to now (which isn't too far).
Stock (with tint) pics:
CL-Grille + Flat hood emblem installed:
CL/hood emblem removed, 05 sports grille installed, Moven C16s:
My planned mods as of right now are
Eisenmann exhaust (purchased but not yet installed)
Bi-Xenons
Lowered (probably Tein Basics)
Avic-D3
Possibly a body kit at some point but I'm still unsure about which one I like
Also, maybe I'll save up and actually get authentic Carlsson 1/16s and support the wheels true designer. I probably forgot a whole bunch of stuff but this was just off the top of my head.
I also have 2 pretty random questions while I'm starting a thread. Can anyone tell about what percent tint the windows are from the pics? The windows were like that when I bought the car. The windshield is also tinted but it's really light so I'm guessing like 50% or something like that. Question 2: for aftermarket tires, should I go by the PSI on the tire or the recommended one on the car. The tires say 50PSI max, the doors/manual says like 32 front, 35 rear or something along those lines.
Stock (with tint) pics:
CL-Grille + Flat hood emblem installed:
CL/hood emblem removed, 05 sports grille installed, Moven C16s:
My planned mods as of right now are
Eisenmann exhaust (purchased but not yet installed)
Bi-Xenons
Lowered (probably Tein Basics)
Avic-D3
Possibly a body kit at some point but I'm still unsure about which one I like
Also, maybe I'll save up and actually get authentic Carlsson 1/16s and support the wheels true designer. I probably forgot a whole bunch of stuff but this was just off the top of my head.
I also have 2 pretty random questions while I'm starting a thread. Can anyone tell about what percent tint the windows are from the pics? The windows were like that when I bought the car. The windshield is also tinted but it's really light so I'm guessing like 50% or something like that. Question 2: for aftermarket tires, should I go by the PSI on the tire or the recommended one on the car. The tires say 50PSI max, the doors/manual says like 32 front, 35 rear or something along those lines.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 974
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From: Boston
2003 C240
Hey looks good bro.....I'm gonna guess that your tint is 25%, it appears a little darker than Kev's. Yeah thats awesome your windshield is tinted...you're supposed to have a perscription for that or something, so thats cool...overall car looks awesome....and I believe we still go by the recommended tire pressue by the car, maybe a couple psi more....can someone confirm that or correct me??? speaking of that, I think I need to lower my pressure...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: SoCal, Irvine
Stage 2 C7 A6, QX60
Hey looks good bro.....I'm gonna guess that your tint is 25%, it appears a little darker than Kev's. Yeah thats awesome your windshield is tinted...you're supposed to have a perscription for that or something, so thats cool...overall car looks awesome....and I believe we still go by the recommended tire pressue by the car, maybe a couple psi more....can someone confirm that or correct me??? speaking of that, I think I need to lower my pressure...
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 155
Likes: 1
From: Manchester, England.
CL203, W211
I got the same wheels/tyre size as you and I have 32 psi in the back and 30 in the front. 
clean lookin car man! id of kept the CL grille tbh, with those wheels it would look more aggressive but hey thats my opinion :P
clean lookin car man! id of kept the CL grille tbh, with those wheels it would look more aggressive but hey thats my opinion :P
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Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
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From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
Ahh, impact strips and fogs. Like I said, I knew I was forgetting something. I think I need to get the windshield tint removed. When I went for my inspection sticker the other day, the guy didn't notice it until he went to scrape off the old sticker and accidentally took off a good chunk of tint. He already approved me so it was too late to not give me one 
but overall it worked in my favor. Thanks for the kind words so far. (And any mod suggestions are welcome).
but overall it worked in my favor. Thanks for the kind words so far. (And any mod suggestions are welcome).
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 399
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From: NorCal
'02 CL203 M111
for the pressure i go 30 front and 32psi rear max because over that it'll be very sleepery when whet...
going for 28f and 30r as recommanded has the benefit if quieter and smoother ride IMO.
going for 28f and 30r as recommanded has the benefit if quieter and smoother ride IMO.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
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From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
Thank you all for the kind words. Robert: I'm actually really upset I missed out on those $350 Tein basic coilovers. I talked to the guy beforehand but he said like $650. Then he PMed me right before he put up the ad and double checked. Of course I said I didn't have the funds but $350? I would've had that in his Paypal within minutes! So yea, I guess I'm just waiting for another good deal on them to come up. Besides, I'm not really sure how much I'm looking at for an install price.
As far as the tire PSI goes.... Jose's comments confused me. Everyone is saying do what Mercedes says but the way I'm reading it, are you saying that I should go closer to the 50PSI they recommend? That seems kind of high to me, but then again, what do I know.
It was one of those fleabay ones. I'd rather have an OEM one since that one scratched some of the paint on my hood. I'd be more pissed if I didn't already have to get the hood touched up / repainted. Then again I kind of like the standing star. Who knows.
I doubt the grille off of an actual CL will fit, but they sell W203 CL-style grilles. Check ebay, you can get them for like just under $150 shipped. Even less if you check the classifieds.
Originally Posted by mig888
If you go by percentages... would you settle for any tire less than 80% filled with air?
Originally Posted by BlackLiquorish8
looking good how come you took off the flat hood emblem?
i LOVE that cl grille!!!
i thnk it looks awsum! its like a w204 replica.
does a normal cl grille fit or will i have to modify it?
i thnk it looks awsum! its like a w204 replica.
does a normal cl grille fit or will i have to modify it?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,175
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From: Socal
EVE
Well I go for the fuller tire theory, flatter tire out in the middle gets you to hook up the center tread more often, which may lead to better gas mileage. I'm not much of a tire theorist, but I'd say that if a tire was filled out more especially the sidewalls, you would have to have increased corner handling. I'd start feeling comfortable with anything about 35PSI all around, I'm closer to 40 at the moment (~80%). I don't mind the increased stiffness/bumpiness associated with having filled out tires... personal preference I suppose.
(to me)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
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From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
Thanks for clarifying. When I hit bumps my car seems to go left and right on its own so I'm thinking I need more air? I really am still learning a lot about cars so I don't know what would cause what, so forgive me if that actually makes no sense haha. And I think I finally experienced rubbing =/ It kind of makes me not want to lower the back, but the front DEFINITELY needs a drop.
@Brabus: I'm not really sure what I want to do about that. After a good amount of reading I'm starting to think that maybe replica vs authentic isn't just a whole "status" thing and I should care more about the build quality of the wheels. I know Moven is a well known brand and they don't just make crap, but with the way the roads are around here, I might regret not getting a stronger wheel. I guess I'll learn at some point whether I was right or wrong.
@Brabus: I'm not really sure what I want to do about that. After a good amount of reading I'm starting to think that maybe replica vs authentic isn't just a whole "status" thing and I should care more about the build quality of the wheels. I know Moven is a well known brand and they don't just make crap, but with the way the roads are around here, I might regret not getting a stronger wheel. I guess I'll learn at some point whether I was right or wrong.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,497
Likes: 2
From: Calgary, Alberta
2007 ML500
There are a lot of theories out there when it comes to tire inflation.
In the end, it's driver preference.
The rating on the sidewall is the max inflation, it won't explode if you go over but you shouldn't need to anyways on a light vehicle.
MINIMUM is what MB recommends, if you don't feel comfortable then add 2-4 psi to the front and rear of what MB recommends.
You don't want to under or over inflate a tire.
In the end, it's driver preference.
The rating on the sidewall is the max inflation, it won't explode if you go over but you shouldn't need to anyways on a light vehicle.
MINIMUM is what MB recommends, if you don't feel comfortable then add 2-4 psi to the front and rear of what MB recommends.
You don't want to under or over inflate a tire.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
There are a lot of theories out there when it comes to tire inflation.
In the end, it's driver preference.
The rating on the sidewall is the max inflation, it won't explode if you go over but you shouldn't need to anyways on a light vehicle.
MINIMUM is what MB recommends, if you don't feel comfortable then add 2-4 psi to the front and rear of what MB recommends.
You don't want to under or over inflate a tire.
In the end, it's driver preference.
The rating on the sidewall is the max inflation, it won't explode if you go over but you shouldn't need to anyways on a light vehicle.
MINIMUM is what MB recommends, if you don't feel comfortable then add 2-4 psi to the front and rear of what MB recommends.
You don't want to under or over inflate a tire.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA
2005 A4 1.8TQ
Hmm, the best way to describe it is like, if I hit a bump and I'm still holding the wheel straight, the car will move to the left or right... so I guess I would say shift. It does this especially if I am going around a corner and hit a bump.
