edgarinho10

Will admit I enjoyed driving my friend's Z06.

Thing took off!

edgarinho10

Do you have a picture of your vinyl wrapped trim?

cpbeasley

Well pull my hair and call me susan

update on my differential, the rabbit hole deepens:

My c350 shares the exact same differential housing as the c32, pardon the ratios; me @ 2.82 and c32 @ 3.06 ratio. The c55 rear end is similiar, but the housing is ultimately different. So basically, my beloved c350 has the 210mm ring gear, capable of taking an AMG style beating, ready to accept the Quaife LSD and all. So, this is good and bad news.

Bad news: I wasted money on the 3.46 differential and the ring gear is only 198mm, so I cant even swap in the ring gear/pinion if I tore it apart. I'd have to retrofit c230k axle shafts and related components to make the 3.46 work.

Good news: I have the strongest rear end I could ask for. The quaife LSD can bolt right in. I have the part number for the 210mm 3.06 gear set, thanks EPC it's not a huge jump in ratio, but when I have it torn apart for the Quaife, what would I to lose? exactly.

muahaha.

W203E35

Nice, this is good news. I still say F all this money you are spending on the rear end. Since you're trapped inside your house now is the time to turbo your C350. Do the plumbing and hoses and send your car to Eurocharged for the tune.

GT28 with 7psi of boost. Upgraded fuel pump, upgraded fuel injectors. Some pipes and hoses and some welding. A nice blow off valve and car sent to Eurocharged and then you'll have minimum a 340whp rare monster. Internals are good for it...then when you get tired build the motor with a good solid bottom end and sell the GT28 and get a GT35 and you'll be an SL65 killer.

W203E35

Ohh what's this? Can this be a boosted C350? A boosted C350 that people said it was not possible because of the "High Compression?" It's a bird, It's a plane, no it's Cale with his C32/C55 killer.

Edit:
And it's 6MT!!!!

Glyn M Ruck

This makes a lot more sense for absorbing torque. Won't break.

cpbeasley

yes it does. as little as the 198 - 210 mm diff sounds, I just remind myself of the huge diff between a 10 and 12 bolt chevy rear end!

cpbeasley

Price checking 210mm 3.06 gearset; A2203502939:

mympercedesparts.com: $981.25
dealer parts counter: ~$1500
wholesale dealer parts counter: $1198 (doh!!)

I may be combing salvage yards

cpbeasley

phone started allowing pictures to send again...

HIDs lit in new s2k retrofit thanks to Temjinx!

& my car on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours after the blizzard de 2011 gave up and the sun came out

cpbeasley

Flowmaster 50 series delta, res delete
shot with little samsung click and shoot, poor sound quality but regardless it is by no means loud/obnoxious, just a well mannered and reserved throaty sound. I expect it to go quite nicely with headers & cat delete.

finally here you guys go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDPlg31jAnU

edit: iced road = fish tail & ESP = throttle kill

phister

sounds very nice Cale

johnand

Looks nice. Can't wait to see some night shots......hint...hint

cpbeasley

After breaking out an actual camera for the first time last night to take the video, Im officially done with my lazy streak of using my cell phone camera solely That said, I'll see if I can't sneak outside tonight for a couple snap-olas. I actully have some edited video of my car returning to the camera which is blinded by the s2k projectors. I'll put that up on youtube as well. Despite the fact they still cost $, I can't thank Mike enough for the wonderful job he did with the retrofit. I used to be one of the .... "Bi-Xenon/HID/Depo... blah blah who gives a crap crowd", but truley have an appreciation for what these quality projectors bring to the table.

That said, I'd still never pay over $1000 for headlights I would have waited until a nice used pair of Bi-Xenon's became available for $500+

....and btw, thanks John

cpbeasley

Update: met up with Melvin @ the KC chapter MBCA Sunday drive today and am the new owner of his camber kit! Im not lowered yet, and have no immediate plans of such, but it's good to feel prepared!

splinter

^ Pleased to hear they’re working well for you.

Witnessed TemjinX2 test yours on another member’s C before shipping them your way. Never drove behind ‘em though.

Mine was delivered with the optional $870 #612 xenon lighting package, which included sophisticated self-aiming capabilities per FMVSS 108 edict. Unfortunately, those prior to ’03 had frosty lenses. MB curiously reduced its bi-xenon ante to a mere $790 by ’05. Although rather miserly by nature and station, I’ve never once regretted retrofitting proper OE European-specification headlamps. They’ll reflect off of highway signs a mile away when switched to high. Trust you’ll share illumination pictures in due course.

Isn’t it time for a new avatar? ;)

cpbeasley

Oh how sweet factory bi-x and self aim would have been and with the option being a mere $800... had I a time machine and some time-resistant capital, I would go back and ordered this car with that in a heartbeat!

The capability of the proper HID/projector headlamp is worth well over the $1000 that I wouldnt pay, its a whole new world driving at night.


pictures to come for certain the passenger bulb is a hair off-kilter and the beam not at 100% perfect aim and focus, so once that is settled, ill fire away!

im jealous of your local w203 enthusiasts i did however meet with the local MBCA KC chapter for the first time today! a bunch of awnry old men young at heart, I fit right in.

LILBENZ230

This thread has suddenly filled me with sadness. I just realized that by the time my C230K is up for replacement (2013-2014 at 200,000 miles), even the newest of the W203 line will really be too old to consider. Sometimes I think that I'd like to have an 07 6MT W203.. alas, I guess this will be the only 203 I'll ever own. At least I picked a great one! Hell, I may never let this car go - especially if the next 100,000 go as well as the first.

samaritrey

so true. Sadly i don't think i would buy a w204. so that leaves me to either buy the slk 55 i want and keep the w203 for hauling people or replace both with a g55. lol But i guess i would have to make some money for either to happen

LILBENZ230

The 203 holds my interest because it has so much quirky personality. The 204 is not like that. It's much more appliance like to me, which isn't a bad thing. I like the facelift 204.. seems I feel it did the same for the 204 line that the facelift did for the 203.. made it much more appealing.

cpbeasley

it isnt unrealistic to believe a low miles/low cost 07 c350 6mt will appear for sale within your view around your 200k mile mark

e1000

Funny that you mention that Splinter, that's one thing the bosch's are good at, but certain other projectors are very poor at.

fookoo303

The bosch units effectively achieve this due to the "squirrel hole" in the glare shield, which allows a small amount of light to leak out above the the cutoff line to illuminate signs.

I really like that specific feature, but most retrofitters seem to remove it when customizing shields.

cpbeasley

phone cam updates

close up wall shot (best wall i could find that night!) of new-to-me retrofit s2k projectors w/ 4300k phillips bulbs. pass side aimed slightly higher to catch road signs.

it was warm enough (50+ degrees!!) to finally put on my OEM MB/AMG Spoiler (quality and fit is obviously second to none... not worth $700, but worth waiting to find one for sale thru ebay!! mine was new and had never been painted nor installed)

edit: love how such a subtle spoiler redefines the attitude of the entire car.

LILBENZ230

Yep that spoiler and those rims FTW!

billbillw

Now it looks pretty much like a 2007 Sport, except for the AMG exhaust tips.