Hello MBWorld, heres my evolution of my w203
 

First off I just wanted to say this site is great! Gave me a lot of ideas on how I want my w203 to look. So ill just jump right into it. Ive owned my 05 C230 K since October of 08, and ive been wanting to fix her up a bit. Thanks to the tax returns, I finally got started!

One of the first things I did was just started getting parts here and there. I ordered a set of smoked out sidemarkers off ebay. I think I spent around 30 or so bucks.
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/620...markers.th.jpg


Installing was pretty easy! All you had to do was just take a flat head. I wrapped the tip of the flat head in a microfiber cloth so I don't scratch up the paint. Start from the rear of the light, the side closest to the wheel, and just wedge the flat head in there and pop it out. Pretty simple!
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After I ordered the side markers, I wanted to get HID's for my car. I spoke with my buddy who worked on Honda's and knows how to install HID's. So after a few days of picking what kind of HID's to get. I ended up getting these OEM Ballast. I picked up the D4S, with 4300k Philips bulbs.
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***For those who are having a flickering problem. I had the same problem the first time we tried installing the lights. Had everything all in place, but when we went to test the HID's out. The lights just flickered. What you have to do is go to your MB dealership, or any shop that specifies in Mercedes and have them change xenon=present. PROBLEM SOLVED! No more flickering!***

So after I installed the HID's and side markers, I wanted to get rid of that old Mercedes emblem on the hood. I wanted to go with the flat emblem, I like that clean sleek look. So, I went to my MB dealership down the street, and picked up the flat emblem. I spent around 30 dollars.

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Before.
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After
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Once the bulk of my tax return money came in (Thank you direct deposit), I finally picked up my wheels! I purchased them off of POGGIJEFFERY, great guy! I drove out to his side of town and picked them up, he was kind enough to take time off of work to come meet me. I must say, I was blown away on how clean they were when I first saw them. After I picked them up, I went straight home to throw them on.

They are 19" BBS LM reps, polished step lip, with a gun metal face. 265/30/19 rear and 135/30/19 front. There's spacers in the front to clear the brake caliper, as well as spacers in the rear to keep the wheels flushed with the fender.

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***For those who hear a rubbing sound when you change the wheels. I encountered this problem when I installed the rear wheels. When I first rolled the car, it didn't sound like rubber rubbing, it had a metal sound. The sound was coming specifically from the rear wheels, so I took off the wheels to see what could be the problem. I didn't see anything that was rubbing, so I called my local shop where I take my car to get serviced, and explained the problem. My guy told me exactly what was wrong. The rear lugs were too long, and because it was too long, it was hitting the e-brake. Lucky thing I wasnt driving on it because I would have done some serious damage. So make sure, if you guys change your wheels, and hear a clinking sound. YOUR REAR LUGS ARE TOO LONG!***

After installing the wheels, I knew I wanted to get the car dropped. With that being said, I wanted to get a CF front lip, and a CF trunk spoiler to match. I ordered the CF trunk spoiler from this place located in Walnut. Pretty cheap!

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This brings me to my next mod, I noticed everyone was talking highly of HMS located in westminster. I called them up, and spoke with Ed who seems like a great guy! Told him what I wanted to do and what I was looking for. I inquired about the H&R Coilovers. Quoted me 1300 installed. I was SOLD! Ed ordered the coilovers, but the place sent the wrong coilovers :smash: So now I have to wait a few days for them to ship the correct coilovers, and im gonna head to HMS and get them installed. I cant wait to see this car dropped!


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Im debating if I should paint the front grill black. Not sure though, I also want to get HID fogs and maybe a magnaflow. Let me know what you guys think of my progress so far. I feel like im almost done, but would be thankful for some feedback. Once again guys, Thanks for checking out my w203!!

Looks good. You will find this forum useful as you encounter the usual problems of flickering HIDs or Bix & lug bolts too long. They have all been discovered many times.

Enjoy!

turning out great! mind me asking where you got the LM reps and the center caps? they look awesome!

I would've gotten the euro impact strips from Gary on here for around the same price as the sidemarkers. Makes the front look cleaner IMHO. Also once you get the coilovers on I'd recommend getting ghostriders camber kit for the rear or you'll be eating up the rears pretty quick.

Looks good!

+1.. Wheels look NICE

265/30/19 rears on our pokey little 4 cylinder? Poor car is using half its torque just to get some inertia on those monsters! :eek:

car looks good :y

a lot of us run those specs on the 4 bangers.

Looks nice man! I'm having the same problem with the rear lugs now too, just put my wheels on Friday and as soon as I pulled out of the garage, I went right back in. Getting new lugs soon though!

Keep up the good work! :y

thanks guys for the input! I'll deff look into the euro impact stripes, I was actually taking a look at those after i got the side markers :slap:..

I actually bought them off of POGGIJEFFERY here from mbworld. I believed he picked them up from craigslist. So im not too sure exactly where his source was. It took me a good month or so to find the wheels i wanted to get. I think theres a place in LA that sells the reps. If i find the website ill post it. Are you interested in getting a set?

Looks good man! Those wheels are hotness. I would make a suggestion since your car's overall color combo is "black or dark" in nature, to smoke out the tails and third break light.

Cheers

www.wheelsdude.com sells the reps I believe

Its www.wheeldude.com no s

I'll deff check it out, time to hit the pictures topic and check out some 203's with them smoked out. Thanks for the suggestion!

Your car looks very nice. Like the rims and it should sit great once the coil overs have been installed. Keep going!

Helloooooo MBWorld!! So the H&R Coilovers finally came in and I had them installed. I wish I brought my camera when I went and got them installed, but I forgot it! dOh!!!

Anyways here are the pictures I took a few days after I got them installed. Oh yeah, and while I was there.. I had my inner city lights changed to match up close with my HID's and I also had my front grill painted black. I have to go back in a few days as its a 2 step process, first time is the paint.. Then the next time I go back, they buff it! Here you go guys, let me know what you think!

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/8109/14324677.jpg

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Oh and HMS hooked me up with a license plate frame!

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Although they are reps, they're still clean.

Specs of wheels? et with and without spacers?

You should pick up a cf lip and go a little lower. Looks good.

Also get some bi-x headlights... you'll love them.

Yeah im planning on going lower today, gonna head to HMS (if they are open) I also already have the CF lip, Ed said to bring it by and he would install it.. So if they are open *crosses fingers* im gonna drop it more, roll fenders, and add the cf lip! btw phister, just saw your car on mbjunkies! c l e a n brotha!

thanks man! just be sure to tell them to bolt the lip on so its really secure. Self tapping screws are ok but I'd recommend bolting it so its really on there.

:bow:Man I really want your wheels! give em to me!..lol..It really works so well with your ride bro especially the RED BBS

Phi! Thats what I was panning on doing. The lip i got came with tapping screws and thats it, so i ended up getting some good sized washers so i was gonna use the that to secure the lip

Yeah you'll definitely need some bolts, I'm gonna put mine on in the next week or so.

Hey when you put the CF trunk spoiler on, did you use that double sided tape or did you actually drill through your trunk and secure it? I'm thinking it will look better actually screwing it on because there won't be that tiny gap from the tape, and it will be more secure.