LILBENZ230

I have never gotten a BAS error. Not when ESP was unavailable, not when in dyno mode.. weird cause the car definitely has it. I did not get an ABS fault, so I don't think it was speed sensor related.

Whenever Trey comes back to GA again maybe we can reconnect to STAR and see what happened on Saturday night. I'm hoping for a brain fart.. errors still gone.

LILBENZ230

Okay so I just got the Benz back after a front brake overhaul and all new engine mounts.

I paid $464 shipped for the following parts @ RMEuropean:

2 x Balo brake discs (my previous ones lasted from 53-129k so they're good)
1 set of PAGID OE-supplier pads
1 pad wear sensor
1 Corteco transmission mount
1 Corteco engine mount
1 Lemforder engine mount
1L of Pentosin Super DOT4 brake fluid

Today my indy did the labor involved for the following:

Install rotors, pads, and sensors: $72.00
Flush brake fluid: $36.00
Install left, right, and transmission mounts: $194.40
Tire Balance: $$25.00

$19.64 in shop supplies

Total labor: $347.04


I have barely driven it yet. But I notice immediately how much smoother it is at start-up, no vibrations or shudder feeling that was happening before. It also seems to ride better. The brakes feel very nice again.. it's been 2.5 years since all the parts were replaced up front.

Also did this to the car:



And got a set of OEM all-weather mats.

tommy

Mmm, shiny! The will be much appreciative.

I was very happy when they replaced my mounts too. Nice and smooth.

Oooh, and all-weather mats are da bomb. Mine have held up for years and look brand-new. Excellent choice!

samaritrey

So why did you get two different brands of engine mounts?
I guess I should get my engine mounts done sooner then later when I do the Trans mount and the fluid.
Good to hear that it all went well though.
let me know when your spoiler arrives.

LILBENZ230

The picture makes the license plate lights (from AZNoptics, btw) look excessively bright. They are pretty bright - brighter than the LED plate lights on the IS350 or 135i - but it looks nice in person.

I wanted to use Lemforder for everything but they only had one of the engine mounts available as a Lemforder part.

Spoiler arrives tomorrow.

After driving the car more extensively the engine mounts did make a big difference. The ride is smoother, the car doesn't lean as much in turns, it's quieter and has less vibrations in the cabin. The drivetrain noises that I have been plagued with are silenced. John recommended doing the flex discs so those and the O2 sensors are next on the list - after replacing these stupid tires.

The brakes feel much better but are very noisy right now. IIRC the last time I put on new rotors and pads at the same time it was that way for a few days until they were broken in. I did the StopTech bed-in procedure.. god that's torture. I noticed when I was doing that that the touch shift feature was very unresponsive in my car. It would take several pushes to get any response and then at times the response was multiple downshifts at once. Frustrating. I hardly ever use the feature but it is typically much more responsive than that.

tommy

The manual transmission is much more responsive.

Um, what spoiler is that? I sure hope it's OEM for your model and year.

LILBENZ230

It is the trunk lip spoiler found on the 07s to complement my 2007 rims.

tommy

Heresy!!

LILBENZ230

What a ****.



It is going to look great. Now if only it was simple to change the stupid oval tailpipe.

tommy

It is, if you're willing to bend your increasing-flexible "OEM only for my car" (no, it's now "MB W203 Only, but just for rims" [well, plus ebay headlights and BiX]) wait - update: (no, NOW it's previous logic plus "if there is anything that I like that I can shoehorn into saying it fits in with the year of my new rims" theme) mantra a little more. You could just get new tips welded on there, and even go Mercedes if you wanted. The world is your oyster.

Can't wait to see your tow hooks, SL side vents, and caliper covers, too.

LILBENZ230

Actually the rule for my car is "nothing ridiculous". It's that simple. I want it to be - or look - stock. I may actually look into replacing the oval tips with a dual tip like the ones found on the 07s. That's not a big priority, though. It would fit right in with the 07 rims...

The spoiler is actually going to be in today! I just saw it is nearby on the truck for delivery.

tommy

I'm assuming just double-sided tape on the spoiler? After two and a half attempts to get my Renntech spoiler glued on, I just gave up a month ago and used Scotch outdoor two-sided tape from Home Depot, and has held up so far like a champ.

LILBENZ230

Yes - according to seller JBSpeed double sided tape from 3M comes already installed on the spoiler. Pictures later.

splinter

LILBENZ230 = mod fanatic!

tommy

LOL, you knew it was only a matter of time.

LILBENZ230

I think I'll be the only person on the board to have "modded" their W203 to look exactly like a stock W203, then. So be it!

kluvsbenz

That price tag is why I searched to find this forum and Benzworld. My guesstimate for all that work at the dealer would be over 2k. Not exaggerating. From your savings, you can donate to the kluvsbenz repair fund

LILBENZ230

Spoiler installed. With the exception of that stupid oval exhaust tip, my car now looks like an 07. Helps that it has NEVER had a stupid-too-long-for-that-trunk "KOMPRESSOR" badge.

LILBENZ230

You're right it would have easily been that or better. If I didn't have my indy, the maintenance costs of this car would probably not be worth it to me. He's pretty much the reason I'm so comfortable with it.

At 129,000 miles today the car looks better than ever before and with the new engine mounts in seems to run just as good as it ever has. I'm done with it for now.. in about 6 months I'll do the flex discs and 02 sensors and start giving the front suspension a good, long, hard look.

kluvsbenz

Stupid question.Is 1L of brake fluid overkill or just enough for the job?

LILBENZ230

Overkill.. I have some left.

kluvsbenz

I priced the difference btw a half liter and a full liter and it's only 3 bucks. I might just get the full liter anyway. BTW, the trunk spoiler is looking nice. Ready to splurge for it.

tommy

Are you sure that's not a replica?

Looks very nice - they really should have had them on all C's from the factory.

LILBENZ230

It is a JBSpeed.. a replica.. yep. And I agree, any of the AMG-packaged cars should have had it standard. Looks a bit out of place on a lux model.

samaritrey

I need to do the flex discs and engine mounts and 02 sensor and ... and ... lol it is an expensive list lol