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Caliper cover dilemma, help!

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Old May 13, 2012 | 05:48 AM
  #1  
Foxs's Avatar
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C180K CL203
Caliper cover dilemma, help!

Hi guys, first of all, let me tell you that I've been reading about caliper covers on this forum for the last 2 hours and it seems like most of you are against them and suggest to paint the old ones. My problem is, my original ones are tiny and disastrous looking.
Anyway, what suggestion would you have for me. Would stick these Brembo covers on top? Because painting my original ones is silly, they look terrible and as I said small.

Here's what it looks like...(and I do know that the disc thingy(whatever you call it) is much smaller than the one on C63)

Caliper cover dilemma, help!-henhm.jpg
Attachment 449767


And here's what I would like, or at least something very similar....



Apparently you stick it with a silicone...

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Old May 13, 2012 | 11:00 AM
  #2  
phister's Avatar
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From: fort worth, tx
06 C230 SS 6spd
Covers are pointless. why get imitation ones when you can buy some sport calipers or c32 for a decent price in the classifieds. The covers would look way off because they would make the rotors even smaller then they are so it would not look like the picture of the amg.
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Old May 13, 2012 | 01:54 PM
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
instead of going the route of show with absolutely no function. Get the C32, C55, or CLK55 calipers and rotors instead. They will bolt right on. No experience required. I'll even print out the directions from the startech workshop manual for you.

A full set of pads and rotors will set you back a whopping $333.06 which included shipping.

2034210912 rotors
2115401717 pads
0054209520 wear sensor.

I don't have the part numbers for the calipers but found the price on getmercerdesparts $330.00 a side.

That'll put you back about 1k but you'll have stopping power which looks better plus is safer.

Not to mention these are all OE parts and say AMG all fancy like on the calipers.

just my $0.02
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Old May 13, 2012 | 02:11 PM
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C63 AMG
I agree it would look really off on small rotors like yours, but on a side note I really like your wheels and agree it would look sick with some AMG brake calipers
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Old May 13, 2012 | 02:27 PM
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
Yeah I should say your wheels do look good.
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Old May 13, 2012 | 02:31 PM
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W203
Lower the car first. More people will be looking at your 4x4 than at your brakes.
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Old May 13, 2012 | 08:12 PM
  #7  
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I appreciate the help, boys.
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Old May 13, 2012 | 10:21 PM
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'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
C32 brakes, front and rear, 2004.5, or C350 Sports if you like the "Mercedes Benz" on them instead of AMG. I haven't done it yet, but feel it it is worthwhile.
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Old May 14, 2012 | 10:58 PM
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
Actually may be even less than that.

Front:
108.75 - rotors x2 = 217.5
58.50 - pads
6.00 - sensor
330.00 - Caliper x2 = 660

Rear:
$70.50 - Pads
$47.25 - Rotor x2 = 94.5
193.50 Caliper x2 = 387

Total $1,494.00

May need a sensor here and there… but overall.. even less than 2k. IDK what shipping would be but can't be too much. I had to double check the pads and rotors for the C32.. yes they are that cheap for the rear.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 12:59 AM
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Doing the backs gets you very little except it uses vented rotors which can be drilled and they're I think 5 mm wider?
I got the dimpled rotors....problem is the dimples get rusted and full of brake pad material.

And yes, we are pretty much down on fake stuff.
Get real! Or get lost! ha...
Don't be postin' pics of your caliper covers on your 19's with tiny rotors here if you want to live!
You'll get eaten alive by this crowd.
Get some 2005 tail lights if brakes aren't in your budget.
That'll do more for your car than fake caliper covers...ewwwww!


Attached Thumbnails Caliper cover dilemma, help!-amg_brakes.jpg  

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; May 15, 2012 at 01:40 AM.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 02:15 AM
  #11  
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Doing the backs gets you very little except it uses vented rotors which can be drilled and they're I think 5 mm wider?
I got the dimpled rotors....problem is the dimples get rusted and full of brake pad material.

And yes, we are pretty much down on fake stuff.
Get real! Or get lost! ha...
Don't be postin' pics of your caliper covers on your 19's with tiny rotors here if you want to live!
You'll get eaten alive by this crowd.
Get some 2005 tail lights if brakes aren't in your budget.
That'll do more for your car than fake caliper covers...ewwwww!


heh... you said it but in words I didn't want to...

Especially since I have decent brakes but am upgrading to the clk63 brake setup for both front and rear. That's not cheap... and when I see that I can get what I have for 1,500 brand spanking new... doesn't make me feel any better. New rotors for the front are 1200... that's JUST the rotors... not the whole upgrade. I like to drive these cars and brakes and suspension matter to me. So yeah this post hit a soar spot. Not on the cost.. it takes money to play the car game.. but when I see people cheeping out on things as simple as an upgrade to the C32/55 | clk55 setup... common... really???? But I guess there are show people.. and then people who actually drive these things. And yeah I know there are more show people out there than drivers... I pass them everyday to on my way to work driving their econo-boxes.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 02:23 AM
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
See... taken today actually...



Needs BIGGER brakes. Suspension is in the mail..
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Old May 15, 2012 | 02:23 AM
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/done-rant
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Old May 15, 2012 | 03:18 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by speed7
instead of going the route of show with absolutely no function. Get the C32, C55, or CLK55 calipers and rotors instead. They will bolt right on. No experience required. I'll even print out the directions from the startech workshop manual for you.

A full set of pads and rotors will set you back a whopping $333.06 which included shipping.

2034210912 rotors
2115401717 pads
0054209520 wear sensor.

I don't have the part numbers for the calipers but found the price on getmercerdesparts $330.00 a side.

That'll put you back about 1k but you'll have stopping power which looks better plus is safer.

Not to mention these are all OE parts and say AMG all fancy like on the calipers.

just my $0.02
Thats actually a really good deal. I spent 1K replacing all my pads and rotters last year, I wish I would have just paid the extra coupe hundred and gotten the AMG ones back then instead. I think brakes are the one thing you should never cheep out on in a car. Not for the looks but the safety, I swear if it wasn't for my BBKs my car would be totaled right now
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Old May 15, 2012 | 05:27 AM
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Ha, group buy in 2003.....$550.
I think I paid 600 + tax and shipping about $700.
The box weighed 90 lbs. (bottom pic above is my car)

So Mr. 7 are you saying you're dumping your 32/55 calipers?
I'm sure someone here will be happy to buy them.
c63 has to be overkill. I'm very happy with the performance of the 4 pots
with Akebono pads. I have 100K miles on the fronts after going through 2
sets of stock pads which makes them pretty economical.
I already have spare rotors and pads ready to go, likely last longer than the car
since I'm at 187K miles. We'll see if she goes another 100K.

Summarily,
It is hereby decreed, there will be no fake caliper covers on this forum.
Yes, the mb death squad will have to hunt you down.

I think it was already decreed....it was an always unwritten rule that crap like that, along with coffee can mufflers, fake brakes, fuzzy dice, extremely bad aftermarket Xenon kits with pink lights, ridiculous wings and stick on M3 style vents on the side of your car are taboo here.
I'm sure there's other forums for that.....mbjunk ees perhaps?
Or ricecop.

Last edited by C230 Sport Coup; May 15, 2012 at 05:40 AM.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 05:37 AM
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For some reason the Mercedes labelled calipers corrode & rust and look like crap before long.
The bolts sticking out of them weren't made of the correct material and apparently aren't properly plated.
There was set here for sale a while back, and they looked like hell till the owner spiffed 'em up.

AMG one's just wash 'em still look great 9 years later. 'course my car has never seen salt or snow.
Originally Posted by MW_ATL
C32 brakes, front and rear, 2004.5, or C350 Sports if you like the "Mercedes Benz" on them instead of AMG. I haven't done it yet, but feel it it is worthwhile.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 09:25 AM
  #17  
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C320 4Matic & GLK350 4Matic
I'll take the AMG calipers if they are up for sale. I've already upgraded my rotors to cross drilled and slotted on all corners last brake job. This time around a flush with amg calipers for the c320.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 10:42 AM
  #18  
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Just take into account clearance for your rims (and smaller winter rims and even the spare) if you go the C32/55 caliper route. You don't want a big surprise waiting for you when you try to remount your rims after swapping the brakes.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 01:43 PM
  #19  
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(W203s) '04 C240, family member '05 C230 Kompressor
It all depends on what you want... I don't have the nice AMG calipers so when I dressed my car up with new wheels, I used flat black grill paint so it would stay on... The look good and not the mucked up corroded gray color that they tend to get. Would I like to have the better calipers? Sure, but I'm not willing pay $660 plus labor to get them... I would rather just set my sights on getting them on my next car and be content for now. There's other things I like about my car that I've done to it, but don't want to put the major expense of brakes when my work perfectly well.

I will tell you one thing I really "LOVE" and I think is worth doing concerning the brakes... It's the Akebono ceramic disc pads front and rear... I hate brake dust from OEM pads. These Akebono pads leave virtually no dust at all. They are great and worth every penny they cost. (pretty expensive compared to regular pads) I got a good deal from Advance with a sale and got front and back for about $128 I think it was.

regards,
Jamie

Last edited by J.Christian; May 15, 2012 at 01:50 PM.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 01:59 PM
  #20  
speed7's Avatar
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07 E63 Estate | 09 & 10 Rx8 R3
Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
Ha, group buy in 2003.....$550.
I think I paid 600 + tax and shipping about $700.
The box weighed 90 lbs. (bottom pic above is my car)

So Mr. 7 are you saying you're dumping your 32/55 calipers?
I'm sure someone here will be happy to buy them.
c63 has to be overkill. I'm very happy with the performance of the 4 pots
with Akebono pads. I have 100K miles on the fronts after going through 2
sets of stock pads which makes them pretty economical.
I already have spare rotors and pads ready to go, likely last longer than the car
since I'm at 187K miles. We'll see if she goes another 100K.

Summarily,
It is hereby decreed, there will be no fake caliper covers on this forum.
Yes, the mb death squad will have to hunt you down.

I think it was already decreed....it was an always unwritten rule that crap like that, along with coffee can mufflers, fake brakes, fuzzy dice, extremely bad aftermarket Xenon kits with pink lights, ridiculous wings and stick on M3 style vents on the side of your car are taboo here.
I'm sure there's other forums for that.....mbjunk ees perhaps?
Or ricecop.

Not doing the C63 brakes.. but the CLK63 ones front and rear. Its not overkill..

Before I bought the C55 I was actually trying to sell my C36 as quick as possible to get a 2006 CLK55 vert.. and I fell in love with the brakes on that car. When you breathed on them the car just squatted and stopped so nicely. It wasn't till later that I realized that it had the performance upgraded brake package which was available for that car.. which actually were the CLK63 brakes. It looked soooo hawt and it felt soooo right...

So yeah overkill to some but I am the guy who would use them... And the best part is they fit in OE C55 rims...

Don't know if I'll sell my stock calipers though. They are good for a track car or some other project later in life. We'll see.....

But when my company finally acts on its planned IPO you'll see a silver C55 with CLK63 brakes and 19's =)
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Old May 16, 2012 | 04:55 PM
  #21  
Wardsweb's Avatar
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From: San Antonio, TX
'11 SL550 - '08 ML350
For reference, here is the thread on my brake swap.

SLK350 --> C240 brake swap
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Old May 16, 2012 | 06:06 PM
  #22  
MW_ATL's Avatar
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From: Atlanta, GA
'02 C230 Coupe (Me) '03 SLK320 6MT (Wife)
I was hoping the ones from the C350 from '07 would not look as ugly as the 2004.5 ones. They are again a different part number. I will have to find pics of a well worn used car and look. Been wanting to do the brakes. This will be a car year, I think.


Originally Posted by C230 Sport Coup
For some reason the Mercedes labelled calipers corrode & rust and look like crap before long.
The bolts sticking out of them weren't made of the correct material and apparently aren't properly plated.
There was set here for sale a while back, and they looked like hell till the owner spiffed 'em up.

AMG one's just wash 'em still look great 9 years later. 'course my car has never seen salt or snow.
Reply

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