Mermadak

Thank you for your input. As I mentioned previously, the only thing I really like better about the w204 is the front end. So, it's very likely that I will not be getting a w204. I'll probably wait for the next generation to come out and give it a couple of years before I buy one.

In the mean time, I like what I like and I'm not concerned about boosting my resell value and I tend to keep vehicles for 8-10+ years. I kept my last one for 12. I fix them up the way I like them and then I don't need to upgrade very 3-5 years.

Thank you for your feedback though. I really do appreciate it. Hearing the same things from everyone has already made me reconsider a few things I was planning on doing.

Mermadak

You do have a nice car, though.

phister

even with the OEM SS springs it felt stiffer. the ss springs actually have a stiffer spring rate than the C32s and a lower spring height. The weight of the c300 just felt heavier and not as nimble when I took turns.

tommy

Not a big fan of how the mutlifunction display looks in the cluster of the facelift, or the center console stack. To me, it looks more like a domestic car, while the pre-facelift looks more classically Euro. But, that's why they sell more varieties of ice cream than just vanilla.

LILBENZ230

I don't see domestic car anywhere in the W203. If anything, perhaps the large clunky buttons and single-din tape deck in the pre-facelift is a bit like a 90s Taurus, but that's a stretch. The 05-07 203 is very nicely done inside and out.

OP - The CLC conversion you keep talking about is not the same thing. If I am not mistaken, the CLC and the CL203 coupe had the same chassis stock. It was merely cosmetic upgrades and therefore it can be done. The W203 to W204 was not strictly cosmetic and they are not closely related. It is an entirely different thing and thus a conversion will be hugely complicated. And the conversion thread you linked to the guy converted the front and rear to the CLC. A W204 nose and the rest of the 203 body would look like a train wreck.

Mermadak

Well, I never really liked the Euro cars until I rode in a friends Benz. So, then I started looking at them more. The more I look at them the more I like them. Plus I have't been too fond of the changes the domestic companies have made in the last few years.

Exactly right on the variety. I like the mfd being right in front of me. I've never seen them anywhere but in the clusster or the center console. Where is yours?

LILBENZ230

As you can see in side profile, these two cars are basically the same with heavily revised front ends. So swapping a front end or even both front and rear is not going to result in a cobbled together looking freak of a car. The roofline and everything is the same.





Now look at this. The W204's nose is more upright, pronounced.. The entire front clip is taller, wider. This is not something that you can overcome without serious fabrication. And picture the result.

LILBENZ230

Big difference in height of hood, grille, etc. Still weird to me that anyone would prefer the W204, though. The W203 looks so much better to me.

Mermadak

Hmmm... and where the fender and hood meet the top of the door the lines are very different. I could do brackets and a bit of body work, but it would be very difficult to make that look decent enough it wouldn't be an obvious mod... It would probably just be easier to fabricate my own fenders from scratch but there would still be the issue of the hood lines and that isn't something I'm interested in trying to fabricate.

Ok. So you've got me convinced to stick with the w203 parts.

Do you have any good sources for body kits? For starters I am looking for a vented Carbon Fiber hood and I seem to be having trouble finding one that I am 100% positive will fit my car.

It appears that the front ends for the bigger engines have a longer hood and fenders yet they are still listed as w203. Is this true?

How can I tell for sure the hood will fit my car?

LILBENZ230

The C55's front clip is totally different. That car is technically a W203 but the front clip is from the W209 CLK.

Aside from that, all other 05-07 W203 hoods should be the same.

Mermadak

Ok, so just to make sure understand this right... if it says it will fit a C55 that won't fit my car, otherwise I should be ok?

LILBENZ230

Yes

tommy

Whose cf hood are you looking at getting? Haven't been many on this forum, so unfortunately, you may have to go by overall views of the company instead of actual product knowledge for our cars.