Mermadak

Forgive me if I'm hitting a topic already on another thread somewhere. If so just post the link to the thread and I'll gladly refer to it.

I've been on here looking for this for a few hours now and I've found some similar stuff but nothing that tells me exactly what I need to know.

I have a 2005 C230K and I want to modify the front end to look like a w204 front end as I really like that look better for the front end. I went with a w203 because I prefer the interior and the rest of the body but I would like to convert the front end.

Is there a conversion kit available?
Will the w204 parts mount right on in place of the w203 parts?
Obviously there is a big difference in the headlights so I expect to replace the hood, grill, front bumper, head lights and front fenders.

I would even like to use AMG style parts if possible.

Can anyone please point me in the right direction?

Thank you.

Peydidy

I really doubt its possible, even if it is it would look really odd and cost WAY to much to be worth it. I haven't ever personally seen it done. I have seen someone do a S class front end on a w203 though, He spent ALOT of money and time on it though

Mermadak

I saw one thread, not sure if it was on this forum or the other one I was looking at, but it was about a CLS203 to a CLC conversion. It looked great IMO and a lot like what I want to do with my sedan.

My second choice kit is going to run me $2000 but it isn't quite going to be what I want.

phister

if you do a w204 conversion, youll need a lot of parts to make it fit right or do custom body work to make it fit.

Boom vang

Our cars have soft flowing lines and the w204 are harder edged, it would look quite odd even if you could convert, the W203 CLC last refresh was anything but a success in a styling exercise. Also the last generation of the SL really looked odd when they facelifted the R230 in 2009, which ruined the look of the initial design

MBfinatic

The w204 have a bigger chassis. Its hard enough on the subaru's bugeye-hawkeye. The w203 is smaller than a w204. It could be done but I would would be looking in the 5k-10k range to have everything perfect. You want the all the body panels to be custom mounted to the front end (fenders, hood, front bumper, headlights etc.

LILBENZ230

I can only imagine how horrific it would look. The sport model, AMG front fascia of the facelift W203 2005-2007 is far better looking than the W204 front end, IMO.

Mermadak

Is there a thread somewhere about the facelift W203 2005-2007?? I'm a new owner and I'm not familiar with this.

Glyn M Ruck

The CLC front is all that will fit without major mods but it's going to cost! If you search you will find a thread on updating a Coupe to CLC.

Mermadak

Right. Thats the one I found and it looks great. I'm still not familiar with allt he terminology... what is CLC... I thought from reading that thread that only applied to coupes?

LILBENZ230

You have the facelift C-class with the AMG front.

Mermadak

Well, I know I don't have the AMG front as that's what I would like to upgrade to if a CLC style conversion isn't possible.

I'm still not clear on the differences between the facelift model and the pre-facelift model so I couldn't say for sure of which model I have.

Isn't there some way to tell by the VIN?

tommy

From 2004.5 onwards, you unfortunately have the facelift. You've got a 2005, case closed.

Mermadak

Thanks for the education Tommy. Greatly appreciaed.

Not sure why you say unfortunately though.

I love the interior of this car. I almost bought an '09 because of a couple of the features it had that the 2005 didn't have yet (blue tooth, aux input, etc.) But I like everything about the '05 except for the front end. I figure I can add the aux input and I don't really need the blue tooth. I have other ways to take care of that. I also figured for the $8k-$20k I saved on the '05 I could easily put a few thousand into front end body parts.

LILBENZ230

I can't figure out what is not to like about the 2005 front end. The pre-facelift W203 was not desirable at all with its 80s look inside and out, but the 2005-2007 model have aged well and will look good for years to come.

phister

I favor the facelifted w203 over the w204. it just has a more flowing and sportier look IMO. Just remember if you going to do this, its going to cost a few grand just on parts, then youll need to find a shop willing to do the conversion, which will cost a lot on labor alone. And to do it right, you'll need to probably replace the front end which will require mocking up parts, fabrication, welding, and etc to make it fit like OEM. Its doable but will require probably the same amount of money you couldve put towards a w204.

tommy

I'm on the opposite side of the equation from LIL, Mermadak. I don't really like the interior of the facelift, as I find it too feminine. But glad you like the car you bought.

I would really consider any work like you are considering to be fiscally inconvenient, and instead suggest you consider upgrades that are designed for your 2005, both form MB as well as aftermarket companies. Will most likely be both cheaper and better suited to your car.

Mermadak

Well, I just think it's a matter of personal appeal. I find the w204 front end more appealing than the w203. For me I think it is a combination of the head lights and the hood shape. I prefer the sleeker eagle eye looking lights to the roundish bug eyed looking lights. The w204 hood looks a little beefier. It sticks out a bit more and looks a little tougher. Overall I guess what I am saying is the w203 front end looks more femine to me than I like and the w204 front end more masculine. Just my opinion though, of course.

MBfinatic

Yes I can agree with that. I have thought the same thing.

LILBENZ230

I don't assign gender to either W203 or W204 since they are inanimate objects, machines if you will, without gender.

But let me get this straight..

You want to put a "masculine" face on a car with a "feminine" body. You wish to drive a transvestite?

The facelift W203 is a good looking car. The W204 is also a good looking car. Mixing the look would result in something far uglier than either. Can someone photoshop this so he can see how ugly it would be?

Mermadak

Right, the parts cost I am expecting. I've worked on cars and jets for almost 20 years now including fabricating parts for experimental aircraft and even building a couple of kit planes where we were just delivered a 10% done aircraft, major parts only preassembled. So, I can do the body mod myself in a weekend since I have all the tooling I need for any minor fabrication, welding, fiberglass and filler work, etc.

As I mentioned above, I was looking at buying an '09 C300 sport. I didn't care much for the look or feel of the dash, instruments or controls. It rode a little stiffer than I liked and I am not sure of the actual weight differences but the C300 felt significantly heavier and didn't have the get up and go the my C230 Konpressor does.

Mermadak

What do you find feminine about the interior of the facelift? I'm not contesting you I just don't see it. My interior is black and silver. Feels pretty masculine to me.

You are probably right about the upgrades. I think if I just go with the AMG style body upgrades I will be happy enough with the improvement of the looks even though I will keep expecting eyelashes to come out around the lights.

Do you have any good sources for body kits? In particula 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.

I found a kit for $2000 but it only includes the front and rear bumpers the diffuser and the side skirts.

Frankly, I could care less about the diffuser and side skirts and I could go either way on the rear bumper.

But I would like to replace the front bumper and grill. And also I would like to replace the front fenders with the vented AMG style fenders.

If anyone has any recommendations on a good source for these parts that aren't a rip off I'd appreciate it.

As you can see, I am basically planning on replacing the entire front end, save for the headlights anyway so I figured if it was just a matter of buying w204 parts for the front end to replace the w203 parts with I would go that route.

Mermadak

LOL... That's one way to look at it, but I wouldn't put it that way.

Here is a thread that they did something very similar to what I am talking about but it is a CL203 to CLC conversion:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...there-lol.html

That should save someone time trying to photoshop it.

ggms16

You will end spending so much money that It would be cheaper just to trade and get a w204...

Apart from that is the fact that your resell value will NOT increase and you might even get less customers with a car so heavily modified.

phister

I think the w204 feel less stiffer than the w203. From the ones I drive anyways.