sir_boulick

Hey Guys!

I'm new to the forums…like REALLY new. This is my first post lol. I've been reading through and have learned some really good info.

I'm going back to college in about a month, and just bought an 02 c240 in Black It needed/still needs a little love but it's well on it's way.

I've fully detailed the interior/exterior and have cleaned the engine.

My H&R Touring Cup Kit suspension got here today and I will be installing tonight!!!!!

I'm ordering 18" Sparco Assetto Gara Black wheels and TRAK+ Spacers from H&R so that they're flush after the drop.

So excited! I will post pics after she's ready and as new mods come into play.

Also, I just ordered the new black paint to fix some really deep scratches that were through the clear coat and paint all the way down to the primer. I've wet sanded and will be spraying the doors next week and fixing scratches and chips .


Do you pros have any EASY and COST EFFECTIVE mods that I could/should do on top of what i am already doing before I head to school? Thanks!

Tire Rack Model with Sparco's


DEM SPRANGS


It's like Christmas!


She's CLEAN


Beginning the sanding

tommy

With the values of the early W203's, if you really want to mod, the cheapest thing to do would be to exchange it for a C320, and pay the fairly insignificant difference in value.

With what you have, you might as well stick to appearance and suspension mods. I'd recommend thicker H&R sways to go with your new suspension. (though, if your "kit" already comes with them, more power to you)

Get good rubber, and enjoy the car. No real reason to upgrade the brakes or try engine mods; you'll just spend money on stuff that your car will never need. Unless you want a louder exhaust; if that's the case, many alternatives to choose from. People are starting to lean more to buying a muffler and getting the tubing done to work with it, instead of a full catback (my Eisenmann, while nice and loud, is also pretty expensive).

Enjoy the car.

sir_boulick

Cool! Thanks for the info.

I may eventually do a muffler/res delete combo next year…but I don't have the cash right now.

I may also do an upgraded sound system eventually.

londonbenzkid

ideas:
- DEPO projector head lights
- AMG spoiler
- Lamin X yellow fog tint
- flat badge
- new grille

... also have a 2002 C240, they are slow, but engine is supposedly bulletproof

samaritrey

Where in VA are you located? Needs new Headlights and mirrors that will take years off the car.

sir_boulick

alexandria! ok, sounds good…recommendations for headlights and mirrors?

I just finished installing the suspension…it's looking really good! About a 1.5 inch drop.

Next is respraying and wheels!

Akhafeez

pics on the drop!

TTR

Oh I can't wait to see how those Sparco look. I was thinking of getting those but then opted for the OEM rep for the classic look.

Moviela

Your car looks great. I was in Alexandria last week. Not many Mercedes on the road there!

I would avoid wheel spacers. Mercedes does not allow them. The wheels are hubcentric and spacers often contribute to excessive runout that wears out suspension and makes the ride less satisfactory. Try to find wheels that are made to fit, and have the proper precision to fit the hub.

Akhafeez

+1 make sure you get hubcentric rings!

FreshVibes

Personally I would have just saved a little more and invested into h&r's coils since you're already spending a grand for the touring cup kit, assuming you bought your kit from their site, but that's just IMHO. I'm sure you know, but if you didn't, front lowering springs for the pre-facelift non-sport w203's don't get much of a drop sadly.. The rears will sit nicely with the drop, but the fronts will definitely have some fender gap. You might want to look into cutting 1/2 coil on the front springs for a better drop for the rake look that the facelift and sport pre-facelift w203's came with that our pre-facelifts didn't.. But to each his own! If your mods make you happy, then that's what counts! Don't mean to sound like I'm bashing you or anything as I am on the same boat as you with being in college and our pockets ain't that deep, well surely mine aren't! haha. But can't wait to see the drop and wheels on the car! It'll look great nonetheless.

sir_boulick

I'll get pics on the drop up soon.

You ARE SO RIGHT about the back dropping nicely, but not the front….thing was a b*tch to install in the front, and sadly it still has some fender gap. I haven't gotten the Sparco's yet but they will be coming. i think the fender gap will be minimal when i have 18's on there

^^^To other posters…even stray from TRAK+ spacers? i think the fronts will be fine, but the back may need a slight spacer to sit flush…the sparco's don't come with a staggered option, and i can't find another wheel that is as good of a value as the sparco's that will sit flush without a spacer.

Akhafeez

i have H&r trak+ 25mm on the rear. i haven;t noticed any problems with the car

tommy

Moviela's just being a Debbie Downer. I've had spacers on my car almost since I bought it new in 2001, and it's been fine. I would recommend the Trak+ spacers, too

sir_boulick

Sorry about the delay on the pics. I'm super busy getting ready for school.



I decided not to order to sparco's because I really don't want to go for that "look".

I want to the car to look classy, and not like I'm a college boy tuner.

I've been browsing craigs list for deals and have found some really sweet older AMG wheels out there but I'm worried about fitment.

I need to do a bit more research before I buy a set because the offset for an early 2000's AMG style wheel has a much different offset

sir_boulick

Sorry for the double post but I need some help here…I just can't seem to find a clear answer.

I found some AMG 18"s off of an 03-04 era SL500. They're 5 spoke staggered 8.5x18 and 9.5x18.

I CANT find accurate offset info…contacted the seller but he hasn't responded yet.

From what I have read, I think they'll fit.

FrankW wherever you are I need you're help!!!!!!!

Akhafeez

yeah they should fit, the sl5 have bigger brakes anyways

tommy

That's too bad you're switching - the heavy AMG wheels are going to sap what little power the hamsters in your engine bay are making. Just remember that side effect when you're considering which ones to get.

sir_boulick

True. I'm gonna check them out in person, but I may not get them.

Sport Edition makes some nice Amg replicas called the St3 which looks nice