c230pete

I'm curious to know why some people mod their Mercedes? It seems to me most buy the cheapest Benz offered such as a 240 or 230k or sedan and spend an extra 5-10k to make them faster, have more features etc., when all you gotta do is get a C320 or a used C32?

Not saying it's a bad thing to mod your car, but why spend that extra dough

Jkw

Some like the personal touch.
Jkw

m444

One never has to much horsepower, just not enough traction.

tuscanraider

They don't do it to make it fast. It is absurd to take a slow car and try to make it fast. You get a fast car to begin with, and make it faster. If speed is what they wanted they would get Mustang...etc.

.....Its just a hobby, nothing more.

x-tian-230k

i agree with all, its more of a personal touch and hobby. My car is what gets me thru the day.....its exciting.....its no fun to get a full loaded car.....hahahah

tommy

Several reasons:

people can afford the cheaper version, then mod as they make more money

individuality

cars when left in stock form are boring, ESPECIALLY Mercedes -- really, how many silver Benzes with charcoal interiors must we be subjected to?

and it's just a hobby to some (and an addiction to others - you know who you are!)

LorinserCClass

In my case I woulda got a fully loaded E320 but my credit would only clear for a C240 3 1/2 years ago. I didnt want to keep the car I looked for ANY opportunity to dump it....but then 2 yrs later I find mbworld and I see hardly any hardcore mod addicts(at that time) other than brabuscclass and Jay. So I figured what the hell let me get into it. 35K later....Its been fun though. I met a lot of people from the forums/car shows and have become REAL good friends with them. Good hobby but I will definetly budget myself better if and when I decide to mod a car out next time:p

Jon200

It's the sake of working on your own car, making it look hotter, a little quicker and at the end of the day, being content and happy about your Benz.

breastroker

In my case I got $6000+ off at the dealer. But the dealer did not order stuff I would have ordered, like bi-xenon headlights and Comand. And for the 2003-2004 Coupes less than 1% came with wood interiors. I hated the aluminum look, so I modded.

The C32 brakes and C32 front and rear sway bars are the way the car should have come from the factory. Very inexpensive mods using factory parts.

Mercedes did listen, so the 2004.5 and 2005 Sports Sedans started coming with lower stance, better brakes etc.

What I really would like is the AMG Coupe with trubo diesel. 0-60 in 5.3 with 50+ MPG! Even that can be modded with more HP, a 2.82 rear end vs. 2.29 stock. That would make it as fast as any E55 in 0-60 time!!!

CitronC230K_03

i couldn't get a citron C320 sedan. The C320 coupe is basically the same car except for the engine, no digi climate control and all that. I modded my car because I want to. I paid $36k for my "cheap model" Mercedes out the door. Then I've put in another couple grand for sure. I'm happy with my money and spend it the way I want. If I wanted a C320 I'd have bought one.

preyx

I think the "personalize" factor is the biggest reason that I do the things I do to my car. I know that some of the stuff ends up a bit "rice" at times, but for me, I'm happy with the overall effect of my mods.

SiLvaC32

to be different!

ggong5150

For me it's having that personal touch and also a hobby. Why drive a stock car that looks like everyone else's?

brabus c

because im a MODDER FOCKER!

Dink

I put rims, system, suspension, bi-xenons on the car.

First of all, I like bass so I got the system.
Second, the car, to me, looked so ugly with 17's and sitting so high, i had to get 19's and suspension. The lights looked so ugly to me so i went to get some bi-xenons.

When buying my car, I couldn't get an M3, E55, or any other car for that matter. I had to get the C32. I needed four dours, power, comfort. Also, I had to stay in the range where it wouldn't seem so ridiculous for a college student to be driving. There is someone in my school who drives a Viper and I always think that a Viper is just way too much.

So to answer your question of why not go for a better car,
sometimes, you can't get any car you want even if you have the money. For modding, it's just something I want to do. You might say it is just ridiculous to spend $5000 on rims, but $5000 to some people could be $5 to others. Different people value money differently.

FrankW

go check the C32 forum, there's tons who mod their C32 as well. It's not so much about making it faster, but having your own style put into the car.

W0n6_3d4n

Because i'm young, need attention, it's not my money i wasted anyway and yeah, to be different

Josh K

I don't care if I was driving a Murcielago or a McLaran. It's all about making the car an extension of yourself and your personalty.

Sure you could wear one size fits all, and most people do. Those people, however don't know the benefit of a good tailor/stylist or having those skills on their own.

More people take notice when something doesn't look like everyone else's, and when a mod is successful and badass, the owner can look at it and say to himself with pride, "I did that."

It's the difference between pulling some new old jeans off the rack at Abercrombie (or Fred Segal for that matter) and having Roberto Cavalli coming out with a coture wardrobe tailored to you every season.

It's the difference between apartment living (rented furnished) and a custom built and decorated living space.

While there's nothing wrong with one, there's nothing personal, or exceptional about it, either...

It's just nice....

It's not:
Bit¢hin
****
Hot
Bangin'
Insane
The **** or da shizzle
WOAH
sooooooo Fierce (said with a lisp)
Tricked out
Candy
Cleeeeeaaaan
SIIIICK
and a plethora of other similar expressions....

miroj

When there is a waiting list on cars it pays to get another car and then put into it what you want it to have without having to wait.

I assume that you mean mostly MB mods to begin with, because anyone can put a generic mod on any car. Which is just personal taste.

Things like COMAND, Parktronic, Phone, Xenon, C32 parts, dimming mirrors, TV tuner, CD stacker ... these are nice things.

Often it is also a lot cheaper to get the original mod parts from eBay auctions. So in one sense ...... the more you shop around and the more you find things out for yourself, the better off you are in the final cost.

Its only goofy people with no idea how a car works that just pay someone to do it for them, pay someone to wash it, pay someone to park it. Someone like that doesnt understand mods at all.

oggle

I'm stealing that quote.

MadC32

Very nice explanation. To me it's just some kind of satisfaction when I drive past someone and they turn around to check out the back of the car as well, cause it caught their interest.. fullfills me with pride. Also, I got in touch with lots of cool people who share the same 'love' for nice (and fast) cars.

c230pete

All of your responses are great. Thanks, I was just curious to why, and now I know.....I guess it's fun modding your Benz's but as long as it's done tastefully, and I hope to never see them turn into ricer's like the Honda/Acura Toyota's of the world...keep it real, peece

MBenzNL

Personally I have no fun at all in buying a ready-to-go car without having any of my own work put into it...there is no pleasure in driving around with a non modified car (for me that is)...

greetingz,

breastroker

I love it when I pick up parts at a Mercedes dealer, all the service and parts guys come out and ask about the 2005 tail lights, and allways the C32 brakes, they are so visible with the eye attracted to the polished 2004.5 sports sedan rims

CitronC230K_03

me too! every little thing i add, makes it that much more personal and original.