Will617

[QUOTE=jstaneff;2982097]I'm thinking exactly opposite: for a "sporty" car you want weight reduction ;-) That hood has to add some weight, no? Maybe, what, 4 oz?

dieseldoc

Hooded gauges look cool

wblynch

I predict the "big mod" of 2010 will be the fitment of the "retro" flat panels.

We should see 10 or 20 DIY threads and people begging for OEM part nos.

Followed by, of course, 20 more threads about which Ebay skunk is the cheapest to buy the cloned part!!

qlaval

Here's the proof... and they look very nice!

rs1985

it looks pretty good

RLE

And a group buy.

wblynch

Yup, can never leave out the group buy !!

aowhaus

The more I look at it the more it's really growing on me.
They look really nice at night with the illuminated numbers casting a nice glowing reflection off the insides of the tunnels.

The turn signal and hazzard indicators how it's angled downward look really wierd during the day.

Merc_F1

Looking good Excellent photography skills

Wig

Good photos qlaval. I'm glad that you like the 'hooded' instruments. I am still hoping that my 2009 will not have them - seems I will be disappointed.

I preferred the old flat style. It looked classier. Changing to these dials is just copying a trend adopted by Nissan, Lexus etc., which in a few years will be seen as out of date. This is not what Mercedes Benz should be doing, in my opinion.

What I also don't understand is why the Canadian brochures etc. for the 2009 models have the old instruments.

VIZ

Does anyone know if the hooded guages are on both the luxury and the sport models?

Azn_C300

I like the hooded look. Good form and function

Now I gotta find a way to upgrade mine with it

qlaval

I think it's more then a trend as it does serve a function, re:less glare when under direct light.

2-Because they have to prepare brochures way ahead the first 2009 model are out. So they use their 2008 model.

hans007

i really dont think that sunlight is going to be a huge problem with the guages hooded or not, so i think it was just a cosmetic thing to be more "sporty" on sport models.

not sure if the luxury ones have it... but it would seem sort of out of their character.

i saw it in person and i can't really say its better or worse looking.

ococ

Ask my dealer in Holland today and it cost 750 euro's and than you have to pay the install. And the cluster is only with the AMG package starting march 2008.

Wig

I went to see my 2009 C350 4-Matic at the dealer - will take delivery on Thursday! The hooded instruments actually look good 'in the flesh'. Very sporty in fact. So I am happy to admit - I am (nearly) converted!

JCOnizuka

Im ordering the instrument cluster but it is back ordered.. I don't know which one to get though can anyone help? Either the new 09 Hooded C class or the AMG C class guage. they say its the same price. I have a 08 C350 4matic. The only thing about the AMG version was the rpm where it indicate a "6.3 V8". And I don't want to be a poser. What do u guys think?

micropower99

Whats the part number? Is it an easy swap?

JCOnizuka

I donno the part number. My repair shops gonna order it for me and he gave me the option of those 2... So I'm pretty confuse at which one to get. And its not an easy swap. They have to remove the hole front panel in order to replace the cluster. And they will have to reprogram everything. So its best to let professional to change it. All in all it takes about one full day.

micropower99

When you get the parts (or if you can talk to your service person) can you ask them what the part numbers are?

Also, whats the diff between regular hooded and C63 hooded?

Thanks!

chilledbenz

Only the 2009 Sport and C63 had the hooded gauges when I was at my dealership last month. The 09 Luxury models had the same gauge cluster as the 08 models.

joshg1001

its not even a true hooded gauge. its not as obvious as on other vehicles. but i dont hate it or love it