romeo291

Lets start off my build thread by saying good bye to my old build: 1998 Lexus LS400

Before:











After:





Had a lot of help and ideas from members on this forum. I wanted to do an LS460 next, but it was out of my budget, so I decided to go Euro with an entry-level C-class. Found a used one for a good price, only problem was that it was already modified.

Here's how it looked when I first got it

romeo291

I quickly ditched the canards on the front, wasn't my style:


Added my first vip touch, D.A.D keyless emblem:

romeo291

These headlights are aftermarket, but I really like them:


Mocking up eyebrow idea, the attempt is to give it that 2012+ W204 look. Originally, I was planning on making the eyebrow out of metal after mocking it up so I can weld it to the hood, but I wasn't too keen on it, think I'll just get 2012+ headlights and modify my OEM hood to fit instead.

romeo291

Took some pictures of the car using my DSLR as opposed to camera phone

romeo291

Look at me laidddd out:


haha, just kidding:

romeo291

Ditched the OEM side mirrors for the Arrow style mirrors in black. It has a puddle light on it too, very nice mod IMO. I also added a wide-angle blue tinted lens with flashing red arrow blinkers.


Added Chrome door handles because the clear coat on the handles were peeling off:


Added these European style window visors. Wasn't sure about the curve on it at first, but now I really like it. Gives it a unique look to all the usual ones I see:

romeo291

Latest upgrades: D2 Air bags, Ridetech Management, K-Sport End Links (this is needed so that the sway bar doesn't hit the control arms)


I need carbon fiber side skirts. Might have to make some custom ones. I added the chrome door moldings back on there. No idea why people take them off, they're so nice



Got all the parts for the 2012 front bumper conversion, hopefully the carbon fiber lip will still fit.



Ignore the random sticker by the side marker, the whole front is gettin' replaced



Added the arrow type mirror covers in black and blue tinted mirror lens with the red Arrow LEDs behind it

romeo291

Next up is the 2012 Front bumper conversion. I really like the DRL LEDs on the newer Mercedes, so I finally got all the parts together. Another thing I really like is how the front bumpers have that extra definition with it sticking out on the left and ride sides:

makeinu0

Looking good.

iamkimosabi

Just...beautiful!

caligreenzzz

Kevin did a great job....

romeo291

Thank you fellas

EuroJDMBenzo

SOOOOO CLEANNN!!!

romeo291

Thank you man! Your car is freaking clean too!

EuroJDMBenzo

omg...dude ...my car clunks when i hit bumps....do you think it could be because something is hitting the control arms? i should probably get some k-sport end links! how much was yours!

romeo291

Yeah, definitely, just jack it up and look at the control arm and you can probably see where the end links have been hitting it to confirm. The end links were like $90ish, works very well. You can order it from k-sport or on ebay.

EuroJDMBenzo

oh sweet! can you send me the link where i can the exact ones!?

Goettler412

In for this too

romeo291

http://ksportusa.com/products/adjustable-endlinks/

Part #: AE0003-2

EuroJDMBenzo

i seee...all the chipped metal from the control arm hitting each other...you were right!! i FINALLY found out why and where my car was clunking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cillys

caligreenzzz. what is your setup? wheels and tires and are you lowered too?

txs

romeo291

Glad I could help man! On the Lexus, there was a similar problem, but it was the upper control arm hitting the shock tower. So to remedy that, I just cut a 2.5" hole where the upper control arm hit and it solved that issue. When you get the end links, I think you just need to adjust it until you get like an inch or so of distance between the end links and control arm and you should be good (I gave it an inch and haven't had any issues so far). Don't go too much, because the higher up you adjust it, the stiffer the sway bars become.

itsLoonie

Wow. Your LS was clean! Sucks what happened to it.

Where does these end links go? I don't have then on my air set up and I don't hear any clunks from my car at all.

romeo291

Thanx man, it had a lot of custom work that me and my friend did to it....but gotta move on. The end links connects to the end of the sway bar on one end and to the strut at the other end. Typically, without end links, on some setup, the sway bar will sit too close to the control arm.....which will hit against each other when moving. Either your setup is stiff enough that it doesn't hit or the setup allows enough space between each other that you don't really notice it.

MFDONTRON

I approve