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Thoughts on these possible mods?

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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 12:47 AM
  #1  
LSUCounsel's Avatar
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2023 C300
Thoughts on these possible mods?

This is a two part'er.

Right now I have a stock C250 Sport, Iridium Silver with Ash MBT and aluminum trim. I think the aluminum trim looks good, but there's too much, and there's no "luxury" I'd like to see in a Benz. Answer - the black ash trim (which retails for more than $1200 for the full package). Not really prepared to drop that much (and not willing to do the 3M wrap), I've come up with a compromise: buy some of the ash trim (which I can do for about $300) and mix it with the existing aluminum trim - I've played around with screenshots from the build-it app online to give you an idea of what I'm thinking (bottom pic).

Second idea (top pic) is to go with the 18" AMG rims with the Luxe grille and raised star. I really like this set up - it's almost like a baby S I think.

Thoughts? Mostly curious everyone's thoughts on the aluminum/black ash mixing.
Attached Thumbnails Thoughts on these possible mods?-screen-shot-2013-08-19-12.20.59-am.png  

Last edited by LSUCounsel; Aug 19, 2013 at 01:47 AM.
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 01:39 AM
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Doa
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W205
looking good
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 01:10 PM
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2010 C250 4Matic
Originally Posted by LSUCounsel
This is a two part'er.

Right now I have a stock C250 Sport, Iridium Silver with Ash MBT and aluminum trim. I think the aluminum trim looks good, but there's too much, and there's no "luxury" I'd like to see in a Benz. Answer - the black ash trim (which retails for more than $1200 for the full package). Not really prepared to drop that much (and not willing to do the 3M wrap), I've come up with a compromise: buy some of the ash trim (which I can do for about $300) and mix it with the existing aluminum trim - I've played around with screenshots from the build-it app online to give you an idea of what I'm thinking (bottom pic).

Second idea (top pic) is to go with the 18" AMG rims with the Luxe grille and raised star. I really like this set up - it's almost like a baby S I think.

Thoughts? Mostly curious everyone's thoughts on the aluminum/black ash mixing.
My thoughts are I like the sport sedan look. The C Class is a smaller car compared to say the average Joe's Mazda 6. It's more compact, lower, fatter tires, etc and looks great. The S Class works because it's a big car and screams that luxurious comfort ride. The Sport look is great in my opinion.

With the interior trim, my last benz had the aluminum and my newer one has the bird's eye maple. I didn't like the Aluminum at first but now wish I had it again. I am 30 and still like the younger feel of trim like that.
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 01:32 PM
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Another round of ICE
My first impression is that you bought the wrong car and probably would have preferred a Luxury model. The exterior treatment you are considering would be fine but the grille and hood ornament have to go together. The large star in the Sport grille looks quite odd with a stand-up ornament above it.

As to the interior, it looks like MB ran out of parts and used whatever was on-hand to finish off the doors and console. Go one way or the other, but neither half-way.
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 01:45 PM
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2023 C300
Originally Posted by Sportstick
My first impression is that you bought the wrong car and probably would have preferred a Luxury model. The exterior treatment you are considering would be fine but the grille and hood ornament have to go together. The large star in the Sport grille looks quite odd with a stand-up ornament above it.

As to the interior, it looks like MB ran out of parts and used whatever was on-hand to finish off the doors and console. Go one way or the other, but neither half-way.
I think you misunderstood my proposal...the grille treatment as you see it in the top pic is exactly what I would do - I would take my current sport grille off and put the luxe grille and the stand-up star on. I like the lower stance and bumper look of the Sport model over the Luxe (plus ash trim on a Luxe comes with gray carpet instead of black...seems like a nightmare).

For the interior...that's sort of my concern. My Grand Cherokee had a lot of wood on the dash and just a touch on the doors with mostly aluminum and it looked okay. I should probably show it to folks who've never seen the inside of a C250 and see if they think it's odd. Heh.
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Old Aug 19, 2013 | 02:09 PM
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Another round of ICE
Originally Posted by LSUCounsel
I think you misunderstood my proposal...the grille treatment as you see it in the top pic is exactly what I would do - I would take my current sport grille off and put the luxe grille and the stand-up star on. I like the lower stance and bumper look of the Sport model over the Luxe (plus ash trim on a Luxe comes with gray carpet instead of black...seems like a nightmare).

For the interior...that's sort of my concern. My Grand Cherokee had a lot of wood on the dash and just a touch on the doors with mostly aluminum and it looked okay. I should probably show it to folks who've never seen the inside of a C250 and see if they think it's odd. Heh.
I got it...just sensed that you had the proclivity to implement a partial conversion from your interior proposal, so I was just inoculating against a possible consideration to go halfway on the front end!

It's not that bright and wood can't co-exist; it's the application. I think the difference shown here on the Jeep is that the bright is used for the main accent and there is a consistent race track of black ash. It doesn't have the discontinuity on one door, as in the photoshop in post #1. If the leading edge of the racetrack on the door was all aluminum and abutted the I.P. end portion of the racetrack in wood, that would seem like quite the mismatch as well.

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Old Aug 20, 2013 | 12:30 AM
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Go with the interior trim mixed... that would look sharp... something unique and differant from the rest.
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Old Aug 21, 2013 | 01:22 AM
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Factory ordered 2012 MB C350 w/Dynamic Handling Package
Originally Posted by LSUCounsel
...
I think the aluminum trim looks good, but there's too much, and there's no "luxury" I'd like to see in a Benz. Answer - the black ash trim (which retails for more than $1200 for the full package).
...

My thoughts exactly...that's why I did the black ash directly from the factory.

However...just to compare, that picture you posted is ONLY like that in direct sunlight. Below is a picture of what it realistically looks like in an overcast.
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Old Aug 21, 2013 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by edgalang
My thoughts exactly...that's why I did the black ash directly from the factory.

However...just to compare, that picture you posted is ONLY like that in direct sunlight. Below is a picture of what it realistically looks like in an overcast.
That interior looks awesome, thanks for sharing.

I'd have done that too but the black ash is only on the 350 (mine's a 250...plus I bought a CPO). I do like the look of that black a lot, just can't decide if I want to do it halfway/how that will look. Paying $1200 for it after the fact is tough to swallow. Plus...I haven't been able to find a supplier that has all of the parts (I've found all of the door trim, but not the ashtray and gear shift trim).
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Old Aug 21, 2013 | 05:49 PM
  #10  
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Factory ordered 2012 MB C350 w/Dynamic Handling Package
Originally Posted by LSUCounsel
...
Paying $1200 for it after the fact is tough to swallow. Plus...I haven't been able to find a supplier that has all of the parts (I've found all of the door trim, but not the ashtray and gear shift trim).

Have you bought the parts yet? Personally if I was in your shoes I'd use that 1.2k on something else. I may have missed it, but why are you ruling out vinyl wraps? Hypothetically you could wrap your interior trim pieces to something completely different then everyone else.

I'm not saying you should....but I've seen interior trim pieces wrapped in gucci, burrberry, etc....but the point is, you have the desire...so why not go completely different (without going tacky).
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