5,920 miles '12 C300 4M Sport Build
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Looking at that last picture, I think I am going to swap that license plate holder in the front to the EU-style one which is rectangular; it fits the look of the front end much better.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Day 6 - Full assembly, Alignment, and Mods
We spent the early morning hours yesterday finishing the assembly of the car and replacing the difuser with the quad one to later install the quad tips. I then drove the car to the alignment shop where it got a front and rear alignment to the T. The car drives perfect now. I took some underside pictures of the car because I was very amazed how clean it is underneath given the mileage obviously.
I then visited the muffler shop where we installed the quad tips after an hour of measurements and fine-tuning.
Pictures below
We spent the early morning hours yesterday finishing the assembly of the car and replacing the difuser with the quad one to later install the quad tips. I then drove the car to the alignment shop where it got a front and rear alignment to the T. The car drives perfect now. I took some underside pictures of the car because I was very amazed how clean it is underneath given the mileage obviously.
I then visited the muffler shop where we installed the quad tips after an hour of measurements and fine-tuning.
Pictures below
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Day 7 - Interior Detail and Quick Photo Shoot
Today, I spent the morning detailing the interior and setting up my phone/bluetooth as well as putting all my music on an SD card to listen to it he car.
I then went for a quick 15-minute drive and I love everything about this car. The suspension is so firm and composed and the exhaust/engine note are perfect for me. I am really happy with this project.
I then took some pics so I can share them with you!!
Pending items for tomorrow:
Today, I spent the morning detailing the interior and setting up my phone/bluetooth as well as putting all my music on an SD card to listen to it he car.
I then went for a quick 15-minute drive and I love everything about this car. The suspension is so firm and composed and the exhaust/engine note are perfect for me. I am really happy with this project.
I then took some pics so I can share them with you!!
Pending items for tomorrow:
- Detail all rims and bring them back to brand-new state. I will keep them until I have to change my tires at which point I might go with 18" AMG rims. Still not decided yet because we have a lot of potholes and terrible roads here so I don't want to buy myself a headache I don't need. Another option would be to go for the 17" AMG (Code 784) which comes on the C350 Sport.
- Install the paddle shifters
- Brake fluid change
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Chicago area
2015 E400 and 2015 GLK350
If I pay the postage, will you just send it to me?
I've followed your project, and I think it is just great to see this car back to like-new condition. Too bad it would cost too much to do things like this in the US.
I've followed your project, and I think it is just great to see this car back to like-new condition. Too bad it would cost too much to do things like this in the US.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Thank you! It is indeed a very rewarding feeling being involved in bringing this car back to life. The repair or replacement of each part feeds into this feeling throughout the process and the first time i drove it after it was all done, i just couldn't wipe the smile off my face. It's really amazing to be a car-guy.
I'm still interested in knowing whether another W204 has less mileage.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
Nice!
As with many aftermarket grills, there is that gap at the top, which might make a whistling noise.
I know there is a fix but I have OEM grill so I don't know...but it should be here on mbworld
As with many aftermarket grills, there is that gap at the top, which might make a whistling noise.
I know there is a fix but I have OEM grill so I don't know...but it should be here on mbworld
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Yeah I noticed that gap right away but had no idea there's a fix. I'll look it up and apply it although I did not hear any whistling. The car is very very quiet.
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Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Milwaukee, WI USA
2012 C300 4Matic
Congratulations, it looks great. What amazes me is how much you got done in such a short amount of time. I doubdt you would have been able to get that much done so quickly in the US. Enjoy!
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Labour is relatively cheap in Lebanon compared to North America.
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From: Milwaukee, WI USA
2012 C300 4Matic
RELATIVELY cheap? $750 for all that work is all but stealing. Nicely done.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Day 8 - Rims' Repair and Touch-up
This past Monday, I drove the car to the rim repair shop to have my rims checked and repaired/touched-up as needed. The front right rim, the side of the accident, had some interior damage because the shock absorber strut had hit it and it needed repair before a touch-up. 2 remaining rims needed small touch-ups here and there. 1 rim did not need anything at all surprisingly.
The rims with the tires installed and inflated to the correct pressures (33 front and 38 rear) then got a re-balancing.
This past Monday, I drove the car to the rim repair shop to have my rims checked and repaired/touched-up as needed. The front right rim, the side of the accident, had some interior damage because the shock absorber strut had hit it and it needed repair before a touch-up. 2 remaining rims needed small touch-ups here and there. 1 rim did not need anything at all surprisingly.
The rims with the tires installed and inflated to the correct pressures (33 front and 38 rear) then got a re-balancing.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
You know, we kind of do get screwed here in the US but we really have no choice. One of my cousins in Germany, for example, had his Audi totally sideswiped by another car, about €5k damage, so he took the insurance money, drove his car to our home country, and got it done, like new, for around €2k. Maybe if people live down south, they could do something like that in Mexico, idk.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
You know, we kind of do get screwed here in the US but we really have no choice. One of my cousins in Germany, for example, had his Audi totally sideswiped by another car, about €5k damage, so he took the insurance money, drove his car to our home country, and got it done, like new, for around €2k. Maybe if people live down south, they could do something like that in Mexico, idk.
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
Yes, eastern Europe. I'm Albanian but fam resides in Macedonia. Same thing really lol. I go back every other summer, was considering finding a 190E sport or maybe something that you can't find in the US like a skyline to keep there. But I'd barely drive it unless I started going EVERY summer, and still I'd be worried about just leaving it sitting around. My uncle might get his hands on it, ya know, hahaha.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Yes, eastern Europe. I'm Albanian but fam resides in Macedonia. Same thing really lol. I go back every other summer, was considering finding a 190E sport or maybe something that you can't find in the US like a skyline to keep there. But I'd barely drive it unless I started going EVERY summer, and still I'd be worried about just leaving it sitting around. My uncle might get his hands on it, ya know, hahaha.
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2013
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Day 9 - Paddle Shifters Install
I finally got to doing this mod and installing the paddle shifters. I had bought them off of eBay for $40. They came off a 2012 ML350.
A friend of mine who's into modding and I tackled this mod on a weekday afternoon and it was a cool enjoyable project rather than paying $100 for a shop to do it.
Pictures attached
Attachment 440564
Attachment 440565
Attachment 440566
Attachment 440567
I finally got to doing this mod and installing the paddle shifters. I had bought them off of eBay for $40. They came off a 2012 ML350.
A friend of mine who's into modding and I tackled this mod on a weekday afternoon and it was a cool enjoyable project rather than paying $100 for a shop to do it.
Pictures attached
Attachment 440564
Attachment 440565
Attachment 440566
Attachment 440567
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Posts: 684
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From: Lebanon
2007 BMW 550i
Day 9 - Paddle Shifters Install
I finally got to doing this mod and installing the paddle shifters. I had bought them off of eBay for $40. They came off a 2012 ML350.
A friend of mine who's into modding and I tackled this mod on a weekday afternoon and it was a cool enjoyable project rather than paying $100 for a shop to do it.
Pictures attached
I finally got to doing this mod and installing the paddle shifters. I had bought them off of eBay for $40. They came off a 2012 ML350.
A friend of mine who's into modding and I tackled this mod on a weekday afternoon and it was a cool enjoyable project rather than paying $100 for a shop to do it.
Pictures attached
_____________________
2007 BMW 550i - Eibach Pro-Kit on M-Sport Shocks - Kumho PS91 Tires - High Gloss Black Grill and Trim - Brushed Chrome Exhaust Tips - Euro Taillights - Debadge - Weisslicht Angel Eyes, 5000K Interior LEDs, and BMW License Plate LEDs - Osram Night Breaker D1S Bulbs - MULF2 and 6FL Retrofit - PIP Video Module Retrofit with Screen Mirroring and Rear Cam
Last edited by DanielFD; Jan 11, 2019 at 02:06 PM.
gotta love a clean build!
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Joined: Mar 2014
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C350
Nice progress. I love my 2012 350. Did the quad tips. Recently added a remote starter, but it's like -5C here now. Only thing I really want is a front lip. Did you add a rear view cam? Its pretty easy if you have nav.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Oh nice! That 350 engine is a beast, but all the problems it could have- kept me away from it. The car came with a rear view camera from the factory.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Day 10 - Engine Oil and Brake Fluid Change
Today, I changed the engine oil and the brake fluid for the car. The brake fluid has been in it from factory so it was definitely due. Regarding the oil change, I was told by a friend that the 4MATICs must be drained from below and not using an extractor from top because the front axle goes through the oil pan and extracting from the top would leave 1-2L inside. Contrary to that, extracting from top using both the plastic hose and then the grommet sealed around the oil dipstick opening extracted 6.8-6.9L of oil out of 7.0L. I then jacked the car and drained using the bolt and the remaining 0.1-0.2L drained out. For the future, I think I will use the drain method every other oil change.
As for the brake fluid, we used a special machine to pressurize the system and feed the new fresh fluid through the reservoir and then draining from each wheel until the color changes. The process used 1.5L of DOT4 Plus fluid.
I also got a chance to get under the car and inspect the oil pan which confirmed that I have the 7G+ transmission as per the picture below.
Attachment 440563
Today, I changed the engine oil and the brake fluid for the car. The brake fluid has been in it from factory so it was definitely due. Regarding the oil change, I was told by a friend that the 4MATICs must be drained from below and not using an extractor from top because the front axle goes through the oil pan and extracting from the top would leave 1-2L inside. Contrary to that, extracting from top using both the plastic hose and then the grommet sealed around the oil dipstick opening extracted 6.8-6.9L of oil out of 7.0L. I then jacked the car and drained using the bolt and the remaining 0.1-0.2L drained out. For the future, I think I will use the drain method every other oil change.
As for the brake fluid, we used a special machine to pressurize the system and feed the new fresh fluid through the reservoir and then draining from each wheel until the color changes. The process used 1.5L of DOT4 Plus fluid.
I also got a chance to get under the car and inspect the oil pan which confirmed that I have the 7G+ transmission as per the picture below.
Attachment 440563
