I dunno! I didn't really specify any particular alignment specs, I just told them to sort it out and give me a stock alignment.

I dug through Marcus F's site and found this page:

http://www.marcusfitzhugh.com/CLK/DIY/align.html

Granted that's for a W208, but I suspect the W202 is similar.

I don't think 1* negative camber at the rear is excessive. I think I've got 2.0* to 2.5* negative camber on my S2000, and that eats up the insides of the tires in a summer's worth of driving. I have to rotate them to equal them out, so I get two summers out of a set of rear tires, while the fronts look relatively new. Worse rear wear if tracked. Interestingly, those alignment specs are from Honda UK, who did some testing and found different alignment specs to calm the rear end down. After the car was initially introduced, the motoring press complained about too lively a rear end and thus Honda UK set out the new alignment specs - the downside is a bit more rear wear.

If I remember right, the reasoning for the camber arms on a Benz is that if the car is lowered then it gets to be excessively negative leading to further tire wear. The stock arms are just solid, not adjustable, hence the need to do something to dial in the rear camber.

 

Depends on the model and the fitment, but some are a hardened chrome centre with offset bolt hole operating inside a pair of urethane bushings, you turn the bolt, which has a small flat on it, and that gives your adjustment, tighten it (must be well-tightened) and you hold that adjustment.

The bolt itself is never offset.

Others, especially on rear suspensions, have a urethane and steel pillow ball arrangement with the offset on the inner 'ball' section. Again, turn and tighten to get alignment. It's the pillow ball setup that gives long life here as they replace rubbers with voids in them that chop out prematurely.

Some people have the idea that all urethane bushes are the same, but K-Mac are definitely out of the ordinary.

 

I would hope so as the K-Mac kits (front and rear) for the C43 cost about $320 a piece. This is the route I plan on taking when I install my suspension. I have heard nothing but good things about K-Mac.

 

Wasn't entirely happy with my last alignment. The car seemed to have a bit of pull to the right, requiring maybe 2* of left lock on the straights, and felt like it was a problem related to more than just road crown. Had my mechanic buddy drive it, and he agreed and felt the car could use a bit more right caster to offset the road crown. We're talking minimal issue here, but I'm quite fussy with small things like that.

Took it to another alignment shop, one I've used before for my S2000, and it's all sorted out now. Perfect. Love it. Final alignment specs here. There's a bit more right caster, and bit less toe in compared to before.

 

The ebay purchased, made in China, Affalterbach center caps arrived yesterday. Looks fine to me, and they fit perfectly too!

 

ai perfect match to your new fenders, young lad?
soon you'll have MIC all over the car?
fenders and wheel caps are just the beginning of a new design style on your C43.
as long as you're happy I'm happy for you.

 

Ahem, the fenders were made in Taiwan!!

 

my bad, I didn't remeber that.
but they are MIA then

 

Finally got a new right headlight lens (original was cracked when I bought the car last year). Absolutely could not find the part aftermarket, so bit the bullet and got it from the dealer. Had to be brought in from Germany. C$236 plus taxes! Ouch. But, now all new 3M protective film on both lenses now, and all back to looking good!

And have put in my order for a 55 motor so hopefully it'll be here soon. Planning to do the install over the summer. Once the motor gets here, I can then figure out what kind of seals and such to get to make it fresh and new again.

 

your car gets better and better looking now everytime you mod it.

this 3M film is it stiff film you heated and sticked on the headlenses to prevent stonechips?
does 3M help or prevent glass cracking from stonechips flying like in a projective missile speed of 250KM/H from an E55 infront of you if them rocks hits your headlenses?
Is 3M dat strong?

I have some kind of protective film on my headlenses, my glassmaster put them on, both on headlenses and the foglights.

 

I need to replace my 3M, what's on there now is slightly discolored... where did you buy your film from? Good price?

 

The 3M is flexible stuff with an adhesive backing on one side. I got it from a local shop, the same shop that did the bumper, hood and mirror protection on all of my cars. Because the headlight lens is glass, the shop recommended slightly thicker stuff than what is used on the paint. I can't remember the thickness at the moment though.

Unfortunately, they didn't have the pattern for the headlight in the computer so I just bought some raw material and cut it myself.

 

just ordered sheets of Lamin-X..hopefully 20mil is thick enough.

 

Picked up another little trinket, an AMG oil cap.

Of course, paid way more than what it's worth, but that's AMG tax for you...

More photos of other bits and pieces soon. A pallet appeared at my engine builder's shop the other day, and I will retrieve it tomorrow. He told me it's v-shaped and displaces nearly five and a half 1L milk cartons....

 

here is mine and I have 2 AMG logos,
I guess mine is a later version
too bad they don't make any for the cookie jars at home

 

Where did you pick up the oil cap?? I bet you can't wait to install the new engine and start driving the MILK machine around

 

Heh...picked it up second hand from a guy in Vancouver. I was just down there for a short mid-winter holiday, and found it on craigslist.

 

go to the stealership and buy it, won't cost you more than 25 bux.

 

My 55 lump showed up the other day, but I just got it into my garage this past lunch hour.

 

das ist ein schöne motoren!
sehr gut!

 

More pictures please

 

Here are some more photos of the motor. Nothing remarkable really, looks like any other M113!

I was given the VIN when I was looking for the engine, and with that I got a Carfax report. Turns out this particular E55 was from California. It was totaled in early '09 from fire damage, with about 68,000 miles on the odometer. Fortunately, it doesn't look like the fire took over the entire engine compartment, as only a bit of the wiring harness melted. The Carfax report also says that the MAF, plugs, plug wires and a bunch of other things were done at about 41,000 miles. So the MAF is pretty new, and it didn't get melted in the fire either.

I was a bit scared when I saw the 'E50' casting on the block, as I figured they made a mistake and sent me a 5.0L engine. But the engine serial number on the bellhousing shows '113.980' which refers to the 5.4L AMG built motor, and there's an AMG tag with a part number on the intake manifold too.

A bit disappointed to find that one of the plug wire connectors on a coil pack broke off, and the little ring on the dipstick was also cracked, both probably in transit. I was hoping to sell the coils and my current dipstick is broken, but ah well. At least there's a low mileage MAF sensor on there.

Looks like one of the valve cover gaskets is leaking a bit, but looks like the oil pan is sealed up tight. Have to double check the rear main seal though.

Also took delivery of a pile of other parts, including a new crank pulley, crank pulley tool, SLK pedals and rear discs and pads. Still waiting on my C32 front calipers and discs though.

Lots of fun yesterday as not only did the motor come in, but my supercharger kit for my S2000 too! Some photos of that here:

http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php...#entry20124921

 

I bet you're happy now!
Pockets empty now?

Awesome pictures mate.

Those melted parts can you swap them with your own C43 stuff?
When you have started to mod your car you can't stop now, you are going further with other stuff next time.
It will be pricey and the total price/time and effort will give you some bad feelings if you sell this car.
Keep it for life when you're done modding it.

 

New OEM C32/55 discs just showed up at the office. Wow. Heavy. Not dinner plate sized, but rather, platter sized. Huge items.

The melted parts should be no problem, they would be 'swap' items anyway. My goal for the weekend is to get the engine mounted onto my engine stand so I can roll it around the garage, and then perhaps start stripping off the coils and other miscellaneous items. Might look into rebuilding the starter and alternator too, once the motor is out, just to have those items fresh.

When I bought the car, I did not want to make it into a project. Seems I can't help myself.... I had my old Saab for 10 years, so I suspect I'll do the same with this car. Won't be selling it any time soon, that's for sure.

 

your new rotors did you buy them from fleabay?
They don't have any HWA stamp on the hub, right?

The E55 engine does it have a faceplate with the engine builder signature?
On E55 cars black engine cover is hiding the top of the engine like on the c43.

You going to fit an AMS pulley to replace the H-Balancer and a new belt tensioner just to have fresh parts on your engine?
And the upper oil cooler seals you going to replace them when it's an easy axess?