Small Mod Thread - 2019 C43 Sedan
 

Hello, just journaling here, feel free to ask questions or comments. I'll be making some slight comparisons in a short first impressions of the 2019 and going over some modifications for the new car.

First Impressions:
The car is refined compared to the C450 I had. The exhaust sound, the transmission and the ride quality have all been ironed out. The ride is super supple compared to the C450 which made small devits in the road feel like you hit a pothole - very jarring and crashy. The exhaust (non-performance exhaust) sounds amazing - it has a great tone and doesn't have as many pops and crackles as the C450, just a bit of a burble at high RPM. It's plenty loud enough for me who does 15k+ a year and uses the vehicle as part of the company fleet for business. The transmission is better and smoother but it seems fruitless to manually shift at the current time. I will probably get used to it but something about that 7 speed was a lot more like an automatic manual than this 9 speed transmission. Which is likely a direct result of it being smoother and more refined but the 7 speed had a lot of character and functioned perfectly in manual mode (it was a pretty bad automatic transmission in auto though).

The turbos produce a blow off valve noise that is subtle but puts a smile on my face. The apple car play is somewhat annoying to use if you want to interact with vehicle settings - it basically pauses the apple car play functionality (and any music playing) as soon as you go into onboard system, maybe I am missing something but it's just not quite as user friendly or intuitive as it should be. The aluminum trim matches from the dash to the door trims which wasn't the case in the C450. Fit and finish on the interior is definitely improved, the center waterfall dash section has no gaps around the inlayed buttons or the cup holder, etc.

Mod List:
Intake Mod - I was sold on the MST system until people reported issues with ECU. Will not even consider the BMS system as it seems incomplete and potentially rubs the hood.
Window tint - scheduled for Wednesday
Debadge rear and front fenders - doing today
Ceramic Coat - Doing today if I can squeeze it in
Wheels - TSW 19x8 et30 w/ 235/40/19 and 19x9.5 et48 w/ 265/35/19 (more aggressive spacers might come later)
Lowering - with either KW or H&R adjustable springs
Grille blackout and rear deck chrome blackout

Pictures so far:
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...e6630c25d9.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...f936e53842.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...f2515d35de.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d3bde626ae.jpg


Spent 4 hours detailing these wheels which included refinished some of the polished lips of curb rash. They still need additional work - also picked up new hub caps for the wheels. I may get the ones that match the hood badge with the black inner sections still.

congrats on the new purchase!

I was told only c450s had issue with CEL with MST intake.

I have had mine on for a weeks with no issue, I have a 18.

that facelift is really starting to wear on me.....I like it!

wheels on and rear debadged. Kept the fenders for now - mainly cause my body HURTS lol

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...876714be15.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...30e3c1166f.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b095814aed.jpg

I have been told the same. I can report back once I finally install mine. I plan on wrapping parts with reflective tape.

New car looks great man!!! Congrats!!

Nice Chucks too...:y

Wow that looks great...what type of ceramic coating are you thinking? I have started using CQuartz UK 3.0 with good results.

You're missing the tune!

Grille blackout this evening and window tint tomorrow.

Thank you!! haha all I wear outside of work are chucks.. have far too many of them too

I am just sealing it now with Adams polishes. I am feeling OCD about not having the car corrected before the ceramic..

I'm not interested in tuning the car. It's essentially a work vehicle that I daily and it's plenty fast for street roads. Getting a tune at this point would be all for ego and none for reason or benefit. lol

Good choice with that haha. I would definitely never tune my cars ever again.

The car is shaping up nicely and I appreciate you sharing the progress you're making :y

glad to see you back in a 43 :) your tasteful mods are refreshing to see in a world where the bigger the wheels the better and the less oem i can get the better it is. lol

Thanks!

I could not resist, the most competitive deals from the other choices in the German sphere would put me into the base engine version of the cars. Deal was too good to pass up and I already had wheels and tires to avoid more than half of the issues I originally had with the first car.

and thank you!

Just drove by the tint shop at lunch, amazing what some minor tint can do for a car.

Tinted 30 on all windows, 50 on windscreen

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...e31b6ab3d8.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...2f263f09f6.jpg

fender badge has to go.. and now I'm thinking I need to open the headlights to remove amber.. (did the same on my S4). Also ordered suspension today.. getting carried away fast

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...87a76dd347.jpg

obsessed with this thing. tint made a world of difference, gonna do the grille this evening for real this time lol

I need some tire dressing/cleaner pretty bad

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d079cfb211.jpg

Why is that Munis?

Wow great looking car! Thanks for the first impressions and insight!

I tried blacking the grille last night but preferred it stock. Will leave the car how it is other than debadging the fenders. Pretty much just have the suspension to go on and that will seal the deal with mods.

I think he had issues with a bricked ECU IIRC.

Thank you! Loving it so far.

Yes AMR bricked MUNIS ECU so he had to buy a new one.

He is now one of the fastest C43s on the JB4

Debadge of fender badges finally. And it's first wash. Paint is really good on this car for factory and no work.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...35647f0113.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a20f1cc6f5.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...500d68d640.jpg

more low inbound - scheduled for wednesday

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...49a1ae8f13.jpg

lowered - more impressed with improved handling and body roll than even the look right now

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...73b51aa8b0.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...3ab006ef20.jpg

Very nice!! Clean those damn tires!!:D

car is actually filthy lol - but you're right.. ty

Are you considering the amber delete still? I don’t like it either. I bought euro lights for my s5 but don’t think I’m gonna go that far again....although the c43 euro lights are awesome!

i will probably tackle it sometime soon - definitely needs addressing