Please read if you are using a CF or other lightweight hood
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C63 AMG
Please read if you are using a CF or other lightweight hood
Long ago I started on a quest to find gas springs that would be optimized for a lightweight hood. I bought a number from several different sources but nothing worked out. After returning the last bunch of four to Grainger I called every manufacturer of OE fitment gas springs that I could find. I struck out with all of them...except Bansbach (manufacturers of the EasyLift line).
To make a long story short, an aerospace engineer in Bansbach's FL facility took pity on me and started working with me to spec a set of gas springs for the C63. Some months later, the prototypes are here from Germany. This set utilizes a release screw so I can incrementally bleed off pressure to find the ideal pressure. The factory will then build a custom set for me. Yup, all that work and effort just for me.
If you are interested in a set for your own car please post a reply here. I'm a few weeks away from the trial fitting and am not opening the package until then. The photo shows my OE gas springs and the new Bansbach replacement still packaged. I'll post followup photos. Bansbach has provided me with pricing for a quantity (one shot) purchase. Amazingly, it's lower than the OE gas springs at discount internet pricing. This would not be run as a group buy (i.e., I will NOT be sending them out), but I'll work on having Bansbach or Grainger handling the lot and providing direct fulfillment services. I'll update this thread in a few weeks.
To make a long story short, an aerospace engineer in Bansbach's FL facility took pity on me and started working with me to spec a set of gas springs for the C63. Some months later, the prototypes are here from Germany. This set utilizes a release screw so I can incrementally bleed off pressure to find the ideal pressure. The factory will then build a custom set for me. Yup, all that work and effort just for me.
If you are interested in a set for your own car please post a reply here. I'm a few weeks away from the trial fitting and am not opening the package until then. The photo shows my OE gas springs and the new Bansbach replacement still packaged. I'll post followup photos. Bansbach has provided me with pricing for a quantity (one shot) purchase. Amazingly, it's lower than the OE gas springs at discount internet pricing. This would not be run as a group buy (i.e., I will NOT be sending them out), but I'll work on having Bansbach or Grainger handling the lot and providing direct fulfillment services. I'll update this thread in a few weeks.
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From: SoCal, Orlando/Miami FL USA, Japan
2012 C63 AMG BS, 2010 DUCATI 1198S
That's awesome that you got a custom set made, but why not just use the ones from the C63 Black Series??? It's an all aluminum hood and weighs close to nothing.
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I have had a dads cf vneted hood on C63 with OEM struts for years now and never a problem. It opens and shuts just like it always did. What has been the problem with yours?
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.
^It's more of a possible potential problem and depending on how often you open/close the hood, you may weaken the mount area as the OEM strut was designed for a metal hood and not a lightweight fiber hood.
Good idea from NellyRod.
Good idea from NellyRod.
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C63 AMG
Bhamg you are boss... Thats amazing level of detail. 
Fellas the reason why Bhamg sought after a softer tensioned damper was to compensate for the lighter weight of the CF hood. If you are open/closing your hood fairly often, you may put stress cracks on your hood due to the higher then needed tension on your OEM dampers (specifically to lift your aluminum hood).
Great job!
Fellas the reason why Bhamg sought after a softer tensioned damper was to compensate for the lighter weight of the CF hood. If you are open/closing your hood fairly often, you may put stress cracks on your hood due to the higher then needed tension on your OEM dampers (specifically to lift your aluminum hood).
Great job!
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2009
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C63 AMG
Bhamg you are boss... Thats amazing level of detail.
Fellas the reason why Bhamg sought after a softer tensioned damper was to compensate for the lighter weight of the CF hood. If you are open/closing your hood fairly often, you may put stress cracks on your hood due to the higher then needed tension on your OEM dampers (specifically to lift your aluminum hood).
Great job!
Fellas the reason why Bhamg sought after a softer tensioned damper was to compensate for the lighter weight of the CF hood. If you are open/closing your hood fairly often, you may put stress cracks on your hood due to the higher then needed tension on your OEM dampers (specifically to lift your aluminum hood).
Great job!
Here's the hood, painted.
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C63 AMG
edit: Great, mthis. As this develops I'll update pricing and fulfillment info.
Last edited by bhamg; May 2, 2014 at 03:27 PM.
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'12 C63 Black Series, '12 ML350 BlueTech
Let me know as well whenever this will be available.
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my wife bananas! :D
I do the same with my dads hood as well. Although I can tell that the struts are a bit strong for a light hood it works just fine
however OP, good idea and thanks for taking the initiative
