19" Rims, Shift Knob, Sways, Steering Wheel Installed!
10-03-2009, 03:00 AM
#1
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19" Rims, Shift Knob, Sways, Steering Wheel Installed!
I just had these items installed:
* Chrome MRR GT1- 19X8.5 Front ET35 19X9.5 Rear ET35
* Custom Steering Wheel from DCT – Thicker, Perforated Sides, Ergonomic Grips, Flat Bottom
* Brabus Shift Knob – Aluminum, Leather and it Illuminates
* H&R Springs – Later removed and replaced with the Stock Springs
* H&R Front/Rear Sway Bars
* Bilstein HD Shocks and Struts
* 35% Tint – 3M film
I'm really happy with the way the car came out; I'm going for a more “Factory Mercedes” look than the “Tuner/Aggressive” look. I decided on the chrome wheels because chrome is a factory option, but black wheels are not (unless your buying an SLR 722 edition). The sway bars and the shocks stiffened the ride a bit, but the handling improved a lot; a lot less body roll during hard turning, braking, and accelerating. The 35% tint is just dark enough for me, it lets in just enough light without the “pull me over” limo tint effect. My favorite part of the upgrade was the steering wheel and the shift knob. Since I'm inside the car most of the time, upgrading the touch surfaces really improved the feel of the car.
Lessons Learned:
Those of you who have lowered their cars really have my respect. I initially installed the H&R springs and drove it around the rest of the day. I returned to the shop the next day and had my stock springs reinstalled (all my problems went away). Here is my take on the springs:
Pros:
Better Handling
Aggressive Stance
Cons:
Tires Rubbed during hard turning and reversing
The drop was uneven, the rear was tucked in and the front had a 1” wheel gap
Causes the rear to squat and adds a lot of negative camber (about -4, so you will be replacing your tire often)
These cons with just the driver on board, imagine how bad it would be having your buddy and two ladies in back!
I didn't want to cut away my wheel liners, roll the lip, or modify the car in any way to accommodate the drop. For me the Cons out weighed the Pros, I can live with the wheel gap. I'm not giving up on the suspension drop, but I'll be going with a coilover setup for more adjustability.
Up next:
Quad ///AMG Exhaust
Carbon Fiber rear diffuser
Brakes ///AMG 6/4 pot
Performance Mods
* Chrome MRR GT1- 19X8.5 Front ET35 19X9.5 Rear ET35
* Custom Steering Wheel from DCT – Thicker, Perforated Sides, Ergonomic Grips, Flat Bottom
* Brabus Shift Knob – Aluminum, Leather and it Illuminates
* H&R Springs – Later removed and replaced with the Stock Springs
* H&R Front/Rear Sway Bars
* Bilstein HD Shocks and Struts
* 35% Tint – 3M film
I'm really happy with the way the car came out; I'm going for a more “Factory Mercedes” look than the “Tuner/Aggressive” look. I decided on the chrome wheels because chrome is a factory option, but black wheels are not (unless your buying an SLR 722 edition). The sway bars and the shocks stiffened the ride a bit, but the handling improved a lot; a lot less body roll during hard turning, braking, and accelerating. The 35% tint is just dark enough for me, it lets in just enough light without the “pull me over” limo tint effect. My favorite part of the upgrade was the steering wheel and the shift knob. Since I'm inside the car most of the time, upgrading the touch surfaces really improved the feel of the car.
Lessons Learned:
Those of you who have lowered their cars really have my respect. I initially installed the H&R springs and drove it around the rest of the day. I returned to the shop the next day and had my stock springs reinstalled (all my problems went away). Here is my take on the springs:
Pros:
Better Handling
Aggressive Stance
Cons:
Tires Rubbed during hard turning and reversing
The drop was uneven, the rear was tucked in and the front had a 1” wheel gap
Causes the rear to squat and adds a lot of negative camber (about -4, so you will be replacing your tire often)
These cons with just the driver on board, imagine how bad it would be having your buddy and two ladies in back!
I didn't want to cut away my wheel liners, roll the lip, or modify the car in any way to accommodate the drop. For me the Cons out weighed the Pros, I can live with the wheel gap. I'm not giving up on the suspension drop, but I'll be going with a coilover setup for more adjustability.
Up next:
Quad ///AMG Exhaust
Carbon Fiber rear diffuser
Brakes ///AMG 6/4 pot
Performance Mods
10-03-2009, 09:54 PM
#7
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2018 E43 | 2017 GLS450 | 2004 CLK 500
I'm surprised to hear you had so many problems after lowering your car, and that the H&R's casued you to rub...they don't lower the car that much more than my eibachs. You might want to try eibachs before spending a grip on coilvers - I never had any problems with rubbing or any of the other things you mnetioned. Make sure the shop knows what they are doing also. Sounds strange to me.
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10-04-2009, 02:08 PM
#8
I agree no one ever had that kind of problem rubbing with H&R springs 
. If you dont plan to go really low then try Eibach you should be happy with it.
btw,
that shift knob looks good man
. and maybe you need debadge that "CLK500" it'll looks way cleaner 
Andy
. If you dont plan to go really low then try Eibach you should be happy with it.btw,
that shift knob looks good man
. and maybe you need debadge that "CLK500" it'll looks way cleaner Andy
10-06-2009, 08:25 AM
#10
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Thanks for the compliments guys! I bought the shift knob from a member and I got the carbon fiber lip from EuroTeck.
Yeah, its strange how the springs didn't work out............
Yeah, its strange how the springs didn't work out............
10-08-2009, 10:32 PM
#13
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CLK w209 GLC43 coupe
love the steering wheel!!!... tires rub.. i have that problem too... not when reversing.... but if there is a passenger be hide(during turning and hard acceleration from car stationary) 
... tires rub.. i have that problem too... not when reversing.... but if there is a passenger be hide(during turning and hard acceleration from car stationary)
10-08-2009, 11:38 PM
#14
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Sold - CLK500
i bet they rubbed because you were running too low on the spring pads.. if u went to level 4 of 5 then they wont rub.. unless your wheel offsets are incorrect for the car.. im on h&r springs spring pad 4 and 19x9.5 in the rears 265.30.19 tire and they dont rub. . even with 3 passengers.
please can you tell me if the sway bars are worth the money? $500 seems pricey then another $200 to install..
mike
please can you tell me if the sway bars are worth the money? $500 seems pricey then another $200 to install..
mike
10-16-2009, 09:55 AM
#15
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i bet they rubbed because you were running too low on the spring pads.. if u went to level 4 of 5 then they wont rub.. unless your wheel offsets are incorrect for the car.. im on h&r springs spring pad 4 and 19x9.5 in the rears 265.30.19 tire and they dont rub. . even with 3 passengers.
please can you tell me if the sway bars are worth the money? $500 seems pricey then another $200 to install..
mike
please can you tell me if the sway bars are worth the money? $500 seems pricey then another $200 to install..
mike
05-25-2010, 09:01 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Thanks for the kind words FatTony!
The wing is a genuine Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series Carbon Fiber spoiler. This was the first mod I did to my car and one of my favorites.
Speaking of carbon fiber FatTony, on this thread (post #13):
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...ion-guide.html
You mentioned you used 3M glue vs. 3M double sided tape and fill-in foam for the gaps underneath (In the picture with the foam installed, looks like you have clips/brackets too?), how is the diffuser holding up? Do you still recommend this installation (in other words, if you had to do it again, would you do the same thing)?
I'm going to do the install soon, so any tips or lessons learned would be appreciated.
The wing is a genuine Mercedes-Benz CLK63 Black Series Carbon Fiber spoiler. This was the first mod I did to my car and one of my favorites.
Speaking of carbon fiber FatTony, on this thread (post #13):
https://mbworld.org/forums/clk-class...ion-guide.html
You mentioned you used 3M glue vs. 3M double sided tape and fill-in foam for the gaps underneath (In the picture with the foam installed, looks like you have clips/brackets too?), how is the diffuser holding up? Do you still recommend this installation (in other words, if you had to do it again, would you do the same thing)?
I'm going to do the install soon, so any tips or lessons learned would be appreciated.
05-26-2010, 01:51 PM
#18
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CLK 55 AMG 2005 and CLK 63 AMG cab.2007 - 2009 EVO - 2013 ML63 AMG - 2018 G63 AMG
hahah I replied soo quickly... didn't realize it was your car 2Much !
Big changes from last summer
I bought the wing the same time you did
hummm for the read diffuser :
I would do EXACTLY the same method I use if I would do it again
It's not moving from there
(the brakets: not sure why they are there. there not holding
the diffuser anyway) soo no braket needed in the install
good luck
I want to see pix after install
Big changes from last summer
I bought the wing the same time you did
hummm for the read diffuser :
I would do EXACTLY the same method I use if I would do it again
It's not moving from there
(the brakets: not sure why they are there. there not holding
the diffuser anyway) soo no braket needed in the install
good luck
I want to see pix after install
05-30-2010, 10:57 PM
#21
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Thread Starter
Specifically, no. But MBworld.org sponsor DCTmotorsports (that's where my wheel came from; bought from their ebay store) can make a custom wheel for your W208. Their website:
http://www.dctms.com/
Thanks, the sidemarkers are from ebay.
http://www.dctms.com/
Thanks, the sidemarkers are from ebay.
06-03-2010, 06:41 AM
#25
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