RawBenz

Hey guys, im from Australia and i'm about to buy a 2003 CLK500 Coupe.

What i wanted to ask, is.. can a CLK63 Black Series AMG steering wheel fit onto a CLK500?

Kevwood

Yes, direct swap.

RawBenz

Awesome. Where can you order CLK63 AMG Black Series Steering Wheels from? We are very limited here in Aus, it sux!

Can you guys recommend a shop in the U.S that will ship out parts for CLK500's? I'm very interested in Carbon Fibre dash kit, AMG dash (speedo) etc.

The other thing i would like to know is can you fit Paddle Shifters? The steering wheel does not have shift buttons, it's tiptronic here in Aus, ii don't know if thats how your models are too.

Also, if i fit an aftermarket exhaust will i need to retune it? Or will it be ok? I used to own a Jap car before and it was turbo, every time i would modify anything to do with the motor i would need to retune it. Is that how it is with the CLK500 too?

And lastly, the car i'm thinking of buying is an early 2003 model, so it's a good 9 years old. Are the engines reliable? I don't mind keeping up with maintenance and servicing (this car has all log book history etc) but what i'm worried about is the engine and stuff maybe blowing up in the near future. It has 115 000km's (i dont know how many miles that is) on it currently.

Kevwood

I had a custom Black Series steering wheel made to match my interior, Steeringwheel Land found on eBay, they shipped to Dubai so I'm sure they will ship to Oz.

As for the dash kits, I upgraded my black n black instrument cluster to the white gauges w/ silver bezel. I may be doing some further interior changes and going with a carbon fiber gauge bezel - you can find that item on eBay Germany.

With the exhaust, you don't need to retune - the ECU will adapt. I suggest you just do the simple ECU reset when you have it done. Lots of us have done different exhaust systems and we all have threads up. I have headers, high flow cats and free flow mufflers, almost zero restrictions.

As for the M113, I did a bunch of research before buying mine and it's a pretty damn tight platform to play with. I do the regular maintenance and have never had a problem even with some very extensive power mods. I've got 120,000km on the clock and it's just getting broken in.

The 500 is a great platform to play around with and mod - just make sure you don't have the bad rad that leaks coolant into the trans, your MY falls into that category.

Good luck.

2MCHCAR

+100

Listen to Kev, he's the CLK500 Mod Subject Matter Expert!

RawBenz

Thanks for the info.

Do you know if paddle shifts are possible to fit?

Kevwood

Not quite my friend, just one of the bunch with a modding addiction!

They are, there are a few threads up with links. It's a bit of work if you don't already have the shift buttons but anything and everything is possible.

RawBenz

How much work are we talking? LOL In AUS everything is expensive!! How would it work if there are no shift buttons? Will they wire up the paddles to the transmission?

The car already has xenon lights, amg bodykit (full), coil over suspension and wheels.

So far on the to do list:

*Full Catless Exhaust With Quad AMG Tips. (it has an amg kit on it so i will need to customise the bumper by cutting to make some room for quads neatly)

*Tints

*CLK55 AMG Boot Lid Spoiler

*White Speedo Dials Resembling AMG (km/h)

*CLK63 Black Series Steering Wheel

Kevwood

No idea what it would cost there, you'd have to source out the colum ring, terminal blocks, paddles and have STAR code it.

Good luck.

RawBenz

I think i'll pass on the paddles lol. Sounds like a huge job.

Can you fit the Black Series Steering Wheel minus the paddles?

I have a normal clk500 steering wheel without paddles or shift buttons.

I just want a bolt on steering wheel to replace the ugly one with wood grain

Kevwood

If you order a custom one like I did, you can request it to be made without the paddles if you so wish. A member on this forum ordered one with the paddles but they are just for cosmetics - he doesnt have them hooked up.

RawBenz

Oh nice. I might get one with paddles and just have them for show

Could you please send me the link for where you can order the steering wheels. i cant find them on ebay

Also, airbags cannot be sent over in the post (explosive laws) so should i just not use an airbag?

Kevwood

I presume your car didn't come with a gaping hole in the center of the steering wheel - why not just use the airbag yo have?

I dont have the link, it was a long time ago, I'm sure you'll be able to find them.

RawBenz

LOL Sorry, my car definately didnt come with a hole lol.

I've been searching all over google etc. Can't find any black series s-wheels.

Kevwood

This is where my next one is coming from;

http://www.dctms.com/product_ST_Mercedes_W209.html

DTM/Black Series, tomato/to-mah-to...

mikata

Still waiting for part# for the contact rings

How about bungee jump without a rope? The rope is just for show right?
Sorry for beeing a a-hole and I might have misunderstood your question, but are you seriously asking if you should drive without an airbag?!

RawBenz

What i meant, was should i just use my airbag instead of their's. Sorry lol should've clarified.

mikata

Ah OK
Safety comes first