RBYCC

For those of you who find the installation of anything that is not up to a pure Aryan standard, I ask you to please retrun to the sand box in your "back yard"

So on to the install of a really well made Wald EX front spoiler knock off !!!

First some performance oriented stuff.

The shiny black part that you see is a fiberglass shroud that came with the TT M103 kit.
It forms a plenum or tunnel that feeds both the air intake and intercooler.




The 3.25 ID hose enters the plenum from the air filter enclosure.



The so called "inferior" Wald EX is an extremely well fitted piece.
Removal of the tow hook cover ( lower left side, center opening ) allows a good air flow to the intake/intercooler plenum.
Also installed was the cladding color matched bumper strip.

ZedStyle

if you think that one finished-product picture is going to cut it, think again!
MORE PICS, from the side and front from a distance please, sir.

RBYCC

I still have to install the back cladding color matched bumper strip.
Already have installed the face lift license plate area insert.

If any one has a face lift car, would appreciate a picture of the trunk open showing the bottom of the insert.
Looks like it should have a trim piece.
Had to remove the pre face lift trim piece to fit the insert.

As soon as all the new parts are on, I'll take more pix...
Should have taken a picture of the exhaust when I had the car up...
Incredible tig welding....2 x 2.5 down pipes right to 2 spun metal cats then 2 x 2.5 back to the rear silencer....

ZorroAMG

Oooooh.

Mo pix, sir!

BTW, bodycolor bumpers FTW...it just doesn't look right in grey when your car is such a cool red!!

Eliot

I'll agree with Mark. I think Red is the way to go.

myfirstbenz

All red would look nice, but boy is that handsome as is!! Two colors are far better than 3 (re:painted impact strips) Very nice work

Saijin_Naib

Whatever you do Ed, take more pictures. Those without their benzo need to be reminded of how they could look one day

cap'n jasper

Front bumper looks really good. To a non Merc enthusiast it looks like it left the factory like that. Very subtle.

Federic0W124

that looks great!
how much did it cost?
if my search for an AMG kit bears no fruit
(basically contradicting what i posted in the other thread)
I might do this instead. I'm just worried
with how low my car is I'd destroy it

RBYCC

I got it off of EBAY in December of 2006.
The seller was "DCTW124" his name is Ivan Hsu and it was shipped from California.
It was under $300.00 shipped.

Easy install if you take the stock bumper off so you don't have to fight gravity.
It wraps around the stock bumper, the upper lip fits into the groove below the bumper strip and I used two screws on each side at the wheel well lip.
Doesn't need it, but placed a strip of VHB at the top.
Install time about an hour.

I know about low....this is the front chin splitter I run on my C6...just have to avoid speed bumps, parking curbs and steep inclines !!!!

Garfunkle_W124

I like it. I found a lorinser body kit that I am thinking about getting. It all depends on whether or not I keep the W124

bjay51d

LOWBLOW

ZedStyle

did you check out the link i posted in the other thread?



DCTW124 is where I was buying my front Wald-copy from too, and he also had one or two sets of sideskirts in stock...

BrabusBenz300E

You've really turned around the front end look of your car this past week or two! Monotone the paint and you're going to have a skeeterrific ride

Saijin_Naib

Sorry CBR! I was talking about myself as well

ZedStyle

i wonder how some foglights would look in the openings on the sides?

n8nod9it

I bought my w124 from Ivan...he's a very nice family man running a reputable business. My car has the Wald front end and it looks as good as an original piece, fitting wise and everything else. BTW i am likely selling my car (deal is in the works) after 2 years ownership to get a truck finally, and the car never had any real problems other than some routine maintenence and i'm sad to see her go, so Ivan if you read this...thanks!

BrabusBenz300E

Would you mind taking pictures of the placement of the screws and what kind you used? Also, I feel like a noob but what is VHB? Only ask cause I have one of these to install as well. Thanks so much

RBYCC

This is not my car, but a download from a thread that convinced me to purchase the replica.
It shows the approximate location of the screws.

I used # 8 x 1-1/8 washer head black screws, the type used for automotive trim.

They fastened into short speed nuts on the stock bumper.
Speed nut is the black spring steel clip with a hole in it.

VHB = "Very High Bond" which is a designation for a high tack, high strength double sided tape.
Comes in various specifications, but any auto supply should have the clear trim tape with the red liner in stock.



Suggest you remove the stock front bumper so you don't have to fight gravity.

Bumper comes off fairly quickly.
Remove the outside air temp sensor, slide it through the large hole.

One center nut accessible with the hood open, and on each side one side nut almost at the very end and two larger nuts almost directly under the headlight. These three are accessed from under the car.

Lay the bumper upside down and you'll see how the spoiler will fit snug into the groove below the bumper strip.
Drill your holes in the side flange as per the picture, install the speed nuts to the bumper, lay a strip of VHB right below the groove under the bumper strip, overlay your spoiler, install the screws and you're good to go.
Reverse the process to reinstall to the car

RBYCC

I had considered fog lights, but the passenger side install would have blocked my turbo intake/intercooler air duct.

You'd have to use a light no bigger then about 2" diameter

ZedStyle

my kit is on a truck right now, should be here in the next day or two i hope.
when you painted the lip and the bumper inserts, was there a big difference in color from the old pieces/side cladding? i know it's different from car-to-car since some are parked outside, have faded more, etc., but just wanted to get an idea. i don't want to re-paint all the cladding just to get it to match the new front/back/sideskirts...!

RBYCC

A friend of mine is a painter at a Chevy dealer , however he is restoring an older M3 and knows the W124's.

He shot a sample right out of the can and it matched as close as one could ask for.
Keep in mind it's not a gloss finish, more a matte or semi gloss which is advantageous.
Because the spoiler is under the bumper trim strip, it sits in a shadow, so even if you are slightly off it will not be noticeable.

BrabusBenz300E

thank you so much! Now I just have to wait for the gf to stop driving it...maybe when she goes home for christmas...or maybe I'll make her walk for a week so I can spend time with my real love