MB500

Just finished working on modifying my very basic 2007 GL450. Work done so far:

1. Added MB Running Boards (Part number: B6 688 0630 with my cost at $944 plus own labor)
2. Upgraded fog lights -- removed the round ones and retrofitted oval with chrome trim (found aftermarket oval lights on E-Bay for $120 with S&H. Chrome trim (part #: 164-885-1223) cost me $130)
3. Added chrome handle inserts (Part number B6 688 1237 with price of $68)
4. Added front and rear skid plates (part number for the front B6 688 0165 at $189 and part number for the rear is B6 688 0166 at $341)
5. Added chrome bumper plate 164-880-0211 at $208
6. Retrofitted navigation drive and antenna splitter ($600 in parts)
7. Added wooden steering wheel (caught one on E-Bay for $160. Could pass on it).

So far spend $2790 on all modifications even with counting a couple of rolls of 3M trim tape.

Some future modifications that I might consider:

1. Rear view camera (this is a MUST for the car of this size and this is definitely my next project).
2. Chrome roof rack
3. Chrome window sills (let me know if anyone wants to swap chrome ones for black. I know that some people really dislike chrome and prefer to have black. They are supper easy to remove and I will cover S&H)
4. Xenon lights
5. Possibly larger wheels (not quite sure about this one yet).

Let me know what you think so far.

QuadBenz

Very nice.

I think #2 and 5 are a must on your future mod list.

D2FORGED

Not off to a bad start! Sharp looking thus far!

StevethePilot

AWFULLY nice! The only thing I've never been in to is the running boards, though yours really do look nice. The backup camera's been on my list for a long time, too!

MomsBenz

How hard was it to change out the steering wheel? I would LOVE a wood one Is it heated too????

Brocktoon

You need chrome hood aerowings!

oknish

Very nice. MB500. Really great looking.

I may have to hook up with you when I am in Temecula since I want to get Running Boards and skid plates also.

How did you "retrofit" the nav? That must have been a feat to accomplish.

Newbie_2_MB

Exactly what I was going to say!!

MB500

It is very easy to swap your old steering wheel with a new one. There are basically five steps to it:

1. Disconnect the battery that is located under the passenger seat. It's enough to just disconnect the negative post.
2. There are two screws on the back of the steering wheel used to hold the airbag in place. You need to use a 'star' wrench size 30 to loosen those up and remove the airbag. Home depot sells a set of these 'star' wrenches for $4.99. It looks lie a Swiss army knife and has red color. This is the only one that Home Depot carries so you won't miss it.
3. Disconnect the airbag. There are two connectors that go into the airbag and you need to pull on them.
4. Once the airbag is removed you will see a big shiny bolt that is holding your steering wheel to the steering column. You will have to use 10mm. hex wrench to unscrew the bolt. I had to use a cheater pipe and apply all of my weight to get it moving. Once that bolt is out your steering wheel comes off.
5. Set the new steering wheel in place and put it all back together.

The whole project takes less than 15 minutes. Dealer will charge you $120 to do the job.

My steering wheel is not heated and I am not really sure if there is such option as a 'heated wooden steering wheel'.

MB500

Hum, never been a fan of those but I'll take a second look at them.

MB500

Hey, no problem. I can help with any of those projects. Installing running boards is very easy and shouldn't take more than 2 hours. The skid plates is a different story and would require taking the front bumper cover off. Not a big deal but be prepared.

Adding the navigation is probably the easiest project one could do. Your COMAND comes all pre-wired for it and all you need to add a separate MB navigation drive. Depending on your luck you can pick one of these from E-Bay for $500-$600 but some maybe even cheaper. The drive looks like a DVD ROM and simply plugs into your current COMAND unit.

Also, if you have Teleaid you need to add antenna splitter under the rear passenger seat right behind the driver's seat. If you don't have Teleaid then you don't even have to worry about. Everything should be just plug-and-play. You can PM me if you need more information on adding navigation to your GL.

StevethePilot

MB doesn't make a heated wooden steering wheel. Kind of a bad idea if anyone else does, IMHO - heating element plus wood often equals smoke, or certainly at least uneven heating and cooling that would lead to nasty cracking.

oknish

Thanks, MB. I have NAV but was curious. You will definitely hear from me when I am heading South of LA this summer

MomsBenz

Thanks! I am on the hunt for a ash gray wood steering wheel The GL550 we test drove had the heated wood, very nice! Thanks again!!!

Brocktoon

No, you must become a fan. They's da bomb on a black car.

mortenmol

I've been through some of the same!
Retro fitted:
Back-up camera and ipod kit (the ipod kit is now useless)
Skidplates front and rear
Chrome handle inserts
MB Running Boards
22 inch Brabus Monoblock IV
Brabus door pins
Kleemann Chip for the engine (420 cdi)
Amg / sport package pedals, really a must!

Now the comand from the 2009 model with HDD, DVD changer and bluetooth (incl. a new microphone for the bluetooth)

And that's about it, looking into the chrome for the windows and the chrome roof rails, since I already have the chrome rack.


But you should def. consider the Amg pedals!

LEOSOPHIE

Also illuminated door sills.

StevethePilot

+103!

MomsBenz

I agree, I really like the door sills.

MB500

The door sills would run me $384, which is not a bad deal after all. I'll look into them for sure.

MB500

I have been considering them for quite sometime. Did you get all three pedals, i.e. emergency brake pedal/brake pedal/gas pedal? I've seen someone selling them on E-bay but that person only offered two main ones. How much do they usually run?

StevethePilot

I got all three, forgot how much they cost but if I recall it was the same as the guy selling the two.

MB500

Would love to see a picture of your ride. It must look stunning with the Brabus wheels.

Regarding the new COMAND -- did you have to upgrade your audio gateway (AWG)? Or was this pretty much plug-and-play?

mortenmol

Mine is the euro version, I don't know how much of this aplies to the US:

I needed:
A bluetooth antenna for the bluetoothmodule
a new microphone for the bluetoothmodule
An double fakra adapter for the anntenna
A new comand unit

Rewiring of the antenna cable, that a part of it goes into the same plug as the microphone
And a new programming to get the Back-up camera to work

I bought all of my cables here: http://www.kabeldaviko.de/index.html

StevethePilot

Ha! That sounds like a made-up part! Or something you'd find accidentally in a curry!