Panda Build Thread
 

Picked up our GL550 this weekend after a long crazy journey to get there with multiple flight delays, re-routes, stranded in Houston, and lost luggage. We had 2hrs of sleep from Fri 8am to Sat 11am when we finally reached the dealer. Then on the drive home notice a few things once home late Sunday, and then dropped it off the next morning for service. Very irksome, but least under warranty so its all good.

It took us 2-3mth to locate one with the right options and colors. Key options:
- Calcite White with Auburn Brown interior
- Distronic
- Surround View
- Pano
- ACTIVE CURVE (sooooo hard to locate)

Lots planned to make it different and a little quicker. We had a deal on a ML63 but that dealer just seemed to refuse to want to sell a car. Never had a dealership try all they could to not sell a car.

Quick list of plans:
- Downpipes, remove resonator, and tune (DONE)
- Black out chrome window trim, grill and front/rear lower chrome bumper trim (DONE)
- Wrap the interior in gloss black (DONE)
- AMG pedals, rear difusser and exhaust tips (DONE)
- Lock pins (DONE)
- Lowered with black 22" AMG reps (just can't find a good wheel I like over the AMG style and don't want my girl messing up the OE $$$ wheels) (DONE)
- LED interior bulbs (DONE)
- LED brake bulb swap (DONE)
- Add 12" sub/amp (DONE)
- LED DRL upgrade to style like GLS (hope I can pull this off using the stock headlights) (STILL TO COME)
- Projector lens swap and upgraded bulbs (BULBS SWAPPED LENSES STILL TO COME)
- Red brake calipers (STILL TO COME)

I will document as best I can each mod here as I do it. I would like to be able to really give good before/after and some good helpful hints with pics as needed.

For now the one pic before taking delivery and a few other random pics of items I got for the car.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7d70f07e0a.jpg

Door Lock Pins
 

Purchased from eBay about $35. Easy to remove, just used a rag to protect the crap plastic ones and a wrench to twist them off. They are damn long and take more effort than they should to remove. I just got plain silver ones made of metal and they look great, esp when locked as they are flush with the trim since they are shorter.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7714011f3c.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...001ca3c377.jpg

Ugly stock plastic!!!

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...641fe4285e.jpg

Much shorter.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...20ce165902.jpg

Unlocked.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d56925d099.jpg

Locked, nice and smooth.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c2d8e4121c.jpg

Because I Like Things to Match
 

I like things to match so I got a headphone case ($18 Amazon) to match the Auburn Brown color and bag ($24 Amazon) for my gf to keep in the back for all her crap.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...bcfaa9d9da.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...0ba2d0a58d.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...e6aedb5f4f.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...e7de65c625.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b9a92a2734.jpg

AMG Pedal Install
 

Horrible this $$$ SUV with AMG appearance lacks good pedals. Oh well not to much to swap out ($60 eBay) and about 5min.

New pedals.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...7d32b9c7ce.jpg


Ugly old pedals.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9148b9ddf0.jpg


Brake pedal cover will just need to be peeled off. Gas pedal will fit over existing cover. Both are tough to get on to a point, due to the rubber surround of the new pedal but takes just a few minutes.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...aba6614926.jpg

All done and much improved.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d0361fc1ea.jpg

Tablet Headrest Mount
 

Didn't want a "dated" rear entertainment system as kid is usually glued to his iPad so we got this mount ($22 Amazon) and some Sony bluetooth headphones to go in the headphone case.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...468f79b35e.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...046adf4d2a.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...256c2d605e.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...f5161161b1.jpg

....
mine is pretty identical to the one you picked up, but with the black Deisgno interior...almost got the brown Designo but it was purchased the next morning after I visited the dealer.

I too plan on very similar 'upgrades', having done the door pins, pedals, front tint... searching for wheels myself and saving for the exhaust/tune.
I was wondering if you could share a link with more details on the 'Projector lens swap and upgraded bulbs' you mention above...

thanks for sharing,

Congrats on the new ride! I know the fly in drive out experience all to well.

Sounds like some fun adds...love the idea of changing out the locking pins and adding the AMG pedals.

We are similarly equipped. Did your build include the off road package option as well?

The lens and bulb swap will be using ZKW-R lenses and Osram CBH bulbs. I used the lens in my E55 and loved the. I am using the CBH for the first time as I used the CBI on my E55. On a quick test fit of the CBH I honestly didn't see much of a diff in the color and brightness. However I didn't really properly seat the bulb in the housing so that might have something to do. Some links to the items and a video comparison stock D1S bulbs to the CBH.

Once I start the project I will get detailed pics and steps. I had active headlights on my E55 and it wasn't too hard to swap out the lens, so I am hoping the same holds true for the GL.

Bulbs $225:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/bu...66144-cbh.html

Lens $40:
https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...ses/zkw-r.html

Stock vs CBH:

Stock vs CBI vs CBH:

Don't have off road as finding both off road and active curve we only ran across 1 in the price range we were looking and even then it had tan interior. We wanted Auburn Brown or Black, Designo or not I didn't really care.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...558c6fdeaa.jpg
2018 black star emblem straight from the factory in Vance,AL.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...84b4e832d3.jpgBefore
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...45e2a0b0a2.jpgAfter
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...a69f9ed847.jpgAfter
Black vinyl wrapped chrome trim

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...410d6aceb8.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...2585c55e9f.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...b9dde08f2d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...1e68c0045a.jpg

Gloss black wrapped front grill

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...f94e98c998.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...cd618ca474.jpg

Gloss black wrapped the lower chrome liphttps://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...380355c12e.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...624032d688.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...5cba5ea8dc.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...1e1001d401.jpg


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4840616566.jpgBefore chrom lower trim
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...9bc8e8c356.jpgAfter gloss black wrap
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...52880fee69.jpg

2nd pic shows
gloss black window trim
lowered on links
front windows tinted
removed chrome door handle trim


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...37b9eb5039.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...554a7edb20.jpg

I'm keen to have the window de-chrome, front grille slats wrap, bumper trim wrap and interior wrap like you did, on my GL63, looks so much nicer for my personal preference.

Did you see them do the front grille slats, do they need to pull the whole grille out, I have the radar cruise and read somewhere it needs to be re-calibrated after refit so Im concerned about having the extra cost of that after having a wrap done on the front grille?

Also, did you watch them do the bumper trims, do the bumpers have to come off or can they remove the trims separately to wrap and refit?

The work will be done by a professional company but I want to know whats required before I hand over the keys.

Thanks and nice ride :y

Ok .. so OP obviously doesn't like the chrome. Blacked out grill in front. Blacked out chrome in doors. Blacked out wooden dash ... but alas, replaced the existing black door knobs things with silver ones :nix:

Or I prefer that the door pins not be cheap plastic and the new silver metal door pins to match the rest of the silver trim inside. You know so it matches. Also the wood to black, I prefer non wood but felt silver would be too much. Black will blend in better with the dash. Oh and it matches since wood doesn't match anything inside or outside.

Also as seeing as how the rear chrome cargo strip along the top of the bumper and the chrome trim along the rear hatch are still there I would say chrome as it's place.

Just feel it ties the car together when it matches better. Enjoy your taste and I will enjoy mine.

black06c230 did you see my post about the removal of various parts for the wrapping process?

Thanks

Carl

i did but wanted to reply more in detail when I had time. I will do so tonight when I update with more updates to the car.

Don't forget to get rid of the blue center wheel caps.

Do they sell those at close to the OEM length? I'm old school, I feel like I need to always have access to unlocking the doors manually.

Got jokes huh?!?

FYI they will be replaced by Friday when my BLACK 22s come in but center caps will be black and red.

That I'm not sure of but told the new GLS has silver pins so that should be an option and likely the same length that you are looking for. I may ask my friend who sourced me the new black hood emblem to hook me up.

It's great being close to the factory and having friends who work there who can tear the care down so easily too.

I will update tomorrow late on the vinyl wrap of the grill and any other ?s on the vinyl.

In the meantime a sneak peak of what delayed me tonight​​​​​​​

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...269403b736.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...4e9afa57f5.jpg