Seattle R63 Build/ Photo Thread
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Thanks guys. The carbon areas area glossy and can be slippery- but I find that my hands naturally get warmer and perspire a little when driving that still retains grip with the wheel. One handed palming to do maneuvers and tight parking turns is absolutely no problem with this wheel. Also the added sport bumps make it easier to use as well.
But I would say for super aggressive driving/ track driving then an all leather or alcantara wheel will serve you better. But I want a nice mix of visual candy and performance so this is a nice compromise.
But I would say for super aggressive driving/ track driving then an all leather or alcantara wheel will serve you better. But I want a nice mix of visual candy and performance so this is a nice compromise.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,393
Likes: 11
From: Pasadena
2004 E55
Awesome build! You've done a lot in such a short amount of time.
A leather dash would definitely look great in your car!
My dash was made in Stuttgart only after MBenzNL was able to find the right parts to get wrapped. It took me a few years to get from the time that MBenzNL showed me the craftsmanship and possibility due to the logistics and difficulty of obtaining such parts, but the wait was definitely worth it. The quality of work that MBenzNL chooses is always the best.
MBenzNL is definitely the way to go for OEM type mods.
I see you've already purchased a few things from him so you are already familiar with his work. He is the best to get pricing information from regarding the dash or other parts. I don't want to give you a price that may not be valid for an R63 so he is always the best to ask for pricing information. His sister is pretty responsive.
Keep up the mods. I enjoy this thread.
A leather dash would definitely look great in your car!
My dash was made in Stuttgart only after MBenzNL was able to find the right parts to get wrapped. It took me a few years to get from the time that MBenzNL showed me the craftsmanship and possibility due to the logistics and difficulty of obtaining such parts, but the wait was definitely worth it. The quality of work that MBenzNL chooses is always the best. MBenzNL is definitely the way to go for OEM type mods.
I see you've already purchased a few things from him so you are already familiar with his work. He is the best to get pricing information from regarding the dash or other parts. I don't want to give you a price that may not be valid for an R63 so he is always the best to ask for pricing information. His sister is pretty responsive.
Keep up the mods. I enjoy this thread.
Last edited by t-bone; Jan 10, 2013 at 11:48 PM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Contact Ivan at DCTMS and he'll help you out. He's got plenty of stuff for the W204.
Thanks t-bone. That's my dream one day, to have a car with leather everywhere.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
For the most part it's complete. I've got other projects I'd like to do on the car, but I'm still looking for the right people/ shops to work on it. I'd still like to do the CF diffuser (one off), paint the brake calipers, alcantara headliner, alcantara door panel inserts, black painted headlight housings, and maybe spacers but no one in the Seattle area is either experienced with this, they charge too much, or I'm just not happy with the work provided.
@TruTaing you've got a real clean looking C. I love the CLS rims on there. Would be cool to do a MBWorld meet up some time!
@TruTaing you've got a real clean looking C. I love the CLS rims on there. Would be cool to do a MBWorld meet up some time!
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 975
Likes: 52
From: Metro Detroit
2014 C63 AMG 507 sedan
You've done a great job on the R63. I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the R-class until I started following your build thread. It's definitely come a long way since you first purchased it.
Do you do most of the work yourself or do you have a shop you trust to do it?
Also, if you're interested in coloring your calipers, ACG has a trade program where they send you painted calipers of your choice, and exchange it for yours for minimal to no downtime. I'm considering doing it for spring.
It seems like we have a good amount of people in the PNW, too bad the local sub-forum isn't very active.
Do you do most of the work yourself or do you have a shop you trust to do it?
Also, if you're interested in coloring your calipers, ACG has a trade program where they send you painted calipers of your choice, and exchange it for yours for minimal to no downtime. I'm considering doing it for spring.
It seems like we have a good amount of people in the PNW, too bad the local sub-forum isn't very active.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Hey Thrilla,
A lot of work done here is a mix. Some of it I do myself, some MB of Seattle, and some is an independent shop that I really trust.
I haven't heard of the ACG program until you mentioned it (then did a quick Google search) and it does seem interesting. The thing that I always ask is, "how's the quality of the finish?" So perhaps I'll let you do it first and I can see them in person!
Seattle's got some car geeks but our market is so small when compared to Vancouver or the Bay Area (or Southern California) that there's hardly any shops that do these sorts of things. I really need someone else to be the guinea pig first for mods.
A lot of work done here is a mix. Some of it I do myself, some MB of Seattle, and some is an independent shop that I really trust.
I haven't heard of the ACG program until you mentioned it (then did a quick Google search) and it does seem interesting. The thing that I always ask is, "how's the quality of the finish?" So perhaps I'll let you do it first and I can see them in person!
Seattle's got some car geeks but our market is so small when compared to Vancouver or the Bay Area (or Southern California) that there's hardly any shops that do these sorts of things. I really need someone else to be the guinea pig first for mods.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
My AMG 19" Rims and Tires for sale: https://mbworld.org/forums/wheels-ti...ml#post5522365
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 975
Likes: 52
From: Metro Detroit
2014 C63 AMG 507 sedan
There's a couple of C63's who's had it done, and pictures seem good. My reluctance is similar to yours, I want the quality to be on par with OEM and not fade after a few years. Second, my car is barely a year old, and don't want to exchange my calipers for one that could be a few years older. Third, I can't decide on a color I like better than the stock gray.
I'm going to contact them in March to get more details. I'll let you know what I find out then.
I'm going to contact them in March to get more details. I'll let you know what I find out then.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
C63 AMG
Spent lots of love and hard work. lol
xxGenericSNxx your cars looking good man
Checking up on this thread every now and then.
Cars looking classy and sharp.
Keep up the good work!
Last edited by wasted; Feb 12, 2013 at 02:23 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
Thanks all for your comments. The only updates I have is that the rear badges have been driving me crazy. When I bought the car, they were reinstalled in the wrong location when the previous owner(s) had the trunk repainted. I told the body shop to remove and install back into the factory location but they simply based their install on pictures from online. Of course by coincidence they just happened to find a picture of MY car from this thread and basically put the emblems back into the incorrect position.
This was quite a few months ago but I finally found some time, along with the help of a fellow forum member siuwan who provided me with the measurements to place it back in the factory correct location.
Here was the chart I made to get all the badges put into the right place:
You can refer to this thread if you need to do this for yourself: https://mbworld.org/forums/r-class-w...-location.html
First I debadged the R63. Looks like a poser with just AMG on the right side:
The mockup:
Some tape guidelines:
And finished:
Note "AMG" in this photo is slightly off, but wasn't as bad as the R63. It was maybe 1/2 cm too far down and 1/2 cm too far to the left. It bugged me enough to redo that as well.
I even made a cardboard template before I removed the AMG badge to make sure the spacing between each character is correct.
And done!
This was quite a few months ago but I finally found some time, along with the help of a fellow forum member siuwan who provided me with the measurements to place it back in the factory correct location.
Here was the chart I made to get all the badges put into the right place:
You can refer to this thread if you need to do this for yourself: https://mbworld.org/forums/r-class-w...-location.html
First I debadged the R63. Looks like a poser with just AMG on the right side:
The mockup:
Some tape guidelines:
And finished:
Note "AMG" in this photo is slightly off, but wasn't as bad as the R63. It was maybe 1/2 cm too far down and 1/2 cm too far to the left. It bugged me enough to redo that as well.
I even made a cardboard template before I removed the AMG badge to make sure the spacing between each character is correct.
And done!
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 28
From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
**I noticed that the forum automatically downsizes the Photobucket photos now and you have to manually click each image in order to view it in its full size. Does anyone know how to fix this so that the images on the thread open up in its full size to begin with? This is driving me nuts because I know how much of a hassle it is to click on each image and I feel that it ruins the effect of posting so many photos now.**
I'm trying my hand at automotive rig photography now. Here's one shot on the R:
Then this evening I went down to the park and did a quick photoshoot:
Evil night shot:
I'm trying my hand at automotive rig photography now. Here's one shot on the R:
Then this evening I went down to the park and did a quick photoshoot:
Evil night shot:
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hong Kong, China
R300L
Awesome build. I love how you did the fine details of your car and the time and effort that is needed also. My 2012 R300 just arrived into HK 2 weeks ago 
and this thread keeps me inspired to do some modifications on the R also!
Keep up the great build!!!
Jon
and this thread keeps me inspired to do some modifications on the R also! Keep up the great build!!!
Jon
