SL4Life

Shout out to my boys Crescent, Phil & Jeremy over at Executive Auto Body for taking on this project and doing an amazing job!


*This is a cosmetic conversion using oem and aftermarket parts. ENJOY!!!

So here we go: I started with an '03 SL500 w/ decent mileage for its age (75,xxx) that was hit in the front but had very minor structural damage (spent a couple hours on the frame machine), I picked it up from Capitol one motors in Cali.









After a 6hr drive to Queens, NY and back to Philly; and $4,500 dollars later the body parts are here!
(Front bumper w/ 2013 style daytime running leds, Rear bumper w/ diffuser, fenders w/ side inserts, side skirts and hood!):





Ok step 1, the teardown:


Next up, Phil and Crescent dry fit the parts to see what we got:










Somethings a little off, frame machine here we come:






2013 style chrome tips are in. Let's do a dry run:





I like I like...

Ok all finished on the frame machine and lights and grill are here, let's fit it back up...





Not bad! (Grill is in place but not attached)

Close up of the Drl's:


New Led taillights and clear 3rd brake light are on:


Time to brake it back down and send parts to paint. New cooling system: air ducts, hoses, cooling fans, condenser, radiator etc. are installed and topped off w/coolant. Also, an upper control arm was replaced, front bumper reinforcement and facelift headlight brackets:


Now while I wait for parts to come back from paint I'll get some miscellaneous items together; mainly rims & tires.

Hankook 265/30/20's & 295/25/20's

Rims have arrived: 20x8.5 /1.5 Lip F - 20x10 /3.5 Lip R




New style Led mirrors are installed.


Parts are painted and undergoing one last quality assurance inspection by Crescent before they are reinstalled.

fledda

Nice. Where did you get the exhaust tips?

SL4Life

Thanks. There are two vendors that sell the tips on eBay. Type 'amg exhaust tips' in the search bar and scroll till you see them. Goodluck...

SL4Life

Updated with more pics...

-reg-

loving this, especially that front bumper. First one like that ive seen. Cant wait to see some finished pics with the DRL's on. A question i always wondered about these facelift kits is that that come with new side skirts, is it not possible to just use the original ones?

SL4Life

Thanks for the compliment. The difference in price to upgrade to that bumper was a $1k but for me it was a must have, daytime running Leds are coming on most new cars nowadays so if I'm updating I'm going all the way! Re: the side skirts, if your car is an amg or equipped with the sports package then it will have the amg side skirts so in that case you won't have to change them. The amg side skirts are sought of flared to continue the lines between the front & rear bumper. The non amg side skirts are basically flat so they wouldn't match up. For the price of changing the side skirts I don't think you want to mix & match.

SL4Life

Continued...

Excuse the dust, New SL63 hood, fenders and rocker panels (side skirts) are on. Jeremy shows off how well the parts fit...




Next, Chris 'the painter' shows off his paint skills with the diffuser (painted satin black) and custom front bumper ready to go!









Drilled PowerSport rotors & Posi-quiet brake pads have arrived.


Stay tuned (literally)! ...Lol

-reg-

thanks for the info, didnt realise there was a difference between amg and non-amg skirts. Updated pics look really good, keep them coming

SL4Life

Thanks. Are you considering a conversion or amg bodykit? I'm assuming you have a SL, what year is it?

-reg-

Yes im really looking into the facelift conversion. i have a 2004 SL55 amg which i have already done the rear sl63 bumper upgrade but want the front done aswell to go with the rear. I think i will most likey go with the prior design (non wide body) kit. Are you allowed to say which kit yours is? The only thing im not sure about is the headlight wiring

SL4Life

I'm not sure so I'll pm the info to you. I bought the connectors for the newer lights from the dealer and the electrical tech will reroute the pin configuration. I will ask if he can document the process. What material are prior designs products?

desired_speeds

Project looks great, can't wait to see the finished product! I thought everything was OEM until I realized that R230 sl63 don't come with LED running lights.

SL4Life

Thanks. The LED drl's is the only reason I didn't go oem!

-reg-

Thanks that would be very helpful, the prior design ones are made from dura-flex FRP. Is that the same for yours?

SL4Life

Yea im pretty sure that fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) is just a fancy name for fiberglass. I used to look down on fiberglass until I found out that my 24' Bayliner and most racing boats are made from fiberglass. So I guess like any other material, there are different grades and quality.

sgaar

My only question is 'why'? After all the work it is still a 500 no matter how many hoods and fenders you change. Also, personally - and I am sure other feel the same way - i would NEVER buy a car that has been modified with body kits, which essentially this is.

SL4Life

Restoring cars is a hobby of mine. I intentionally bought a car that was hit in the front so I can fix it the way I want which in this case is the sl63 style. Some people are into bodykits and some aren't. You obviously are not, and I am. I modify cars because that's what I like. Resale value means nothing to me, I have an 18yr old son so when I'm tired of playing with it I'll give it to him. Re: it being a 500, 300 horses is plenty for me! I'm 39 and don't intend on racing it. If I need to go faster, my "modified" 335i is pushing close to 460whp. So to answer your question why? Because I can! Thanks for weighing in. :-)

sgaar

I can respect that. I wish you luck!

heylifeisshort

Ah, a fellow 335'er. I will say even with the crazy HP that my tuned 600 puts out, it's hard to beat my tuned 335xi putting power to all 4 wheels. But the cars are a near perfect compliment together.

SL4Life

Yes yes yes I agree! I call it the best of both worlds!

-reg-

we need updates lol

SL4Life

Well -Reg- My friend. The shop has been waiting on a super-tech (that even Mercedes dealerships use) to come in and wire the lights and also to see why the car all of a sudden isn't starting (engine turns but is not getting fuel) so hopefully it's nothing major. Since my last post: the taillights, clear brake light, mirror covers w/ courtesy lights are all wired up and the inside of the trunk is all back together. The painted back bumper & diffuser are installed and the old oval muffler tips are cut off to make room for the new Quad tips.

A fellow forum member 'Raffi' that also did the conversion pointed me in the right direction where I was able to get photos of a new pin configuration using oem connectors for the new lights, so the shop has the new connectors and will attempt to reconfigure the pins this week. Hopefully these pics should also help other members in the future when doing a conversion.

Old & New pin configuration:

*P.S. Don't be alarmed that there are two Brown wires and two white wires w/ black stripes. I am told that the size of the pins will let you know where they go.

Painted back bumper & diffuser installed:

-reg-

Thanks so much that picture is exactly something i was looking for.

When you say:
did you mean BLACK and White?

thanks

SL4Life

Your welcome. There are two Brown wires and there are two white wires with black stripes.

SL4Life

I did edit the caption for clarification. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.