You're Bored and Want to customize the cosmetics of the benz just a little.... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Ashman · #1 09-06-2001, 03:54 AM

I myself, have already decided on some and begun the last few days...

I already painted the trunkstar gloss black, it now blends into the car and looks great, Put red bulbs in the rear indicators, and changed the front indicators for yellow bulbs.

I plan on now Painting the Valve cover and Air Cleaner Assembly blue, I bought the paint already for it, should come out looking cool, and I also plan on painting the Brake calipers to match the Valve cover and Air Cleaner Assembly. I will also do some other minor items around the engine compartment to compliment the rest of the blue. I'll be painting the Exhaust headers aluminum or black, and various other items. It should come out looking really cool.

Later I will add stainless steel braided covers over the radiator hoses and other hoses in the engine with end pieces to really give it that cool look. I always liked those covers for the hoses.

I will also be painting the chrome grille surround gloss black, and the headlight pieces below the wipers as they are pitted, I'm going to sand them and prime them and paint them. It should come out looking good. I'll finish off the gloss black with high gloss clearcoat. I figure if I screw it up, I can always take it to my bodyshop for a sanding and repainting by a pro.... for a little cash or buy a new surround..

I plan on doing this all myself. The gloss black might not match the paint perfectly, but its a pretty good match, the trunk star looks great.

I also plan on wrapping my seatbelt arms with aluminum so the belt does not keep cutting the belt loop on the arms. I'll paint that black and clear coat it as well.

another item of business will be to stretch color matched speaker cloth over the first aid kit box to cover my subwoofer port hole.

I am also going to be doing my after summer complete detail. Soon.

Later I will do a body kit.

What are you guys planning on doing for cosmetic mods to your cars?

G-Benz · #2 09-06-2001, 10:07 AM

Money's tight right now, so all I can do whenever a bit of cash comes my way, is to do repairs! The cars, house, and family pretty much require maintenance all of the time, so not much left after that.

When things improve, planned mods will be modest. I will paint the brake calipers on the 300E red, to match the paint, and also powdercoat the headlight wiper arms red as well. When I bought the car, someone thought to "dress up" the engine compartment by spray-painting the valve cover silver. Looks cheap, and has flaked off in places, so either it will get powdercoated or polished. Long term, is to give it the full "Sportline" treatment.

My wife doesn't like me messing with her SL, but her headlight wipers will get painted white, like the rest of the car. Might get some zebrawood kits for her console and doors. Would love to do the "MBenz" treatment, but I owe too much on it right now.

Pretty happy with the ML as it stands, (zebrawood kits look cheap for the ML), but it will get foglights and a sunroof deflector. I want to put a media system in it as well, since it's our vacation vehicle.

The ole' VW needs mucho attention, and I can't decide if I should just get it running and driveable, or tear it down and restore it to custom show competition mode. It always did well in shows, but never could attract any magazine attention. This time around, I want it nice enough to grace the cover of Hot VWs and VW Trends.

I am adding up the cost of all of these mods as I write this...the wife might protesteth to much!!!

BTW, I went the chrome-plating-and-braided-hose route on the VW engine, and it looks like a million balloons (got lots of "Best Engine" trophies for it)!!! Just expect your underhood temperatures to go up with every shiny piece that is added. I can't even check the oil dipstick anymore without a shop rag!!!

MBenzNL · #3 09-09-2001, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by G-Benz
Would love to do the "MBenz" treatment, but I owe too much on it right now.

LOL...the MBenz-treatment...Whenever you are up to this conversion, let me know. I might be able to get you a model 95 bumper set including the model 95 lower exterior body panels for a reasonable price.

I haven't planned any cosmetic upgrades (besides washing the C250D next weekend), but I have figured out a couple of things to do to kill the time I barely have:

C250D:
* Recently added the last part I needed for the adjustable steering column in my C250D.
* I got a new electrical foldable driver's side mirror and mounted it yesterday on my C250D (I already had the wiring and switch) and now I only need new style mirror caps and the passenger side electrical foldable mirror.
* Took apart an old style C class dash cluster yesterday and took out the connectors at the back of the base plate. I will solder these connectors to a part of the new style wire harness I have and try to get the new style C36 AMG dash cluster in my 93 C250D in the hope that I get it to function well.

300SL:
* I have a newer type steering wheel with airbag unit and airbag ring to install.
* I have a newer type climate control display that I will try to get in the 90 300SL with airco only (don't know if this will succeed).
* I got the new style exterior body panels for the doors and rear fenders lying around waiting to get painted and installed.
* I got the model 99 taillight lenses that wait for 99 side mirrors before mounting these can start.
* I have a newer style dash cluster coming up (digital odometer instead of analog odometer display).
* I need to get in the new center arm rest/compartment box lid that I already have.
* I am looking for a new style 6 horizontal bars grill and new style interior (but am not in a hurry).

Lots of things to do...but a terrible lack of time!

greetingz,

BENZ-LGB · #4 09-09-2001, 10:45 AM

...till all four kids are through with college and grad school all my Benz will get is gasoline and regularly scheduled maintenance.

Kuan · #5 09-09-2001, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MBenz

I haven't planned any cosmetic upgrades (besides washing the C250D next weekend), but I have figured out a couple of things to do to kill the time I barely have:

Did anyone catch that? He's going to wash his car. Do you remember how to do that MBenz?

Kuan

-fad · #6 09-10-2001, 11:40 AM

...curious, ashman

where did painting "blue" motive come from?

is it an L.A. thing? or maybe the MB racing team motors are in blue?

-fad

MBenzNL · #7 09-10-2001, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kuan
Did anyone catch that? He's going to wash his car. Do you remember how to do that MBenz?

dunno, for now it is just planned due to a possible German W202 get-together next Saturday but after I got my working-schedule for this week, I don't know whether the car gets washed and whether I will join the gtg at all...I will be short in time and days again!

greetingz,

Ashman · #8 09-10-2001, 08:24 PM

I like the color blue its one of my favorites.

Its a good cool color.

My jeep was blue, my first car was blue, my boat is creme and blue.

Now my benz is black with blue metallic flake in the paint.

I would have gone red, but i have seen an MB engine with red, so I opted for blue because I like how black and blue looks.

Alon

-fad · #9 09-11-2001, 02:25 PM

ohhh

-fad

MBenzNL · #10 10-09-2001, 05:23 PM

I did actually wash my car back then...unfortunately it is completely dirty now again...waste of time

!

Here are some pics to proove that the car was clean...due to the extreme bad and wet wheater we were only with 4 C-classes...2 Dutch and 2 German cars.

[img]http://communities.msn.nl/_Secure/0KwDBGaQOPzmajfJOuy!OHQu3p6I9KowHg0q*cX*TBJY0QbaUWGMMraGejkUnnV1gLzriFnfUc7g/bochum3.jpg[/img]

[img]http://communities.msn.nl/_Secure/0KwAvQqgOyzmajfJOuy!OHRAorf8v4JZ2ULt0MRj7p9abRT7LBmhr3Assk*Db8xtcUzNnpB1!fP4/bochum7.jpg[/img]

greetingz,

#11 03-08-2002, 07:50 PM

I thought I'd breathe a little 'new life' into this thread. Ashman mentioned doing some painting under the hood (air box and valve covers)... what type of paint works best for this? I saw your pictures on your web site and I do like the look (I won't copy you and do blue though

).

Any helpful hints on doing this?

TIA--

300EVIL · #12 03-08-2002, 11:38 PM

Powder coating works and lasts the best. Thats what i used on my engine.
Good luck,
Adam

#13 03-09-2002, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CafcoTX
I thought I'd breathe a little 'new life' into this thread. Ashman mentioned doing some painting under the hood (air box and valve covers)... what type of paint works best for this? I saw your pictures on your web site and I do like the look (I won't copy you and do blue though ).

Any helpful hints on doing this?

TIA--

For paint try www.g2usa.com

I have painted my brake calipers with their caliper paint system.

#14 03-09-2002, 01:19 AM

I am changing the OEM Leather Steering Wheel on my E420 for a Burlwood / Leather one that I ordered from Germany.

Does anybody knows how much it will cost me to have it replaced by a MB tech ? I am looking to get a fare rate for this job.

Nice pictures MBenz !

Ashman · #15 03-09-2002, 12:50 PM

its not too hard, and shouldn't take more than an hour to change the wheel. I could do it in about 20 minutes.

All I did when I changed mine was disconnect the battery, disconnect the airbag under the carpet hookup for it, and then I removed the airbag, two screws in the back, I believe they are torx bits, not sure on exact size.

I then used a breaker bar to break loose the steering wheel securing bolt, which I believe is an allen wrench, and it popped off easily.

Put on the new wheel, and put it all back together.

Its not too difficult at all, and should nto take too long.

If the person doing it charges by the hour, I would expect you to pay whatever their hourly rate is.

Alon