2mAns Daily Driver Thread - who knows what it is today...

[Cptcarisma]

2Man,
Too funny/Ironic! I'm thinking of getting into this same exact make/model of Benz! lol
My current daily is a 2004 BMW 330ci & I'm thinking 2008-09 Benz C350. I need to read up on maintenance for this car. I'm looking to stay under 15K..
Any words of wisdom?
CAPP :-)

[2mAn]

That's funny, I'm in the same boat. The only MBZ cars that ever appealed to me are old wagon's, cosworth 190E's and this exact model. I've never even known what it's called but whenever I pass one on the freeway, I think "that's the only newish Mercedes that I like". This is just aesthetically speaking though, I've never actually driven one.

A diesel would be sweet, it's too bad we don't get more of them in the US. I was just in Switzerland/Italy for the past two weeks and was admiring the huge variety of diesel cars they get there.

Great minds think alike. My brother already has a gray market 190e-16v, so that's already in the family and we've both owned several German diesels in the past but the selection of newer ones is lacking. I like the smaller cars so I didn't want an E-class but that's the only diesel sedan they offer here. I like the 250 diesel they offer though. A twin turbo 4 cylinder diesel? Yes, please. I dream about swapping that into this car but then I laugh myself back into reality at the thought of doing such a swap.

Besides these 350 motors are pretty bulletproof from what I've seen. I don't know the engine codes besides the M154, I think, but I really like the AMG 6.3 too.

This car has been great and I just picked up some h&r lowering springs yesterday to pair with the C63 struts and shocks. No
Pics of the springs but here's everything I got from the C63



It hasn't been all fun though, about a month ago I couldn't get the car to start even though everything seemed fine the hour prior when I had driven it. It wasn't turning over or anything. Turns out there's a known problem with the electronic steering lock. Luckily I have a friend of a friend who's a Benz tech at an Indy and got it repaired for less than half of what a dealership charges.

It still wasn't cheap but when you see what is involved in the repair it makes sense.... well everything except the whole reason of requiring the repair but I digress.

Here's the pics the tech sent me



Yes that's the steering column removed from my car



There's the trouble maker





Anyways now that that's out of the way I should have some cool updates coming up with the goodies I just bought

[CubbyChowder]

That's funny, I'm in the same boat. The only MBZ cars that ever appealed to me are old wagon's, cosworth 190E's and this exact model. I've never even known what it's called but whenever I pass one on the freeway, I think "that's the only newish Mercedes that I like". This is just aesthetically speaking though, I've never actually driven one.

A diesel would be sweet, it's too bad we don't get more of them in the US. I was just in Switzerland/Italy for the past two weeks and was admiring the huge variety of diesel cars they get there.

[2mAn]

thanks guys, Im the same way about Benz cars. Ive liked the way these looked and when it drove nice too I was sold. It was also a way for me to "save myself from myself" by not having a car that has a huge aftermarket. This one is also a "sport" equipped model with a bunch of different packages, including the 18" AMG wheels so the urge to "improve" things wasnt huge. This car, like every car out there, needs a drop though

I really wanted a diesel Benz to daily, but couldnt find anything good. Im happy with this car overall

[Northern]

I've liked the look of these since they came out. Never really been a Benz guy otherwise (alright, maybe for really old stuff, wagons, or 190e cosworth + trims)

[JeLani]

So you do have an insta? I've looked for you on there without any luck haha


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[sonomabimmers]

sub'd

[2mAn]

I've had this car for a year now and Im thinking I might actually keep it. Bought it last year when my E30 was in limbo and I had actually been thinking about getting something else to daily to take LA's abuse. I had already put 36k miles in the 18 months in LA and though it wasnt too bad daily driving the car there were some very clear shortfalls. Thats another story, this is about the Benz.

I dont have the original pics on my phone anymore, so you get a screenshot from my instagram.



So, why this thing? Well, I knew if I bought a BMW, it would get a long list of mods and thats really not something I wanted to do. The day I bought this car, I actually started the day test driving a 128i M-sport, 6 speed car. It was nice, but too expensive for what it was. It also wasnt very exciting. This began a long, frustrating day of driving a few other cars and visiting a few different dealerships. Drove the 128i, a 535i, C250 coupe and eventually after venting to the MB dealership sales dude, he suggested giving the C350 a try. I had driven all the cars on the same route and each one felt too disconnected between me and the road. He suggested I try this one, and it felt different. Long story short, I negotiated to the price I wanted and bought the car that day.

I immediately took the front plate and frame off, removed all the stupid warning labels, dealership plate frame. Sprayed the amber blinkers with some silver paint I had to clean up the headlights and that was it. Just a few simple things...Until recently. Ive had an itch to modify it more. I bought a Magnaflow x-pipe a while ago from a r3v member and have been sitting on it. More than that though, Ive really wanted to lower it. I wanted to do it without modifying the suspension, but there really was no guaranteed way to get the front lower. The rear was easy because MB has multiple thickness rear spring pads, but the front doesn't offer such a simple solution.



Add to that, boredom at work and craigslist surfing and I came upon some spacers. ohh $20, no problem. Then I bought the extended lugs. And then I found another set of spacers and extended lugs. Cars looking better now, and I am definitely going to lower the car. I wheeled and dealed a supersprint x-pipe from a C63 to get a full C63 AMG suspension that only has 7k miles on it, plus some cash that I will use to buy H&R springs for the C350. I will be getting this all installed soon along with the x-pipe.

Here are some before and after shots:

Front setup











And the rear











I hope to have the car lowered here in the next few weeks and will get some more before and after pics.