Some of you might be aware that I am on a quest to find nearly new E220CDI Elegance in Blue with DARK interior. SO far the only Tansanite Blue, Dark leathered E220s I can find have been Avantagardes. Two problems. 1- I hate the dark Bird's eye maple black wood trim in the avantgarde. 2- I have to drive down a country lane regularly and the last time a friend of mine came down the lane in his avangared fully loaded with kids and bags the underboody was scraping horse dung off the lane!! So my question is How easy is it to adjust/raise the Avantgarde suspension to the same height as an Elegance. Also does anyone know how easy is to change the wood trim (on the dash and doors) in the avantagarde to walnut or sapeli brown trim. (I don't like the dark wood effect you see, but if its easy enough to buy new inserts then worth a thought...in my case personally anyway!! Any thoughts/ideas/prices/warranty implications/opinions would be greatly appreciated!
Improvisation!!! :) - Interior wood trim and suspension
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Improvisation!!! 
Go to Mercedesshop.com. Suspension forum & use search facility. The subject of alteration to ride height has been refined to a fine art for DIY.
If you are not DIY. why not make it part of the purchase deal/haggle? It is not a particularly complicated/time consuming task for MB technicians & if they do it for car prep. it will not be at customer rates.
regards
Ernest
Go to Mercedesshop.com. Suspension forum & use search facility. The subject of alteration to ride height has been refined to a fine art for DIY.
If you are not DIY. why not make it part of the purchase deal/haggle? It is not a particularly complicated/time consuming task for MB technicians & if they do it for car prep. it will not be at customer rates.
regards
Ernest
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Improvisation!!!
Thanks Ernest
I paid the website a visit but 3 hours later I am non the wiser!!!! I cant seem to find anyone who wants to RAISE the car as opposed to plenty of people who want to lower them (just to be different eh!!!) I cant find any one able to help with how easy or difficult is to replace interior and dash wood trim.
Anyone HEEEEEEEEELP!!!
Thanks Ernest
I paid the website a visit but 3 hours later I am non the wiser!!!! I cant seem to find anyone who wants to RAISE the car as opposed to plenty of people who want to lower them (just to be different eh!!!) I cant find any one able to help with how easy or difficult is to replace interior and dash wood trim.
Anyone HEEEEEEEEELP!!!
Guy
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- S212 Estate 2010 Brabus D6 350CDI
Improvisation!!!
Well we faced exactly the same problem, for slightly different reasons..
After the 300TE, in 1999 we decided to get a 300TD. I wanted the Avantgarde suspension, my wife wanted the traditional Benz wood rather than the black.
So we spent ages looking into changes that we could make. It was going to cost us a lot of money we would never get back. (If you think about it, demand for your 'dream' car can't be that high, can it?)
The only solution for us was to order a new car with the set-up we wanted. It cost more, but we resolved to keep it long-term (ie up to 10 years).
I honestly believe that you will have to decide between
- waiting for the right car,
- compromising on something
- ordering a car to your own exact spec, and perhaps keeping it long-term.
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but its just my opinion based on a very similar problem.
Good luck,
Guy.
Well we faced exactly the same problem, for slightly different reasons..
After the 300TE, in 1999 we decided to get a 300TD. I wanted the Avantgarde suspension, my wife wanted the traditional Benz wood rather than the black.
So we spent ages looking into changes that we could make. It was going to cost us a lot of money we would never get back. (If you think about it, demand for your 'dream' car can't be that high, can it?)
The only solution for us was to order a new car with the set-up we wanted. It cost more, but we resolved to keep it long-term (ie up to 10 years).
I honestly believe that you will have to decide between
- waiting for the right car,
- compromising on something
- ordering a car to your own exact spec, and perhaps keeping it long-term.
I know this isn't what you want to hear, but its just my opinion based on a very similar problem.
Good luck,
Guy.
Improvisation!!!
Fam Fam
Here a couple of site you may/may not have tried, www.bergworks.com www.oberlasse.com www.slaccessories.com
I dont know if they supply the "stick on" type wood, (which I know is crap cause'Iv'e used it on my Saab),or the proper stuff,the one I one I tried on the Saab (sticky stuff) out Euro'I ended up getting my money back.
Cause' basically as I said to the guy,the centre console (where the radio is on the 9000) the edges of the console are round (hard to explain.you'd need to see it) but I said how is this stuff suppose to stick onto a "rounded" surface,you need a flat surface to stick it on to,but trying to explain that to the guys at Euro',I even said "come to the car,I'll show what I mean" but they weren't interested,like everyone they just want your money,just that some are more friendly than other when they do it.
I know that a h*ll
of an explaination for some thing simple,but like I say I'm trying to find the proper stuff too,hope these site help.
They seem quite good but like I say I'm waiting too for a reply.
Regards
Fam Fam
Here a couple of site you may/may not have tried, www.bergworks.com www.oberlasse.com www.slaccessories.com
I dont know if they supply the "stick on" type wood, (which I know is crap cause'Iv'e used it on my Saab),or the proper stuff,the one I one I tried on the Saab (sticky stuff) out Euro'I ended up getting my money back.
Cause' basically as I said to the guy,the centre console (where the radio is on the 9000) the edges of the console are round (hard to explain.you'd need to see it) but I said how is this stuff suppose to stick onto a "rounded" surface,you need a flat surface to stick it on to,but trying to explain that to the guys at Euro',I even said "come to the car,I'll show what I mean" but they weren't interested,like everyone they just want your money,just that some are more friendly than other when they do it.
I know that a h*ll
of an explaination for some thing simple,but like I say I'm trying to find the proper stuff too,hope these site help.
They seem quite good but like I say I'm waiting too for a reply.
Regards
Guy
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2001
- Messages
- 180
- Reaction score
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- Location
- Manchester
- Your Mercedes
- S212 Estate 2010 Brabus D6 350CDI
Improvisation!!!
Sorry, didn't realise they'd stopped taking orders....
Sorry, didn't realise they'd stopped taking orders....
Improvisation!!!
Sorry FamFam, I overestimated your skill levels-my apologies.
You asked how difficult a job it is to raise a car from avantgarde to elegance ride height.
To retain your MB warranty you must use MB parts.
You will require new springs, pads & dampers & probably camber change & tracking.
It is a straightforward job for an experienced DIY mechanic(Except full tracking which has to be done on an MB agents rig)
You will require a professional type spring compressor(The fronts are heavily loaded).
I assume you will not be doing the job yourself & if you simply want to know what is involved & why.I suggest
you visit www.benzsport.com. Wheel & Suspension forum,Page 2& read the post by pnsji on Lowering, he is very experienced & authentic.
You simply reverse the thought process for Lowering to Raise ride heights & remember it is just principles involved.
If you want component prices, your friendly storeman will ask for chassis number because items like springs
are dependant on build standard/extras on the particular car.If you simply want a ballpark figure for the job, any Service Adviser can provide it.
regards
Ernest
Sorry FamFam, I overestimated your skill levels-my apologies.
You asked how difficult a job it is to raise a car from avantgarde to elegance ride height.
To retain your MB warranty you must use MB parts.
You will require new springs, pads & dampers & probably camber change & tracking.
It is a straightforward job for an experienced DIY mechanic(Except full tracking which has to be done on an MB agents rig)
You will require a professional type spring compressor(The fronts are heavily loaded).
I assume you will not be doing the job yourself & if you simply want to know what is involved & why.I suggest
you visit www.benzsport.com. Wheel & Suspension forum,Page 2& read the post by pnsji on Lowering, he is very experienced & authentic.
You simply reverse the thought process for Lowering to Raise ride heights & remember it is just principles involved.
If you want component prices, your friendly storeman will ask for chassis number because items like springs
are dependant on build standard/extras on the particular car.If you simply want a ballpark figure for the job, any Service Adviser can provide it.
regards
Ernest
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