My First Benz!
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My First Benz!
Hi everyone,
I know this won't be all that awesome to you guys (there are some amazing vehicles on this forum), but I just got my first Benz! 2009 CLS550. It's bone stock for now but damnit it's mine!
Time to start the upgrade wishlist. Any tips, pointers or otherwise cool info about my ride that I should know ahead of time?
Also, if I replace the factory radio with my own deck, do they make adaptors for the steering wheel controls? Can I re-use the satellite antenna?
Thanks for reading, and of course here's a pic.
I know this won't be all that awesome to you guys (there are some amazing vehicles on this forum), but I just got my first Benz! 2009 CLS550. It's bone stock for now but damnit it's mine!
Time to start the upgrade wishlist. Any tips, pointers or otherwise cool info about my ride that I should know ahead of time?
Also, if I replace the factory radio with my own deck, do they make adaptors for the steering wheel controls? Can I re-use the satellite antenna?
Thanks for reading, and of course here's a pic.
Last edited by xeno; Apr 14, 2012 at 10:04 PM. Reason: pic url was wrong
Congrats and welcome to the benz family!! What options does your car have? Also, why do you want to change the factory deck on this car?!? If you want to upgrade the sound system there are adapters that make the stock deck work with aftermarket speakers.
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Hi Adam,
Thanks! Its got nav, keyless go, wood wheel, heated & cooled seats. Its pretty well equipped. Certified pre-owned, so its in great shape.
I'm just not a fan of the stock deck. I'd like better iPhone integration. I had an aftermarket deck in my last car and it was so much nicer to use. With this one i have to put the phone in the glovebox, which is just awkward, especially since I like to use the Rdio app on my phone for my music.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds great. One of the best sounding factory systems I've ever heard. I would keep the speakers, just not a fan of the interactivity and control of the factory deck (only bass/treble... no EQ). I plan to add a nice sub as well.
Thanks! Its got nav, keyless go, wood wheel, heated & cooled seats. Its pretty well equipped. Certified pre-owned, so its in great shape.
I'm just not a fan of the stock deck. I'd like better iPhone integration. I had an aftermarket deck in my last car and it was so much nicer to use. With this one i have to put the phone in the glovebox, which is just awkward, especially since I like to use the Rdio app on my phone for my music.
Don't get me wrong, it sounds great. One of the best sounding factory systems I've ever heard. I would keep the speakers, just not a fan of the interactivity and control of the factory deck (only bass/treble... no EQ). I plan to add a nice sub as well.
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Congrats. I had the pleasure of driving CLS55AMG for two months. It sucked returning it to it's owner.
I've never been more impressed with a car. I'm actually jelaous.
P.s.: I can't help myself looking for opportunity of trading my DD (w204) for CLS500 or 55. I would probably have to sleep on the couch for a while but I think it would be worth it
I've never been more impressed with a car. I'm actually jelaous.
P.s.: I can't help myself looking for opportunity of trading my DD (w204) for CLS500 or 55. I would probably have to sleep on the couch for a while but I think it would be worth it
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Congrats. You definitely got the right body.
...noticed you lowered it. Not sure how much you lowered it, but get the alignment checked. I lowered mine quite a bit with the RENNtech ELM and there was so much negative camber, I wore out the inside of the rear tires in about eight months and nearly had a catastrpohic tire failure on the highway on the RR. Car could not be put into factory specs with the car as low as I had it because the MB bushings were not adjustable. I bought another set of tires and the same thing happened. By then the fronts were about done as well (inner wear). Bought the KMAC front camber / caster bushing kit and KMAC rear camber / toe bushing kit, which allow the necessary adjustments, and had the car aligned to factory specs with it lowered (new tires). Drove the car 4 months and noticed abnormal wear again. Took car in and checked alignment specs...way out. KMAC bushings were sagging. Realigned and drove another six weeks to see if it would be okay. Was out of alignment again...KMAC bushings were complete junk. Bought another set of rear tires, a set of facrory MB bushings for front and rear, and had the tech set the ride height as low as he could while maintaining factory alignment settings. I say all this because I spent about $10K on RENNtech lowering module, tires, alignments, dismount / mount / balancing, bushings, labor, etc. over a couple of years trying to have the car lowered...it is lower than factory now and is within spec., but not as low as I'd like it.
If you change the tires, I've found the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 to be great (better than the Pirelli PZero Nero).
...noticed you lowered it. Not sure how much you lowered it, but get the alignment checked. I lowered mine quite a bit with the RENNtech ELM and there was so much negative camber, I wore out the inside of the rear tires in about eight months and nearly had a catastrpohic tire failure on the highway on the RR. Car could not be put into factory specs with the car as low as I had it because the MB bushings were not adjustable. I bought another set of tires and the same thing happened. By then the fronts were about done as well (inner wear). Bought the KMAC front camber / caster bushing kit and KMAC rear camber / toe bushing kit, which allow the necessary adjustments, and had the car aligned to factory specs with it lowered (new tires). Drove the car 4 months and noticed abnormal wear again. Took car in and checked alignment specs...way out. KMAC bushings were sagging. Realigned and drove another six weeks to see if it would be okay. Was out of alignment again...KMAC bushings were complete junk. Bought another set of rear tires, a set of facrory MB bushings for front and rear, and had the tech set the ride height as low as he could while maintaining factory alignment settings. I say all this because I spent about $10K on RENNtech lowering module, tires, alignments, dismount / mount / balancing, bushings, labor, etc. over a couple of years trying to have the car lowered...it is lower than factory now and is within spec., but not as low as I'd like it.
If you change the tires, I've found the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 to be great (better than the Pirelli PZero Nero).
Last edited by BlownVette; Jun 10, 2012 at 10:34 AM. Reason: added some info on lowering / alignment and tires.
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Congrats. You definitely got the right body.
...noticed you lowered it. Not sure how much you lowered it, but get the alignment checked. I lowered mine quite a bit with the RENNtech ELM and there was so much negative camber, I wore out the inside of the rear tires in about eight months and nearly had a catastrpohic tire failure on the highway on the RR. Car could not be put into factory specs with the car as low as I had it because the MB bushings were not adjustable. I bought another set of tires and the same thing happened. By then the fronts were about done as well (inner wear). Bought the KMAC front camber / caster bushing kit and KMAC rear camber / toe bushing kit, which allow the necessary adjustments, and had the car aligned to factory specs with it lowered (new tires). Drove the car 4 months and noticed abnormal wear again. Took car in and checked alignment specs...way out. KMAC bushings were sagging. Realigned and drove another six weeks to see if it would be okay. Was out of alignment again...KMAC bushings were complete junk. Bought another set of rear tires, a set of facrory MB bushings for front and rear, and had the tech set the ride height as low as he could while maintaining factory alignment settings. I say all this because I spent about $10K on RENNtech lowering module, tires, alignments, dismount / mount / balancing, bushings, labor, etc. over a couple of years trying to have the car lowered...it is lower than factory now and is within spec., but not as low as I'd like it.
If you change the tires, I've found the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 to be great (better than the Pirelli PZero Nero).
...noticed you lowered it. Not sure how much you lowered it, but get the alignment checked. I lowered mine quite a bit with the RENNtech ELM and there was so much negative camber, I wore out the inside of the rear tires in about eight months and nearly had a catastrpohic tire failure on the highway on the RR. Car could not be put into factory specs with the car as low as I had it because the MB bushings were not adjustable. I bought another set of tires and the same thing happened. By then the fronts were about done as well (inner wear). Bought the KMAC front camber / caster bushing kit and KMAC rear camber / toe bushing kit, which allow the necessary adjustments, and had the car aligned to factory specs with it lowered (new tires). Drove the car 4 months and noticed abnormal wear again. Took car in and checked alignment specs...way out. KMAC bushings were sagging. Realigned and drove another six weeks to see if it would be okay. Was out of alignment again...KMAC bushings were complete junk. Bought another set of rear tires, a set of facrory MB bushings for front and rear, and had the tech set the ride height as low as he could while maintaining factory alignment settings. I say all this because I spent about $10K on RENNtech lowering module, tires, alignments, dismount / mount / balancing, bushings, labor, etc. over a couple of years trying to have the car lowered...it is lower than factory now and is within spec., but not as low as I'd like it.
If you change the tires, I've found the Michelin Pilot Sport 2 to be great (better than the Pirelli PZero Nero).
I second the above. A buddy of mine had a CLS500 which he lowered and also got aftermarkets rims/tires. He was wearing through tires like crazy and could not seem to correct the issue. He got so fed up, he returned the car to factory specs and put the factory rims/tires back on the car.
Last edited by PaulChristian; Jun 10, 2012 at 05:47 PM.
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Now that you've lowered it, I'd put the double-five spoke amg wheels on your car (best way to describe the wheels without a picture). My friend has these on a white cls and it looks sick.
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@Jcusa: I had both and I can't decide which I loved more. You can't go wrong with either.
I loved how brutal my CTT was on 23"'s with FVD (loud as f***) exhaust. Turning heads.
But I really enjoyed driving CLS and to be honest I appreciated the fact that it didn't pull that much attention (debadged AMG).
I loved how brutal my CTT was on 23"'s with FVD (loud as f***) exhaust. Turning heads.
But I really enjoyed driving CLS and to be honest I appreciated the fact that it didn't pull that much attention (debadged AMG).