Another new project! Mercedes C55 AMG W203

[Petrol Pete]

Today I started cleaning the interior….. well I say today but it was last Friday that I started the cleaning. I spent some time cleaning the seat belts. I tried to use a hard brush but it wasn’t making much of a difference. I pulled the seat belts out, sprayed some chemicals and jet washed them. They look a lot better now.

Today I concentrated on cleaning the dashboard, steering wheel which I have to say, it has come up like new now!

I washed the seats also, the carpets and roof lining.

Cleaned the windows properly and now it’s nearly finished inside also. Still got a few small things to do















I also cleaned the trims by the doors as they were dirty. As you can see, they look like new now

First time I have seen a 203 C class with the LED HVAC control panel , all (including mine) seem to have the last incarnation of the version with the two small manual knobs for temp control.

3 scenarios (in my mind)

1. Previous owner changed it (unlikely)

2. It failed and MB fitted the newer version (also fairly unlikely)

3. last but not least, yours was one of the last off the like and they had run out of the older versions ! (also unlikely !)

The parts manual shows various types across the 203 range .

So I am none the wiser , but I like the way it looks and I note from an online search the plug on the back is the same as on the one in my car . I wonder if its a 'plug and play' replacement

 

[Sam87]

Thanks for the great thread..I had a C55 from 2008-2012..it’s still on the road as i was contacted by its new owner last year. I believe the final models had paddle shifters instead of the annoying buttons. Do the heated seats work? Had to have mine repaired twice (under warranty) Enjoy the car, looks fab!

Thank you for taking the time to read through the thread and commenting! It's nice to see forum members appreciate the effort that goes into the car
It's just the upper part of the seat that warms up. I read online and it seems like a common problem for the lower part to fail but to repair it, the lower part of the seat need replacing. I don't think I'll be doing that.

Yours might have been first registered in 2007 , but was most likely built in 2006 , a decent build card acquired by using the VIN will determine that.

I checked and it came up with

Delivery Date 05-09-2006

Date Of First Registration 27/06/2007

OK , your next job is to find out what emblem is supposed to be on top of the gear selector , the original one is missing on mine , just as it is on yours . There are all sorts of replacements available online , I have yet to know what came from the factory.

I thought the C55's didn't have an emblem on top of the gear selector?
I'll speak with Mercedes and see if they have any info on this

Are you sure the beige ones are not proper OEM ? I looked for replacements only to be told the beige ones are the real deal and no longer available. I have a black 203 set from Lidl in there at the moment , for winter, the beige ones have been cleaned and stored.

The last owner said the car didn't have the floor mats when he bought it and ordered the beige ones. They fit well but the grey with the beige is just too much for my eyes. Black mats would look better imo and from what I've seen online, C55's with grey interior have black mats

First time I have seen a 203 C class with the LED HVAC control panel , all (including mine) seem to have the last incarnation of the version with the two small manual knobs for temp control.

3 scenarios (in my mind)

1. Previous owner changed it (unlikely)

2. It failed and MB fitted the newer version (also fairly unlikely)

3. last but not least, yours was one of the last off the like and they had run out of the older versions ! (also unlikely !)

The parts manual shows various types across the 203 range .

So I am none the wiser , but I like the way it looks and I note from an online search the plug on the back is the same as on the one in my car . I wonder if its a 'plug and play' replacement

Ah, I hadn't noticed that! I thought they were all the same
It doesn't look like it's been taken apart when inspecting the car, I haven't spotted any marks on the panel or the trims so possibly it's how it came from factory and it has this panel due to the car being a very late model?

 

[Sam87]

Today I added the C55 badge as well. I think the C55 is one of those cars that deserves to have the badge as it came from factory.
When I went to pick it up from Mercedes, I was surprised to see the badge said CLS550 . They said just use the letter and numbers that you need as this is how they come. Anyone want to buy SL 0?
If anyone with a Mercedes SL wants them, just let me know and I'll post them to you

 

[Petrol Pete]

My seats have been the same since I bought it , back (lumbar) part warms up but both 'bum' squabs don't warm up . I've just left it like that .

So the car was built in 2006 , not sure what month as the Germans usually do DD/MM/YY. Not how you have it.

The gear selector is an interesting one . Any C55 owners (ex owners) on here who can clear this up ?

Interesting , it's possible your car could have been sitting unloved and unregister, brand new, in an MB dealership while New C63 w204 owners were waiting to collect their new cars.

Might be the last one ever registered in the UK !

 

[Petrol Pete]

Today I added the C55 badge as well. I think the C55 is one of those cars that deserves to have the badge as it came from factory.
When I went to pick it up from Mercedes, I was surprised to see the badge said CLS550 . They said just use the letter and numbers that you need as this is how they come. Anyone want to buy SL 0?
If anyone with a Mercedes SL wants them, just let me know and I'll post them to you

It will have had C55 badge on the boot , they all had it OEM . Previous owner might have removed it , or the the rear has had some damage repair , but you would have spotted that.

 

[Sam87]

My seats have been the same since I bought it , back (lumbar) part warms up but both 'bum' squabs don't warm up . I've just left it like that .

So the car was built in 2006 , not sure what month as the Germans usually do DD/MM/YY. Not how you have it.

The gear selector is an interesting one . Any C55 owners (ex owners) on here who can clear this up ?

Interesting , it's possible your car could have been sitting unloved and unregister, brand new, in an MB dealership while New C63 w204 owners were waiting to collect their new cars.

Might be the last one ever registered in the UK !

It will have had C55 badge on the boot , they all had it OEM . Previous owner might have removed it , or the the rear has had some damage repair , but you would have spotted that.

It was built in September 2006 but first registered in June 2007. I think it's probably the last C55 registered in the UK. I can be happy about it as it's one of the last W203's or be sad thinking no one wanted a C55 in 2007 as the C63 had just come out

Last owner said he took the badge off so people wouldn't know it was a C55

I've been doing some research and it looks like the C55 didn't have an emblem on top of the gear stick.
I found this pic online of a new C55

Edit, I just noticed this car also has the same control panel as my car