C63 PPP - KW V3 Coilovers

[crockers]

Great write up - thanks. How's the tyres holding up?

 

[d w124]

I managed to get it 182mph but bottled it as I just couldn't see where I was going clear enough which is less than ideal at that speed!

That`s all i wanted to hear

 

[Simon_M]

Enjoyable write-up my friend. I am just jealous that you seem to have so much time to do these things!

Do you feel the Brabus is value for money?

S

 

[Palmball]

Enjoyable write-up my friend. I am just jealous that you seem to have so much time to do these things!

Do you feel the Brabus is value for money?

S

Brabus, value? In a word....NO.

Even if it offered another 50bhp then it still wouldn't be good value but I had my own, well documented reasons for choosing Brabus!

Time wise, I do work more than full-time butI do make very good use of my weekends and holiday allowance and, with a very flexible boss I am able to carefully plan combination of both! I don't have children and my girlfirend is incredibly patient and accomodating so in that respect I am very lucky.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I don't have children and my girlfirend is incredibly patient and accomodating so in that respect I am very lucky.

And let's face it - an accomodating girlfriend or wife is an absolute necessity if you're to have a nice car, modified car, expensive car, clean car, track car, driven-for-fun car, classic car...

 

[bobby]

Palmball an amazing series of write-ups - thanks! look forward to reading your further exploits

 

[petermansell]

I both love and hate reading your right up. I love it because I can see all that you describe in my mind's eye - excellent stuff.

I hate it becuase it should be me writing it up and you reading it!

 

[Palmball]

Great write up - thanks. How's the tyres holding up?

Thanks - the tyres aren't doing too badly - it's on 5,500 miles and they have about 2mm left on the rear which is much much better than I got out of the Yokohama's on my previous C63.

The fronts are only about 1/4 worn so have a good 10k miles left in them!

I'm about to change the rears before I go back out to the 'ring to the new Continental Sport Contact 5P and I'm going up a size to 265/30/19 (from 255 width). I really should change the fronts to the same type and give them the same corresponding size increase to 245/35/19 (up from 235 width) but I can't justify gettign rid of them when they're in such good nick!

Anyone fancy buying the front tyres off me? I'd take £100 for the two if you come and collect them which will pay half way to one new front Continental 5P!

 

[Alex]

Wow, congrats on suspension and Brabus upgrades! I am sure it is one hell of a ride now. Still, I would lose the Brabus badges

BTW, seen your car @ CPR. Contrary to what I've read about them, they turned out a friendly and professional bunch. Will be fitting Kleemann S/C with them next month.

 

[nick.ged]

what size are the front tyres you are selling?

 

[Maff]

All I can say is: Blimey! Well done Andrew!

Makes me want to go back to Germany now!!

Really looking forward to hear how the setup develops, and the dyno results of the Brabus upgrade too.

Matt.

 

[Palmball]

what size are the front tyres you are selling?

235/35/19 Conti Sport Contact 3's with between 6 and 7mm of tread depending on what part of the tyre is measured.

All I can say is: Blimey! Well done Andrew!

Makes me want to go back to Germany now!!

Really looking forward to hear how the setup develops, and the dyno results of the Brabus upgrade too.

Matt.

Cheers Matt...dyno results will be published on Saturday! Good or bad!

Wow, congrats on suspension and Brabus upgrades! I am sure it is one hell of a ride now. Still, I would lose the Brabus badges

BTW, seen your car @ CPR. Contrary to what I've read about them, they turned out a friendly and professional bunch. Will be fitting Kleemann S/C with them next month.

Thanks - I guess it was you that Max was talking about...he said one of his customers was waiting to see how my car turned out

Brabus badges? I haven't put any on....yet! Seriously though, the only badges going on will be the 'Powered by Brabus' badges on the side (which are designed to go under the 6.3 AMG badge) and the Brabus logo's on the air intake covers on top of the engine. No Brabus badges are going on the back as they're huge and look cheap!

Interesting what you say about CPR regarding what you read about them? I tried to do as much research as possible before choosing to use them and couldn't find much on them which was negative so what sort of things have you heard? Whatever it is, it won't put me off them as so far they have been exceptional, if not cheap!


MOD UPDATE!

I have today arranged for my car to go to D:Class to have the interior finished! What...I hear you all say???

The only bit that AMG refused to do when they did my interior was cover the headlining in Alcantara due to them having to crash test a vehicle to show the airbags work. It's down to them being the manufacturer apparently and anything that covers an airbag has to be tested before they can sell it (although in their own admission, the fabric used would have no impact on the airbags actual operation!).

So, D:Class seem to have the a pretty good reputation amongst the MB community and they're relatively inexpensive (compared to AMG / Brabus etc anyway) so it's off to them for a day in a couple of weeks!

Quote from the missus today...'When will your project be finished?'

 

[Alex]

Interesting what you say about CPR regarding what you read about them? I tried to do as much research as possible before choosing to use them and couldn't find much on them which was negative so what sort of things have you heard? Whatever it is, it won't put me off them as so far they have been exceptional, if not cheap!

PM'ed.

 

[mercboiuk]

MOD UPDATE!

Pictures before and after, please
Sounds like a good little mod - the icing on the cake.

So will this be the final chapter in the Palmball C63 Mod Saga?

Oh, and I'm not sure if you've read it, but this month's Mercedes Enthusiast might be of interest to you.
They have a feature on a Kircherer modified C63 AMG, which has suspension mods by non other than KW! It might be worth a read!

Darren

 

[MOCAŠ]

Palmball, until I read this thread I'd never heard of KW, or coilovers for that matter. I've never even considered doing anything to modify the performance or suspension of my cars. Yet I've found your posts thoroughly engaging, and am very impressed with the attention to detail you've applied to the process of improving a car that most owners would have already regarded as superlative.

Oddly enough, I can claim one shared experience, sort of: about five years ago, I was enthusiatically driven round the lanes of Bradford on Avon by the man who had designed the suspension of one of my cars around 45 years earlier. He has a favourite route arouind the area that he knows will provide a thorough workout for the suspension of any car, and while our pace will have been far more sedate than yours was around the 'Ring, he still drove remarkably briskly and tidily for a man of somewhat advanced years, giving an informative commentary throughout. The pace increased by a few notches when we then switched to his own development vehicle, on which he has been steadily improving the quality of his innovative system over the years. I too had a huge grin on my face that day. And for anyone who hasn't guessed yet, the man in the driving seat was one Dr Alex Moulton.

 

[Palmball]

Pictures before and after, please
Sounds like a good little mod - the icing on the cake.

So will this be the final chapter in the Palmball C63 Mod Saga?

Oh, and I'm not sure if you've read it, but this month's Mercedes Enthusiast might be of interest to you.
They have a feature on a Kircherer modified C63 AMG, which has suspension mods by non other than KW! It might be worth a read!

Darren

Not quite the final chapter...I've still got to source a carbon fibre rear diffuser to replace the standard plastic one. But I can only seem to to find 'big fin' versions as opposed to the 'small fin' design that AMG fit.

I've seen that article in Mercedes enthusiast! TBH, that one looks far too low and the wheels are not to my taste but theres no denying that it's got some power. I may also approach them for my diffuser as the one on that car is exactly what I'm looking for!

My overall aim is to upgrade the parts of the C63 that are less than perfect whilst still keeping the car looking as original as possible, hence I'm carefully choosing components that are either supplied by AMG (such as the whole interior - all offical Mercedes materials) or feature in other AMG's (such as the KW's which AMG already use on their Black versions and hence the guy setting it up can get my units revalved with a bespoke setting).

 

[C43AMG]

I can highly recommend David at D-Class. I have just had the headlining done in Alcantara on the CL55 and also the rear parcel shelf, a first class job.

David is very professional and accommodating.

Many thanks for taking the time and sharing with us your very articulate write ups, very enjoyable.

 

[Alex]

Not quite the final chapter...I've still got to source a carbon fibre rear diffuser to replace the standard plastic one. But I can only seem to to find 'big fin' versions as opposed to the 'small fin' design that AMG fit.

Then you might have seen that one?

Rear carbon diffuser for C 63 AMG

 

[Palmball]

Yes, that looks just like the Kleeman one...is it the Kleeman one?

If so, I've contacted them about it and their suppier has stopped making it (like read: gone out of business) so I can't get hold of it!

I know there are a few on ebay (quite cheap too) but I just don't trust the likely quality of fitment of these far-easern replica's! Unless someone can convince me otherwise?


Edit: just saw the link and see that it is the Kleeman one. Doh!

 

[Palmball]

I can highly recommend David at D-Class. I have just had the headlining done in Alcantara on the CL55 and also the rear parcel shelf, a first class job.

David is very professional and accommodating.

Many thanks for taking the time and sharing with us your very articulate write ups, very enjoyable.

Thanks Peter - it is indeed David at D:Class that I'm dealing with. Seems a nice enough chap!