My new Toy CLS 55 AMG

[andy27168]

Jeez. Under my watch, they never hit anything more than literally a couple of what I would class as not very deep potholes (I know exactly where they all are on my way to work and back). My confidence that they had never been down anything remotely tough (let alone make you wince) meant that I was very surprised when you told me one had gone on the weld and now the other!

Did they do it as part of the refurb?

I wonder if they just crack through use or slight bumps or whether the weld is not as strong as the strength of the original wheel...

I remember Developer John posting up that he had had crack(s) on his fronts.

I think BMW 19s went through this once upon a time although I imagine it is rife now all over the shop as wheels get larger.

Apart from the ride and handling on mine, that would be another reason to not go for 20" Vossen CV-3s like I was once going to...!

The guy who did the repair in the first wheel, said that most repairer's methodology of preparing and welding cracked alloys was flawed.
He explained that his method was to find the very end of the crack and drill a hole at the end of it, then grind right through the crack to the drilled hole so there would now a slit in the wheel 3-5mm wide, then prepare for welding the edges would be bevelled both sides of the slit, then welded up filling the slit using the appropriate filler rods.
He did comment that the previous repair on the inside of the rim hadn't been dressed and suspected the preparation had,nt been done correctly.
Though I was upset when they phoned to say one of the front wheels was cracked once I realised it was the previous existing repair had failed I was relieved, after my guy had said that about the previous existing repair.
I remembered only once hitting the front wheels well bumping off of quite high kerb but that was not the one that had cracked but the one my guy had done which made me feel very confident of what he had said to me and his ability
I think this is almost an accepted fact with these type of alloys because of their size/width, the low profile of the tyres, the state of UK roads. Also quite telling they always crack on the inside edge the edge which has the least support from the mounting face.

 

[andy27168]

will these make any difference to an SBC equipped car?

No except for potentially making the pedal firmer.

 

[V12]

Cracked alloys is a massive problem and has become a lot worse since the W204/W212.

BMW wheels are unbelievable. RFTs do exacerbate the issue as well.

 

[b1g1an]

No except for potentially making the pedal firmer.

Unlikely given the feedback is artificial unless your brakes fail and at moment I don't think anyone will be too bothered.

 

[Maurauth]

I thought I recognised the car, think I've seen it around Southampton!

Lovely motor!

 

[andy27168]

I thought I recognised the car, think I've seen it around Southampton!

Lovely motor!

Cheers though I live nearer the New Forest than Southampton, you might of seen it around the Sholing area visiting mate, or in the evening around the town.

 

[andy27168]

The CLS has been away for the last few days, as I was never really happy how the paint was had loads of swirls in the paint, and fine scratches, and the interior especially the carpet was in my opinion disgusting. The previous owner must of had kids as the heater vents under the front seats feeding the rear passengers were stuffed full of sweet wrappers and half chewed jelly sweets. I had ignored it till now having put big genuine rubber MB mats over the top of the mess.
Well with various forum meets coming up soon I thought it was about time I dealt with the issues. I booked it in for a detail with a local company for a full paint detail and valet.
Though they took pics of the detail and will email me them in due course here is a couple to show how stunning the paint now looks, they have managed to get rid of the majority of the scratches, detailed the engine etc.

 

[Maurauth]

Cheers though I live nearer the New Forest than Southampton, you might of seen it around the Sholing area visiting mate, or in the evening around the town.

Think it was either Sholing / Bitterne or Swaythling / Portswood.

Maybe driving through Woodmill? Might have noticed it from the sound going through the narrow bricked off bit there haha

 

[c280turbo]

Lovely car this!

 

[John]

The guy who did the repair in the first wheel, said that most repairer's methodology of preparing and welding cracked alloys was flawed.
He explained that his method was to find the very end of the crack and drill a hole at the end of it, then grind right through the crack to the drilled hole so there would now a slit in the wheel 3-5mm wide, then prepare for welding the edges would be bevelled both sides of the slit, then welded up filling the slit using the appropriate filler rods.
He did comment that the previous repair on the inside of the rim hadn't been dressed and suspected the preparation had,nt been done correctly.
Though I was upset when they phoned to say one of the front wheels was cracked once I realised it was the previous existing repair had failed I was relieved, after my guy had said that about the previous existing repair.
I remembered only once hitting the front wheels well bumping off of quite high kerb but that was not the one that had cracked but the one my guy had done which made me feel very confident of what he had said to me and his ability
I think this is almost an accepted fact with these type of alloys because of their size/width, the low profile of the tyres, the state of UK roads. Also quite telling they always crack on the inside edge the edge which has the least support from the mounting face.

I have to point out that Lepsons* did the welds on both wheels. One of the fronts was welded before that and the other was cracked when I bought it - so Lepsons did both (i.e. re-did one and did the other).

*This is not intended to make Lepsons look bad but to give all the information to anyone reading this!

They said they never finish off the weld to avoid reducing the strength of it.

It will be interesting now to see how they get on with your new repairs...

 

[andy27168]

Well the company I chose to do the detail was local in fact only just down the road.
I found the site in Google,
New Forest Autoclean - Professional Mobile Valeting and Car Detailing in Southampton, Hampshire and The New Forest
After a phone call and chat with Craig about my requirements, I booked the car in for a 2 day treatment.
Craig took some pics of the detail over the two days and has let me have copies though they weren't in any particular order so they are going to take a bit of time to sort but I thought I would start with the engine before and after, and over the next few days will sort through the rest and update this thread.
The pic of the engine below was before Craig started, when I got the car under the bonnet was really dirty, I had used some Autoglym Machine cleaner on it this made a world of difference to it and I,m sure you will agree it was,nt that dirty at the start but after Craig cleaned and dressed the engine it looked like you could of eaten your dinner off of it.
M113K Engine (CLS 219).

The cleaning,

The Engine finished & dressed.

The natural shine/finish he has achieved on the black plastics I think you,ll agree is superb, and the fittings on the pipe work seemed to shine more than the paintwork!

 

[c280turbo]

Looks great , lovely engine

 

[andy27168]

I got an e-mail from Craig of New Forest Auto clean, and he has actually put the pics of the detail on his web site. Rather than have me post all the pics up it makes more sense for me to just post a link to his web site, it gives more details of the products he used and the process he followed,
http://www.newforestautoclean.com/po...cement-detail/

 

[andy27168]

Anyone retrofitted the MB IPOD kit? As I am fitting one at the moment.
Been straight forward so far, though the anticipated time of 1-2 hours to fit I seriously doubt on a CLS, its made worse as the car is high spec and has additional control units, pumps etc.
The car is currently in bits in my mates workshop, all the boot side of the install has been done (apart from fitting the new relay and fuse).
I was going to do a how to on this but the one on Mercupgrades is quite good, but does give the impression its easier than it is though this might be because it was written for a lowish spec E Class, but never the less it is very good
http://www.mercupgrades.com/Removing...rticle-61.html
Any tips, experience of fitting this kit would be appreciated, especially regarding the front end of the install would be appreciated.

 

[John]

I got an e-mail from Craig of New Forest Auto clean, and he has actually put the pics of the detail on his web site. Rather than have me post all the pics up it makes more sense for me to just post a link to his web site, it gives more details of the products he used and the process he followed,
http://www.newforestautoclean.com/po...cement-detail/

Link no worky!

Mercedes CLS55 AMG ? Enhancement Detail Plus | New Forest Autoclean

When you paste the link - hit the 'Insert Link' (picture of Earth with chain link on it - hover mouse over to see caption) button and paste into that - should ensure a working link.

 

[John]

He's done a great job on it... looks amazing now.

That level of patience is similarly impressive!

 

[andy27168]

Its been a awhile coming, but finally picked it up today a Carbon engine cover for 55K engine to replace the cover with the missing badge.
Bought from the states, took a chance and glad I did I think it looks the nuts.

 

[Mrhanky]

Its been a awhile coming, but finally picked it up today a Carbon engine cover for 55K engine to replace the cover with the missing badge.
Bought from the states, took a chance and glad I did I think it looks the nuts.

http://s380.photobucket.com/user/Andy27168/media/new 55k carbon engine cover/DSC_0189.jpg.html
http://s380.photobucket.com/user/Andy27168/media/new 55k carbon engine cover/DSC_0187.jpg.html
http://s380.photobucket.com/user/Andy27168/media/new 55k carbon engine cover/DSC_0186.jpg.html

Looks nice, do you have a link?

 

[andy27168]

Link for anyone interested,
Mercedes Benz AMG 55K Carbon Fiber Engine Cover - Highest Quality Available!!! | eBay
Though it doesnt come with any mounting hardware eg. the four clips at the back of the cover and the two screw on clips at the front, but easy to take them off the old cover. I did also notice on the old cover there are two pieces of felt stuck on it, what for I do not know, but having some felt left over from my IPOD it I cut two bits and stuck them on the Carbon cover.

 

[Abb]

Looking very nice indeed. May I ask, did you get charged import duties?