Saved From Scrapyard - My New Project Car! 2006 S203 C220 CDI Estate AMG Kit

[KillerHERTZ]

Found it:

Genuine OEM Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bushing | 203-323-21-85 | Fits Select 2001-2007 Mercedes-Benz Vehicles | Mercedes-Benz Classic USA Parts Store

2001-2007 Mercedes-Benz Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bushing 2033232185

classicparts.mbusa.com

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Turns out as I have the "Sport Edtion" the front Anti Roll bar is different and the bushes are part of it + cannot be ordered separately.

£72 from MB

 

[BTB 500]

S203 (my first foray into MB) comes with a dog guard

We had an S203 and the pull-up luggage net has gaps each side that a bored (or overexcited!) dog would be able to get through pretty easily. So better than nothing, but not ideal.

Ours mostly travel in the Vito (which is fitted with 2-tier caging), but otherwise they go in a fold-up crate in the back of the S205 or my son's Citroen C1 (with the seats down). We have also a couple of smaller dogs (a Papillon cross and a Sheltie) and those occasionally go in a soft bed on a back or front seat, with a harness that attaches to the seatbelt.

A friend of mine had an original AC Cobra with a white leather interior, which he used to transport his Bearded Collies in His solution was to remove the passenger seat, so they basically had half the interior to sit/lie in (on various rugs/blankets)!

 

[Petrol Pete]

Anyone have any S203 floormats? - Ive looked on eBay and they only appear to be aftermarket or ragged.

View attachment 166764

Since this photo was taken ive fully restored the steering wheel, ill include details in a future episode.

This weekend we are fitting new Dampers, Eibach lowering springs (3cm drop), as well as new ball joints and bushes. Its going to feel like a new car


Ive also discovered a tuning box in the engine bay, anyone have a rough idea of what specs it will be pushing out with this fitted?

View attachment 166767

Pictures after a full DA machine polish:

View attachment 166765

View attachment 166766

She scrubs up well!

Floormats for a 203 ? Lidl , I got some the other week , cheapo crappy ones , BUT I heard that the original AMG ones in my C55 are no longer available , so the Lidl ones will do for the winter.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Turns out as I have the "Sport Edtion" the front Anti Roll bar is different and the bushes are part of it + cannot be ordered separately.

£72 from MB

View attachment 167150

Unobtanium for a C55 as well (Phat ARB) only available moulded to new (not in stock) ARB . I reluctantly went to PowerFlex in the end , purple ones , the softest they do .

For info , I have replaced all four shock and springs and done load more 'while I was in there jobs on my S203, just ask .

 

[Petrol Pete]

Powerflex visible here. Not sure what the diameter of the bar is on Avantgarde spec but not only is it bigger on the AMG but it is also designed with this groove in it , boggo ones will not fit.

I also have a brand new rear ARB in my garage , I can get the P/N and diameter if yo like , all I know it is skinny and hollow (and also out of stock) compared to the fat and solid AMG .

Not many jobs under the car that I have not done myself ....cue you asking me about a job I have not done !

Oh, after 156K miles and 18 years the brake lines under the covers running the length of the car look brand new , the ones that go over the rear subframe are the ones that really rot out.

PS , do not bother with the 4 dust shield (P/N 70 in your diagram) they do not work on this ARB , quick look at the photo will show why.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Thanks all for the info. I have bitten the bullet and have bought the OEM brace which includes each sides bushes.

It's one step forward 2 back at the moment with the progress on the car ho hum!

 

[ToeKnee]

Thanks all for the info. I have bitten the bullet and have bought the OEM brace which includes each sides bushes.

It's one step forward 2 back at the moment with the progress on the car ho hum!

Good content for the you tube videos though Karl!

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Episode III - MOT Failure + Complete Suspension Overall, including Eibach lowering springs!

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[KillerHERTZ]

Maybe a bit overkill for the estate after it's complete suspension overall, Brembo Cross Drilled Brake Discs

 

[SpikyMikey]

Maybe a bit overkill for the estate after it's complete suspension overall, Brembo Cross Drilled Brake Discs

I had those on my S204. But then, it was a mighty fire-breathing, tarmac rippling 1.6L C180

 

[DSM10000]

Maybe a bit overkill for the estate after it's complete suspension overall, Brembo Cross Drilled Brake Discs

Useful when you take it around the 'Ring

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Turns out the discs are too big. Mine is the 'Sports Edition' but doesnt have the sports Brakes, only the Sports suspension.

The discs pictured above are 330mm, I guess I need 290mm - I have tried measuring, but without taking it off the car I cannot get a perfect measurement - not can MB tell me when I emailed them

In other news, 'Fred' loves the car. This was the first time he sat in it and we struggled to get him out, he didnt want to leave:



Found a bit of a flaw with the Mercedes built in Dog netthing however

 

[SpikyMikey]

Turns out the discs are too big. Mine is the 'Sports Edition' but doesnt have the sports Brakes, only the Sports suspension.

The discs pictured above are 330mm, I guess I need 290mm - I have tried measuring, but without taking it off the car I cannot get a perfect measurement - not can MB tell me when I emailed them

In other news, 'Fred' loves the car. This was the first time he sat in it and we struggled to get him out, he didnt want to leave:

View attachment 168236

Found a bit of a flaw with the Mercedes built in Dog netthing however

View attachment 168237

Yep, we also discovered the cargo netting isn't the least bit dog proof. A proper dog guard is required.

 

[BTB 500]

Found a bit of a flaw with the Mercedes built in Dog netthing however

As already mentioned!

We had an S203 and the pull-up luggage net has gaps each side that a bored (or overexcited!) dog would be able to get through pretty easily. So better than nothing, but not ideal.

It's a luggage net designed to stop cases etc. from flying forward in a crash - not intended to keep dogs out of the passenger compartment

If you're carrying a dog regularly then a proper guard is a good idea, although these can be a pain if/when you need to drop the back seats. In the past I've also fitted a rear gate as you can then leave the dog in the car with the tailgate open if necessary:

https://www.barjo.co.uk/tailgate-guards

For occasional use a cheap folding crate works fine - that also has the advantage that you can carry other stuff in the boot that the dog can't get to. That's what we do with the S205 and my son's Citroen C1 (the boot in that is tiny, so we fold the seats down or put a small fabric crate on the back seat). 99% of the time we take the Vito though as that has fitted 2-tier caging.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

So much for being a workhorse, picked up a C32 AMG rear backbox - the current one is on its last legs.

Amazing what you can carry with an SL63 AMG with its roof down