Tschuss_Bill
Well-known member
Mine has the 6 cd changer too.
These cars are out there for those of us who will take the time and search for the right car.
I got lucky and found mine in December for $17.8K. More miles were on it at 109.7K and it now has 115K.
It's an original California MBZ imported from the Chicago area when it was brands new.
A little later production, as in November 2004. VIN: . . . 7 2 1 1 6 9
As you may know, these CDIs were not sold new in CA, MA, ME, NY, and VT.
But that did not keep the 'smart people' who wanted one from going out-of-state and
buying one new and registering them with a friend/relative until they had
7,500 miles on their odometers and then registering them as used here.
Same equipment as yours more or less except I do not think I have the same radio.
My original Monroney sticker says: 9-Speaker Audio System with AM/FM Single Disc CD.
Then as an option, Code 819, 6-Disc CD Changer (Factory Installed) for only $420 extra.
So I guess I do not have your Harmon Kardon radio, do I?
Does you radio have the weather band?
I've added Sirius Satellite Radio and the original speakers sound pretty darn nice. I'm happy.
If yours is 'floaty,' you could go to heavy duty Bilsteins.
I like the ride mine has and I run the tires at 38 front, 40 rears cold.
Also, would like to go to a HID headlights retrofit as the originals lack proper lighting.
Let me know how you do that when you get around to doing it!
And tell me about the gains you experienced with the KD Box?
Also, how you do the electronic EGR delete (built, but not installed)?
The thermostat is not at all difficult to do, and it seems like all of these older CDIs need that.
The stupid dealer that serviced this car for the original owner WILL NOT tell
me what was done and what was not done and what is now needed.
I know when it was serviced (21 times) according to the CarFax
report I have, but not all that was or was not done.
Do you know any way I can get that information?
Thanks and welcome aboard.
Derrel
Headlights. I've done a couple retrofits to date, not yet on a W211. This one should be easy, no dremeling required. My plan for this car is to buy bits from the Retrofit Source. Hella projectors, 3Five ballasts with OSRAM XENARC 66240 SVS bulbs (or 5Five ballasts with PHILIPS 85122+ bulbs) and a harness.
I drove the car for about a week without the KD box. I bought the box used before I bought the car. So I don't have extensive experience with driving without the KD box. I felt like I 'didn't know the car' when I installed it. That said, I notice much better responsiveness in the lower rpm's, off the line etc. Mileage on the highway cruising seems about the same, 36 to 37.
EGR delete there's a thread on a UK forum that covers it. You build a simple circuit that is used to fool the ECU that the EGR is doing its function, all while the EGR remains closed.
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=88374
My CDI has the original Satellite setup with the big fugly black thing on the trunk. Need to swap that out for the newer sleeky painted one.
-Bill