7 Years, 2 CLS's... the outside is now complete
#1
7 Years, 2 CLS's... the outside is now complete
Here is my current 2003 CLS6....
![](https://acurazine.com/forums/members/suspekt360-21459-albums-2003-cls-_-august-2010-6231-picture-4-1-33589.jpg)
I have posted an updated album with more pics taken this past weekend.
There are also pics in another album of my first CLS (2001 purchased in 2003).
Please feel free to ask questions... the last remaining mod is the 3.7 manifold and then I am done with the CLS... debating on whether to sell it or keep for the long term... Dont think I could part with it to be honest.
I think I will simply be buying another vehicle as I know I would probably regret letting it go. There is just something addictive about the way these cars make their power.
The CLS might not lay down sub 13 second 1/4 mile times, but out on the highway once in gear, I seriously believe this car's 50-150mph time is astounding (not that I would know)...
![](https://acurazine.com/forums/members/suspekt360-21459-albums-2003-cls-_-august-2010-6231-picture-4-1-33589.jpg)
I have posted an updated album with more pics taken this past weekend.
There are also pics in another album of my first CLS (2001 purchased in 2003).
Please feel free to ask questions... the last remaining mod is the 3.7 manifold and then I am done with the CLS... debating on whether to sell it or keep for the long term... Dont think I could part with it to be honest.
I think I will simply be buying another vehicle as I know I would probably regret letting it go. There is just something addictive about the way these cars make their power.
The CLS might not lay down sub 13 second 1/4 mile times, but out on the highway once in gear, I seriously believe this car's 50-150mph time is astounding (not that I would know)...
Trending Topics
#10
exhaust starting with engine block is:
CT Headers --> P2R Test Pipe --> Borla XR1 Muffler (As first resonator) --> *Vibrant Resonator (as 2nd resonator) --> Greddy cat back modified to fit
NOTE
* Second resonator added because Greddy's were overwhelmed between 2,000-4,000 rpm. They were crapping out. However, after 4,000, the sound was amazing....
** I suspect removing the greddy's and having flanged straigtpipes made as a bolt-on axle-back would sound very very nice with the current setup.... No welding needed, just need 2 greddy style exhaust flanges and a couple of mandrel u-bends
Lastly... The overall sound with the current setup is good... well controlled with great top-end. The test pipe, I think, adds more oomph to the top-end of the power band with some loss of tq below 2,000..... The trade-off is worth it....
#11
In person, the mufflers are much less noticable then they appear in the pics... I think these mufflers are a car-by-car thing.... angles, symmetry, extension amount, etc, all these factors really play into how they end up looking... I will post a better pic or two
#15
I Wanna Beer
Might as well keep it now. I keep considering ditching the CL-S and getting an M3 but I don't know if I wanna deal with a car payment again and the increased insurance. I'd also end up having to buy a winter car again which would add to the cost of things.
#18
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
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Regional Coordinator
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iTrader: (6)
love the lips on those rims, car looks clean as hell
#26
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
iTrader: (6)
#30
I must be the only person who dsnt like wheels that stick out.
I refuse to like it just cause its popular. Reminds me of when i was little and all the mexicans had small wheels that stuck a foot out.
![Tomato](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tomato.gif)
I refuse to like it just cause its popular. Reminds me of when i was little and all the mexicans had small wheels that stuck a foot out.
#31
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
Im the same way, but it looks nice on his car. I can't stand stretched tires though.
#32
thanks for the comments guys
about the rear tires sticking out... with myself and passenger or just me, the car hunkers down a 1/2 inch in the rear and that littel but of suspension compression causes the rears to sit completely flush with the outermost edge of the rear fender line... the rear fenders were rolled and pulled slightly with a bit of plastic shaved off the inside rear of the rear fenders....
also, I am not using any rear camber kit or running negative camber on any corner... the car has even tire wear....
Tire size:
FR - 235/35/19 (no stretch)
RR - 235/35/19 (slight stretch)
*crazy as it sounds, the slight rear stretch has helped quell understeer...
And one more thing, its not in my signature, but the Corsport shifter bushings are easily the best mod for the money....
about the rear tires sticking out... with myself and passenger or just me, the car hunkers down a 1/2 inch in the rear and that littel but of suspension compression causes the rears to sit completely flush with the outermost edge of the rear fender line... the rear fenders were rolled and pulled slightly with a bit of plastic shaved off the inside rear of the rear fenders....
also, I am not using any rear camber kit or running negative camber on any corner... the car has even tire wear....
Tire size:
FR - 235/35/19 (no stretch)
RR - 235/35/19 (slight stretch)
*crazy as it sounds, the slight rear stretch has helped quell understeer...
And one more thing, its not in my signature, but the Corsport shifter bushings are easily the best mod for the money....
#34
an adult perspective
I find that somewhat difficult to believe as I tried running without the rear camber kit on nothing more than a set of Comptech (Eibach) springs wrapped around Neuspeed/Koni Yellows riding on 18" RJ Servo's. After a while, found myself needing a front kit also. Hope your luck lasts.
#38
lowrd on tein CS biatch
iTrader: (2)
when u are thattt wide, it's bound to pop out just a lil bit.
but as for positioning of the wheels IMHO I like the wheel itself to be flush with the outside of the car. so when u see the car from behind it's just perfectly lined up
my Konig Zero-in 8x18s with a 45mm offset do that just perfectly
but as for positioning of the wheels IMHO I like the wheel itself to be flush with the outside of the car. so when u see the car from behind it's just perfectly lined up
my Konig Zero-in 8x18s with a 45mm offset do that just perfectly
#39
i noticed a couple of questions above so I will try and answer them as best I can...
Re: Who makes the wheels...
These wheels were purchased off the black market @ this link:
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/19x8-5-35-19x9-5-40-wheels-740270/
I had an idea of the widths, offsets, and diameter I wanted before I started my search for my next wheels. When I saw this posting, I knew I had to have them. The seller was great to deal with btw.
Interesting tidbit... if you look closely @ the pics, you will notice that I blacked out the rivets on the rear wheels. I originally did this as an optical illusion to make the rears look a little bigger than the fronts (they are 19 inches front and rear... with a deeper lip on the rear, it has the effect of making the rear wheel appear smaller as it is more recessed). I also did it to simply see the effect on how the wheels look with the rivets hidden. I think I will be going ahead and blacking out the front rivets as well. If I keep the car longer term, I will send the wheels in for refinishing at which point I will have the rivets properly hidden with a matte black type paint effect (or I will have them plated in copper.... you never know).... :-)
Re: Wheel Positioning
I recently had a load of 200 pounds or so of tiles in my trunk so I snapped these 2 pics to show the effect of suspension compression in the rear on how far out the wheels stick out... this is the effect when I have myself in the car as well or when I simply accelerate away from a stop.... first pic is side shot and then the rear close up....
![](https://acurazine.com/forums/members/suspekt360-21459-albums-2003-cls-_-august-2010-6231-picture-17-1-200-pounds-trunk-34085.jpg)
Re: Who makes the wheels...
These wheels were purchased off the black market @ this link:
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/19x8-5-35-19x9-5-40-wheels-740270/
I had an idea of the widths, offsets, and diameter I wanted before I started my search for my next wheels. When I saw this posting, I knew I had to have them. The seller was great to deal with btw.
Interesting tidbit... if you look closely @ the pics, you will notice that I blacked out the rivets on the rear wheels. I originally did this as an optical illusion to make the rears look a little bigger than the fronts (they are 19 inches front and rear... with a deeper lip on the rear, it has the effect of making the rear wheel appear smaller as it is more recessed). I also did it to simply see the effect on how the wheels look with the rivets hidden. I think I will be going ahead and blacking out the front rivets as well. If I keep the car longer term, I will send the wheels in for refinishing at which point I will have the rivets properly hidden with a matte black type paint effect (or I will have them plated in copper.... you never know).... :-)
Re: Wheel Positioning
I recently had a load of 200 pounds or so of tiles in my trunk so I snapped these 2 pics to show the effect of suspension compression in the rear on how far out the wheels stick out... this is the effect when I have myself in the car as well or when I simply accelerate away from a stop.... first pic is side shot and then the rear close up....
![](https://acurazine.com/forums/members/suspekt360-21459-albums-2003-cls-_-august-2010-6231-picture-17-1-200-pounds-trunk-34085.jpg)
![](https://acurazine.com/forums/members/suspekt360-21459-albums-2003-cls-_-august-2010-6231-picture-15-1-200-pounds-trunk-you-can-see-camber-change-34086.jpg)
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