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BonitaBeast
Regular
Date registered: Mar 2012
Location: Manila, Philippines
Vehicle(s): 2003 Kleemann G55k, 2003 DINAN E39 M5
Posts: 62
| Some before and after pics of my 2003
Some shots of the work I've done on my 2003 G55
Grill Before and After
Suspension Before and After 
More Suspension Before and After 
Ceiling Before and After 
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So-Cal G
Regular
Date registered: May 2011
Location: So-Cal
Vehicle(s): G500 2002
Posts: 93
| Re: Some before and after pics of my 2003
nice! |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Some before and after pics of my 2003
The Alcantara work was executed extremely well. |
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traveller09
Member
Date registered: Feb 2012
Location: Renton, WA
Vehicle(s): 95 911, 08 Volvo S60 T5, 2005 G500
Posts: 29
| RE: Some before and after pics of my 2003
What did you do to the suspension?
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Britrover
Regular
Date registered: Dec 2009
Location: Clearwater, FL
Vehicle(s): Land Rover LR3, 01 Benz E Klasse , 02 Benz G500
Posts: 84
| Re: Some before and after pics of my 2003
Alcantara looks sharp. I would recommend matching the visor in alcantara as well. |
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BonitaBeast
Regular
Date registered: Mar 2012
Location: Manila, Philippines
Vehicle(s): 2003 Kleemann G55k, 2003 DINAN E39 M5
Posts: 62
| Re: Some before and after pics of my 2003
Thanks guys.
I was thinking of wrapping the visors in alcantara as well but that would also mean having to paint the plastic bits of the mirror frame of the visor. I didn't want to do that so I figure I'll just wait patiently until I find a pair of original black visors on ebay or something... At the same time that happens, I'll replace the light gray handles above the doors as well. For now they'll remain gray.
I should have explained a little more about the suspension work. I swapped out the original 2003 shocks and springs with Bilstein Dampers spec'd for 2012 G55 / G550. Apparently they are using the same shocks these days. Then I replaced the original springs with G550 springs.
I actually did it in stages, replacing the shocks first. So I got to see how the truck rode with the new shocks and original springs. This made a huge improvement in the ride. Gone was teeth shattering ride that the 2003-2004 G55 was known for. I could actually float through rough roads without being thrown around the drivers seat; especially with the roads here in the Philippines.
I then replaced the original springs with springs for a G550 in the effort the make the ride even better. This increased the ride height quite a bit. It also lessened the stiffness in the ride a little bit but it didn't make as big a difference as I thought it would have. I noticed an increased amount of side to side body sway when going over bumps and uneven surfaces at slow speeds. When cornering there was also a slight increase in body roll from the raised center of gravity. The roll was still kept to a minimum though since the swaybars are still the original fatter AMG bars.
Overall, the single biggest difference was the shocks. The G550 springs made a difference as well but not a big enough difference to warrant the large increase in ride height. I'm throwing on the original springs tomorrow to bring it back down to its original ride height. I didn't realize how big a difference a few centimeters would make as far as appearance is concerned.
For comparison, the original front ride height was 47.5cm or ~18.7 inches and rear ride height was 49cm or ~19.3 inches measured from the center of the wheel caps to the bottom of the fender. With the new springs, I measured 52cm or ~20.5 inches front and rear. That's a difference of 4.5cm or nearly 2 inches for the front and 3cm or nearly 1.2 inches for the rear.
Looks like the G550 springs are going up for sale soon.....
Oh I forgot to mention I also replaced the exhaust. If you notice on one of the side "before" shots, there is only one exhaust pipe coming out from under the step boards. The insides of the exhausts went crunchy on me and started making noise so I replaced them with the proper dual side exhausts. (The car was originally spec'd for Japan who has noise restrictions so they required G55's to have special exhausts that only had one outlet pipe per side.) Now it sounds the way it should!!
Edited by BonitaBeast 6/25/2012 10:45 AM
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BonitaBeast
Regular
Date registered: Mar 2012
Location: Manila, Philippines
Vehicle(s): 2003 Kleemann G55k, 2003 DINAN E39 M5
Posts: 62
| Re: Some before and after pics of my 2003
I thought I wanted to update the look of my G to the post 2009+ look but realized I liked the classic look of original grill. It was the Brabus front spoiler that was throwing me off I think. Something didn't look right to me. I decided to work backwards and get the truck looking as period correct as possible. So I was finally able to find a set of bumper corners to replace the corners that are built into the Brabus spoiler and bring it back to looking nice and stock.
It now looks so much cleaner without the 4 busy round driving lights on the brabus spoiler. I also have the under bumper bar and skid plate en route to me. Should be here any day.
One thing I'm trying to decide on now is to keep the middle of the grill and star bodycolor or to make it the original silver grill and chrome star.
Or should I keep it black?? Hmmmmm.....
Decisions decisions!
Edited by BonitaBeast 8/13/2012 2:00 AM
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