In reply to mblommel:
That sounds like it has potential, but it would probably have the car off the road for some time.
IMHO, try selling it as is. If you aren't getting the offers you want and it seems like the wheel condition is holding it back, then I'd look into it. Let's face it, the steering wheel is one thing the next owner will be staring at for some time.
I'm gonna stop by Joann's Fabrics tonight on the way home and see if they have any leather like products i might be able to redo the whole wheel in.
There's also a couple restoration kits out there I have looked at. If I can't find anything good at Joann's for less than a restoration kit I'll go with the kit.
I have a plan for replacing the MB Star on the engine cover, I just haven't have had a chance to make it yet. This weekend I should get the oil changed, engine mounts swapped, new ambient temp sensor installed, fog light connectors installed, and work on that star also.
Then the car will really be almost perfect except for the steering wheel.
Oh and I also ordered a USB/AUX port I'm going to be installing in the center console to allow me to hook my phone into the factory radio. unfortuannyl the factory bluetooth kit is still about $1000 and I haven't really found a good aftermarket alternative to that. So no integrated blueteeth for this ride unfortunately.
And we're back with updates for this weeks Wheeler Dealers episode.
I just got a load of parts in from Amazon and it was time to fit them.
I started with the engine mounts, as most places online say that the job takes about 4 hours for just one side! 
The toughest side being the drivers side.
Here's the new mounts all ready to go.
I started by jacking up the car to get to the lower bolts. These are 13mm.
Here's the other side.
I tried to take a picture of the old mount in the car but it's far too buried to get a good shot of. It's the sliver looking thing in the middle.
So at this point it was obvious the air filter assembly would need to go, to grant me room to work.
That's better. I also jacked the engine up about 1.5 inches. Here you can see the passenger side mount.
and here's the drivers side buried in there.
There's a special tool you can buy, but it's close to $40. so I just made this out of a swivel head 16mm ratcheting wrench and a cheap 1/2" wrench. I used the 1/2" so I could stick my 1/2" ratchet extension in the open end and put more leverage on the wrench.
It worked out great and I had the drivers out pretty quick after that.
In order to extract it I had to remove the A/C compressor bolts and push the compressor out of the way. i also took the swaybar mounts off to lower the bar out of the way.
Here's the old mount vs the new one.
Here's where all the old fluid from the mount went.
Putting it back went pretty easy. It was a little fiddly getting my hand on the bolt to get it started, but I got it worked out without too much cursing.
Then I went to the passenger side. I would say the drivers side tool about an hour and forty five minutes, this side took fifteen. Access was easy and the mount came out without an issue. I did have a harder time putting the new one back in though, getting my hand on the top bolt was tricky.
Here's the passenger side one.
I also replaced the trans mount. It was really easy. 4 bolts, nothing in the way. 10 minutes later I had the old one out and the new one in.
Here you can see the old cracked mount.
While I had the front wheels off I solderer in the 9006 connectors for the fog lamps and put the new temp sensor into place. Here you can see both in the passenger side front.
With all that out of the way I changed the oil. Out came 9 quarts of who knows what oil, and in went 9 quarts of Mobil 1 0w40 full synthetic, along with a new MANN filter and O-rings.
The last thing to do today was make a new Star badge for the engine cover. I had those leftover wheel centers, and they were just about the right size. So, a little trimming and I have a removed star.
I stole a book end from the wife's office next.. shh don't tell her. and cut out the mesh, glued it to the back of the cover with some shoe-goo. then attached the star tot he front with some super glue. I think it turned out pretty good.
And here it is installed on the car. Looks pretty sweet, and very much like the original mesh star that was there.
I took her for a quick spin around the block and man, what a transformation. Those mounts turned the car from feeling like an iron duke at idle, to the smooth MB that it should be.
I'll be writing up an ad and listing her for sale in CL this week, and we'll see what kind of offers I get. I may also swing by Carmax just for shizandgiggles and see what they offer.
I know I kind of shoot myself in the foot by putting my budget out there, but if anyone on here wants it I'll take $9k.
That's going to do it for updates, till I sell her. Wish me luck gents!
Continuing to enjoy your posts on your project...
Heck, it ain't your budget that shot you in the foot, it is the level of difficulty you've shown in working on the danged thing!
Good luck on the sale, you deserve every penny.
Basil Exposition wrote: Heck, it ain't your budget that shot you in the foot, it is the level of difficulty you've shown in working on the danged thing!
Haha. The working on it isn't all that bad. It's getting the AMG specific parts. Don't trust anything that says "Fits C55" get actual pictures of the item with a bloody ruler beside it to make sure. So remember how I bitched about the A/C compressor and the subframe being in the way? I didn't want to lift the engine as I didn't know how hard it would be to unbolt the mounts. Turns out it's just 2 13mm bolts that are super accessible. I still would have had the issue of the compressor not having the correct AMG snout on it though, even though the listing was AMG specific.
Oh and those 16 spark plugs will actually be pretty easy to change. The air filter assembly just pops off and you can get to them pretty easily after that.
Getting the new windshield put in tomorrow. Gotta love Florida's no pay windshield replacement law. Noticed a rumbling from the front end at low speeds, sounds like bearings. I ordered a new OEM set, those should be here next week. Still need to stop by Joanns Fabrics to see about some material for the steering wheel.
Woot. The front glass got replaced today and I found a nice used steering wheel on ebay for a decent price finally. I'll put on the new wheel and then try my hand at steering wheel recovering with the old one and resell it if it comes out good enough.
No bites yet on selling it though.
Flight Service wrote: Reupholstering a steering wheel
Yep, that's exactly the guide I was going to use. At least now with another wheel I don't have to worry about screwing something up and not having a replacement.
I want to run by a junkyard and get a wheel just to practice on. I think an Alcantara wheel in the CRV would look trick and be really nice to hold.
So in an interesting turn, I have a guy who is wanting to trade a 2012 MS3 straight up for the Merc.. I'm seriously considering it. What say the GRM fold? I think it might be easier to unload an MS3 than the C55. Anything I should look out for on the MS3 when I go to inspect it?
MS3? Is that a Mazda Speed3? Yea I wouldn't unless you wanted to drive the car. To bad you aren't local up here. It would go fairly quick to on of the Microdork, Facedip, Amazop, parent's for there little spoiled offspring.
In reply to brad131a4:
Yes it's a Mazdaspeed3 that he's offering. So 7 years newer, with 75k less miles on the clock. Those things tend to go for decent money down here. It has some Cobb stuff on it also, like the Accessport, Cobb OTS Stage 2 tune, Cobb short ram intake, ect.
In reply to t25torx:
IMHO the aftermarket crap hurts it. Given the mileage and year difference, I would take it, replace with stock all the AM stuff and then sell it. I don't think you will loose money swap for swap. Almost a retail to retail swap. The 1 big advantage to the MS3 is the fact a bank is more likely to finance a 4 year old Mazda. Let's be honest, you are probably dealing with a price range that people need to finance.
Flight Service wrote: In reply to t25torx: IMHO the aftermarket crap hurts it. Given the mileage and year difference, I would take it, replace with stock all the AM stuff and then sell it. I don't think you will loose money swap for swap. Almost a retail to retail swap. The 1 big advantage to the MS3 is the fact a bank is more likely to finance a 4 year old Mazda. Let's be honest, you are probably dealing with a price range that people need to finance.
My thoughts exactly. I figured I could make a little money off the aftermarket stuff, turn it back to 100% stock and then sell it on after that for the same or maybe even a little more than I'm asking for the C55. I meet the guy Saturday to swap test drives and see if it's wheeler dealer time. Hopefully my steering wheel will be in by then, I also need to get these front wheel bearings installed before then.
Duh I forgot about the header Wheeler Dealer. Flight service has a good idea about the aftermarket parts. Might even prop up the bottom line a bit selling those on ebay or CL. It would be easier to finance the MS3.I forget that people do that in that price range. Guess then you can get your money back quicker and then start a Wheeler Dealer Build 8.
In reply to brad131a4:
I've already got the car for Episode 8, had it for a little over a year now. I just have been putting off working on it as it's a pretty major undertaking. Hell the next episode might be Boater Dealers. I have this 60's MFG runabout I need to fix up and sell before I move. It's gonna be a busy 6 weeks ahead for me.
I think I remember your 'pretty major undertaking' car. 
t25torx wrote: In reply to brad131a4: I've already got the car for Episode 8, had it for a little over a year now. I just have been putting off working on it as it's a pretty major undertaking. Hell the next episode might be Boater Dealers. I have this 60's MFG runabout I need to fix up and sell before I move. It's gonna be a busy 6 weeks ahead for me.
Hopefully #8 is the Cobra!!
In reply to dyintorace:
That's the plan. If I can stay off CL long enough to stop finding these "easy" flips then I can concentrate on the big boy Daytona. I did work a little on it this weekend, I got the drivers side foot box disassembled so I can now get to the frame over there and start hacking it out.
Front wheel bearings are repacked and installed. The old ones weren't that old and the grease was in very good shape. So it's the front tires making this noise, and vibration. Too bad they have a ton of tread left on them. I'm gonna try to get them replaced before this weekend, it's just an excessive amount of road noise.
t25torx wrote: Front wheel bearings are repacked and installed. The old ones weren't that old and the grease was in very good shape. So it's the front tires making this noise, and vibration. Too bad they have a ton of tread left on them. I'm gonna try to get them replaced before this weekend, it's just an excessive amount of road noise.
When I worked at an MB dealership the certified used cars had to have tires that were approved by MB to be as smooth/quiet/sticky as the originals. Usually not the cheapest ones but they make a noticeable difference. I'd see if you can find what is approved for your car and get those.
Man, you are going way over the top with this flip! I'm sure it is better than most any other example of this year/make/model out there. If you were on this side of the country I'd be seriously considering it.
That said, do you think prospective buyers will notice the tire noise? I really can't say I would change the tires or would have done the wheel bearings, but everyone has their own definition of "done" when it comes to flips.
In reply to Junkyard_Dog:
If I were keeping the car I would probably go original equipment Pirelli's. But seeing as how this is a "cheap" flip those just aren't in the price bracket. But I will get some that are double the $60 that these chinese junk tires are.
Oh and the steering wheel got delivered today. I'll put it on when i get home and take pics
Is this kinda the boat you speak of?
And yeah...I was wondering where the Cobra got to.
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