LIBERTY's Support Wagon - F*ck AAA... Intro...

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Hey guys/gals: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]I wanted a Mercedes-Benz R350 to replace my TL because of my growing family. I finally found and purchased a 2008 White Fully loaded R350 a month ago and I love it so far... It has the room of a minivan but the doors of a sedan… [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white]True to form… I’m keeping OEM… [/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=3][FONT=Calibri][COLOR=white]Here is what I’ve done so far to give it my personal touch. [/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
 
 
 
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Got a few parts a week later... Wood Steering wheel, Lowering Rear Links, H&R Springs, 2011 Style mirrors, 3 sets of HIDs (5,000K Color temp)+ decoders, LED lights complete interior, license plate lights & driving lights and AMG pedals... To give it a little 2011 refresh... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Installed HIDS: [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Lowering it:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]After the install... I felt it wasn't low enough so I modified the front springs to get me a little lower plus I maxed out the lowering links in the rear... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Best picture that shows the drop and fender gap... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Since I purchased this R350 used... the previous owner had some minor scratches on the bumper and I needed to paint the mirrors so I decided to take it to a body shop where I... Painted the front bumper, the mirrors, rest of panoramic roof Black and Custom installed 2011 Quad Fogs from a 2011 E-Class... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
 
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]I was trying to locate 2011 R350 LED Rear Lights to Retrofit into my R350 but could not find a pair at a reasonable good price in time... But as soon as I get them... I will install to give the rear a nice fresh look. :biggthumpup:[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white]Came out looking subtle and like OEM... I love the look... [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]
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[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][COLOR=white] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

and you know this mannnnnn! Dope.

Your doing a van/wagon that many of us would have loved to do.  Nice refresh.  Can't wait to see it when you really go in

^ i really want a R class..the quad fogs look nice

Looks like a clean toned down Wald Black Bison front

Thanks guys... Just having a little fun... :dance: as usual... 
 
This thing drives like a sedan...

Nice touches so far, can't wait to see what else u have in store for it

NICE! Intresting choice for a build but I like it and what you've done so far.
This car has always reminded me the closest of the J spec odyssey that we could get
Lookin forward to seening this thing modded up 
 
Love those fogs!!! :biggthumpup:

yeah O!!! that's part of the reason I was drawn to this thing... The RB1/2 Oddy... I actually did some research and inquiries on getting one here... but it's too much of a pain to get it done in a reasonable amount of time and the legal issues are questionable... 
 
 
 
One Day... I hope to have it resemble something like this... 
 
[img]http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206836_10150147346748424_530773423_6845077_2953968_n.jpg[/img] 
^^^Chop courtesy of GSOUP

All good
MBs are more baller anyways
 
Here's a cut you can bump to. I have this shit on constant repeat!
[URL]http://worldpopvideos.com/videos/lil-scrappy-benz-music/[/URL]

ive always wanted one

i imagine this build bein great, looking forward to it

been wanting one of these since the first time i saw one in person. i hope this build goes through.

so dope rodney

oem freshness ftw!

Love what Nate guys did to the bumper/fogs.  Very OEM and you know I'm about the details..haha.

Thanks Everyone... I know this is eventually going to be a Nice build... I'm going to take my time and do it right... 
 
I appreciate the kind words  :biggthumpup:
 
I love this van... So much room in the back... =)

looking forward to the progress:biggthumpup:

Wagon style on the next level. After Leche I know this will be badass.

I was going to buy one of these but went for the GL450 instead. Once I sell the Evo I'm going to try to get an 04-06 Lex LS430UL, we'll see. I've been thinking of the LED tails and the mirrors like you did cause mine is pre-2011 too. Looks good!!

whats a support wagon?

I think hes saying hes gonna be the call guy for when a liberty member breaks down and needs a hand shawn.  Instead of calling triple A they call the rod pod or leche pod or whatever you guys are callling it... libertys support wagon =)

Eye see. ;) dur.

whew, good to hear u'll be carrying the jack now :P.

I got  5$  in the pot  , this is going to be Vip D out in no time :biggthumpup:

Yes sir... Tire VooDoo is nothing to play with here in the NorthEast... tis the season... I have a spare and bolt conversion spacer in the trunk... with a low profile jack and a couple of 2x4 planks... I got the team covered... If a girl is with a member... she rides with me... I want her safe and sound, not in a spared-out dumped VIP Car... :biggthumpup:
 
Thnakx guys... this should be fun...

Fog lights look very clean and natural.   Mirrors of course are super dope.

My man Sam (no homo)... you already know... Thanks for all the feedback, advise and recommendations... I'm a rookie to this MB thing... I appreciate it ... Thanks brother...

And it begins...looking fwd to this build

Love the van bro... keep us updated...

NICE :biggthumpup:

Alright guys... I  custom mounted some HIDs into the day-time running lights fog assembly (Outers) of the 2011 E/R-Class quad fogs I retrofitted onto my R350... 
I just love doing real world testing... :lol:
 
This was the results... 
[img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6021/5936293601_5c16b24dc7_z.jpg[/img]
 
Front view of the bulb just melting away...
[img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5936852504_04d3bb033f_z.jpg[/img]

Bulbs themselves... they melted off the housing and got stuck to the fender liner...
[img]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/5936293799_e366caf0f6_z.jpg[/img]
 
 
In conclusion, the less expensive $40 day-time fog assemblies WILL NOT handle HID bulbs. It was an assumption I made when I first received them but since I already purchased them and I took to DK without time to get another pair of the actual metal/glass inner fogs , I threw them in anyway. 
 
I basically installed them (HID Bulbs) old school, used a few dabs of JB Weld... JB Weld is still in tact but plastic housing not so much... 
 
Let this be a lesson for anyone trying to do the same thing... :smiley-rofl:
 
I also know that some people assume that they can cut cost by just buying 4 of the day-time Fog assemblies assuming they are the same... They are NOT and will not give you the same ultimate use. Assuming you want to light up the streets like I do... If you just want to run little LEDs then you're good to go... 

 
Hope this helps some people in the future... :biggthumpup:

some good info, you should  make a thread in the lighting section (if you havnt already, i never check that section)

Wow, those quad foglights are niiice

nice whip! may i suggest using h3 hids, from what i saw, they dont get that hot. or go full bore smd led :biggthumpup:

Wow... been a while since I visited this thread... thanks for the advise, however, the burnt bulbs pictured above were actually H3 bulbs... I figured they would work since I had H3 HIDs in the reverse lights in my old TL for 4 years with absolutely no issues and the opening of the plastic fog assembly was small and the H3s fit perfectly...

Ok guys... Update... 
 
Just copped some 20" ML63 Factory Wheels... 5 Spoke... from a cool dude in Florida... 
 
 
Should be a good OEM look for the R350... 20x10 et46 all around... Extends an extra 43mm from my current factory wheels. Thinking about running 245-45/20 tires - which includes a 1/2" overall Body-DROP... :pat:  And still be able to run through NYC Pot holes with my eyes closed... SMSL Cross Bronx Expressway... :runcoold:
 
[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/6853944160_b57013dc3b_b.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7000068489_4aa681198c_c.jpg[/IMG]

Hope that this doesn't open up my flood gates :nohomo:

Them some dope ass stocks

that's pretty slick Rodney...did you pickup another Benz recently?  Thought I read that on FB

should look super dope man...cant wait!

Thanks Pancakes... I've been off-track recently... been focused on just checking out the BOOTY thread... Your posts are always epic... :biggthumpup:
 
SpeedAddict.. I haven't actually... This is the same 'ol minivan I've been driving for the past year or so... its been treating me well so far... I needed tires so I decided to buy wheels and tires instead :pat:... Plus I'm a sucker for 5-Spoke...
 
Thanks ISO... I think it should be a good look... However, this Minivan swallows 20s (no homo) :slap:
 
I'll fine tune the height all around while I'm at it... 
 
Simple is my goal...

[QUOTE=rodneyc77;446339]Thanks Pancakes... I've been off-track recently... been focused on just checking out the BOOTY thread... Your posts are always epic... :biggthumpup:
 
SpeedAddict.. I haven't actually... This is the same 'ol minivan I've been driving for the past year or so... its been treating me well so far... I needed tires so I decided to buy wheels and tires instead :pat:... Plus I'm a sucker for 5-Spoke...
 
Thanks ISO... I think it should be a good look... However, this Minivan swallows 20s (no homo) :slap:
 
I'll fine tune the height all around while I'm at it... 
 
Simple is my goal...[/QUOTE]
Oh I know....I used to work at mercedes benz and I drove R-Classes all day...I like em

So I spent some time getting the rear lower yesterday... I mis-calculated the amount I needed to shorten the lowering link and lowered it 2 inches instead of 1. :rofl: 
 
It looked badass and I was temped to cut another ring off the H&R Springs in the front to get it 1" lower to match the rear... 
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/555863_10150656895908424_530773423_9591958_1511848520_n.jpg[/IMG]
However, the ride quality of the rear was WAY too bouncy with the amount of Air in the bag at that height...
 
So I pulled out my calculator and figured out how much length (no homo) the lowering link needed to get lengthen to get me at exactly the same height as fronts... I went to make the adjustment and since I flipped the mounting bracket to get it lower with available lowering link adjustment threading I noticed that I had already maxed out the total length of the link... So what I did was use washers to effectively raise the mounting bracket to my desired elevation to make up the difference. 
 
End result... 15.5 inches from centerline of wheel to edge of fender all around... 
Killing it at the Grave Yard...
[IMG]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/7050500547_c815886215_c.jpg[/IMG]

A little Camber... But I'll see exactly where I'm at this afternoon when I put it on the alignment rack... :tongue-new:
[IMG]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5316/6904546648_dd622fa19a_c.jpg[/IMG]
 
Day time pic of it Leveled out... Looks sweet... Caught a couple of people walking by and breaking their neck looking at it... 
[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/6904545670_b3c87ce604_c.jpg[/IMG]

Overall, Very happy with the look... The van has the presence of a long sedan now... and the ride quality is decent... a tad bit too loose in the rear (no one likes that on anything ; :nohomo: ) :rofl:

Looks real good Rodney:biggthumpup:

Thanks Tommie... Really appreciate it :biggthumpup:

looks really dope

Clean...oem goodness

Damn dude, I love those wheels.  Very nice man!

rodney your benzo looks noiiiiiiiiice ! luvin the 5 spoke as usual ! cant wait to see more on this build !!!!

Nicely done!  Love the ML AMG wheels.

Thanks everyone... Appreciate the kind words... 
 
I now get constant questions about the model of Benz??? If this "station wagon" was recently rolled out :pat: 
 
I went to my usual alignment guy and his hunter machine didn't have the software, wheel base range and special tools needed to align it. So now I'm on a hunt to find an independent location that does have the capabilities to get it done. But we did find that we have camber, caster, and toe adjustment points. :biggthumpup: 
 
I'm slowly getting into this thing... it's been a long year of playing the sidelines... it was nice...

I want One!!!!:bowdown:

Hey rodney,  I just picked up a R350 for my wife and was going to do H&Rs up front and the links in back.  Was wondering how it rides?  or do you have any other suggestions?  Thanks

It rides really good... when it's just the conservative drop of the springs and lowering link range...  
 
I'm currently in research and development to revamp the whole suspension... cause I'm really low in the rear (customized the range of the link range)... so the bag doesn't have a lot of pressure in it currently... So I have to keep the tank filled with gas to add the weight to have the most amount of pressure in the bag possible... 
 
I know that Eibach has spring available that replace the front springs and the rear bags with springs... that give a decent drop and ride quality... That's another option currently that wasn't available last year.

[QUOTE=rodneyc77;447308]It rides really good... when it's just the conservative drop of the springs and lowering link range...  
 
I'm currently in research and development to revamp the whole suspension... cause I'm really low in the rear (customized the range of the link range)... so the bag doesn't have a lot of pressure in it currently... So I have to keep the tank filled with gas to add the weight to have the most amount of pressure in the bag possible... 
 
I know that Eibach has spring available that replace the front springs and the rear bags with springs... that give a decent drop and ride quality... That's another option currently that wasn't available last year.[/QUOTE]

Cool man thanks.  I will look into it.    Is liberty coming down to Va beach for springiest again this year?

do they make air for this car and/or are you going to consider that as an option down the line rodney?  we're all itching to know how far you're gonna take this one, love these vans.

Hey BAHC... The R-Class has a factory option of air on all four corners, Airmatic. My R350 did not have this option, it's the standard version which is springs in the front and air bags in the rear. It self levels the rear with the use of a height sensor; which I have tricked with the use of lowering links to make it sit lower. 
 
As shown here:
[IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/6944239192_0fb9687c13_c.jpg[/IMG]
 
 
As mentioned before, due to the amount of drop I currently have in the rear... the rear is a bit loose. Since I've forced it to be lower, it means there is less pressure in the bags. 
 
I'm currently working with an air suspension company and they are willing to make something work based on space available in the suspension area, their current bag designs and some custom brackets/mounts to stiffen up the rear. I still need to do more research and measuring. I have already figured out the electronics part of it, where I will not get an error code if I installed my own air management system like Accuair. 
 
I think that I will put this thing on full air... but just don't know exactly when. 
 
On another note... Got an alignment yesterday... Got the Toe neutralized and based on the amount of lowering I've done to it... it has some natural camber... The Front is at -3.0 degrees and the Rear is at -3.5 degrees... :runcoold:... Rides like a dream... takes corners like it's on rails... 
 
[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/401652_10150681420613424_530773423_9690222_1508915055_n.jpg[/IMG]
 
 
Thanks for looking guys... :biggthumpup:

Looking good!

:dance: and this was how the TL started :smiley-rofl:

I hate you Ty... :signdammit:

[QUOTE=BIG TY;448241]:dance: and this was how the TL started :smiley-rofl:[/QUOTE]

LOL.

We are cooking... :slap:
 
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/318157_10150697189343424_530773423_9716118_1131982080_n.jpg[/img]

:dance::runcoold::biggthumpup:...

SWAG :biggthumpup:

Lighting the way... 4 pairs of HIDs lighting up the pot holes in the 5 Boroughs... :innoutrofl2:
 
 
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/560360_10150745210713424_530773423_9820136_1812039617_n.jpg[/img]
 
Retrofited the Glass Fogs in the burnt up plastic (daytime running) fog location - Outers...

[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/295052_10150709666873424_530773423_9757784_545554115_n.jpg[/img]

Alright guys... I've been doing research... One question I've had was the current pressure of the rear bags at my current drive height. Based on the weight of the car and diameter of the bags - and how soft the rear been handling when I lowered it; I assumed 40 to 50 psi... I tapped into the OEM air hose of one of the bags and put an analog pressure gauge on it... 
 
 
[IMG]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5468/7171960172_ce01ee3421_c.jpg[/IMG]
[B]^simple setup... Only concern was the size of the factory hose... which is metric 4mm - outside diameter. [/B]
 
 
[IMG]http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5034/7171960512_25fa4dd062_c.jpg[/IMG]
[B]^Pressure in the bags currently is approximately 42 psi. (My assumption was close) [/B]
 
 
This was 5 minutes... should have done it a long time ago... Now I can guess what the factory compressor's peak output is.  :giggity:

Very nice

Any new updates?

Yes we need some updates. Also what kind of lowering rear links are those?

Everything is alright!!! :biggthumpup:

[img]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s480x480/391495_10150930558438424_1243661260_n.jpg[/img]

[img]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s480x480/602322_10150931130963424_1645041998_n.jpg[/img]

I know how you give it up homie so I know the whip is gonna proper..

Thanks Tommie... I appreciate that.

the strut is in the middle of that?

Damn this thing is very inspirational.

[QUOTE=OG;458723]the strut is in the middle of that?[/QUOTE]


No, it's not. The shock is seperate. It's off to the left of it (off the picture). Similar design as the E-Class, Y50 infinitis etc. 

Thanks Bluwagun...

fuck im stocked to see the next set of updates

this is sweet... i swore i saw this rolling out of WekFest East a few weeks back...

you probably did... it was there.

[QUOTE=excluesiveonez;464438]you probably did... it was there.[/QUOTE]

sweet... wish i can make it black3, black2 was a different event than what I was use to.

[QUOTE=Wagon_LifeStyle;464437]this is sweet... i swore i saw this rolling out of WekFest East a few weeks back...[/QUOTE]

Yes I was at that event... If it was dirty with front wheels darker than the rears... That was me... LOL

Thanks homie...

^ to be lower! Why else? :shrug:

updates?

Yes... I got no dust brake pads and installed and that was the best modification to date... :dance:

[QUOTE=Rodneyc77;467661]Yes... I got no dust brake pads and installed and that was the best modification to date... :dance:[/QUOTE]

Which pads?  My pads on the SC are making so much dust it drives me nuts!

yea, i need some new brake pads too for my z06 brakes, what pads did you end up buying?

Have you gotten to the front?