[tmwei396]

This all sounds very exciting and I can feel my wallet opening on it's own. Rather then doing the upgrades piecemeal I would probably get everything all at the same time. I don't know if that's a good idea or not because if there's any issues it would make it difficult to isolate what or where the problem is. If I do the upgrades one at a time then if I have an issue I'll know it's only that upgrade and if no issues after say 500 miles then I'll know that upgrade is good and then on with the next one, and etc. So as far as I can tell all the possible upgrades are FMIC, turbo, ECU flash, Cat back exhaust, and a tune chip like VR. Am I correct? Going back to getting all the upgrades at the same time and given the complexity and number of installs will you guys work out a deal to price out all 5 upgrades PLUS the install? I'm relatively close to you guys (central NJ) and I do have another vehicle so I have no problems dropping the car off with you guys for a week or so for you guys to do the install and test. Just a thought.

 

[tmwei396]

This is super exciting -- kudos to @TurboKits.com for your hard work developing and testing this product! I definitely want one.

A few questions:
- Would installing this intercooler void MB warranty?
- Are there any plans to offer this product in painted black, like you did for the BOV spacer? I'd personally prefer it non-intrusive to the stock look of my chrome diamond grill. Really stands out against dark background.
- I have a VR tuner. You mentioned something about the stock ECU torque limit maps. If I were to avoid ECU flash, would I gain anything from installing this intercooler on top of my VR? How much power would I be leaving on the table if I kept the stock ECU maps?

Great questions. I'd like to know as well.

 

[tmwei396]

What would be the price with the group buy?

 

[tmwei396]

I haven't committed yet. I was just inquiring about the price of the group buy.

 

[tmwei396]

I have also installed the new intercooler, I will have photos and a review posted in a separate post tomorrow I now have pretty much maxed out my performance as well on the car


I will include install advice and post install advice as well

Can't wait for it.

 

[tmwei396]

Consumer Reports (Product Ratings and Reviews - Consumer Reports) says the average life expectancy of a new vehicle these days is around 8 years or 150,000 miles. Of course, some well-built vehicles can go 15 years and 300,000, if properly maintained.

Really? I didn't realize it was that low. My last car lasted me 10 years and 274,000 miles before I sold it and I had a 1994 truck that lasted 14 years and 285,000 miles before I sold that. So I guess I just assumed 200,000 would be the norm considering modern engines now are much more advanced with more sensors, safety precautions and warning systems in place. Oh well, I didn't expect my CLA to be a daily driver anyway as I have another vehicle to do that.

 

[tmwei396]

Tony, what brand truck and what kind of problems/repairs did you have with those trucks?

It was a 1994 Toyota Pickup with V6 4x4 5-speed manual Xtra Cab. Somehow I got a California model with the extra 02 sensor and it was a PITA to get my exhaust system replaced. Aside from having to get my exhaust system custom fitted I had literally no issues with it. Granted, I kept up with routine maintenance and I did most of the consumable replacements myself like shocks, oil and filter, plugs and wires, ignition, etc. The only reason why I sold it was the cooling system developed a leak in one of the hoses very close to the firewall. It was too tight of a fit for me to reach for hose replacement and i didn't want to spend the necessary $$ to take it to the shop because it had nearly 300,000 miles on it so I just decided to sell it. I sold it within 24 hours of placing the ad and I've regretted ever since. I really loved that truck and I still miss it today. That thing was my daily driver for about 11 or the 14 years I had it and survived weekend trips to Vermont every weekend during skiing season as we had a ski house in Killington, VT. I never got stuck despite the ice, snow, and slush and I've even pulled out a couple of my housemates with their 4x4s who got stuck.

 

[tmwei396]

@tmwei396 re: your 1994 truck -- wow! 

Yup. People don't believe me but despite the mileage and replacement of part it still had a lot of original parts from the factory like starter motor, alternator, radiator, fuel pump, etc. Of course the belts and water pump were replaced countless times but I consider those consumables like brake pads and stuff. I guess that was another reason why I decided to sell it. I was thinking all those things are about to go because there's no way they can last more than 300,000 miles. If you want to see it you'll have to search for the 1999 Cannondale catalogue and look for it. Hint: I'm leaning against it sitting on a red Cannondale . The guy I sold it to used to send me emails thanking me for selling it to him and would include pictures of all the mods he did to it. I kept it stock. As far as I know they guy is still driving it.

 

[tmwei396]

Tony, amazing. I hope to get at least half of what you experienced with the CLA. If I get 10 years and 150,000 miles with minimal replacement parts I will be happy. I guess I am somewhat surprised you did not stick with Toyota or Lexus considering the excellent results you had with your truck(s).

If my main criteria was reliability and longevity then I would probably ended up with a Lexus or Acura and I've actually considered them before I got the CLA but that wasn't what I was after. At the time I got my CLA I already had a very reliable Accord to use as my daily driver so for my "second" or "weekend" car I went for looks and fun factor. As nice as the Acura and Lexus are, they're just no comparison to the CLA in terms of looks in my opinion. Also, I'm the type who like to try different brands. Of all the different brands of cars I've owned Toyota and Mazda are the only two that I've returned to so far. My first Toyota was a 1987 Celica GT-S. The pickup was my second and my wife's RAV4 V6 AWD is our third Toyota. She also drove a Mazda Protege5 and now I have a Mazda 3s as my daily driver. I sample other makes not because I didn't like them the previous brands I've owned. I'm just not the type to only sticks to one brand. There are plenty of great cars out there so I didn't see why I should limit myself to one or two brands. Unless the car manufacturers practice customer loyalty (huge discounts for returning customers), I don't practice brand loyalty unless I have a really good reason and right now I don't. Mercedes won't be any different. I know MB's goal for the CLA in the NA market is to get customers in to their brand and hope to keep them. Well, let's see what they'll do to keep me. I'm a dealer's nightmare. I tell them straight to their face how I feel and I don't bend. My last car purchase (Mazda 3) was a classic example. After I test drove a couple of cars and decided on the model I wanted I tell them straight up my price. I do my research and offer up a fair price and I don't low ball to a point where they don't make any money. I get it, they're a business and they need to keep the lights on. So I tell the sales associate my price and it's take it or leave it. So I tell him my price and he goes to his manager with it. He comes back with the sales manager and manager sits down and starts the BS that I've heard many times before. So in the middle of his BS I cut him off and asked if he'll take my price. Yes or No. He gave me some BS about how the price was too low so I stood up, thanked the sales associate for his time, and left. This was on a Saturday. Come Monday I get a call from the sales associate and he said that the general manager accepted my offer. They way I approach car buying is the same way I approach job hunting.. the best time to do it is when you don't need it. Meaning you're willing and able to walk away. I've walked away from job offers and dealerships, including Toyota and when the time comes if and when I don't like the terms I'll do the same with Mercedes. I walk away. Give them a week to think about my offer. If they accept, great. If not, I move on to another dealer... either of the same brand or a competing brand. Oh, and I have no problems telling them that, too. They probably curse me out before the door even closes behind me but I don't care. If they want my business they'll have to work for it. But if they treat me right I will return the favor and be their best spokesman. I know this is a long winded answer to why I didn't buy another Toyota or Lexus but once I get going I just can't stop.

 

[tmwei396]

... the last of the gen1 was the 1977 liftback and my bud had the canary yellow with black louvres etc ... lovely specimen

Oh I know them well. As a kid that's what attracted me to Toyotas. Our neighbor had one and everyday walking to school I would see it in his driveway and I just fell in love with it. So when I finally got my license my Dad asked me what car I wanted I said a Toyota. I knew he wouldn't get me a Celica but at that time any Toyota would do. He tried to talk me out of it because he was strictly a Big 3 kind of guy. Only American cars. He's had cars from all of the big 3. I saw all the problems he had with them and I knew I didn't want that. Long story short, after seeing how well my little foreign car did, his very next car was a Lexus, then a MB E-Class. I eventually inherited both but I sold the E-Class because that car wasn't me. It was a nice car but I'm not a big sedan kind of person. I kept the Lexus because it was so old (1990) that nobody would buy it. I kept it as a beater.

 

[tmwei396]

So now we have 3 different part numbers. One of them is an actual confirmed one since it's sitting on TK's desk. I wonder what the other 2 is all about. I suppose those with the CLA200 and 180 can chime in.

 

[tmwei396]

Or one of our non-US forum mates digging that smaller turbo from a junk yard visit 

And then you nice folks can extend your goodwill R&D discount 

Damn, I wish I had known. I was just in Germany and I have friends there who could have done a junkyard search for a 200/180 turbo.

 

[tmwei396]

Darn ... when's your next trip to DE? Sure could use this small Euro part available over there but not over here ...

I usually go there once a year but we're trying to get back there in a few months to Koblenz.

 

[tmwei396]

Awesome. Any tips on removing the bumper cover? Also waiting on the solution for the fault code.

 

[tmwei396]

What fault code did you get?

I was referring to the fault codes that you got: P2610 and P0073. I know you got P2610 sorted out. Just wondering what P0073 is. I haven't done a thing yet to my car. Taking off the bumper cover is what's holding me back mostly.

 

[tmwei396]

Oh ... now I am sure your children can get that thing off in a jiffy for you .....

Yes but getting it off in one piece is the challenge.

 

[tmwei396]

Each child gets one piece so they dont fight [emoji12]
So for those who have one kid ..... heh

I only have one kid but he likes to share.

 

[tmwei396]

Oh I can see it now ...

"Daddy, I got your bumper off! Here's one piece for you, one piece for Mommy, and one piece for me."

Knowing my son they'll be enough to also give a piece for the dog, the fish, our neighbor, and any random person he happens to run in to.