redline
07-29-2005, 10:11 PM
If you will, induce yourself into a nostalgic coma and take a trip back to 1997. A time when at Mercedes-Benz AG, quality was expected, and quantity was irrelevant. This was the prime during what is considered to be the best recent era in Mercedes-Benz's history. Of the four models Mercedes offered that year, one particularly stuck out to Bnzsport.com’s resident photo-genius Christian del Rosario. It is my pleasure to award Christian and his awesome W202 C36 AMG our July/August Ride of the Month award.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1741/01crw10587in.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/8143/07crw11506no.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The luxury, performance, and poweress of the first factory performance vehicle from new in-house tuner AMG made every European car enthusiast's neck crane to say the least. The same held true for then Audi lover Christian. It was after owning and retiring his Audi 4000s, as well as an Isuzu Rodeo that Christian was finally ready to make the move to a long, rewarding relationship with a certain 744 C36. After the short ownership of his Isuzu, Christian revisited his top five car list. At the top was the B5 S4, followed by the E36M3 in 4-door trim, one of which he nearly bought if it weren’t for a bad dealership. Next was the W202 C36. Christian was drawn to the W202 because of its “crisp, macho lines…and also because AMG’s…true AMG’s were simply never seen on roads back then.”
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6359/02crw10730lp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Prior to his purchase however, like any smart bnzsporter, Christian decided to do some research. This research eventually leads him to what is today, bnzsport.com. Back then, Christian remembers there only being about 60 total members, many of them w202 enthusiasts like himself. The community pulled together and in April of 2001, Christian had finally made a decision with the help of fellow benzsporters on one of four C36's in his area. One of the stipulations for the purchase was to have an OEM 6-disc changer included for free. Apparently someone who was also a member of benzsport installed this changer. This turned out to be the infamous nokia8860, who worked across the street from the dealership and helped out occasionally. It was Nokia, along with MBenzNL who Christian believes to be "the pioneers of Mercedes-Benz modding. Back then, they were certainly on the bleeding edge. It was my understanding that benzsport.com was their personal project." That year, Christian participated in the now historic first ever bnzsport get together. This was composed of three w202's: Christian, Nokia8860, and JRE320. Christian remembers his first mod being the famous clear corners, which sat in his garage until Nokia helped him with the then complicated install.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3199/03mv9r24728dz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Contrary to the trend in the industry and in the Mercedes tuning community, Christian has decided to keep his C36 relatively low key. "Currently I’ve configured my car to be less show, and more stock to what I’d envision it may look like in the hands of an AMG enthusiast in Germany."
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3649/04mv9r24771sm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
In the handling department, Christian has added 17" C32 AMG Split Spoke wheels that reduce weight and increase brake cooling, all wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero performance tires. The car has been lowered on H and R Adjustable Sport Springs and Koni Adjustable shocks. To further increase handling, a Weicherts Rear Strut Bar was also added.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7430/10crw12812ky.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The cosmetic department is where Christian's 202 takes on its sleeper appearance. Blinker mirrors adopted from a W210 give the C an updated look while Hella European Amber and Red tail lamps are true to its roots. An Avant Garde grill adds a sporty edge on the outside while W202 sport carbon fiber trim and custom carbon fiber gearshift finish off an immaculate interior. In keeping true to the times, the C36 features a pre-update European trunk lid, a European license plate frame, and is currently debadged.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/832/05mv9r24930bs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/906/06crw11351sv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/1710/08crw12660bb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
After many years of pleasant ownership, well over 100,000 miles, and many new friends later, Christian wouldn’t have done it any other way. Special thanks goes to Nokia, JRE320, Kuhl Carbon, and the countless other friends on bnzsport, benzsport, and club202.com
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/4425/09crw12303ks.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1741/01crw10587in.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/8143/07crw11506no.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The luxury, performance, and poweress of the first factory performance vehicle from new in-house tuner AMG made every European car enthusiast's neck crane to say the least. The same held true for then Audi lover Christian. It was after owning and retiring his Audi 4000s, as well as an Isuzu Rodeo that Christian was finally ready to make the move to a long, rewarding relationship with a certain 744 C36. After the short ownership of his Isuzu, Christian revisited his top five car list. At the top was the B5 S4, followed by the E36M3 in 4-door trim, one of which he nearly bought if it weren’t for a bad dealership. Next was the W202 C36. Christian was drawn to the W202 because of its “crisp, macho lines…and also because AMG’s…true AMG’s were simply never seen on roads back then.”
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/6359/02crw10730lp.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Prior to his purchase however, like any smart bnzsporter, Christian decided to do some research. This research eventually leads him to what is today, bnzsport.com. Back then, Christian remembers there only being about 60 total members, many of them w202 enthusiasts like himself. The community pulled together and in April of 2001, Christian had finally made a decision with the help of fellow benzsporters on one of four C36's in his area. One of the stipulations for the purchase was to have an OEM 6-disc changer included for free. Apparently someone who was also a member of benzsport installed this changer. This turned out to be the infamous nokia8860, who worked across the street from the dealership and helped out occasionally. It was Nokia, along with MBenzNL who Christian believes to be "the pioneers of Mercedes-Benz modding. Back then, they were certainly on the bleeding edge. It was my understanding that benzsport.com was their personal project." That year, Christian participated in the now historic first ever bnzsport get together. This was composed of three w202's: Christian, Nokia8860, and JRE320. Christian remembers his first mod being the famous clear corners, which sat in his garage until Nokia helped him with the then complicated install.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3199/03mv9r24728dz.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Contrary to the trend in the industry and in the Mercedes tuning community, Christian has decided to keep his C36 relatively low key. "Currently I’ve configured my car to be less show, and more stock to what I’d envision it may look like in the hands of an AMG enthusiast in Germany."
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3649/04mv9r24771sm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
In the handling department, Christian has added 17" C32 AMG Split Spoke wheels that reduce weight and increase brake cooling, all wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero performance tires. The car has been lowered on H and R Adjustable Sport Springs and Koni Adjustable shocks. To further increase handling, a Weicherts Rear Strut Bar was also added.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/7430/10crw12812ky.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The cosmetic department is where Christian's 202 takes on its sleeper appearance. Blinker mirrors adopted from a W210 give the C an updated look while Hella European Amber and Red tail lamps are true to its roots. An Avant Garde grill adds a sporty edge on the outside while W202 sport carbon fiber trim and custom carbon fiber gearshift finish off an immaculate interior. In keeping true to the times, the C36 features a pre-update European trunk lid, a European license plate frame, and is currently debadged.
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/832/05mv9r24930bs.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/906/06crw11351sv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/1710/08crw12660bb.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
After many years of pleasant ownership, well over 100,000 miles, and many new friends later, Christian wouldn’t have done it any other way. Special thanks goes to Nokia, JRE320, Kuhl Carbon, and the countless other friends on bnzsport, benzsport, and club202.com
http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/4425/09crw12303ks.jpg (http://imageshack.us)