Fixing the Automatic Climate Control in Mando

One of the things that wasn't working on Mando was the automatic climate control. Yes, the heat and AC work bot only when manually set. The sensor for the automatic climate control is located the overhead console where the map lights are. Unfortunately you can't just buy a new sensor and finding a new overhead console is next to impossible. I took my out to get the part number and starting searching Ebay. The first part of the part number indicates what modules are enabled. Since I have the C55 AMG, I had pretty much everything imaginable including the SOS button so I can't just buy any W203 overhead console without also maybe decativating features it doesn't support so it doesn't throw an error. The last part of the part number after the slash is a color code.

I was able to find a used overhead console on Ebay with the exact part number I needed but with a slighly different shade of gray. It was cheap enough at under $100 so I figured it was worth a try. I was able to swap it in and sure enough, the automatic AC started working again. While it was out, I also switched the front and rear dome lights to LED.

Great condition used overhead console

Original console (left) vs Replacement console (right)

Maintenance Update:

Mileage: 79,722

- Replaced overhead center console

NJMP with S2K Takeover

Due to all sorts of scheduling issues, my first track day of 2026 ended up being in July. I ran at both NJMP Lightning and Thunderbolt with S2K Takeover alongside EMRA. 

Starting the day in the wet

It had been raining quite a bit during the morning but thankfully it dried out by the time we got on track. During the first session, I felt something on the car but wasn't sure what it was. Turns out the front sway bar arm that had fallen off on my way to NYST year fell off again, this time completely. I was obviously not going to attempt to reinstall it and have it fall off a 3rd time so I disconnected one of the endlinks from the rear sway bar to have some semblance of balance. I'm going to replace this with a brand new sway bar, this time not as big as the oversized one I had from the car's BSP days.

Front sway bar arm that decided to peace out

This year I made some massive changes to the car over the winter. We put in MCS 2-way adjustables with 850/750 springs, I added an AP Racing BBK with Carbotech XP10 pads, I switched to the new Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RZ 255/40/17 all aruond on new Volk Racing 17x10 wheels and I replaced my PasswordJDM intake with a J's Racing intake. Surprisingly, even with no sway bars, the car handled exceptionally well. I was a bit tepid during the first sessions to feel out the balance but once I gained confidence I was able to put in good lap times. The smaller snorkel of the J's Racing intake also allowed more air to make it to the radiator allowing my engine to run cooler or rather, to cool down more quickly after a hard run. I ran ok times at NJMP Lightning but not faster than last year. The tires hadn't achieved full grip yet and the same was true for my new brakes so I wasn't able to push as hard as I wanted. 

NJMP Lightning - 1:21.26

On day 2 we were on NJMP Thunderbolt. The torrential downpour we had the night before made the day much cooler than the day before and we were blessed with sun throughout the day. I was able to push hard this time and despite not having any sway bars, I was able to set a new personal best, beating my time from last year by 1.5 seconds. 

NJMP Thunderbolt

NJMP Thunderbolt - 1:35.23

Back On 2 Wheels

I've been having the itch to enjoy open road riding again but didn't want a sport bike. I wanted something I could just cruise around in and take my thoughts away from the busy day to day. I spend the past few weeks researching motorcycles incessantly and after a few visits to dealers, decided that the 2026 Triumph Bonneville T120 Black is the bike for me. 

I love it's classic styling but modern safety additions like lean-aware ABS and Traction Control. I also like the relaxed riding position while offering excellent ergonomics and performance. At 1200cc, it's significanly more powerful than my first bike, a Suzuki GS500F but the power delivery and transmission are so smooth it's an easy bike to ride. 

Pickup day - Locomotion Powersports

While I'm definitely excited to be on a bike again, it's been over 15 years since I last rode so it's going to take some time to regain all the skills and reflexes I had built long ago. I was a bit anxious on my first ride home but once it started to come back to me, I was able to relax and enjoy it. 

I love an analog cluster

Finally home

Of course, it wouldn't be a Steguis Motorsports vehicle without being modded at least somewhat and I didn't waste time here either. I put on Triumph bar end mirrors both for looks and practicality as the Mickey Mouse standard side mirrors faced my shoulders and gave me poor rear visibility. The bar mirrors are perfectly located and I have clear rear vision through them. I also added a Quadlock mount with wireless charging which works great since the bike has a USB-C outlet right by the gauge cluster. Then of course the requisite quick connects for my C-tek charger so I can trickle charge the bike as needed. Finally, I also bought a great condition but used factory rear grab handle to make it easier to pull the bike up onto the center stand. From the dealership, I also had them install the center stand and engine bar protectors just in case I ever drop the bike. 

Bar end mirrors and quad lock installed

Installing the rear grab handle

Rear grab handle installed

 I got the bike inspected at Action Cycle Performance Center in Spring Valley and took it for a nice long 100 mile ride to really get to know her. Pretty obvious, but her name is "Bonnie".

Maintence Update:

Mileage: 9

- None. Pickup from dealership - Locomotion Powersports in Mahwah, NJ

New Wipe Blades

The wiper blades on the Jeep were starting to be a bit streaky so trying out a new set of Rain-X 810357 Repellency wiper blades in a part of 15" size.

Maintenace Update:

Mileage: 85,611 miles

- New pair of 15" Rain-X 810357 Repellency wiper blades 

New MB Key

My C55 only came with one key and I hate that because you never know when you need a spare. I went to the Mercedes Dealership to acquire a new one. They need proof of ownership, copies your ID and you have to bring the actual vehicle there so they can verify both the fob and the laser cut physical key works. The key took about 3 days to make and they no longer make the all black version, instead the new ones have the shiny silver sides. It worked perfectly with no additional coding to the car needed (no wonder they're so careful about creating and issuing these).

2nd Key

Phase 2 - AMG Overhaul - Suspension and Diff

While the core maintenance and convenience items taken care of during Phase 1 of the overhaul process, what I'm most particular about with all my cars is the suspension.  

Anytime I buy a car over 10 years old I assume anything rubber has started to deteriorate so while the car was on the lift it was pretty obvious that the suspension hadn't been touched since it was new. One way would be to try and source bushings and then spend a ton in labor removing the old ones and pressing them in but I opted for the "spend more money on the parts than labor" approach. I got all new OE Mercedes/AMG bushings for the subframe, controls arms all around, shocks all around, and new diff mounts (engine and transmission mounts were taken care of in Phase 1). 

New arms and bushings installed

New arms and bushings installed

The C55 AMG also ships with an open diff which in my opinion is not great when you have this much power and rear wheel drive. I picked up a Wavetrac LSD and had that installed instead. The hardest part for sourcing was the Timken bearings needed to install it which I had to get imported from the UK.

New diff next to OEM diff

Wavetrac installed

The car feels absolutely incredible now with everything nice and tight like it should be. The wiring for the headlights also got sorted. I got the lights from the later gen CLK so they weren't exactly plug-n-play but it's all working as it should now.

Maintenance Update:

Mileage: 78,906

- New OE front struts and strut mounts

- New OE rear shocks and rear control arm links

- New lower control arms and sway bar links
- New OE tie rod assemblies
- New OE sway bar links

- New OE boots
- New OE Control arms all around

- New OE subframe bushings

- New headlight ballasts

- New Wavetrac LSD into diff

- New OE diff mounts

- Alignment 

Heater Flap Fix

I noticed that when just driving around in the 944, regardless of whether my heat was on, my vents would blow hot air. Thankfully it turns out this is a common failure mode. The clip that holds the rod for the heat flap breaks causing the rod that actuates it to fail open (so you don't freeze in Germany during a failure). The actuator is located behind a plastic cover under the dash and you just have to replace the plastic clip and retainer, reattach the rod and you're good to go.

Broken heater flap rod clip

Clip and retainer replaced

Maintenance Update:

Mileage: 99,056

- New heater flap clip and retainer