I have been reading many posts around and I have noticed a lot of people constantly stating that one problem of this car is the lack of aftermarket offered for it... in terms of performance and aesthetic modifications... I find this to be true as there is a lack of many aftermarket parts that other cars enjoy, for many obvious reasons, but one reason that many people simply overlook is the reason that we simply do not support an aftermarket and if a company was even to offer a product there would be tooo few to purchase to even somehow allow it to be of any profit... In some ways this saddens me as any other forums I read as soon as a distributor arrives in their forum or they hear of new products there is constantly those that are interested in the purchase...

At first I though this tied in to the lack of crossfires, but lately I have found this to be not so true... as stated in the past I have spent time reading other forums one forum I take example from is mbworld's c32 forum... and the production number of the c32s that function in the united states is barely greater than that of our srt-6s, yet these people owning a car that is nowhere near as attractive in refinement... purchase MANY MANY more modifications... (like the Pulley and ecu kit... as I don't believe there are over 10 crossfires with this kit... there may very well be over a 100 c32s with this kit)... for their vehicles than us crossfire owners...

Another example of our poor aftermarket is a site called AutoXclusive as they have been promising a site for aftermarket parts for our cars for over a year, but I think they have come to realize that no such site is needed as there are sooo few owners that will purchase these products... instead they make profit selling aftermarket components for f-ing kia... who the hell mods a kia anyways? That's damn depressing...

Yet another example is CTD-Germany with their grill, I also think they have come to realize that the thread of the grill has created 1298372189 views, one of the longest threads on the forum, yet even if they were to release this grill... so how many would buy 10 tops right off and maybe 50 in the long run if even? so what the hell is the point as that barely covers the cost... its just easier to manufacture parts for cars like nissan z or hell even kia...

Remember the time when SI came on to this forum... damn we attacked their products as if they were here to rob us of our money and so many posted on their threads, they went through the trouble of proving us morons wrong, and proving their products to be very effective and the result? maybe 3 owners bought their products? No wonder no sane business company wants to deal with us... we suck...

Renntech used to have crossfire listed on their site... they still have the packages for the crossfire available... but they decided its not even worth the tiny bandwidth to show it on the site... as either way crossfire owners for whatever reason don't want or like aftermarket...

Time comes around when a forum member discovers a great method to modify our interiors, engine covers, and modifications with carbon fiber at a relatively low price... we all say Ooohh and aaah and than 3 people actually go through with purchasing it...

Now in conclusion I blame a lot of different sources including the price drop on our cars, I think that many people who purchased this car actually on gut level think they purchased either a chrysler, or a regular car... You have a f-ing exotic... and if you treat it like one... others will also accept the car as an exotic...

But all in all we are good at buying stickers!! Yay for XFI decals, but show no support for the club... Look I got a decal... now and I am on some random list with 150+ other people which 50% of don't even own a crossfire anymore... 65% don't ever show up on the forums... and probably 1% are not even alive anymore...

A car is a car, but someone has to sponsor it... and if its not you or me... than who?


I am aware that this thread can be offensive to some.. but well its my opinion and I am not just talking about you I am also talking about me... as I myself am one of the persons that does the above... its pathetic...

PS. Excuse my poor english...

 

WOW!

Good stuff Sidez. I could not agree with you more. I am in the process of putting up a site that will specialize in Crossfire applications. I apologize that it has been taking so long, but work has kept me very busy.

I would like to thank all of you who have ordered/bought Crossfire dash plaques, SRT6/AMG engine plaques and SRT6 fender badges. I especially want to thank those few who have put up with the inconvenience of sending me their parts to have CF coated. You have all told me how good the results are. I am working on some other items and will get that site up as soon as possible (www.cardoover.com is under construction).

It is interesting to see how passionate most members are about these special cars. But, in my search for suppliers, it always comes down to opportunity (money to be made). I am afraid I haven't been able to cite examples of broad support for anything other than my badges and Andrew's decals (I own a set too).

FP, is doing a good job trying to get forum members discounts from various suppliers, but I am afraid that will fall apart unless we actually follow through on them.

Challenge time...speak up, what can we as a group do to show the various suppliers they are missing a great market for ardent supporters of one of the most fun cars available.

Sidez, don't worry about your English. Your post speaks volumes...

 

I am only interested in performance modifications and have yet to find a single part for the car that is worth the price.

 

Yes, I remember it very well because I was the person who ponied-up and told them SI to prove what they preach... Because I have a very suspicious side to my nature...

And if you are blasting me for forcing them to prove that their HP claims were honest, You can also blame me for finding out that the software was stolen from PowerChip when Jesse worked for that company... AND ALL THAT THE BUYERS GOT WERE THE STOLEN POWERCHIP MAPS... This information from a former co-worker of his at PowerChip...

And you can also blame me for keeping the information from the general forum membership and only sharing it with a select few privately, so not to slander someone in a public forum... But do you notice how JESSE has miraculously disappeared ?

Now, you should think about the same thing when you start posting things like this...

That being said... I appreciate your tirade, I am as frustrated as you... And if you knew the entire story about those snake oil salesmen, you would thank me...

 

And please don't use the collective "WE" for other forum members when you are using derogatory terms... If you feel that YOU SUCK, then by all means, "I" will agree, but you cannot group the rest of us into your pitiful existence.

 

I love my Renntech kit, yes it was expensive, but from a reputable company. I have a lot of after market parts from so called autoxclusive, I was fairly happy with the exterior parts from there. But I paid through the nose for the interior parts from CTD, but they do look good. I guess I'm fairly happy with what I've been able to get for my car except for the price, my only real complaint is:
NO CHROME DOOR HANDLES!

 

I have plenty of upgrades and add ons and more to come, you can see my list below and there are a few missing from the list.

Just curious Sidez, what have you changed or added to your Crossfire?

 

Then sell the car and get an EVO and quit complaining on this forum about how you feel slighted BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AFTERMARKET PARTS (THAT I CAN AFFORD)... Or, make use of yourself and start doing some research and development and build your own...

But stop with the BS... There is every damned aftermarket performance part for this platform... It's just that you don't know how to find it, and it seems like you don't have the energy or motivation to do your own research, you just want MOMMA to hand you a COOKIE and pat you on the head...

 

sidez, for those who are committed to get mods and are willing to pay the price, they can find mods. But you're right in terms of general commitment. I hear a lot of complaining on the forum, but when a member tries to organize a buy (especially something that need to be developed) folks baulk on the commitment to buy. After a while we start to loose credibility with these suppliers. We have to keep trying though, and hopefully we can find the niche we're looking for and understand the level of commitment we're going to get. You have to give credit to those who are committed.

 

I had my Crossfire for less than a month when I jumped on the AMG/SRT6 Air boxes offered by Advanz.

I pestered Magnaflow with phone calls and e-mails for months until they released their Crossfire cat-back system. I may have been the FIRST ONE TO ORDER AND INSTALL that Magnaflow system, made sound clips, posted pictures and answered probably twenty e-mails and P.M.s regarding that system.

I DO put my money and time where my mouth is. I come from the Super Coupe/MN12 background. If you want to see a GOOD forum check out

www.tccoa.com

Thunderbird Cougar Club of America...The MN12 platform was way ahead of it's time and quite sophisticated but never given the performance development it deserved. The members of TCCOA are very good at sharing detailed technical information, co-operating on parts development and organizing group purchases. Just as a lot of Mustang developed parts can be adapted to the t-Bird/Cougar/MN12 cars, we Crossfire enthusiasts need to be more creative in adapting M-Benz parts to hop-up our Crossfires !

Thumbs up to HDDP and Woody for pushing forward and breaking new ground for all of us!!!

One good thing about the low prices on new Crossfires is younger more performance orientated buyer are joining the community. I'm really not into cosmetic bric-a-brack, I want something that offers an actual IMPROVEMENT in the way my car drives.

Slim

 

I have a few modifications, but not many...

- AutoX Chrome Grill
- AutoX Chrome Side Vents
- AutoX Chrome Windscreen
- Clear Front Side Markers
- Southhams Lower Grill
- Andrew's Decals
- Chrome Turn Signal Bulbs
- V6 Kompressor Badges
- AMG Badge for the rear
- Slk32 Engine Cover
- SRT-SIX's Carbon Coating on the engine cover and air boxes
- SRT-SIX's Engine Plaque
- Green Interior Leds
- Removed Resonator
- Removed Rear Cats
- Rotex Gold Brake pads
- Swarovski Valve Caps

I might have some other minor ones that I am not thinking of...


HDDP... I am doing my best to proofread my posts, but sometimes I miss a detail and my remark becomes understood in a way I never meant it to be... If you think that this is a post I am creating as a flame thread... than please delete it at once cause that is not my intention and if this is how it came out that I did not want it like this...

Again HDDP nothing in these posts is/are directed towards you... especially the offensive parts... I don't blame your skepticism towards aftermarket parts it is just that it all came out funny to me... maybe I just did not understand the situation correctly...

I was not aware of the SI being stolen, but I have noticed that they did disappear... and no I don't know the whole story or that even a story existed, I only know what i read in the forums and I read most of it...

The purpose of this thread was to answer common questions and comments often made about the crossfire's lack of aftermarket parts and one of the primary reasons for that lacking... is ourselves...


If I was to say that we all have to purchase expensive modifications for our cars that would be absurd, my claim is that if someone is at least willing to purchase these products, they will exist, but no one really is so they do not... and people question why they do not exist... it is like a cycle...

 

WOW! I'm glad you came forward with this information HDDP in regards to SI, I had a strange feeling about them when I discovered that they where charging us Crossfire owners $600 for a re-tuned ecu, and then at the same time they where offering the same maps to the Mercedes SLK320 guys for $400. I kinda lost interest in doing business with them after hearing this.
Then I remember SI came on here posting they will have a turbo kit out in one month. It's been about 8 months now and they have all disappeared.

As we all know, the main reason there is no aftermarket for the Crossfire is do to all the scammers out there trying to Bullsh*t us. Remember the goofy electric superchargers everyone was hyping on here, they where even so bold as to make up fake dyno graphs.

Basically the aftermarket manufactures don't have the skills or ability to engineer products that work. And that is due to the fact that the car manufactures are about 10 years ahead of the aftermarket in terms of complexity of the vehicles systems.

 

Good news bad news...

Good news; the Crossfire is actually a Mercedes engineered vehicle with the kind of complex, sophisticated German technology which has made M-Benz an admired world leader in vehicle design and engineering.

Bad news; the Crossfire is actually a Mercedes engineered vehicle with the kind of complex, sophisticated German technology which has made M-Benz an admired world leader in vehicle design and engineering.

In other words; it's not simple/cheap/easy to repair and/or modify like an old muscle car or even a new Mustang. But it is a remarkably competent, balanced and rewarding car in totally stock form. So improvements don't come as easily as lesser cars.

Slim

 

That would be reasonable if the crossfire wasn't a second run vehicle on this power train. Renntech and others like it have made there research dollars back in Mercedes parts sales alone, having a second batch of vehicles (40,000) to sell the same parts to is free profit for them.
How much does it cost to cut a pulley and flash a computer, far less then $3K! We are talking less then $500 in material and man hours.
I think the problem is that people who pay $50K for the car have proven they are willing to over pay excessively for parts! The aftermarket world is waiting for the next big kill before they will produce more parts for this car, and those who proven they are willing to over pay have made it that way. Why make parts for a car with a reasonable 15% profit when you can get a 80% - 150% or more profit! So if we all over pay more will that help?

 

It may well be. I keep my cars stock. Always have.

 

And Mercedes is notorious for keeping secrets about their products... Even the Bosch US division (BOSCH supplies ALL of our operational electronics) doesn't know the specs or product information on this car, or the SLK because the German Headquarters has a privacy agreement with MB...

And I have a very senior Bosch US executive source that has to e-mail the German HQ because nothing is listed in their US computer product system...

It took me weeks to get simple answers like the injector specs for both versions of the Crossfire because they were not listed in the US system and Bosch had to request them from their German counterpart...

This is an excerpt from his latest e-mail...

"Derek,

There is a growing issue of all car companies withholding information to keep everyone tied to the dealership. Bosch has always been stingy with their information especially when it comes to performance. If they have any idea someone is looking to modify a factory product to do something other than exactly what it was produced for, they will completely shut down the flow of information. When it comes to Bosch U.S., we are less likely to get information from Bosch Germany than some of the Bosch customers in Germany. Looking at it from the outside we are the same company, but from the inside you would never know it. They treat us like a red-headed step-child."

 

This is no different than any other company with world wide ties. I have been dealing with this issue for the past 20 years.

 

Ah, don't worry about it... No offense taken... I'm just as frustrated as you are about aftermarket mods...

As far as SI is concerned, I posted a thread about a year ago that stated the ONLY ECU modifications maps for the Crossfire were the original Bosch maintenance / service software for the MB version of the engine that PowerChip and a few other vendors had licensed...

All OTHER VENDORS are working off that Bosch software program... I know for sure that the "TUNE" parameters for the Crossfire are nothing more than fueling / timing maps for the MB versions of our engine... I watched the process while a Powerchip Gold 93 flash was being done on my car two years ago...

That being said, YES there is a dearth of aftermarket STUFF for the Crossfire...

 

You hit the nail on the head... These computer controlled engines are bad enough, but when you have a computer controlled engine / drivetrain that the supplier treats like a national secret, the process is nearly impossible... Especially when the people at Chrysler don't even know the information about the car...

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF OUT-SOURCING.

 

I do not believe that I was complaining, only stating a point. There are performance parts available for the Crossfire and those parts are extensively overpriced. If you do not agree that the performance parts available for this vehicle are over priced, that is your opinion.

Regardless of what I can afford, I do not waist funds on over priced products. I do not feel superior because I can afford to over pay for materials, does paying excessive amounts on material possessions make you feel important? If so, you own a cheap car that anyone can afford. In fact an EVO costs more, indicating that the Crossfire is not an exotic at all. Lowly commoners are driving the same vehicle as you! You should give your Crossfire to a poor family because it is far below your stature and purchase a true exotic out of the general publics price range. This way you will not have to associate with the lesser class.

Maybe you have me confused with someone whose MOMMA bought their car, but I do not understand how that justifies your comments. I have viewed other posts from you and suggest that you read and think before you respond in the future, that way you won't feel the need to attack everyone as if they are too young or too poor to be on this forum! I believe the intent is for everyone to be allowed to express opinions, enjoy the comrade ship and help each other, not for a few to dominate and badger those with differing thoughts.

So, take your Prozac and get a nap you old fart your b*tching again! I do still enjoy mom's home made cookies, even at my age.