Build and Show Thread on my first GM Truck - Beeing registered for about 2 weeks now and already addicted to the Forum I decided to start a build thread.. ...

Beeing registered for about 2 weeks now and already addicted to the Forum I decided to start a build thread.. without a Truck... yes correct!

The reason for starting a build thread this early is simple. I don´t want just a build thread because it will take some time till all the mods are done etc.. I also want to show off a little bit of the adventures with the Truck as this a pretty rare Truck in Germany.

First off a little background.. I´m driving a 2014 Toyota Hilux with the maximum options currently. Truck was brandnew when I got it and I got a 35% discount for it due to beeing a Member in the german "Maschinenring" (agricultural association). This Truck was set up as a lease for 4 years and 80.000km.. I had some quality issues and was trying to get out of lease last year but this wasn´t possible.
So I was shopping around for a new Truck. I always wanted something american so my little fleet is only american and only V8.. Looked at Ram, GMC and Chevy. Got different offers for a 2017 GMC Sierra All-Terrain but I couldn´t afford it and I could not downgrade the options because the importers here order mostly full option trucks.. no way I was going to pay 780-925€ for a lease truck

Plans changed and I was in the market for used Trucks now. Decided I want something special and kind of rare in Germany.. after a few weeks of shopping around I found out only 3 Silverado 2500HD are for sale.. 2x Cateye and one NNBS. Looked at the Cateye´s and both were beat to hell and still very pricey. The 2010 NNBS was all the way in North Germany.. due to a business meetin in the northern area I could justify taking a flight up there and invest half a day to get to the Truck and look at it On April 19th I took a early flight to Hamburg and drove 1.5h to see the Truck.

I showed up with all the Equipment you need to check out a Truck.. Scanning Tool, Maglight, Work Clothes, Basic Tools, Paint Magnet and no fear to get dirty right before a big business meeting
Truck was not in the condition the pictures suggested but I already knew that from reviews of the dealer. He also stated he won´t do the 1-year-warranty by law thing.. (not too bad, if engine etc fails the paperwork is invalid and I can sue him pretty bad).

I drove thr Truck around the block and I loved it right from the beginning! It blew a Coil pack on the way back to the Dealer but thats nothing major to me. Brake caliper was grinding too but wasn´t warm/hot. I found some smaller rust spots, hole in 3rd brake light, missing door lock on passenger side driver door and some plastics missing or broken. No major issues other than the brake caliper..
I decided to pull the trigger and got a hell of a discount.

Headed back south and waited for the dealer to do all the german paperwork and registration papers. This took some time so now I´m here 4 weeks later and finally got my plates today. Heading north on 22nd to pick it up and drive it home 800 miles.

This is it! 2010 Silverado 2500HD Crewcab and Longbed with Worktruck Trim




It was used as a true work truck in England. I will have to do some touch up paint, remove scratches and give it a good detailing.


The previous Owner put alot of chrom trim on the Truck.. I´m planning on a full chrome delete and color matching the bumpers




Little bit of rust on the Tailgate and the driver door right under the door seal




The Interior is in perfect shape and it only got 102.000km on the odo vs the 300k+ the others had!

Because the site only allows 10 attachments per Post I had to wait till it was approved and now adding the second part.

Truck got small rust at the rockers where the drain plugs are located. I´ll get a small camera to look whats happening inside and then deciding on the future process.


Underneath it is in a good condition but planning on reworking the rust protection




The Backset is mssing the plastic covering the bolt but Front is in perfect shape






First Problem I had was the wrong plate size.. We have 7 different Plate Sizes but you need the correct Paperwork to get the fitting Plate. The Seller forgot that Paperwork and I ended up getting regular Plates front and back while I would need a small plate with two lines in the back. Need to find a way to munt the regular plate and then show up at the local office again and hopefully get a small plate.
Already did the Paperwork for lower taxes since it can be registered as a " Work Pickup" which means same Tax category as Commercial Semi´s.


The Bedliner is worn and the plastic inserts in the Bumper and the Tailgate Cap are shot too. I will take the Bedliner out and replace everything with a big coat of Herculiner Roll-On Bedliner. The Plastic Inserts will be replaced aswell as the cracked front bumper cap.




My first Mod´s won´t be anything special or expensive. I´m looking for a better condition so I will replace all the broken Stuff, get new plastics, de-chrome everything (new door handles too) and colormatch the front and rear bumper. I´m limited on funds so I will paint the OEM Wheels black and go from there.. Possibly upgrading to some Cragars with MT Tires in the future. Lift kit or Leveling kit will be added later on, not sure what brand or size lift I want.
Future plans include some Nerfbars or steps (Nfab etc), a Bumperstep for easier acces to the bed or maybe a Tailgate ladder, Tonneaucover, 1-2 Swingcases for Tools and Stuff, Headache Rack ( love the Magnum) and smaller Interior mods like additional lightning and other headunit etc.

Glad you got this started Mario! I am looking forward to following along with your progress. I enjoy seeing the first fix ups like fixing broken or worn items and removing add on chrome bits.

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Thanks Neal! I´m always trying to get the best condition so it will take some time till the real mods start.. Maybe doing some quick mods like exhaust, black tow mirrors but nothing too big till I fixed all the small stuff.

On May 22nd I finally got my Truck! It was a rough morning because the flight took off at 3am and the Train from the Airport to the Dealer was late.

The whole process of getting the Truck, mounting plates etc. took only about 5 minutes and then I drove off with my new Truck!



I took a dew pics, drove to Hamburg and picked up my Girls new Project Car. Little bit cruising to downtown Hamburg and in the area then hitting the Autobahn to get home!

Well.. after 50miles with the aftermarket Cruise Control on I suddenly got a Check Engine light and the Truck went into limp mode. No accerleration at all! I managed to gett off the Autobahn with 2mph.. Dangerous as hell with all the cars rushing by I finally was able to read the code and it showed a P2138 Gas Pedal code. I rattled the switch and it cleared. Drove home 600 miles without Cruise and without any other problems!

Glad you got it home and that the trip was mostly uneventful although a few delays.

Interested to see that beast parked on a small german street made for tiny cars! haha

Congrats on the truck. Looks like you might have to turn it around to wash the rear end . Hope you don't have to take it back to the dealer in any case that's a long way to go.

I already threw most of the chrome attachments away. It was everywhere and it was awful!
Everything was lined with chrome stripes... I got two bad spots when removing.. right above the Tailgate handle a dent was covered by chrome and in the right rear bed corner there was cracked paint with rust underneath.

I was able to sell the Bugshield and the Wheelwell Liners just after I removed them.













And talking about narrow German Roads the following pic tells it pretty good. I need about 2/3 of the Road on country roads. Mirrors not visible in the pics

Wow! What do you do when something is coming the opposite direction? Close your eyes and gun it?! haha

Pretty much.. Mostly using all the road.. bigger vehicle goes first. When smaller cars are coming the opposite directrion I go as far to the right as possible. Works good so far.. not to much Semi´s on these small roads so I´m the biggest truck lol