JHouse

On an 04 CL

From here: http://www.123mercedes.com/CL/CLALLPARTS.html

Keep in mind it isn't metal (neither is the factory grille).

Remove two hex head screws from the underside of the hood. Gently pull the bottom of the grille out forward and down to remove the grille from the three posts securing the top. The kit includes a new hood release. To switch it out, remove a flat clip that covers the bottom of the spring with needle nosed pliers, and then slide the release off it's post sideways. Pull the spring out of the old release and install it in the new release (pull up and twist the spring 90 degrees to get it out of the slot). Then reverse every step. Remember to pull the threaded clips from the bottom of the old grille to use on the new grille. Don't drop them in the engine bay (use a blanket?) and don't let your light melt the intake tubes.








The good news (other than looking FREAK'N GREAT) is that it fits perfectly with no top gap at all. Not like some in the pictures. The particular grill is the one without the glossy fake distronic plate behind the Mercedes Star, this one has has the same mesh that was on my factory grille.

danlnyc

pics or it didnt happen! (jk)

:P

JHouse

Is that enough?

danlnyc

hahah yes that looks nice!

JHouse

I've just been warned that there might be three screws holding it in. So I'm going to look again. Mine was only in with two, but the new grille has places for three.

danlnyc

I have the same car as you, and I'm 100% positive there are 3 screws holding the grille in place. I know because I removed it to paint it gloss black. I hope that helps.

JHouse

Thanks.

Note: I reordered the Pix for greater dramatic effect and fluidity.

(What a screaming dork.)

radride

How do you open your hood now that there is mesh material in the way?

R.K.

JHouse

Look at the bottom picture. To the upper right of the Star. See? The release changes locations and is less visible now.

JHouse

Okay, I had a good laugh at the dealer. The price for 3 screws and three threaded clips is......wait for it.......$36 PLUS TAX. And the clips had to be ORDERED. How nuts is that?
I bought 2 of the screws, just in case, and that was $12.83.

Fortunately, Home Depot is immediately next door. Those threaded clips are called "speed nuts", so 4 of them, a pack of hex head zinc screws, and as a safety measure, star washers set me back $4.06. Then I returned the two screws, laughing the entire time.

So a little black Krylon and we are going to be all set with a secure, three fastener set-up.

It's the principle of the thing. 10 to 1 price difference. Does that mean if I bought all the parts to make my car it would be $1.2 million?

BTW, I'm really a Jimmy Johnson fan, but Home Depot was RIGHT THERE. Sorry Jimmy.

JHouse

And an update: Any of the clips are too large for the two outside holes and the edge of the grille is too thick to allow the clips to slide on anyway (bending those brittle things is a pain). So, for the sake of strength and security, I am switching out the screws that are in there for bolts with covered lock nuts (those acorn looking things) and washers to take the place of the clips. Painted gloss black, of course. I should have figured that out at the beginning.

benz_addict

looks really nice

Television

I have had one on my SL for some time,,,I like it

JHouse

Thanks guys. I think the horizontal line of the bar goes perfectly with the line of the CL too.

JHouse

Well, a while back someone took a beautiful long shot of their black CL that looked so good stock that I put the stock grill back on. Then, after going to the dealer and having my eye on every Merc on the road for a year, I put the single bar back on tonight.

I searched Mercedes Benz SL on Google Images and realized that over 60 years, they were all single bars except for a couple of recent models, and now they have gone back to single bars. And since the SL and the CL are the sportier S class cousins and typically share the same front end (sort of), the single bar just seems historically appropriate even if not technically correct. So I'll probably just keep swapping them back and forth as the mood strikes.

Kevwood

The single bar looks great on all the coupes and roadsters IMO, very definitive.

JHouse

And the more I look at it, the more enamored with it I become. Sometimes I become a little aroused.

My paint looks soooo much better in person than in these pictures. In real life it has kind of a secret blue hint to it, whereas in pictures it's frick'n Nissan dull gray. Sad.

clearpages

I do like the look of the single bar. I would certainly consider this mod, but would want the "glossy fake distronic plate" thingy on it. Two reasons here. One, to protect this $800 piece of electronics from 155 mph June bugs, and two, because I actually like the looks of the "glossy fake distronic plate."

Has anyone seen the single bar with the distronic protector? I have been unsuccessful thus far in my search.

cp

JHouse

Distronic is from Tech 55:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/00-06-Merced...ht_1803wt_1396


http://www.55tech.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=382

The only problem with them is that they are a tad "short" and leave a little gap above them if you are down low in your perspective. The pictures on their site in the second link show what I'm talking about. If that's OK, then this is your answer.

chawkins2001

Looks great, she needs a drop though

JHouse

Just dropped it today. 27" from fender to ground all around.

Senek8

How do you attach the emblem to the grille? I bought one of these, had the single bar black vinyl wrapped as well as the emblem, now I just need to know how to attach the emblem... Thanks!

Exotic-metal55

I need to go single bar soon as well, as the monochromatic is looking dated

bimerbenzbently

does it work with distronic CLs?

Afr00t

Anyone going for the single bar and trying to get rid of their old grille? PM me