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Yeah, don't break the shroud (plastic cover) while doing it. It cost $70 plus tax to replace. :x
Found dead bird in the in the radiator and took the grill off to remove it.
Broke the plastic clip on both sides of this shroud!
They broke pretty easily. My advice to others to avoid this is work on a hot day or warm up the plastic with a hair dryer.
They don't seem necessary but if I encounter any issue, I'll abs cement them back.
Has anyone done the stock grill the same color as the car? ( except black? )
I have steel grey and I am undecided if I want to color match the grill except the flat badge on top. At the same time I will have shop color match the chrome strip on the back of the car. Thank you for your opinions.
My other option would be the "Thin" version of the star grill from 55tech.com but color match it and then leaving the star chrome.
Last edited by SteelBullet; 05-10-2013 at 06:04 PM.
Color matching the thin star might be quite interesting. Maybe you can speak to someone who has Photoshop and they can just play around with the color combos on a pic the grille, a pic of your car. That is one way you can see what it will look like, without having to purchase it first.
Color matching the thin star might be quite interesting. Maybe you can speak to someone who has Photoshop and they can just play around with the color combos on a pic the grille, a pic of your car. That is one way you can see what it will look like, without having to purchase it first.
Good idea. I will look into it and then post a pic here.
After receiving tons of questions on how to remove/swap the front grill, I decided to make a DIY thread.
I'm not a photoshop expert so please understand the low quality of work.
GREAT instructions! I recently purchased a 2011 E550 (W212) and want to change out the grill. This looks pretty easy. I just need to find the right grill now. Thanks!!
After receiving tons of questions on how to remove/swap the front grill, I decided to make a DIY thread.
I'm not a photoshop expert so please understand the low quality of work.
Has anyone done the stock grill the same color as the car? ( except black? )
I have steel grey and I am undecided if I want to color match the grill except the flat badge on top. At the same time I will have shop color match the chrome strip on the back of the car. Thank you for your opinions.
My other option would be the "Thin" version of the star grill from 55tech.com but color match it and then leaving the star chrome.
Hey Steelbullet wanted to ask if you had any work done to your grill with colour match as I thought of same thing but have not seen it done.
And this "mechanic" forgets to or probably does not know to take that center support arm from the OEM grille and use it with the new star grille and bolt it down to where he first unbolted it from.
And what kind of a cheap sticker does he use for the hood emblem???
That video helped me too. I took my laptop out and placed it under the hood and found every snap. I went slow and it only took me 30-minutes. Too easy and it is rock solid tight. Got the new grill from ebay….really gives my car an updated appearance…never liked the E-sedan grill since Hyundai copied it.
I used this video and pictures and had the grill and badge changed in less than 15 minutes. Fantastic forum thread!
Did you also forget to use the center support arm from the original grille that bolts to the car?
This bracket is to be removed from the original grille and used with the after market grille. I have done this on two of the W212 cars and I know you are supposed to swap the center bracket.
Did you also forget to use the center support arm from the original grille that bolts to the car?
This bracket is to be removed from the original grille and used with the after market grille. I have done this on two of the W212 cars and I know you are supposed to swap the center bracket.
Mine came with a bracket…I will say I was a little rough with it and snapped one of the arms holding it, but I super glued it…waited 10 minutes and it was solid…the grill is nice too… Here's where I bought mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360764890642?item=360764890642&viewitem=&vxp=mtr
Did the grill swap and flat hood badge today on my 2012 BT. Pretty happy with it overall. I ended up using an AMG flat hood badge, not to be poser but because it was fairly subdued on a black car.
FWIW, I think the BT might be a smidge more difficult due to the center snorkel than the gas burners. Took me 45 minutes to do both. Maybe the gas models have it to (?), but it was not obvious in the pictures on the first page of the thread. And yes, I reattached the center support brace to the new grille. Cars was a little dirty, but not terrible. Pics below.
Did the grill swap and flat hood badge today on my 2012 BT. Pretty happy with it overall. I ended up using an AMG flat hood badge, not to be poser but because it was fairly subdued on a black car.
FWIW, I think the BT might be a smidge more difficult due to the center snorkel than the gas burners. Took me 45 minutes to do both. Maybe the gas models have it to (?), but it was not obvious in the pictures on the first page of the thread. And yes, I reattached the center support brace to the new grille. Cars was a little dirty, but not terrible. Pics below.
nice ride and beautiful neighborhood.......looks like you need some nice maples and specimen pines
Looks good - This is what I am thinking for my ride - trying to tint the original grill but no one seems to be able to give me a straight answer - if it is possible or not - computer generated idea.
06-24-2015, 05:42 PM
