lyjw88

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.

Tools needed: 10mm socket wrench
Appx time: 30-45 mins
Difficulty: 4/10

**View the pics from LEFT to RIGHT**

hyperion667

seems straight forward...........I'd probably still botch it

good to know though

fromthebeginnin

Any additional installations tips/lessons learned? Got my chrome grill in, hopefully will get the Chrome mess painted black next week then get the install done.

Appreciate any new insights/tips

Thanks
FTB

Waitzar

Yeah, don't break the shroud (plastic cover) while doing it. It cost $70 plus tax to replace. :x

fromthebeginnin

Ok, any mods to the procedure on how to avoid that, I assume you're talking about the cover removed during photo 1 and 2?

MCF

I did it and no problem breaking the shroud. Seems like you would have to be pretty rough to break it.

gichundo

Much appreciated ~~~!!!

Hope we have something like this for front side markers...

BPhillyBenz

Here you go:
Originally Posted by doctordel
1) turn the steering wheel to the opposite side your are working on
2) pull the front fender liner from the fender with a good yank; make sure you don't lose the fastener that pops out
3) turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull the bulb and socket out from the inside of the lens
4) use your fingers to pull out on the rearmost side of the lens and-once it is free from the fender-pull backwards towards the rear of the car to free the front of the lens from the bracket inside the fender
5) reverse the process with new lens and then reinstall the plastic fastener that popped out

gichundo

Thank you for the update!
I see your car with clear ones, I'm getting the same one since my ride is white as well.
Was it pretty easy job to change? Any precaution I should consider?

BPhillyBenz

Pretty Easy. Takes about 20-30 minutes to do both. Good luck.

JBellz

Worked great for me and took less then 10 minutes.

greggulik

Thanks for the pictures. I just completed the update to my (new to me) 2010 E350 and I think it looks better. Took about 30 minutes working slowly and carefully.

The only tricky part was getting the clip undone for those hoses. The ones underneath aren't easy to get to.

Once everything was unclipped the bottom of the grill pivots up on those "knobs" at the top and then just pulls out. Very easy.

K-A

Pic #1 looks way better to me. Almost thought pic #2 was a C-Class from the front at first glance.

Seems a lot of people are keeping the stand up star with the huge grille star. Make sure you guys get a flat badge with the grille star, as both frontal upright stars are no-no's from Mercedes styling standpoints, and they look really busy and distracting with the star-overload in that section.

S204HONGKONG

don't like the modded look, seems terrible. Much prefer the standard grille

atkpilot

I have been looking for a C class front grill. Where did you get yours?

BPhillyBenz

Check out Ebay. There are a ton of different ones. Good luck.

atkpilot

Where did you buy your grill? Is it plastic?

hyperion667

I did try to do this myself......the bolt came right off......but the grill itself DID NOT want to come out......ended up having the dealer do it........
but the end result was 'fits like a glove'

Mike Liew

Hi,

I'm 1st in this forum. Can anyone tell me this there any work shop in Singapore who are able to replace W212 front grille.
Appricate your help

Mike Liew.

DNAPoPo

Anybody pull off this mod with distronic?

BPhillyBenz

I am pretty certain I read somewhere it was not possible with this type of aftermarket style grill. Good luck.

bigbadjosh

Thanks so much for the picture guide.

Fitted my 55tech 'black' grill in 15mins - 10 to take it off and less than 5 to put back together.

Looks very nice.

Did find fitting the OEM star a job though as it didn't fit flush and required a fair amount of glueing. Also the 'sponge' along the bottom side of the grill doesn't meeet the bumper and seems a little pointless.

chrisvr6

Wow. Looks too much like the c-class. Maybe if it was blacked out?

K-A

Man, you must really love the star grill look to ghetto rig something so heavily on a car known for its impeccable fit and finish.

Ctrl+alt+Elite

Gotta keep this thread handy. Got in the lorinser grill... finally. Took it to a friend of mine to remove the small indentation for the lorinser "sticker". Now it's getting painted, when my new wheels come in i'll do the install