Originally Posted by NO_WUR_E

For those of you who bought the CL grille from Jerry, he has a hood latch specifically for this grille. a lot of you had mentioned that the stock latch is short. the manafacurer sent him several to fix the problem. Jerry is kind enough to send it to you FREE OF CHARGE INCLUDING SHIPPING. I'm just ordering my CL grille and it will be included with it. Although he's never replaced the latch on a W203, he says it should be easy and possibly a pin holding it together.

Originally Posted by Saprissa

Many have bought the CL-Style Grill from Jerry for their W203 Sedan. It's a great looking grill:


But some people were having a little problem with the stock hood latch (Part # A203 887 04 27), not protruding all the way through the grill. Like in this picture:


So Jerry, known for his OUTSTANDING customer service has produced a solution for this minor inconvenience. Read posts above, and see pic of new hood latch.

So how to install it ? Glad you asked.... thanks to my wife, who has volunteered me once again, here's a play-by-play a la Vince Scully:

First you need to remove the stock hood latch, pictured in the 2 photos below:


Before you grab a hammer & tap to try to force that pin out, look at the mechanism closely.
You will notice a thin wire that is wrapped (coiled) around the hinge pin, and extends into the hood latch itself to give it leverage, and the other end is bent around a small grooved hole to secure it in place.

You will need to bend that small wire out from that grooved hole. Do not bend so much that you will break it. Just enough to get it out from its secure position. See pic below:


Next:
You will notice a small brass ring around the coiled thin wire wrapped around the hinge pin. With a sharp thin object, you can pry it loose from the hinge pin. It's kinda shaped like a horse-shoe, and it's meant to come off. Be gentle but firm (oxymoron). It will come off. Pics...



Do NOT lose this piece, bend it or warp it. You will need it again later !

OK. With the brass horseshoe clip off the hinge pin, you can now safely slide the stock hood latch, with the coiled wire in between the two sliding holes, out. Like this:


You're halfway done !

Originally Posted by Saprissa

OK, just for comparison between old & new hood latch, here are some pics:

Notice how the new one (bottom one) is longer than the stock one (top)


Also, notice how the new (bottom one) is curved differently, so as to protrude through the grill a bit farther.

Alright, back to work....

With the coiled wire back in between the two sliding holes of the NEW hood latch, go ahead and slide back into the hinge pin. Notice that the side with arrow on the hood latch, will eventually be the top side that you will see, when it protrudes through the grill. Pic:


Now, before moving on, you need to ensure that the new hood latch (because it's longer, remember ? ) is actually inserted into the grill opening.
You may need to slide it out again from the hinge pin, reposition it so that it's in its "working" position, and slide it through the hinge pin again.


Alright, now that you've ensured that it's in the correct position. You need to re-insert the brass horseshoe clip to hold the coiled wire in place. Pics:


Once the brass clip is in, it shoud look identical to when you started. This next pic is not too good, but you should have a good idea by now, how it should be. Make sure the brass clip is inserted all the way and "clipped" in to the hinge pin.


Almost done....
Now using small pliers, twist the loose end of the coiled wire back into the small grooved hole, like it was in the beginning. This will keep the coiled wire, brass clip, and hood latch all in place.


Now when you pop the hood release, the hood latch protrudes farther through your CL-style grill, just like it was designed to be by MB.


This makes it easier to pull out, and lift your hood. Remember to lift your hood from the metal frame, and not using the hood latch or the CL-style grill as leverage. You don't want to break anything ! Final pics:


Labor factor = Easy (& I'm an idiot when it comes to these things! ) ssshhh.... don't tell my wife !
Total time = 15 minutes
Tools = small pliers & a thin pick

Hope this helps !

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

Originally Posted by NO_WUR_E

how do i replace the hood latch (part that comes out in order to open up the hood)?
I should be getting my cl grille from Jerry of formymercedes tomorrow. he will send me a latch made for that grille. i hear the stock one makes it a little difficult to open the hood because it's short and will hit the back of the grille.
anyone else who bought the same grille can get one from him.

Originally Posted by Blake P

Thanks for the excellent write up and pictures Carlos! I did mine this morning in about 10 minutes before taking the car in for service so they wouldn't mangle the grille trying to get the hood open. Only problem I experienced is getting the wire to bend back into place to hold onto the mechanism. I got it so it's "good enough", but any advice on getting it back as good as new?

Originally Posted by johndddd

here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112155

Originally Posted by c240classic

Hi,
i searched but could not come up with a definitive conclusion, do i have to change the hood latch as well on a 2002 c240 when i change to a cl style grill. If yes is this a mercedes part, whats the part number? Thanks

Originally Posted by kcheng86

Hey guys, anyone know where i can get a extended hood latch that comes with the CL Grill? Cause today when i closed my hood, the latch snapped and broke..