Screwed up my front grill.....need help!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 41
From: ST. Louis, MO
'16 SL550, '18 Porsche Macan GTS
Screwed up my front grill.....need help!
Well, I tried to redo my stock '06 front grill by using the DupliColor Metalcast Smoke paint to make it look like black chrome, but ended up getting some crazzing in the top coat in a couple of spots. Waited seven days per instructions to reapply and sanded everything smooth. Applied another coat and got the same problem. Well, this is where it gets really ugly......I have a sand blast cabinet and used glass beads to remove all of the Duplicolor to start over, only to have the chrome start to peal in a couple of spots. Now I have a huge mess on my hands and don't know of any way to save it. The chrome finish is fairly thick and brittle so there is no way to completly stip it.
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
C3Twon AWD Jumpofffff
Well, I tried to redo my stock '06 front grill by using the DupliColor Metalcast Smoke paint to make it look like black chrome, but ended up getting some crazzing in the top coat in a couple of spots. Waited seven days per instructions to reapply and sanded everything smooth. Applied another coat and got the same problem. Well, this is where it gets really ugly......I have a sand blast cabinet and used glass beads to remove all of the Duplicolor to start over, only to have the chrome start to peal in a couple of spots. Now I have a huge mess on my hands and don't know of any way to save it. The chrome finish is fairly thick and brittle so there is no way to completly stip it.
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
i wanted to paint my grill black but i think you have to strip off all the chrome by sanding or else the paint doesnt stick.. with the black chrome my guess is you would have to get a special paint. i would try to look in the classified or post in there, or go to fmm.com to try to find a grill or ebay. not sure how to take the paint off... why dont u try to sand it??? diff grids of sand paper
g luck
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 4
From: Boston
2004 C32 ///AMG
Well, I tried to redo my stock '06 front grill by using the DupliColor Metalcast Smoke paint to make it look like black chrome, but ended up getting some crazzing in the top coat in a couple of spots. Waited seven days per instructions to reapply and sanded everything smooth. Applied another coat and got the same problem. Well, this is where it gets really ugly......I have a sand blast cabinet and used glass beads to remove all of the Duplicolor to start over, only to have the chrome start to peal in a couple of spots. Now I have a huge mess on my hands and don't know of any way to save it. The chrome finish is fairly thick and brittle so there is no way to completly stip it.
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
I really don't want to buy a whole new grill assembly as I only need the outter chrome piece but can not find anything on line for a part #. Anyone got an extra '06 or newer grill laying around that they would like to part with or know of a place to get just the chrome tim part?
Sometimes the simpilst projects end up being the hardest!
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 41
From: ST. Louis, MO
'16 SL550, '18 Porsche Macan GTS
The chrome finish is waaaaay thicker than any primer caould make up. I would have to use bondo to fill the voids. Much easier and will end up better if I just replace it. Trying to sand or grind off the chrome finish would take countless hours to get it right.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 22,058
Likes: 18
From: Diamond Bar, CA
W206 PHEV AMG
at this point it is pretty obvious you won't save the grille if you want to save the chrome.
since you are already down this path I'd say blast it some more, sand it, bondo it, sand it some more and primer it and then paint.
since you are already down this path I'd say blast it some more, sand it, bondo it, sand it some more and primer it and then paint.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ
C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
use walnut shell instead of glass bead media in your blaster...it's less abrasive to the plastic, but it'll flake the chrome off without too much trouble
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 876
Likes: 41
From: ST. Louis, MO
'16 SL550, '18 Porsche Macan GTS
I don't think that your '03 grill is the same as the '06. I may be wrong as I have not seen one up close, but that is what I've seen writen here by others. My uderstanding is that there is an updated grill used on the '05 and newer cars.
If you can verify that it is the same as the '06, I'm interested.
If you can verify that it is the same as the '06, I'm interested.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Markham, Canada
C320 Coupe
you should've done lots of lots of research before painting black chrome. However when i painted my grille "black chrome", i realise dupicolor product isn't what i want, especially those paint i THINK it doesn't work on plastic material.
I bought my "black chrome" paint for $120 USD around, which i think the quality would be way more satisfy then dupicolor product.
I bought my "black chrome" paint for $120 USD around, which i think the quality would be way more satisfy then dupicolor product.
