rumsbeard

How difficult is it to remove the Sport grille and install the Luxury grille on the sport sedan? I will be selling my 2005 sport sedan and getting the C300 Sport later this year.

IMO, the Sport grille is brand blasphemy! All sedans should have the traditional grille with hood ornament...

In this view, the old CLK was an anomaly as well.

GPI

I don't think it is difficult to do the swap. I'm considering to do that as well, but I need to know how much the grille would cost me.

Lakerz4sho

i like the sport grille.

pmb600

YAY!! I thought I was the only one that wanted to do this. It will be possible since Mercedes sells as an accessory the sport grille to retrofit to luxury sedans. They must figure that many people will want to go that way rather than sport to luxury. I think that a Mercedes sedan with AMG package and traditional grille doesn't get much better, and while I like the sport grille, on some angles it makes the front end look strange.

If the grille price is anything like the W203, it will be around $175 for a luxury grille. The only thing I was worried about was putting in the hood star. But I checked it out and the flat badge that it comes with sport models is placed in the hood the same way a hood star would be. I believe on M-Class/R-Class/GL-Class etc, the flat badge is attached to the hood differently and so there is no hole underneath (I could be wrong) but since the W204 has different variants, they obviously only want one hood design to save costs.

There are also two different variants of the traditional grille, I will post pictures later.

MBfan21

I didn't know there were 2 versions of the luxury grill. Do post when you get a chance.

I like the sports grill better. I always find the emblem on the hood bends out of place when it snows.

alpinweiss

Wow, I thought I was the only one that preferred the traditional grille and hood ornament. I find the W204 sport grille to be overdone, and prefer something a bit more subtle.

A salesman at the dealership here told me the luxury and sport grilles are interchangeable (I already asked the question). I have not yet verified this with parts or service departments.

W0n6_3d4n

Luxury grill with flat badge will look awesome IMO, if it cost below 400 bucks i'll do it as soon as i get my car.

pmb600

Oh god, it would cost WAY below $400. The grilles are just plastic as you probably know, and should only cost approximately $175. The hood star is cheap too, no more than $30.

pmb600

Ok here are some pictures for everyone.

First we have the two traditional grille choices. In Europe there are 3 lines of cars: Classic, Elegance, and Avantgarde. Elegance is roughly our Luxury and Avantgarde with an AMG Package is our Sport. Our Luxury sedan gets a traditional grille with grey inserts, and the Classic in Europe gets black inserts. If you can get your hands on a classic grille I would recommend that because the black inserts are more sporty. On the W203 the Sport always had black inserts and the luxury grey.

Classic grille with black inserts:



Elegance (Luxury) grille with grey inserts:

pmb600

Here are some pics of a Palladium Silver car with AMG package and a traditonal grille:

CarGuru

It seems like more people like the "Sport" grille, I bet a quick post in a classified section (If one exists on this forums) or Craigslist etc... Someone would likely glady swap you one. In contrast everyone I have shown the new car too has said "Thank god they got rid of that stupid star on the hood" but to each his own.

-Ryan

pmb600

Why does everyone think the hood star is stupid? It's been there forever and its cool. I wouldn't want my Mercedes without it!

I feel like it's a crosshair as I drive! lol

alpinweiss

Yes, I really prefer that over the sport grille. Thanks for posting the pics.

rumsbeard

I assume from the posted pictures that the C-Class is available off the showroom floor with an AMG kit and the traditional grille. Is that correct?

pmb600

Not in the US, maybe in Europe. Those pictures are from the online web special on the German site which lets you pick your colors, wheels etc. I'm not sure if they can get AMG in Europe with traditional grille.

rumsbeard

I just checked out that web special on the German Mercedes site. Looks like it is possible to add an AMG kit to the Classic or Elegance while retaining the traditional grille.

I remember reading somewhere that in Europe you can add on the BMW M bodykits to the lowliest versions of the 3-series. I believe BMW North America is considering the same option for cars sold here too.

W0n6_3d4n

I like the big smily face on my benz

rumsbeard

What do you mean?

pmb600

Me too, but the newer ones don't really have smiley faces anymore. I always thought that the W220 had the most friendly looking front end.

W0n6_3d4n

I still think they do, but more like a sinister smile. I like it a lot, giving the car more edge.

CarGuru

Smiley and friendly faces are for Camry's and Tauruses, I like a mean face that says get out of my way for those that hog the left lane.

-Ryan

BlackMercBenz

Aight now, Vasili...
lol

Bltzburgh

I prefer the sport grille over the luxury grille. I believe the grille fits the car since it is a sport sedan. I have always thought of the hood ornament as a luxury car thing. Just my opinion, but I think both grilles fit the type of car they are on.

JimPap

Wish I had known about the availability of the sports grill as I think I would have preferred buying the luxury model for the interior and found someone interested in swapping grills.

Live and learn.

MBfan21

I don't like the star on the hood because it always bends out of place when going through car washes. I think the sports grille makes the car look more expensive.. like one of the S classes from the front sort of... I think it is more appealing.
But the star on the hood is nice too. I'm surprised people want the sporty interior with the luxury exterior.