Well, 3 hours, actually.

My missus bought me a single bar grille for Christmas (how did she know??) - anyways, been really busy with work, since and only got round to fitting, the other day.

It was an import from Germany (but suspect it started life in China. I was really worried about the Distronic Star fitment but, while it is a COMPLETE PAIN IN THE *** to get engaged, it fits fine. (Tip - make darned sure you mark 2 things on the star while removing: 1 - Vertical (so you know which point is upwards) and 2 - Mark the vertical position where the star is released (so you know where to offer it up, when re-fitting) - trust me, you would think it would look obvious, but the fitting lugs on the new one look completely different.

One more tip - ALWAYS put down double thickness BLANKETS on the ground before you lay the removed bumper down - you will be surprised how "involved" you are with the back of it - all the time pushing down and moving it around, ON THE BIT THAT WILL SHOW, when you turn it over.

An awful lot easier than fitting a different grille to my wife's Audi A1 - a LOT less skin from my knuckles left on the inside of the bumper. Thanks to Vic Viper, the maintenance note helps, no end.




Before....




After....



Anyway, some will like it, some will hate it - but who cares, I love it. It has changed the whole character of the front end - it seems to look (strangely) lower from the front when you see it on the road.

So what's next...? I did like the look of that Roof Spoiler - damn, a long time to wait for next Christmas....

PS - One thing to note: I almost had heart failure when I test drove the car after. When I engaged the Cruise, after about 10 mins, it came up with a "Radar Detector Dirty, Seek Assistance" warning - even though I had not even touched it. After another 10 mins, or so it cleared up and has been perfectly OK. So the motto is: don't panic.

 

Looks great.
What's your take on the overall quality compared to the OEM? Did your wife buy that from fleabay or some other vendor?

 

Quality of the plastics is great. The alignment of the retaining clips and fit was 100%. Paint colour and finish on the bar is fine. Overall, I couldn't find any difference between the OEM and the clone.

She bought it from eBay, as I say the retailer was in Germany, with great feedback for the grilles he is selling. Cost was £128 including shipping to UK.

 

Nice work! Looks great!

 

Post it to "Official C-Class Picture Thread".

 

I prefer this to the dotted grill everyone gets excited about.

 

So we know where your missus got the grille from. But the more important question is, where did you get your missus? Jesus, man. If mine could just have left me alone with what I want to do with the car, I would have been happy already :-)

 

Haha that's a true one! You can definitely call yourself lucky!
I wish however there was a video (of course shortened) or images of the front bumper removal... my local dealer told me it would cost about 80 euros to change the grill... but I rather put that money in car cleaning stuff

 

I have to say, an absolute Angel.

No, I really HAVE to say it.

Let's be honest, if it weren't for the wife, keeping everything in order, I wouldn't have the car, in first place. Lucky ain't the word.

 

Yeah, I thought that, after I'd finished. Sorry, but even for you, I'm not ripping it all apart again to film it.

In all honesty, if you have the slightest mechanical acumen, and common sense, it is dead easy.

 

Link to eBay seller? Looks awesome!

 

Thanks

The seller was http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grill-Spor...YAAOSwl9BWKfds - but there are any number of similar ads from Germany, ATM.

Also note that there are a number of variants, Silver, Matte Black and Black, depending what you are looking for - mine is Silver.

 

I once changed the brake pads on my old Renault Clio and in the process broke the ABS... Do I qualify? or should I pay for garage fitting hehe?

 

Blimey! That took some doing - that deserves some form of award.

On reflection, would've been cheaper to pay the stealer....

 

So I just got mine installed 3 days ago and now just got this mess... I don't know what this stains came from or how to remove them... sorry for the bad images... didn't get to take better ones right now




Brown looking stain (closer)





Brown looking stain?

 

And that wasn't there before you installed?

I have not idea what that could be - looks like heat damage, or chemical burn...?

 

Love it!

 

Nope. I don't know where that came from... and if it was heat damage other parts of it would be inflicted too, or? I think it's the matte chrome painting there that came of...

 

The car is looking great!
I have just ordered the same, in gloss black for my Polar White AMG line.

Once it arrives, I will be sure to post a pic, and as I see you are in the South West, I may have to find you to help get this fitted...

 

Where did you order it from and how much did it run you? I have a polar white too and am looking for a gloss black one.

 

The Fleabay my friend! Cost me £160 including postage, from the UK supplier is CKS performance! Can't wait for it to be here, I've spent too much on a car that I don't physically have yet...

 

Ah I see. I am looking for a seller that can ship to USA without charging an arm and a leg lol. Looking forward to pics once you get it and before and after installs.

 

All the Chinese suppliers ship to the US and, let's be honest, that's where they all start out from, anyways.

 

i ordered the diamond grill from flea-bay... it was approx 180USD... arrived within a week... very good quality too... very, very pleased with it... completely changes the look of the vehicle... i thought the stock double bar looked kind of plastic and cheap... (just my opinion)...

 

Link for that please and pics as well on and off the car