Front CLK Grille vs Stock
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05 C55, BMWX 3.0, Subaru Forester (Shaggin Wagon)
Front CLK Grille vs Stock
I have seen on this forum many pics of C32 and C55 autos where the front grille has been replaced with a CLK look alike grille. With this look, most if not all the autos have also changed the grille badge.
My feeling is this. I don't think I want my car to have the look of a CLK, CL or SL. I say, I don't think....I am wavering a bit...I should mention that I love the look of the CLK, and used to own a lemon 05 CLK500. Cadet Blue, beautiful car. But that's just it. It's not a C32 or a C55. It is what it is....no?
Sure, I changed the badge to the really nice multi-colored AMG badge, but that was more for defensive moves than anything else. They like to break off the 3 stars emblem and take valve stem covers....kids mostly.
I think I like the look of a de-badged clean front end C32-C55. It makes people wonder, what is that car?
That being said, I'm open. I'd like to hear fellow forum user thoughts.
To grille or not to grille.....that is the aesthetic question.....
One more thing.....I love the new 06 CLK grille.....less slats! That might break me........
My feeling is this. I don't think I want my car to have the look of a CLK, CL or SL. I say, I don't think....I am wavering a bit...I should mention that I love the look of the CLK, and used to own a lemon 05 CLK500. Cadet Blue, beautiful car. But that's just it. It's not a C32 or a C55. It is what it is....no?
Sure, I changed the badge to the really nice multi-colored AMG badge, but that was more for defensive moves than anything else. They like to break off the 3 stars emblem and take valve stem covers....kids mostly.
I think I like the look of a de-badged clean front end C32-C55. It makes people wonder, what is that car?
That being said, I'm open. I'd like to hear fellow forum user thoughts.
To grille or not to grille.....that is the aesthetic question.....
One more thing.....I love the new 06 CLK grille.....less slats! That might break me........
Last edited by scovit; 06-28-2005 at 08:15 AM.
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W203, W211, W219, W212
Dude, it's personal preference. Some people don't mind eating ice cream in the winter, some people feel it's the wrong time.
I think it's safe to say that Mercedes thinks that CLK grille type looks sportier. That's why they use it for "sporty" classes, CL, CLK, SL, SLK, CLS. And that's how we (as in end users) define sporty.. the same way Mercedes thinks.
Come to think about it, off all MB passenger vehicles, only E, C, and S class sedans don't use the sporty grille. Even the small A, B, down to M and G use them.
You don't want use it and would prefer your car to look like a sleeper ? That's fine. Some of us feel that AMG is sporty, therefore we want our car to look sporty.
Just my 2c
I think it's safe to say that Mercedes thinks that CLK grille type looks sportier. That's why they use it for "sporty" classes, CL, CLK, SL, SLK, CLS. And that's how we (as in end users) define sporty.. the same way Mercedes thinks.
Come to think about it, off all MB passenger vehicles, only E, C, and S class sedans don't use the sporty grille. Even the small A, B, down to M and G use them.
You don't want use it and would prefer your car to look like a sleeper ? That's fine. Some of us feel that AMG is sporty, therefore we want our car to look sporty.
Just my 2c
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360-Ti :
So why wouldn't MB put it on the C55 as standard equipment? Major sports sedan and odd, yes?
I trying to get a handle on what people like and how they see it as you eloquently expressed.
So why wouldn't MB put it on the C55 as standard equipment? Major sports sedan and odd, yes?
I trying to get a handle on what people like and how they see it as you eloquently expressed.
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2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
5 out of the 6 C55's I've seen on the road in and around LA have had there grill changed to the CLK. It seems here at least that people that keep the stock grill are the minority. I personally don't like the CLK grill. It just doesn't look right, most of the time when I see a C55 on the road with it I think at first sight its a CLK, but then I look down and see the fog lights and realize its a C55. The C55 has its very own individualized grill that it shares with no other Merc that alone should tell you to keep it.
The CLK grill looks even worse on a E or S class IMO. However, while I don't support the grill swap I do support the front hood ornament change to a flat badge star or AMG logo, though I do think the star looks better.
The CLK grill looks even worse on a E or S class IMO. However, while I don't support the grill swap I do support the front hood ornament change to a flat badge star or AMG logo, though I do think the star looks better.
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05 C55, BMWX 3.0, Subaru Forester (Shaggin Wagon)
Raw AMG Power:
Is that true the C55 grille is unique and does not share itself with any 203 types?
Is that true the C55 grille is unique and does not share itself with any 203 types?
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Black 05 C55 AMG, White 04 325ci (SOLD)
I just installed clk grill and I'm really liking it. I like the sporty look~! Good thing about this grill is, when I get tired of clk grill, I can always go back to stock~!
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
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#8
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2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
Originally Posted by scovit
Raw AMG Power:
Is that true the C55 grille is unique and does not share itself with any 203 types?
Is that true the C55 grille is unique and does not share itself with any 203 types?
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W203, W211, W219, W212
Originally Posted by RawAMGpower
Yes its true...it has its very own unique grill no other 203 has it not even a C32.
So that's a unique combo.
Scovit, i wasnt trying to be eloquent
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C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
I tend to agree with RawAMGpower. The unique front end and grill of the stock C55 look really good to me. I have switched to a flat mercedes badge on the hood, but I've kept the stock grill, which makes the car look more sleek in a low-key way.
The CLK grill conversion with the large central star screams "LOOK AT ME", which I personally don't like. If you think the stock look is too low key, then getting the CLK grill will definitely make people notice.
It also looks a bit odd to me when I see the large CLK star and then the rest of the C-class body. It just doesn't flow very well, IMO, especially with other W203's which have a more upgright and taller grill position than the C55.
The CLK grill conversion with the large central star screams "LOOK AT ME", which I personally don't like. If you think the stock look is too low key, then getting the CLK grill will definitely make people notice.
It also looks a bit odd to me when I see the large CLK star and then the rest of the C-class body. It just doesn't flow very well, IMO, especially with other W203's which have a more upgright and taller grill position than the C55.
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; 06-28-2005 at 04:54 PM.
#11
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i had the CLK grill on the car, but after looking at it a while, i much prefer the stock C55 grill (which i put back). Like others have said, it makes the C55 look more distincetive since no other Mercedes uses that exact grill.
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I think I am starting to like to idea of the distinct unique look, though so far the threads seem split pretty evenly.
The C55 is no ordinary W203 nor is it a W209.
The C55 is no ordinary W203 nor is it a W209.
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Silver 2002 C32, Silver 2006 CLK 350
I have just installed the CLK grille on my C32, I like it cuz it look different from the other c230 sport. But if I had a C55 I might just leave it stock.
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About the C55 grille looking different... my question is how? Maybe size wise it's different, but as far as looks are concerned it looks exactly the same as the c230 sport grille
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Originally Posted by dragonAMG
About the C55 grille looking different... my question is how? Maybe size wise it's different, but as far as looks are concerned it looks exactly the same as the c230 sport grille
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12' C63 P31, 06' Supercharged Range, 08' BMW 550i
that's what I mean... the size is different, its much narrower, not as stubby as the c230 grille, but the style is exatly alike. Same plastic chrome trim.
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12' C63 P31, 06' Supercharged Range, 08' BMW 550i
Originally Posted by cntlaw
are we all mixed up something here ?
Not just the grill, the damn C55 's whole front end is 'copied' from a CLK.
![naughty](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/naughty.gif)
Not just the grill, the damn C55 's whole front end is 'copied' from a CLK.
![naughty](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/naughty.gif)
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
![thumbs](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
but, wait... then we aren't doing anything different. Oh hell, maybe having the stock c55 grille on the c55 is different and I guess that's what was said about 10 replies ago... haha.
![wall](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/banghead.gif)
screw it... I'm going with this grill:
![](http://www.truckefx.com/factorystylegrille/2474120678.jpg)
Cheers!
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Last edited by dragonAMG; 06-28-2005 at 07:57 PM.
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It's one thing for AMG (MB) to use the CLK front to 'Fit" that big 5.5 liter engine, and that's a stock and design manufactured configuration. It's another to take a stock grille from a different model, namely the CLK and put it on the C55.
The question of a CLK Grille vs Stock Grille should have nothing to do with whether the CLK grille physcially fits because we all know it does.
But what about the look of it? That's the big question.
The question of a CLK Grille vs Stock Grille should have nothing to do with whether the CLK grille physcially fits because we all know it does.
But what about the look of it? That's the big question.
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2006 BMW X5 4.8is and 2005 C55 AMG
Originally Posted by dragonAMG
Oh hell, maybe having the stock c55 grille on the c55 is different and I guess that's what was said about 10 replies ago... haha.
![wall](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/banghead.gif)
Cheers!
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12' C63 P31, 06' Supercharged Range, 08' BMW 550i
Originally Posted by RawAMGpower
Was it just the 4 doors and the price that swayed you to the C55?
#23
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Originally Posted by dragonAMG
that's what I mean... the size is different, its much narrower, not as stubby as the c230 grille, but the style is exatly alike. Same plastic chrome trim.
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C55 AMG, 135i, 911 GT3, GLE43 AMG
Here is a pic of my C55 with flat badge and a friend's CLK500 for comparison. It's personal preference, but I still think the CLK grill looks best on a CLK!! The C55 grill looks more sleek (wider and shorter in height).
Last edited by PC Valkyrie; 06-28-2005 at 11:54 PM.