scovit

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........

360_iti

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

dragonAMG

I think it looks sporty. I vote yes.

scovit

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.

RawAMGpower

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.

scovit

Raw AMG Power:

Is that true the C55 grille is unique and does not share itself with any 203 types?

dhan83

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~!

RawAMGpower

Yes its true...it has its very own unique grill no other 203 has it not even a C32.

360_iti

That is so true, because C55 has CLK front end, but sedan-style grille.
So that's a unique combo.

Scovit, i wasnt trying to be eloquent i know u were just trying to see what people think.. meaning you're open minded.

PC Valkyrie

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.

BlackC230Coupe

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.

scovit

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.

Trekman

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.

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

BlackC230Coupe

Not to me, it looks much different then a C230 grill IMO. Its much narrower and longer looking. Gives a much cleaner look then a C230 grill.

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.

cntlaw

are we all mixed up something here ?
Not just the grill, the damn C55 's whole front end is 'copied' from a CLK.

dragonAMG

... and therefore it should have the CLK grille... LOL

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. To each is own. No matter what grille you put on the C55, the car simply looks awesome.

screw it... I'm going with this grill:



Cheers!

scovit

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.

RawAMGpower

That's exactly what I was trying to say. If you want the car to be look different and unique leave the stock grille on otherwise your just making it look like every other CLK on the road. Besides if you want your car to look like a CLK why did you not buy a CLK55 in the first place? Was it just the 4 doors and the price that swayed you to the C55?

dragonAMG

Not so much the price, but rather I need a 4-door sedan being that I have a 20 month old and another on the way (due July 19th). Not too mention the power potential factor that the C55 holds i.e., the Kleemann S7 conversion.

Trekman

I just installed my CLK grille on my C32 so it can be different form a C230.
what do you guys think? clk or stock?

BlackC230Coupe

the style is still a bit different. the c230's grill has chrome on all the sides. the c55 only has it on the top and bottom.

dhan83

Hmm.. may be another pic from more distance would be great. BTW, I see another grill in the back of ur garage~

PC Valkyrie

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).