JHouse

I just put this grill on my 2004 CLK320. http://www.123mercedes.com/w209/w209all.html

The black version. Here is a picture or three:




I read somewhere that someone ordered it and complained that it was all plastic and that hacked them off, so they sent it back. Well, it is, though the MB symbol may be metal. But that isn't a big loss since the original grill is all plastic too, as I found out when I took it off.

Also, there has been some discussion about a gap at the top on some of these. The close up shows something that some people might consider a gap, but the picture is deceiving because it is taken from below with the camera essentially on the ground and the grill is just as high as the stock grill. There is no way to see this "gap" unless you lay on the ground right in front of the car. To me, that means no visible gap.

The good news is that it is a 3 minute, pop-in, no screws installation. You do have to remove the two screws on the upper brace of the factory grill and then gently pry the pins out of the tabs on each end of the grill right at the headlights (as that is all that really holds it in). Then gently push back and up on either side and it kind of pops out. Use a little finesse as opposed to brute force. What you are removing are some tabs on the bottom of the grill that stick in slots in the bumper. Then just do the reverse on the new install. The new grill sits slightly rearward of the factory grill, so you might need to clean up the bumper where the grill was sitting (and hope that it is painted reasonably well). That upper brace can be removed (again by popping pins out of tabs in the factory grill) and installed behind the new grill for support, but it doesn't attached to the new grill, but I left it there just to push against the back for support (and so I wouldn't lose it in case I want to stick the stock grill back on).

My kid (21 years old) really thinks it updates the car. At first I thought it had a little bit of a Chevy Cobalt look, but after looking at the 09 SL, I am coming around.

The black background integrates a lot better than I thought it would even though thats the only black grating on the car. It coordinates with the black spaces in the lower grill intake allright and it doesn't look out of place.

I seriiously considered the silver version (all chrome would have been a little too pimpy for me) but chanced the black for a little more contrast and factory look (the factory SL, that is).

I'm going to live it a while and see what I think.

It came in a surprisingly small box and weighs almost nothing, but it seems pretty stout after comparison to the factory grill.

I'm wondering of the car wash is going to grind it up, but it didn't grind up the plastic factory grill, so we'll see.

I couldn't find another thread on this, though I looked quite a while. It is pretty darned close:

Fai+H777

Quite a few people on here have that grill, including myself. You should consider vinyl wrapping the 'bar' in your lower bumper to get rid of the smiley effect.

I vinyl wrapped most of my lower grill. Many don't like it but each to their own.

Fai+H777

BTW, is there a small gap between the top of your grill and the bonnet?

JHouse

No gap. This grill is advertised on a lot of sites and some of them brag on it being "gapless." BTW some of those sites ask 4 times the price of others for the same damn grill. I'll get better pictures soon. You know, it was seeing your car that made me take the dive and order the grill in black. I was worried how it would look on a taupe/tan/sand whatever car.

So where would I get the vinyl wrap, were I to go that way? Heck, can you just remove that bar without leaving ugly remains?

Klinh

He has the "no gap" version, I can tell because mine is the same as his.

Klinh

I modified the stock up brace to hold the new grill in place. Mine modified upper brace now actuall hold new grill stiffer then stock grill. Mine grill barely move at all in any direction. All I did were cut the two side pins of the brace then used double side tape to hold the grill in place.

Fai+H777

Yeah Klinh, but you wouldn't tell anyone where you got it from lol.

M-bENZ

Lol . To the OP , nice grill .

dynomite05

Informative posts, as always.

JHouse

See original post, as I added better pictures and edited about the gap.

Thanks for the comments.

JHouse

Good idea. I might do that if I decide to keep using the grill (or if I remember to).

elijah

It looks good!!

I've been debating wether I should get this grill or not for my 55. If I do pull the trigger I will most def paint in all blacj!

dynomite05

I would like to see how that looks.

Jamesbbh

What is Blacj?

ark1tech

LOL.. haha

mikata

Imo dont, get the 3 slat grille and paint it matte black instead.

Klinh

No.......I told people to do a search under my name. Two people that personally e-mailed me got the grill.

dynomite05

lazlion99

To OP. I think it looks good on your car.

Fai+H777

I'll be doing mine in CF soon

elijah

I just bought one off ebay a few minutes ago. Stay Tuned!

Just another way to confuse people by writing it that way

dynomite05

Mmmmmm...

M_L

i see klinh's car

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Merce...t_10734wt_1103

JHouse

That is actually a different part than mine. I might like it better. The difference I see is that the round background of the Mercedes Star is recessed and a grill, where as mine is a flat round shiny solid plastic surface which the star sits directly on.

dynomite05

That's because yours is meant to look like the distronic star.