PetePap

What is your take on the following W211 grille/hood badge combo's? I am just getting some opinions. I have all the combo's below, but don't know which I like best for my car. I need someone to 'sell' me on one of them. I currently have option #1 configured on my car.

PetePap

#1- After-market grille with the star in the middle / flat hood badge
#2- After-market grille with the star in the middle / original star hood badge
#3- Original grille / flat hood badge
#4- Original grille / original star hood badge

sentralfyr

This is my car

Barry45RPM

I like the OEM look... and I like to see the star. I you don't, then option 3.

PetePap

From INSIDE the car, I like the star too. From outside, I like the flat look. The OEM grille with the flat hood badge is starting to grow on me....

Thanks for your input Barry!

DerekACS

Options #1 and #2 definitely devalue the E Class, but some owners don't seem to care.
IMO, a non-stock grill and adding non-genuine MB alloys are two mods that have a significant negative impact upon the resale of any E Class.
Why some folks want to spend a considerable amount of dollars for these items only to lose even more later on is beyond me.
Try returning a leased E Class with either or both of these mods.

PetePap

It's easy enough to replace the OEM parts in about 10 minutes. I am just looking for what you think LOOKS best!

AK Benz

I think you should save the money and put it into something else, I honestly don't like the after market grilles on the w211, and the OEM hood star is nicer when your spending most of your time inside the drivers seat...

j_belll

for the '07 W211 there is no need to change grill and emblem in my opinion. OEM look on the '07 is awesome.

DerekACS

To answer your question, my vote would be option #4.
Options 1 and 2 change the character of the car; not a good idea IMO.

tlbeedy

In my personal opinion ~ Option #4
It's how the designers at Mercedes made it. It's why you bought it. Would you buy an expensive original oil painting & paint over it?

ruffrob

Option 4 ...no question,it's what God intended....

outtadaloop

I am personally going to go with option #3.

JDM_SXE-10

3.

Miles002

I wouldn’t change the expression on the Mona Lisa

#3 is very nice but #4 is perfect.

55fanatic

Personally, I like the clean shaven look... #3

PetePap

I'm diggin' that look myself. I may switch back to the OEM Grille.

jimm

This is one of those “to each his own” things.

BUT ... if the new E350 Sport didn’t have the star on its nose,
I wouldn’t have bought it! Plain and simple!

EVERY other company has an emblem - of some kind - in the
grill. So .. the MB grill star reduces its appearance to looking
like - almost all - other cars.

I will never buy ANY MB which doesn’t come OEM with it! That
NOSE star represents a pride of ownership like nothing else.
(Call it ego if you want.) NO WAY does a star in the grill come
even close to the recognizable pride from the nose star. Just a
glance .. that nose star reflects - to everyone - that it’s a MB!

(Tell us Harley Davidson owners that Pride Of Ownership isn’t
important.)

Lastly, I also love to look over the star from the inside.

jimm

==========

Arrived at U.S. Port in Jax today:
08 E350 Sport, P2, Black/black,
Parktronic, Voice, Bluetooth, Burl Walnut,
Split rear seat, Rear mud flaps

Barry45RPM

Do you mean to say that if on the next generation E Class, MB decides to place an MB Emblem only on the chrome surrounding the grille, visible only by a pedestrian crossing in front of the car, and have no more star hood ornament, there can be no "pride of ownership" in owning and driving that vehicle? ...and that you would never purchase that car?

I'll admit that I love to see the star on the hood while I'm driving, but if MB made the car without the hood ornament, its still an MB, still drives and costs like one, and is still looked up to. The hood ornament doesn't make the car or create its aura.

That's a pretty tough stance you have there. Its like saying that there is some shame to be driving an E with a smaller, non US engine, or one without 4 zone A/C.

You can look at a top businessman and just KNOW when he is wearing a $2000.00 suit, a $250.00 Shirt, and expensive tie without seeing a single label. Its just has that unmistakeable look. You can also tell when he is wearing a suit from Mens Warehouse... even though George Zimmer Guarantees "you're gonna look good"!

jimm

That’s what I mean. You have your opinion. I have mine.

Without that nose star, I would have bought a Lexus 460.
I much prefer the Lexus electronics and Nav.

jimm

PetePap

So you mean to tell me that you would never buy a CLK, CL, CLS, SLR, SLK, SL, M, R, GL, or G Class? They all have the emblem in the grille, with a flat emblem on the hood. It is safe to say that the 'majority' of the Mercedes lineup has an emblem in the grille and flat emblem on the hood.

To each his own though...Thats why I started this thread! Good stuff.

Pete

health services

#3


I buy the car for me not for the person who will buy the car from me.

I wonder about that when I go to a house that has plastic on all the furniture.


like how can you enjoy sitting on that stuff?

If you enjoy saving the car for someone else more power to you!

I had a old neighbor who bought a 79 or 81 corvette pace car that was bought and flat bedded to his house. It had less than 20 miles on it. he never drove it. I can see someone who has money doing this as a investment but he kept it and never really had anything else to enjoy. I only saw it as something that took up space in his garage for someone else to enjoy. I heard he past away a couple years ago. Still had that thing in there.

jimm

The Mercedes Benz “mystique” starts - and flows from - the nose star.
This “mystique” excites admiration, wonderment and pride.

Review historic pictures of the beautiful old MB cars. Note how they
evolved through the years. Your first glance will be to the consistent
nose star. The adrenalin flow starts from there. The nose star - back
then - and NOW .. sets MB apart from ALL other cars!

It’s fair to question the significance one person places on one item
over another. But, individual preference “differences” - regardless of
how shallow appearing - are inevitable.

Doubtless I’ve made decisions outside the norm. But, conformity never
guided me. What’s important to you may - or may not be - important
to me.

The OP’s car here is very nice looking. I mean no insult to him. Just
answering his question.

Yes, MB cars drive and handle nice. But, so do quite a few others ..
which have better electronics .. which is high on my appeal list. To
repeat: “I will never buy a MB that doesn’t come with the nose star.”
(Knowing the electronics would be dated, and without the great nose
star, what would be the point?)

So, crazy me, that nose star has me captivated. Such a fool am I.

jimm

PetePap

Jim, I think this is great dialogue. I am a firm believer in 'to each his own', and it's good to see someone so passionate about what he believes in! GOOD STUFF!! Cheers.

Pete

Barry45RPM

But it is amazing that he chose to buy a car with inferior electronics, which he says, is the most important thing in a car to him, just because it has a hood ornament. With no regard given to the MBs build quality and unmatched stance and "feel" while you drive it. LOL

Nevertheless, I'll agree he IS passionate about the hood ornament. We'll just have to wait 'till he drives it daily, & comes to appreciate what the cas has, that truely makes it an Icon.

Benz-O-Rama

OEM grill and star FTMFW!