BPhillyBenz

With all due respect (and I did originally change out my grill to an after market one, then reverted back). These pics remind me of the movie "Cars" . Upload pics when finished...love to see em. Cheers.
B.

Theboatswain

This beat paying $60.00 to have the shop do it again. The first aftermarket grill I got on ebay really looks nice but when we put the center piece in it would fall right back out and the dealer epoxied it in placed but didn't get it flush on the bottom. I have a better looking one coming that looks more like the stock sport ones which I think will look better in the car and thanks to this post I will do it myself. Thanks!!

nostra

I replaced the grill today but could not remove the star hood emblem to rotate anti-clockwise as mentioned in https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...e212-hood.html . I tried rotating it from under the hood with bare hands did not use the pliers; it seemed too tight for me to be able to rotate even with the pliers. Is there anything that I'm missing or can someone please guide and help me here? I am just scared to use pliers and break something!
Right now it seems a little awkward to have both the star grill and the star emblem on the hood.

MCF

Put on some thick gloves (like yard working gloves) and twist the two tabs counter clockwise. It is held in place by spring tension. U just need to overcome it. Make sure u hold on or the ornament could slide down your hood after U get it loose if u are not careful. Once u do it first time u will see how easy it is. I was shaking also first time i tried.

BPhillyBenz

Good advice. If you find it too difficult you can also use plyers to twist the tabs underneath the hood (thats what I did). If your carefull, you wont damage it. Good luck and enjoy.

hyperion667

we need pictures!!!

nostra

Than You guys for your help ... I had to use pliers and apply a lot of force than what I had anticipated. There is no way I could have done this with bare hands!
Its totally a different car with this mod and I am thoroughly enjoying it but the stock seemed equally appealing too. Here's my pic ...

44kevin

Looks awesome.

emdem

I can't find the clips on the back of the grill to release it. How many and where? (please). And does that styrofoam on the bottom come out?

hyperion667

I think there are four clips, and I also think the styro stays put......
good luck

filmstudent

i have a 2012 and for whatever reason, the pics dont match my car? is there anyone that can provide more detailed explanations, more pics, or a video? i hate to be the dumb one, and i really dont want to break my car :P thanks guys!

PHML

Show us pics of your engine bay and grill area...should be the same.

filmstudent

for sure. will get a pic up tonight

ebucaro

Thank you all, with the initial instructions plus all the others hints, it was very easy to do this Grill change

Televinken

It looks great!

davidbijan

BTW i bought the 55 tech grill shown by fromthebeginnin 3 months ago and decided to put my stock back on. I painted the mesh matte black. If anyone wants to save 150 bucks off a new one i will sell mine to you for 100 or best offer. Its just going to sit in the garage otherwise.Its a pretty solid grill. Sturdier IMO than Stock. Email me if anyone is interested and i can forward pics. No scratches etc.

davidbijan

They are at the bottom of the grill. The top does not have clips

PHML

install was about 5 minutes....just 1 single 10mm bolt to remove....and the rest are clips.

Televinken

Thanx to all who provided good information on the matter!
I was planning on getting my own one here: eBay Link.
I'd purchased 'davidbijan's', if he hadn't repainted it...

davidbijan

At first i left it the way it was but it seemed like there was too much chrome on the grill that did not match the bottom fenders stock plastic black mesh. In any event im sure you will like the grill. You will have to epoxy in the star when you get it. It does not clip in secure.

Messa

Hi, I picked my new W212 up on the 18th Dec 2010 and did the grill/bonnet before the New Year.
I have loved it ever since but recently have noticed how many new mercs are coming with the grill star and decided that mine actually looks less sophisticated and classy now. It looked like a C class at a glance which is fine, but it isn't !.
I have changed back now and it just feels better. More 'old man' but also more Mercedes.

K-A

. Though, I don't feel there's anything "old man" about the W212's grille.... it's probably the meanest and most imposing on the M-B fleet right now.

The Star grille is great *on the models that it's designed for*, but it's generic and corporate now. The W212's face and non blunted soft-nose front end is exclusive and more statement-like nowadays than the "everyday" Star grille you see everywhere. Not to mention, the grille opening is ill proportioned for a Star grille, which is why it looks cheesy on the front of a W212 and proper on a Merc that's designed around it.

jvc300

Driving from Florida to D.C. I picked the familiar glow of white LED's in mirror and with amusement I would glance waiting to see the MB coming from behind. I know it was the new C-Class and it was moving at a good pace. As the MB approached and ready to pass it was an E-550 with the star grille. That pretty much convinced me to leave the E in it's natural beauty...

K-A

Totally! I've had the same thing come up when I've seen E's with Star grilles.

Now with the A-Class coming to the States, the C, the GLK, and some new smaller SUV's and FWD Sedans coming out, all with Star grille, the look will be even less "exclusive within the M-B range". Of course since all M-B's have it, the higher models will as well, but the beauty of the "Luxo Face with proud hood Star" is that the E and S-Classes will exclusively have it, making it more powerful IMO.

To note, I love M-B's Star grille as well, though I always did like the "Luxo Face" a little better all in all, but my main critique is how ill fittedly it is when it's an aftermarket piece designed into a grille opening which was never proportioned for a Star grille (big difference from how it looks when the Designers actually design the opening to coincide with an OEM Star grille unit).

jvc300

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