Stupid question about grille star
03-08-2018, 07:44 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Stupid question about grille star
I have a W212 Sport, and even right after I bought the car I noticed my grille star was cocked just a hair to one side. Not quite pointing at 11:00, more like 11:45 or so. I didn't really think much of it.
This weekend I installed the illuminated grille star and you can really see that the star is cocked to 11:45. The thing that's weird is, I knew this bugged me so while I had the star out I checked all the plastic prongs, and it all looked OK. As the star sits now you cannot pull it out. You do need to turn it further to the actual 11:00 position to pull it out. I tried pushing in on it and turning to try to get it to turn further, and I;m at the point where I feel like if I turn it any harder I'm going to break some expensive plastic piece. What's the deal? Is this normal? How hard are you supposed to have to twist on the star? Is there a point where it will actually click or snap into place? I don't feel any kind of snap or click, it just slides fairly smoothly back and forth between 11:00 and 11:45 but won't turn all the way to straight-up 12 noon. It's exactly the same with both the original grille star and the illuminated one.
Thanks,
D
This weekend I installed the illuminated grille star and you can really see that the star is cocked to 11:45. The thing that's weird is, I knew this bugged me so while I had the star out I checked all the plastic prongs, and it all looked OK. As the star sits now you cannot pull it out. You do need to turn it further to the actual 11:00 position to pull it out. I tried pushing in on it and turning to try to get it to turn further, and I;m at the point where I feel like if I turn it any harder I'm going to break some expensive plastic piece. What's the deal? Is this normal? How hard are you supposed to have to twist on the star? Is there a point where it will actually click or snap into place? I don't feel any kind of snap or click, it just slides fairly smoothly back and forth between 11:00 and 11:45 but won't turn all the way to straight-up 12 noon. It's exactly the same with both the original grille star and the illuminated one.
Thanks,
D
03-09-2018, 03:13 AM
#3
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
x2
Chances are that having several close-ups you will see what the problem is.
Chances are that having several close-ups you will see what the problem is.
03-09-2018, 04:36 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This picture shows the misalignment best. You are looking straight down at the top of the star. You can see the "beak" at the center of the grille itself does not line up with the top point on the star. This is as far to the right as the star will turn without putting what I think would be excessive force on it risking breaking something. From where it is now you can not pull the star out of the grille. You can turn it further to the left and it will come out.
Should I twist harder? I actually may need to put some sort of tool on it to turn it any further. Is it supposed to latch or click into place? Currently in this position it doesn't click or anything, it just turns back and forth with some resistance (i.e. it's not loose).
Thanks,
D
03-09-2018, 05:37 PM
#6
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
No offence, but that looks like UFO to me.
03-09-2018, 05:38 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Yeah it's the best angle to show the misalignment of the top point of the star with the point in the crease of the grille surround.
