Front grill chrome
 

Hello to all,

my w212 E350 had a few winter rides and it seems that was a big mistake :/
Here is how it looks now, any ides how to clean/polish this? Or I will need to replace this grill(I really hope not!)....
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...c8dea94fa1.jpg

w212 chrome grill spots


Probably the salt from the road and snowy conditions triggered this and I haven't cleaned car for 2 weeks and it was in garage, but I had 211 previously and 202 and never had issues with this(winters here with 20F are normal every year), so I was pretty shocked after cleaning.
Paint is unattached, and I was pretty sure that the paint is far more prone to salt/snow....

So any help how to get rid of this is much appreciated.

I would say the front was replaced by aftermarket at some time and they used cheap ****. This should not happen with oem. Did you buy the car used

It is plastic. Try to use headlight polishing kit.

Car was bought used but there is no way that it was replaced with some cheap thing from ebay. Car has a full Mercedes hisotry and was under lease and casco insurance whole time.

So you think I should try with headlight restoring kit, how about this,https://www.sonax.com/Product-Search...hrome-alupaste

Should this give better result or due to the fact that it has plastic finish I should use headlight tool? The grill is 100% original!

Again, this is plastic, when the Sonax stuff is for metals.
Use polishing stuff for plastics/paint.
I never tried it on chrome imitation, so can't tell how well it will work, but doesn't look like you have much to loose on polishing job. ;)
But look at it from positive side. If that grille will not clean, you have good excuse to get one with center star :)

I do not want you to get mad but if you bought it used you have no idea if it was replaced. It might have been cracked in minor accident and the person driving it had the part replaced just because it has a history of Mercedes and casco insurance. If I had a minor ding I would not go through the insurance because of the deductible. Or maybe the previous owner was handy and did it himself figuring he was going to sell it and saved a few bucks with a cheap knockoff. Take the part off and look for the Mercedes part number then you will know for sure. Sorry but I would never trust a used car unless I knew the owner.

Have Distronic Grill
 

Hi, I own a 2010 E350 which I replaced the front Grill with one with a Mercedes-Benz Star. I am willing to sell you my one still in the box Original Mercedes-Benz part for less than 1/2 of what anyone wants for one! Just shoot me an email and an offer at toledotom@aol.com. I will ship as soon as I receive a payment thru Paypal. The original is in excellent shape. I can take pics for you if you want? Yes, it is a Distronic Grill which you will find is a lot MORE Money to buy!

Tom B.

^ there is a solid option for you with your pre facelift grill, if you can't clean it up.

Not stainless?
 

I know that a lot of the bright work on cars is actually plastic, but I thought the grill on an M-B was either chrome or stainless steel?

Definitely plastic. I assume they used to be some sort of metal but no idea how long ago that changed.

Would that be real metal, my original grill would survive water softener falling on it ;)
I think last metal grill and glass headlights were in W123, even W123 had plastic headlights door that deteriorated with age

Ok guys som great news, with a bit of cleanser and a classic cloth and one microfibre cloth there is some HUGE improvement.

Here is picture
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...8ec23654fb.jpg

And here is picture of "tools" :cool:
https://i.imgur.com/8KRRZoCr.jpg


Remember, that was no polishing whatsoever, more of a deep cleaning, I still see some spots(probably from small debris that hit the front grill for the last 5 years , but I am satisfied with the result.

And for the polishing of the chrome, I will quote one post from meguiarsonline forum which in my opinion should be taken into account.
" Chrome is Chrome, what is under it doesn't matter. "

So at the very end maybe I should now use chrome wax as I mentioned above? Who knows...I am open for discussion :)

Looks great, good job.

Looks great. Glad it came clean.

Looks good but it is not making it chrome.
The only protectant I know good for plastics is 303. Great on tires as well.