W214 Grille Swap - Sport to Luxury
Member
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 111
Likes: 17
W214 E350
Interesting. Were you able to use a screwdriver? rather than pliers which is what I see people using in most of these videos. I checked today and found the rubber plug that I was able to remove I looked inside and saw the clips that need to be squeezed for the flat emblem to pop out, just waiting on my hood star to arrive now.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,908
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
Interesting. Were you able to use a screwdriver? rather than pliers which is what I see people using in most of these videos. I checked today and found the rubber plug that I was able to remove I looked inside and saw the clips that need to be squeezed for the flat emblem to pop out, just waiting on my hood star to arrive now.
Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 76
Likes: 19
From: Cape Coral FL
2025 E 350
Has anyone been able to source a non-China made MB OEM luxery grille (illuminating around the edges) and is/are there a part number(s) and sourcing contact to share?
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
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I ordered it through an individual in germany who purchased it for me, from a local (German dealer) after verifying that it would fit my VIN number.
The installation is seemless and all sensors and LED lighting around works as expected
The installation is seemless and all sensors and LED lighting around works as expected
Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 76
Likes: 19
From: Cape Coral FL
2025 E 350
Do you have any concerns about it voiding your factory warranty?
Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 76
Likes: 19
From: Cape Coral FL
2025 E 350
When I first saw this from another forum member, I thought it was a little redundant, grille MB star and the hood ornament star.
The more I see it though, the more I'm leaning-in. Quintessential MB 👍🏻
The more I see it though, the more I'm leaning-in. Quintessential MB 👍🏻
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Member
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 111
Likes: 17
W214 E350
I have been deliberating since October 24' on whether I genuinely appreciated the design, and over time, it gradually grew on me. Another key factor was that it made the car stand out a bit more without doing anything over the top.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 10
Likes: 7
Do you have any concerns about it voiding your factory warranty?
- Not really, Anyway I kept the old Grille in case this becomes an issue.
- I just serviced the car and no one mentioned anything about the grille
- No problem with car wash
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
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It is like anything else that sticks out like side mirrors, I didn't see how it would had affected the hood ornament anyways. Do you fold in the mirrors if you do automatic washes?
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Mar 26, 2025 at 08:35 AM.
Member
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 76
Likes: 19
From: Cape Coral FL
2025 E 350
Having just put on the hood ornament and gone through a car wash:
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
Having just put on the hood ornament and gone through a car wash:
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,062
Likes: 4,565
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Having just put on the hood ornament and gone through a car wash:
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎ť
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
1.) yep - "you cant mess this up" - super easy install,
2.) yep - zero car wash issues, but the coolest is,
3.) I have to admit, that first 1/4 mile of driving and seeing the star over the horizon of the hood is really, Really, REALLY cool 😎ť
Boys and their toys - what can I say...
Last edited by SW20S; Mar 26, 2025 at 06:45 PM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
I fold in the mirrors, the carwash mode does it for you. You don't have to though. I did have a carwash push the ornament back once, but its designed to do that. You actually can push it back and it locks flat.
No joke, the hood ornament is one of my favorite things about the S Class. One of the big reasons I got an S580 to replace my S560 and not a 7 Series is the hood ornament.
No joke, the hood ornament is one of my favorite things about the S Class. One of the big reasons I got an S580 to replace my S560 and not a 7 Series is the hood ornament.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 949
Likes: 352
X214
I do not work for MB or an MB dealer, so I am somewhat guessing, but I have always thought the lack of sales of the W213 "luxury" trim was more to do with what was available on the lot, rather than the buyer actively choosing the "sport" trim instead of the "luxury" trim....
Also, the sport trim was available with better wheels, which probably hurt luxury sales.
Also, the sport trim was available with better wheels, which probably hurt luxury sales.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 949
Likes: 352
X214
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
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Another problem is, the MB badge is also very big compared to lots of car emblems in the grille, unless I am living under a rock.
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Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 481
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From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,908
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
