GL Class (X164) 2007-2012: GL320CDI, GL420CDI, GL450, GL550

Converting GL450 to GL550 (front end)

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Old 02-16-2009, 01:41 PM
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Converting GL450 to GL550 (front end)

Anyone know what this takes? To me it just looks like a different grill and bumper.

Does anyone actually know if thats the only difference?

Anyone actually attempt to make the conversion?


to make the 450's to look like the 550's? :


to work on the 450 GLs which looked like this:
Old 02-16-2009, 05:31 PM
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i know on the new C-calss to chage into the sport model, its only $150.00, but i never thought about doing it on GL. Yes, I like the GL550 look
Old 02-16-2009, 05:59 PM
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It looks like the fender flares are molded into the bumper so the rest of the front fender flare and the rear fender flare are also needed to imitate the look. Don't forget the badges too.
Old 02-16-2009, 11:21 PM
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2014 GL 450
Originally Posted by starbai
Anyone know what this takes?
Sell the 450 and buy a 550??
Old 02-17-2009, 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Newbie_2_MB
Sell the 450 and buy a 550??
How can you still be "Newbie_2_MB" and be a "Super Member?" I mean, I know you're super, we've met, but still ...

Oh, and I agree completely with your assessment. Sure it'll look nice, but it won't have the big V8. So why not just get the 550?

STP
Old 02-17-2009, 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Newbie_2_MB
Sell the 450 and buy a 550??
Isn't that the same thing they say about a house with a pool.
Old 02-17-2009, 09:58 PM
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2014 GL 450
Originally Posted by StevethePilot
How can you still be "Newbie_2_MB" and be a "Super Member?" I mean, I know you're super, we've met, but still ...
LOL! I don't want to change my user ID and loose my post count! Who knew I'd have so much fun posting over here when I joined almost 2 years ago
Old 02-18-2009, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by scottybdiving
Isn't that the same thing they say about a house with a pool.
No, that's what they said about a house without a basement, and you want a basement. It's tough to put one in, though it can be done, but the original house was never designed to have one so you'll be rigging this and compromising on that, and it'll end up costing you more than if you just tore down the old house and re-built with a basement designed in (or bought a house with a basement already in it).

STP
Old 02-18-2009, 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by StevethePilot
No, that's what they said about a house without a basement, and you want a basement. It's tough to put one in, though it can be done, but the original house was never designed to have one so you'll be rigging this and compromising on that, and it'll end up costing you more than if you just tore down the old house and re-built with a basement designed in (or bought a house with a basement already in it).

STP
Yeah well, we don't have basements around here but lot's of people spend lots of money putting in a pool, only to discover it adds very little to their re-sale.

Actually, I guess that's not off topic because the same applies to spending money on cars as well.
Old 02-18-2009, 12:21 PM
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LOL! I don't want to change my user ID and loose my post count! Who knew I'd have so much fun posting over here when I joined almost 2 years ago
Jen- https://mbworld.org/forums/forum-que...me-change.html

They changed my username for me.
Old 02-18-2009, 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted by ima55r2
It looks like the fender flares are molded into the bumper so the rest of the front fender flare and the rear fender flare are also needed to imitate the look. Don't forget the badges too.
The fenders on the 550 aren't any different than the ones on the 320 and 450 in any way except that the flares are just "added on".

It looks like the front end change is just the bumper and grille, but I'm not sure. I can't see any reason why the 550 bumper would require any extensive additional work to make it work.
Old 02-18-2009, 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by AsianML
The fenders on the 550 aren't any different than the ones on the 320 and 450 in any way except that the flares are just "added on".

It looks like the front end change is just the bumper and grille, but I'm not sure. I can't see any reason why the 550 bumper would require any extensive additional work to make it work.
i iddn't realize the wheel arches. man that woulda been too easy huh? lol

as far as buying a 550, I guess i'm a bawler on a budget. I can't afford a new 450 or 550.

A year or two old 450 is in the budget but I just love the 550's front end.

I wonder if a body shop could sand down and refill the bumper of teh 550 to fit the front fenders of a 450.

food for thought I guess.
Old 02-19-2009, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by starbai
i iddn't realize the wheel arches. man that woulda been too easy huh? lol

as far as buying a 550, I guess i'm a bawler on a budget. I can't afford a new 450 or 550.

A year or two old 450 is in the budget but I just love the 550's front end.

I wonder if a body shop could sand down and refill the bumper of teh 550 to fit the front fenders of a 450.

food for thought I guess.
You can always buy the fender flares (they're a separate part) and have the dealer attach them to the existing 450 fenders (which is essentially how it's done at the factory).
Old 02-19-2009, 06:41 PM
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Originally Posted by cjh.
Jen- https://mbworld.org/forums/forum-que...me-change.html

They changed my username for me.
Thanks! I submitted a request.
Old 02-19-2009, 09:50 PM
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Thanks! I submitted a request.
Jen, you didn't offer the folks in the peanut gallery here to come up with a user name for you?
Old 02-19-2009, 09:59 PM
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I knew better than that!!!
Old 03-01-2009, 01:29 PM
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the fender kit is just stuck on with 3m tape -- it is 1300 from the dealer
Old 03-02-2009, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by cgjungdds
the fender kit is just stuck on with 3m tape -- it is 1300 from the dealer
awesome info!

thanks!
Old 03-09-2009, 03:05 PM
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Hi,
We installed a 550 grill on a 450. We used the Lorinser 550 front bumper - it gives the car a different look! We didn't use the fender flares.
I attache some pictures.
Attached Thumbnails Converting GL450 to GL550 (front end)-dscn6016.jpg   Converting GL450 to GL550 (front end)-dscn6017.jpg   Converting GL450 to GL550 (front end)-dscn6019.jpg  
Old 03-09-2009, 03:11 PM
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^ i like...thought lorinser is probably a more expensive route?
Old 03-09-2009, 09:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris Albrechts
Hi,
We installed a 550 grill on a 450. We used the Lorinser 550 front bumper - it gives the car a different look! We didn't use the fender flares.
I attache some pictures.
550 facelift on 450 looks really good. Does 550 bumper has same number of parking sensor as 450? I also notice it has headlight washers. Did you endup making that work on 450? We would be interested about the cost to do the job with labor and parts? Please advice. Thanks.
Old 03-10-2009, 04:07 PM
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It has the same number of parking sensors. The GL we converted already had the headlight washer but it is not a problem to install the headlight washer afterwards. I will PM you with cost for paint and labor and parts.
Old 03-11-2009, 08:34 AM
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looks like a nice project. IMHO the 550's grill looks too big. Like a 450 flaring its nostrils...

Old 03-16-2009, 09:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Chris Albrechts
It has the same number of parking sensors. The GL we converted already had the headlight washer but it is not a problem to install the headlight washer afterwards. I will PM you with cost for paint and labor and parts.
would you PM me the same information please?

The lorsiner front end looks great! can we have more pics of it? 3/4 angle view possibly showing some of the side as well as the front in the same pic?
Old 03-16-2009, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris Albrechts
Hi,
We installed a 550 grill on a 450. We used the Lorinser 550 front bumper - it gives the car a different look! We didn't use the fender flares.
I attache some pictures.
very nice job, pro work. nice to see the details of cost, labor.


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