SL/R230: What do you think of a Starless Grille?
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Its the equivalent of a $65K Rolex Presidential without the diamonds. The star is the focal point of the SL, as are the diamonds on a rolex. The grille does the SL a disservice..
Last edited by internet_mafia; Feb 14, 2003 at 01:07 AM.
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Originally posted by internet_mafia
Its the equivalent of a $65K Rolex Presidential without the diamonds. The star is the focal point of the SL, as are the diamonds on a rolex. The grille does the SL a disservice..
Its the equivalent of a $65K Rolex Presidential without the diamonds. The star is the focal point of the SL, as are the diamonds on a rolex. The grille does the SL a disservice..
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Joined: Oct 2002
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What's the relationship between a C and a SL? The C-coupe grill is smaller than the SL's grill and is not even interchangeable with the SL's. Also, we are talking about a modification to a particular car, the SL, which you've asked for opinions on. The other MB models that wear a star grill have nothing to do with each other. I don't see what you were trying to prove by the referrence to a $25K car.
To drive my point home, removing the classic and elegant star from the SL is the same as buying a home on a waterfront lot only to put up a wooden fence around the perimeter of the property. Let me translate this for you:
You don't buy an expensive item only to remove what helps define it.
The BIG STAR in the front and center of the grill has always been a trademark of the SL. Let it be...
To drive my point home, removing the classic and elegant star from the SL is the same as buying a home on a waterfront lot only to put up a wooden fence around the perimeter of the property. Let me translate this for you:
You don't buy an expensive item only to remove what helps define it.
The BIG STAR in the front and center of the grill has always been a trademark of the SL. Let it be...
Last edited by internet_mafia; Feb 14, 2003 at 02:48 AM.
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Originally posted by internet_mafia
What's the relationship between a C and a SL? The C-coupe grill is smaller than the SL's grill and is not even interchangeable with the SL's. Also, we are talking about a modification to a particular car, the SL, which you've asked for opinions on. The other MB models that wear a star grill have nothing to do with each other. I don't see what you were trying to prove by the referrence to a $25K car.
To drive my point home, removing the classic and elegant star from the SL is the same as buying a home on a waterfront lot only to put up a wooden fence around the perimeter of the property. Let me translate this for you:
You don't buy an expensive item only to remove what helps define it.
The BIG STAR in the front and center of the grill has always been a trademark of the SL. Let it be...
What's the relationship between a C and a SL? The C-coupe grill is smaller than the SL's grill and is not even interchangeable with the SL's. Also, we are talking about a modification to a particular car, the SL, which you've asked for opinions on. The other MB models that wear a star grill have nothing to do with each other. I don't see what you were trying to prove by the referrence to a $25K car.
To drive my point home, removing the classic and elegant star from the SL is the same as buying a home on a waterfront lot only to put up a wooden fence around the perimeter of the property. Let me translate this for you:
You don't buy an expensive item only to remove what helps define it.
The BIG STAR in the front and center of the grill has always been a trademark of the SL. Let it be...
Relationship between a C and SL? --> same question to you regarding YOUR example of the ROLEX and the SL.
Interchangability with the C and SL grilles --> YOU made that assumption, I did not, nor was I proving a point.
About your point being driven home -> NOT because YOUR own personal belief says so, it does NOT mean that others feel the same way like you.
About buying an expensive item only to remove what helps define it, most people know that its a Mercedes Benz SL... I DO NOT FEEL THAT I NEED TO BRAG ABOUT IT.
Removing the BIG STAR as a trademark on my SL, its MY car, NOT YOURS.
All I was looking for was "yey" or "ney" without the sarcasm.
Post all you want. This is my last post. Bye now! :p
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 894
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I guess I should say something. I'm funding the grill project for the R230 from Autowerks Express.
I've always preferred the understated look. No recognizable logos and badges, so when people take a look, they'll be confused. Plus, I believe a black grill on a black car is the perfect match. When looking at the OEM grill, the attention is drawn toward the star, which is not something I'm going for.
The grill should be complete in about a month. It will be made out of carbon fiber. I, of course, will take pictures and post them up. Autowerks Express and The Wheel Supply will both be carrying the grill.
Bah, long day, sentence structure all effed up
I've always preferred the understated look. No recognizable logos and badges, so when people take a look, they'll be confused. Plus, I believe a black grill on a black car is the perfect match. When looking at the OEM grill, the attention is drawn toward the star, which is not something I'm going for.
The grill should be complete in about a month. It will be made out of carbon fiber. I, of course, will take pictures and post them up. Autowerks Express and The Wheel Supply will both be carrying the grill.
Bah, long day, sentence structure all effed up
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Hong Kong / Jakarta
CLS350
Originally posted by jl88
I guess I should say something. I'm funding the grill project for the R230 from Autowerks Express.
I've always preferred the understated look. No recognizable logos and badges, so when people take a look, they'll be confused. Plus, I believe a black grill on a black car is the perfect match. When looking at the OEM grill, the attention is drawn toward the star, which is not something I'm going for.
The grill should be complete in about a month. It will be made out of carbon fiber. I, of course, will take pictures and post them up. Autowerks Express and The Wheel Supply will both be carrying the grill.
Bah, long day, sentence structure all effed up
I guess I should say something. I'm funding the grill project for the R230 from Autowerks Express.
I've always preferred the understated look. No recognizable logos and badges, so when people take a look, they'll be confused. Plus, I believe a black grill on a black car is the perfect match. When looking at the OEM grill, the attention is drawn toward the star, which is not something I'm going for.
The grill should be complete in about a month. It will be made out of carbon fiber. I, of course, will take pictures and post them up. Autowerks Express and The Wheel Supply will both be carrying the grill.
Bah, long day, sentence structure all effed up
Sounds pretty exciting.
I personally like the "star-less" grill. The SL should have the standard grill painted in body color, but still retain the star. Like this one
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Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 237
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From: MA, USA
W126 1991 350SDL
geez, what's with the obnoxiousness. very sad to see.
i'm not a huge fan of the GIGANTIC star in the r230 grille. however i'm not convinced the star-less grille makes the aesthetic grade either in my book.
the good news is that we can each do whatever the heck we want with our own cars :-)
doody!
i'm not a huge fan of the GIGANTIC star in the r230 grille. however i'm not convinced the star-less grille makes the aesthetic grade either in my book.
the good news is that we can each do whatever the heck we want with our own cars :-)
doody!
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 443
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Poorboy has the emotional status of an 11 year old boy. He first asks for opinions, and when given, he then takes my input and applies it to a totally different argument. He compared the before/after look of the starless SL to a C class with the SL-like grill?????
In no way shape or form does my OPINION speak for the rest of this community. But let's not forget that HE asked for my opinion. It's one thing to ask for someone's opinion, but its another thing to ask for someone's opinion and then attack it.
If Poorboy is so terrible at communicating, then he does need to get the hell out of here! I've never seen anyone so sensitive. I got attacked by the moderator when I shamed the S600, calling it a waste of money, but I'm still here!!! I moved on, just like I am about to do now...
In no way shape or form does my OPINION speak for the rest of this community. But let's not forget that HE asked for my opinion. It's one thing to ask for someone's opinion, but its another thing to ask for someone's opinion and then attack it.
If Poorboy is so terrible at communicating, then he does need to get the hell out of here! I've never seen anyone so sensitive. I got attacked by the moderator when I shamed the S600, calling it a waste of money, but I'm still here!!! I moved on, just like I am about to do now...
Last edited by internet_mafia; Feb 14, 2003 at 05:49 PM.
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I was arguing against the 600 calling it a waste of money since the only major difference between it and the 500 is an engine. I am not big on speed and having the fastest car on the road, therefore to me the 600 isn't worth the extra 40K. IMO, the 600 should look very different from the 5 and 4 to justify the steep inclination. Besides, I want a car that will retain most of its value when i decide to liquidate it. Unfortunately, the 600 doesn't do this.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,447
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
Can't say I like the grille without the star, it's a defining characteristic of the SL which goes back to the earliest cars of the 50's and the star integrated into the grille has always defined the more sporting Mercedes-Benzes.
I participated in a car clinic a few months ago, where they had an SL, 911, SC430 and were seeking our comments on a new Jaguar/Aston Martin. All the cars were the same colour, had all their identity removed, no badges, no logos, blank wheel centres and so on, and it was interesting how bland and uninteresting the cars looked. That was the intention of course, just to compare them without the branding getting in the way. If you strip an SL of its grille and other badging, the car will lose presence on the road, in the parking lot, in your driveway. Maybe that's what you want to do, but why spend so much money doing it? There are a thousand and one totally boring, anonymous, tedious cars churned out in Detroit by their thousand every day and if you want to blend into the background, I'm sure one of these will fit the bill nicely.
It's true that we can do whatever we like to our cars, we certainly see enough examples of excrutiatingly bad taste in this forum from a variety of companies, of which this seems to be just another. It's a mistake to expect that every new variant will receive an enthusiastic response from all quarters, least of all in the future from someone buying the car secondhand.
If you really want to disguise the origin of the car, go ahead, do it, but I recommend you keep the original parts so you can return it to stock appearance when you want to sell. Oh, and your plain-Jane grille will be worthless. $2000 (?) down the drain...
I participated in a car clinic a few months ago, where they had an SL, 911, SC430 and were seeking our comments on a new Jaguar/Aston Martin. All the cars were the same colour, had all their identity removed, no badges, no logos, blank wheel centres and so on, and it was interesting how bland and uninteresting the cars looked. That was the intention of course, just to compare them without the branding getting in the way. If you strip an SL of its grille and other badging, the car will lose presence on the road, in the parking lot, in your driveway. Maybe that's what you want to do, but why spend so much money doing it? There are a thousand and one totally boring, anonymous, tedious cars churned out in Detroit by their thousand every day and if you want to blend into the background, I'm sure one of these will fit the bill nicely.
It's true that we can do whatever we like to our cars, we certainly see enough examples of excrutiatingly bad taste in this forum from a variety of companies, of which this seems to be just another. It's a mistake to expect that every new variant will receive an enthusiastic response from all quarters, least of all in the future from someone buying the car secondhand.
If you really want to disguise the origin of the car, go ahead, do it, but I recommend you keep the original parts so you can return it to stock appearance when you want to sell. Oh, and your plain-Jane grille will be worthless. $2000 (?) down the drain...
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Texas, Padre Island
2005 SL55
Whoever it was that designed the original Mercedes Benz Star was truly an artist. Such a bold statement crafted with such fine and delicate lines! Who would want to take the inscrutable smile from the Mona Lisa? I'll take the Star.
jeff
jeff
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From: UK
SL55 AMG
A three pointed star, one for each of the elements Land, Sea and Air. Must be one of the most recognisable logos in the world. Compare that to the tired old-fashioned "Ford" script in a blue oval.
