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I want to buy a new front grill for 2003 R230 SL500. I found original classic style for 450 USD. It is quiet expensive, also there are many other models fit in to R230 2003. Have you ever changed yours, or do you have any suggestion for it.
Chinese aftermarket products are very low quality, original one is very old fashioned. So, I want to change it to a dynamic design without paying to Germany's Budget.
Chinese aftermarket products are very low quality, original one is very old fashioned. So, I want to change it to a dynamic design without paying to Germany's Budget.
I have purchased many of the Chinese eBay versions for other cars at around $150-200 and they held up well. Good fitment and paint held up with no rock chips. I just painted my OEM one on my SL.
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
My guess is that in the long run OEM will prevail, once keeping value as a classic beauty becomes the issue. Because notwithstanding electrification, hydrogen, speed limits and what have you (talking Europe here), a classic beauty the R230 shall be.
Some of the aftermarket single-fin grilles just look wrong - the fins are not at the correct angles for the car. The one A1EK has looks decent. I do agree that in terms of resale value, aftermarket parts are usually a detractor. Now, when talking about cheap Chinese plastic vs. German parts, most plastic grilles are pretty flimsy, even the best German ones. If you want a real grille, go get one from a pre-1980's car. Some of those 50's and 60's cars had grilles that weighed more than the grille, hood and bumper of two R230's.
I tried painting the original one and fixing broken tabs etc, but I ultimately stuck with the single fin “Chinese” version which has plastic that seems more substantial than oem.
After looking at my pictures I remembered what I didn’t like about the new grill. The star is bigger and that took me a while to get used to. I still like the small star better on our cars. Also don’t be fooled by the advertising... all these knock off grills come with cheap plastic stars... I haven’t figured out yet what the replacement for mine would come from.
Some of the aftermarket single-fin grilles just look wrong - the fins are not at the correct angles for the car. The one A1EK has looks decent. I do agree that in terms of resale value, aftermarket parts are usually a detractor. Now, when talking about cheap Chinese plastic vs. German parts, most plastic grilles are pretty flimsy, even the best German ones. If you want a real grille, go get one from a pre-1980's car. Some of those 50's and 60's cars had grilles that weighed more than the grille, hood and bumper of two R230's.
Rudeney is quite correct, I noticed that some of the single grille angle point up at the edges and do not sit central. (sad to say the the one on Wing55 is what I mean, sorry !)
1988 BMW M5, 1989 BMW M3, 1979 Mercedes 450 SEL 6.9, 2006 SL55 AMG w/ P30 Performance Pack
I bit the bullet and bought an old stock OEM 4 slat grill from a vendor for about $425. I went through 3 aftermarket Chinese grills in two years. I daily my car and the cheap grills crack and break when a bee collides with. them. The OEM grill may be old school and less aggressive looking but it's very sturdy (heavy = expensive) and will last another 12 years hopefully. I'm in my 50's and the single slat aftermarket grills seem to appeal to boy racers (no offense) I have received many compliments telling me the car looks so much better with the OEM grill.
02-12-2020, 04:04 AM
