Scruffyone

Have not had a chance to read all the way back. I have a Coleman charcoal grill with the gas ingniter. Am I on topic?

BMS

mjm24- I'll make that bet 5000.00. I'm dead serious. If you can afford the Mercedes you can afford the bet. You obviously don't have anyone that knows how to install it or you ordered something that isn't right. In any rate the offer stands. Put up or shut up. The grille was installed in 3 minutes. It fits perfectly. The spacing is the same as Sharksters picture and it is on an 04 bumper. Sunman saw the car. Billybenz watched the install. Satish installed it and said something about sliding the clips. There are pictures at Motorwerks. Actually, they were going to post today but my car is in the shop in Ann Arbor for a new battery(the radio went dead after the install). I'll have them post after you accept my bet and we figure out how you are going to send the money and where.

SUNILP

Can I place a wager as well?

mjr24

I am not going to get caught up in this stupid game. Post the pics and let's see. Enough with all the excuses. You keep saying "look on their site." Their site has 1 SL55 with no pics of the front, what does that prove? Then it's..."my car's in the shop, I don't know how to post pics, the guys at the shop are busy," etc. etc. etc.

Hey, I hope it does fit, I want to put one on....but I'm not going to rig something into the car if it's not meant to fit. You could make ANYTHING fit if you really wanted to. It's a little bit of a coincidence that another member here posted my exact findings and the problems he encountered were exactly what I encountered. Maybe my guy flew to Germany and did his too, right?

Matt

Sharkster

So there actually were some changes made either to the bumper or to the grille to make it fit? or "does it fit"? ...Or what is meant by "sliding the clips"?

I really have no opinion on this. I had my 07 grille on my old bumper and I thought that it somehow didn't look right. The guy at the dealer also said that it "doesn't look right". But maybe someone else will think it looks just cool... Don't know. All personal preference I guess.

BMS

I will try to have pics up in the next couple of days. All I meant by sliding clips was that the owner of Motorwerks told me that he just slid the clips in place when he put the grille on and it was no problem. When I get the car back today or tomorrow I will drive up to Oakland Hills to Motorwerks and they will take new pictures to post as they have none of the front of the car with the new grille. I'm taking the time to drive up and back because I want to put the issue to rest. The offer still stands on the bet, but I understand when someone offers to bet and then can't back it up and makes comments like not wanting to play silly games. I don't play silly games. I was trying to be of some help on this issue. I don't claim to be the smartest Mercedes guy around, but the people working on my car are. That's why I drive as far as I do. By the way, Mercedes of Ann Arbor does a lot of the warranty work and the mechanics there commented favorably on the new grille also. I didn't offer to bet on this issue, mjr24 did. I just called and raised considerably. I don't think people should be calling other people liars and offering to make bets on issues. This site is for like minded people to help each other out. That's all I was trying to do. When this issue is settled I don't think I will be posting anymore, but I will continue to read the posts. Most of you guys are very enlightening. My 16 year old son and I did this car as a project together. I love this Mercedes. I have had four of them in the last ten years and this is my favorite. 2004 SL55 with Kleeman stage 1 and 2. Limited slip, 30% tint, Reus audio, Syrius with hidden antenna in front hood opening, Carlsson 20" ultra -light1/16ul polished wheels. Car is Obsidion Black with charcoal interior, keyless go, panarama glass top, active ventilated seats, motorola v60 with voice control, bi-xenon headlights, tire pressure monitors navigation, and 07 3-SLAT GRILLE. Soon to have rear clear 07 tail light and 07 030 SL55 front bumper. My son loves the car as do I. It was very rewarding researching and following through on this project. As a side note I might add that I am a car buff. I currently have 6 cars running and 2 in storage. Not trying to brag, just clarifying my interests. Time and money are not concerns as I am retired. Bull crap and wise *** remarks did not help me become successful; neither propagating or listening to it. Pictures will be up as soon as possible, promise.

Sharkster

@BMS: Looking forward to see the pics. I really didn't mean to offend you or anything like that and I also like the idea of putting up a 07 030 PP bumper. I thought about that too, ...but then decided to go with the 07 AMG standard bumper, because I think that it's designed very well balanced.

I also love improving cars as hobby projects and I enjoyed getting all the stuff and part #s for the material required to retrofit the facelift. I also did a lot of stuff on my H3 (modded it to "anti-bling") and on my 987 Boxster (actually my GF's car), where I put up a Cayman bumper. I just love to individualize cars (within certain boundries though, I would never do something that totally goes against the character of a car, like putting up a huge wing on the back of an SL or 22" chromes on a Boxster etc.). The way you approach your mods looks quite alike to how I like to "play" with cars.

SUNILP

I will personally take pictures of BMS's car and post them to prove everyone wrong here.

billybenz

dam straight fer schnizzle AMGERNIZZLE

mjr24

I didn't call you a liar, I didn't call your shopguys liars. I simply said the grille cannot fit correctly in there. I base this on my own eyes. Can it be rigged in there? Yes. My own guy said he could have found some way to get it in there but it wouldn't have fit in there like the old one. I did not want that, you may have as personal preference. Sharkster simply backed up my claim independently.

I think you need to relax BMS.....

You can post pics of it in there tomorrow and it won't sway my judgment at all....so if that's why you are doing it, then don't even bother. I volunteer to show anyone who wants to see, in person, how this grille will not fit and why it will not fit.

This is my last post on the childish aspect of this issue. Like I said, PM me if you are in the IL-WI area and I would love to show how it would not fit. I am doing this so other SL owners don't go out and buy a $500 grille only to not be able to do anything with it.

CY

Better see pics soon
But either way, I guess it seems to look better with a full frontal facelift.

SUNILP

Here are pictures of BMS's car with a 2007 SL Grill and 2004 AMG Bumper. Eat Dirt!

MARK CUMMINS

Looks Good!

billybenz

hey mjr you can send the fifty bucks to: you made the offer not us let see if you back up your word
3200 walnut lake rd
commerce twp Mi ,48390

Sharkster

I still think that it does not look right ...somehow..., but it actually does look a little better than I had it in mind. Anyway... here's are some more pics of my full front upgrade.

BMS

The pics are up. Awaiting check from mjr24. Send to Motorwerks. Address above in Billybenz's post. Once again, you probably ordered the wrong part. Either way, you should not have insinuated I was lying(what reason would I have?)or didn't know what I was talking about. These guys are pros. They know what fits and what doesn't. Never let your mouth write a check your *** can't cash!

Sharkster

...and some pics of the updated rear view.

mjr24

Wow, what a smartass.....only worse by the fact you are 40 or 50 years old and one. What is your point? I can see the damn clips at the bottom of the grille! I'm not rigging something in. Look at the car with the stock grille.....no clips can be seen or are supposed to be seen. And why is that (clips showing)? Because it's NOT CLIPPED INTO ANYTHING! You have 4 screws on the top holding the damn grille in. Go ahead, guys, buy the 2007 grille but don't say you weren't forewarned.

I never said you were lying. I never doubted it was installed....but it was rigged in, which it is by the pics. The difference is ALOT more noticeable in person too. Why would I buy a $500 2007 grille and JUST NOT put it in?

I'll tell you what, I'll drop you a $100. Take your kid out for some ice cream and get billybenz some grammar/spelling lessons.

Hell, I'll drop you $500 because you're going to have to buy a new grille once it flies off on the highway.

Sharkster

Actually it wont fly off, since BMS is going to install a 2007 030 PP bumper, which should solve the issue with the visible clips.

Anyway... let's cool it friends. We're all in love with the same car, which shows that we've more in common than we got against each other. So don't let this thing boil any further.

BMS

Actually what you are seeing are not the clips. There are two small appendages on the top of the bumper and that is what you are seeing. The clips are way back of those. The pics were taken with high lighting from a low angle so the pics would be more informational. The grille is installed properly and actually very tight. The reflection of the lights do not do it justice and also show some stone nicks in my hood. Hood will be painted when 07 030 bumper is installed next week along with rear clear brake light. Anyway the reflection causes the grille to look different than in real light. Trust me, it looks like it is stock. When I read your reply I went out to the garage and pulled the car outside to see if I could see the clips at close range. I could not. I will post more pics when possible with better lighting, and no reflection.

carcrazy

Love the looks of the 07. Have a 03 Silver 55. You have convinced me to do it all or not at all. Can you give me an approximate cost from parts, painting and installation to make sure my dealer is in the ballpark?

Sharkster

The parts seem to be significantly cheaper here in Germany. All the parts together amount to something like 1,600 Euro (around 2,000 USD)... but I think that if you buy the parts in the States it'd be more like 2,500 to 3,000 USD for the parts alone (plus paint and installation).

BMS

The grille was $400 approx and the bumper is about $3000 which includes painting and mounting. Not real sure about rear brake light and tail lights but some others have posted in this thread or the roadster thread for SL 500's. I think it was about $800 for all three. Don't quote me on it. I will let you know when I get mine installed next week.

Sharkster

Geez, that's expensive... Is that for the 07 PP bumper or the 07 standard AMG bumper?

BMS

The 07 SL55 bumper with the 030 option. Bumper is stock on the SL65.