92 500e grille

[Glasgo_Chris]

Hi,

i have a 92 500e with 94 conversion hood and headlights. I have been seeing some aftermarket grilles with more vertical chrome slats and without the grey plastic honey comb stuff behind the factory grille. The grille I have been seeing looks very similar to the same era S-class grille. Where are people sourcing/ purchasing these grilles from? Thanks.

 

[bing]

Known as Avantgarde grill or 140 S600 grill . Yes, it is a very popular mod and the subject has been covered here many times . Basically you have various aftermarket ones that advertises them as Avantgarde , and some owners have been happy with their purchase and some not. Then you have a S600 type which you could get from a MB dealer and be made to fit with a bit of cutting.(quite expensive though) .

 

[bing]

As here : http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7166

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVANTGARDE-...933965450?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item565d63228a

anyone have any experience with this quantitec company out of Germany? Is this product made in germany or outsourced?

 

[gsxr]

I'm not familar with that seller or company. If you have the 94-style grille shell, you can get the genuine MB insert, as described in the other threads (search forum). The MB grille is excellent quality, but must be cut (carefully!) for installation. Watch out for cheapy grilles that have silver tape for the "stainless steel" strips... don't ask how I know.

BTW, any chance this is your new car?

 

[Glasgo_Chris]

I'm not familar with that seller or company. If you have the 94-style grille shell, you can get the genuine MB insert, as described in the other threads (search forum). The MB grille is excellent quality, but must be cut (carefully!) for installation. Watch out for cheapy grilles that have silver tape for the "stainless steel" strips... don't ask how I know.

BTW, any chance this is your new car?

No! My car is the one you have posted in Houston with 139,000 miles. It has over 10k in receipts over the past 200 or so miles, I couldn't resist. It had the 94 look I wanted and is ready to drive with all the commonly problematic components replaced (wiring harness, fan, radiator, etc. i won't disclose what I payed but I will say over 5,000 less than his asking price was.

Is is this grille insert mod a diy or is it recommended a body shop does it for optimum fitment?

Thanks for for your help!

 

[gsxr]

OH, got it, this car! Looks very nice - congrats on the score!

The grille mod is DIY if you are handy with tools. Body shop expertise not required. A complete bolt-in aftermarket grille would be a little easier and slightly cheaper, but the quality is questionable unless we can get someone to confirm a particular brand/vendor. The OE MB grille mod requires some delicate sugery but once complete, IMO it's a better final product. My '94 had the factory MB grille installed by a previous owner. Pics are here. It ain't cheap though... current prices are ~$400 I think.

 

[8899]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVANTGARDE-...933965450?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item565d63228a

anyone have any experience with this quantitec company out of Germany? Is this product made in germany or outsourced?

I bought my avant-garde grill from that seller. I would say that the quality is decent. Probably not as good quality, or good a fit, as using your existing grill frame and inserting the OE S600 insert.

 

[gsxr]

Greg, can you tell if the decorative strips are metal like the OE grilles, or if it is shiny tape over plastic...?

 

[8899]

Greg, can you tell if the decorative strips are metal like the OE grilles, or if it is shiny tape over plastic...?

Plastic!

 

[gsxr]

 

[Bogeyman]

I got this one last year off of Ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-1993-M...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3aa51fbb11

The bright strips are metal and it looks good.
I don't have an original S600 grille to compare it to but I'm sure the quality isn't as good.

 

[8899]

Yea....but it's quality plastic though

 

[DerFuror]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AVANTGARDE-...933965450?pt=DE_Autoteile&hash=item565d63228a

anyone have any experience with this quantitec company out of Germany? Is this product made in germany or outsourced?

There is a detailed discussion of that very grille here between posts #41 thru #58.

 

[Glen]

Does anyone have a close-up picture of the chrome strips on the face-lift quantitec grill insert? Preferably, removed from the plastic grill? I'm curious to know if the strips are extruded aluminum or formed steel with chrome.

 

[DerFuror]

The insert is one integral piece of ABS plastic. The "strips" are neither extruded aluminum nor formed steel with chrome, merely a plating over the ABS...similar to the chromed plastic reflective surface inside an automotive signal lamp housing. The strips are adhered. Non-removable.

 

[Glen]

The insert is one integral piece of ABS plastic. The "strips" are neither extruded aluminum nor formed steel with chrome, merely a plating over the ABS...similar to the chromed plastic reflective surface inside an automotive signal lamp housing. The strips are adhered. Non-removable.

Thanks for clarifying. I somehow got the mistaken impression that the strips were separate, similar to an actual S600 grill.