Does anyone know if the prefacelift grill insert will fit a facelift?

[Ascension]

I'm talking the plastic insert in the grill shell. The 300TE and the old insert is just gone. Many of the fins are broken and the center insert is deteriorated and broken. Outer shell is in good shape. I can find the NOS inserts for the facelift cars on several sites and some say they will interchange but? The prefaclift insert shows NLA so?? Should be the same insert on the 500's so my thoughts are this may be of interest to all here. The only new grills I am finding for sane prices are the #$#@ URO pieces so--. Also need a set of headlight doors as the front of the TE is pretty ratty right now and again all I find new are the URO's.

 

[sheward]

The grill inserts do not interchange. You can find decent examples on Craigslist, Ebay, etc. occasionally.

 

[Ascension]

The grill inserts do not interchange. You can find decent examples on Craigslist, Ebay, etc. occasionally.

That's where I have been looking. There was one but I snoozed on it and now it's gone. Several sellers say the facelift will work but I didn't buy it. Thanks for the info.

 

[sheward]

I just looked in my stash to see that I have a repop insert, made in Tiawan. It really doesn't look that bad.

 

[gsxr]

Pre-facelift insert A1248880223 is NLA (click here for details). The complete pre-facelift grille shell+insert A1248800783 is also NLA.

Offshore copies are perfectly cromulent for sub-six-figure restorations, besides we don't have much choice. Most used ones at the junkyard are in poor condition.

 

[Ascension]

I just looked in my stash to see that I have a repop insert, made in Tiawan. It really doesnt look that bad.

Throw me a price by PM with a photo when you get the chance.

 

[gerryvz]

Offshore copies are perfectly cromulent for sub-six-figure restorations, besides we dont have much choice. Most used ones at the junkyard are in poor condition.

NO....just NO.

The Chinese-made pre-facelift grill shells and inserts are utter garbage. DO NOT BUY.
Far better to just get a nice used example of a factory grill and insert.

More info about them:

 

[TimL]

Pre-facelift insert A1248880223 is NLA (click here for details). The complete pre-facelift grille shell+insert A1248800783 is also NLA.

Offshore copies are perfectly cromulent for sub-six-figure restorations, besides we dont have much choice. Most used ones at the junkyard are in poor condition.

They have been for a while now. I got lucky and found a NOS insert the other day in the Netherlands. Check European Ebay periodically and you might find one

 

[gsxr]

NO....just NO.

The Chinese-made pre-facelift grill shells and inserts are utter garbage. DO NOT BUY.
Far better to just get a nice used example of a factory grill and insert.

I think the aftermarket plastic inserts are cromulent. After fiddling to get them fitted (in the OE shell), they should be ok. Again, we're talking about a daily driver 300TE here.

The metal grille shell is another story. I would absolutely recommend keeping the OE MB shell. Good used OE shells can still be found at the junkyards - it's the plastic insert that degrades and/or gets damaged more easily. Note in those videos above, the majority of the complaint was about the poor fitment of the metal shell. And, he used the Taiwan plastic insert with the OE shell with decent results.

 

[dionphaneuf]

I used a chinese insert on my pre facelift 500E that has 245k mi, but just reused and polished the OE metal grill bars/inserts and surround. While the fit of the plastic wasn't perfect, it didn't require much negotiation and it looks great. I believe our friend down under had more issues with the grill metal than the plastic insert.

 

[sheward]

Thanks for that info, Gerry. To be clear, I ended up with my repop from a part out. It was evident to me that the surround tabs were not well done and the chrome was inferior, as shown in the video, and I would not even try to use it. The insert is acceptable, even though the chrome strips seem slightly thicker and less elegant. I set it aside and quickly forgot about it.

 

[gerryvz]

All I am saying is that a factory part is going to be better than a repop -- whether insert of chrome surround. You can probably as said get away with a repop insert and not notice too much about it. But there is no substitute for a proper factory chrome surround.

 

[Ascension]

All I am saying is that a factory part is going to be better than a repop -- whether insert of chrome surround. You can probably as said get away with a repop insert and not notice too much about it. But there is no substitute for a proper factory chrome surround.

Agree Gerry. This was why I asked if the facelift insert would fit. The facelift insert is available from a number of vendors but the pre facelift was not. A number of vendors say the facelift will fit but I was skeptical. My chrome shell will clean up and polish out but the insert is in bad shape. Evidently this car was in a place where the rest of the body was sun protected but the front end and hood was not. I'm finally getting the mechanical side sorted out where I can start addressing the cosmetic side.

 

[gsxr]

... A number of vendors say the facelift will fit but I was skeptical. My chrome shell will clean up and polish out but the insert is in bad shape. ...

"Fit" is a relative / subjective term. Kinda like "no rubbing" when it comes to fat wheels & tyres.

While it's possible the facelift plastic insert will physically fit into a pre-facelift metal shell, I'd search the interwebs to find photos or forum threads showing the result. Maybe it looks decent from 10 feet away - I dunno.

 

[northNH]

I believe I have at least 1 if not 2 spare pre-FL grilles/inserts complete.
I’m guessing they’re both very nice, 1 from 300CE, 1 from 400E…
Should I go where they’re stored to take a look to take some picts to see if my memory serves me well?

 

[Ascension]

Found a correct part number NOS real MB insert on Ebay. The guy has one more and here is the listing it's $125 and free shipping if anyone here wants it.

NEW Mercedes Benz 124 Body Grille Insert Part 124 888 0223 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NEW Mercedes Benz 124 Body Grille Insert Part 124 888 0223 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[gerryvz]

**** PRE-FACELIFT PARTS HOARDER ALERT !!! ****

 

[nocfn]

 

[Ascension]

**** PRE-FACELIFT PARTS HOARDER ALERT !!! ****

If I was would I have posted the link for the other one here for youse guys ?

 

[gerryvz]

No, that was targeted to others than you as an inducement to buy while the buying is good!!

 

[Ascension]

No, that was targeted to others than you as an inducement to buy while the buying is good!!

I got it Gerry guess you were the one who got the here man LOL.