My most subtle mod yet: new grille insert

[janos_z]

The chrome strips were getting tired on my car's grille, plus one of them was dented too. Autohaus had a whole grille assembly for sale for about $80, which wasn't much more than what a new set of chrome strips and clips would have cost me anyway. So I bought it. I was especially happy that the plastic part of the grille is a darker color (almost black) as opposed to gray.

All seemed well until the fact that it's an aftermarket part by Uro bit me in the butt. Let's just say that quality control was lacking, and they also made the cut-out for the hood ornament about 1/32" too narrow, which was enough to make it impossible to install the star. So I did the next best thing -- I removed the insert part and swapped it into the original chrome surround. Even that wasn't completely straightforward because of sloppy tolerances and an incomplete factory job on the cut-out for the hood release lever, but now that it's done, I think it's an improvement.

Here are some before-and-afters.

 

[gerryvz]

Honestly Üro parts are not worthy of being on our cars. I'd get a good used grille from a wrecker or a used factory insert and paint it.

The alu strips are available from MB separately & cheaply and are easy to replace.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[emerydc8]

I didn't think even Uro could screw something like a plastic grill up, but I underestimated them. It looks nice for now, though.

 

[janos_z]

LOL, my thinking exactly. I guess I "underestimated" Uro too... In any case, after some fiddling around and improvising a few things, the finished product looks good, and the darker hue is actually more noticeable in person than on indoor garage photos. I also changed the hood release lever from gray to black to blend better with the grille.

I'm also keeping the original grille and will refurbish it, but for now this will do.

Oh, and Gerry, I hope I don't get excommunicated for defiling an 036 with a Uro product

 

[gerryvz]

Oh, and Gerry, I hope I don't get excommunicated for defiling an 036 with a Uro product

The forum will forgive one transgression along this vein.

However, as penance, this thread and this thread are required reading.

You must also recite the following, three times.

Hail Porsche, full of grace. Type 2758 is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst all cars,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, E500E.
Holy Mercedes, Mother of 036,
pray for us sinners,
now and for when we use UROparts. Amen.


Please let me know when you have completed this, my Son.

 

[Emaq]

Hi Gerry,
It seems like you are a Catholic!
Cheers,
Manny

 

[gerryvz]

Hi Gerry,
It seems like you are a Catholic!
Cheers,
Manny

Presbyterian, actually. But in recent years, non-denominational.

 

[janos_z]

The forum will forgive one transgression along this vein.

However, as penance, this thread and this thread are required reading.

You must also recite the following, three times.

Hail Porsche, full of grace. Type 2758 is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst all cars,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, E500E.
Holy Mercedes, Mother of 036,
pray for us sinners,
now and for when we use UROparts. Amen.


Please let me know when you have completed this, my Son.

This is pretty awesome.

I'm happy to report that I've done my penance -- is it ok that I laughed while doing so, though?

 

[Trae]

Well done thy good and faithful servant.

 

[sheward]

The grill looks good. If you ask me (you didn't, but i'm telling you anyway) Mercedes should have made them with a black background.

drew

 

[Ntrepid]

Mine needs to be updated with new chrome strips but I was thinking about having the plastic insert painted to match my body color (Paint Code: 199). Any thoughts on this? Buy a used one and have it prepped and painted? Do you think it would look good (as I have seen other MB with this treatment)?

I think it would be a nice (an subtle) upgrade. Something I could not subtly do with a red ;-)


Robert


Robert

 

[gerryvz]

I think painting the stock grill insert a dark/black color is an excellent modification !

Yes, I would get a used one, prep it carefully and paint it.

 

[janos_z]

Mine needs to be updated with new chrome strips but I was thinking about having the plastic insert painted to match my body color (Paint Code: 199). Any thoughts on this? Buy a used one and have it prepped and painted? Do you think it would look good (as I have seen other MB with this treatment)?

I think it would be a nice (an subtle) upgrade. Something I could not subtly do with a red ;-)


Robert


Robert

In theory, painting the grille is a fine idea. There are a couple of challenges, though:

1) The grille shrinks/expands a little as temperatures change, especially if you live in a place with four seasons. Over time, this can cause the paint to loosen and flake off.

2) Also, being plastic, the grille flexes slightly as you open and close the hood, and as the car moves about and does its thing. Over time, this too can cause the paint to loosen and flake off.

3) Being on the leading edge of the car, the grille regularly gets peppered with pebbles, sand, twigs, and other assorted road debris as you drive down the road. Eventually, this, too, can cause the paint to flake off.

To minimize the above, it's recommended that you prep the grille carefully (sand, de-grease) and primer it with a high-quality primer. Then, use paint that's especially formulated for surfaces that flex -- the paint is designed to flex with the substrate instead of flake.

I remain skeptical that this eliminates the problem, however, which is why my preferred solution would be a replacement grille that's molded in black plastic.

But perhaps people who've painted their grilles can chime in and let us know how they're holding up? Would be especially good to hear from folks who did this at least a year ago, if not more. I'm curious about how the paint jobs are holding up!

 

[gerryvz]

I think 2Phast has done this in the past ... perhaps he can chime in here.

 

[sheward]

I painted my grill insert more than a year ago and it is holding up very well although I don't drive mine much. The hood does go up and down a lot. It's easy to repaint should it become necessary. I used rattle can paint formulated specifically for plastic. As for the sandblasting issue, I stay well behind all traffic...until I get the urge to surge.

drew

 

[vatc5637]

Mine needs to be updated with new chrome strips but I was thinking about having the plastic insert painted to match my body color (Paint Code: 199). Any thoughts on this? Buy a used one and have it prepped and painted? Do you think it would look good (as I have seen other MB with this treatment)?

I think it would be a nice (an subtle) upgrade. Something I could not subtly do with a red ;-)


Robert


Robert

I painted the inner grille 199 to match the exterior color at the same time I had the lower cladding painted. You can see the results at post #17 on my owner's thread. Its a little hard to see the difference in the pictures, but I like the effect. I had picked a spare grille at my local pick 'n pull that I used. I had considered many of the same point Janos_Z had mentioned, but the flaking and pitting didn't bother me, it's gonna happen regardless given what it is and where it is. Same as the front bumper. I'll just have it repainted again in a few years if it gets really bad and bothers me. From 10 ft and out, can't see any of the small imperfections and I'm ok with that.