Which Grill is Facelifted, Which is not?

[Lynch]

Hello,

I'm having a hard time determining which grills came with the 500E pre-facelift and post-facelift.

I've seen countless images of both cars, and they have both types of grills.

I was hoping that someone could show me via images.


Grill 1: Facelift or Pre-Facelift? Judging by the orange turn indicators, I'm guessing pre-facelift.
http://automobilesdeluxe.tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/500e-mercedes-benz-635x423.jpg

Grill 2: I'm guessing this one is post facelift?
http://www.fraysmotors.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC03583.jpg

Hope somebody has a better idea than I do

 

[Melville]

You are correct. Grill 1 in your links is pre-facelift and Grill 2 is post-facelift.

 

[Glen]

The first image shows a pre-facelift grill with a stock grill insert while the second image is a face lifted grill with an S600 grill insert.

 

[Lynch]

Thanks for all the replies... oh man, I did not even consider that there could be different Grill inserts...

What are all the options for these grills? I'm assuming both the pre-facelift and post-facelift grills have the same shape, and share the same grill insert dimensions?

 

[Glen]

The inserts are not the same between pre- and post- facelift.

Pre-face lift grills are all chrome with no painted area next to the headlights while facelift grills have a narrow body color section next to the headlight. Also, facelift headlights have a small radius at the top while pre-facelift lights have a corner...the respective grills match this difference.

As far as insert styles, there are several designs available for both pre- and post- facelift grills.

 

[500AMM]

Have a look in this link, and you find most of the grills for the 124 cars; https://www.google.com/search?site=...m_lang...0...1.1.60.img..6.15.863.93bMZOIVY4U


-a-

 

[Stevester 500E]

Where are the S600 grills available, the ones that fit w124's?

Thanks

 

[Glen]

Where are the S600 grills available, the ones that fit w124's?

Thanks

There are some relatively inexpensive (lower quality) inserts available on eBay, search "W124 S600 grill" or similar. I haven't ordered one or seen a recent example, but for high quality inserts, supposedly Speed-Autoteile still sells them.

 

[gsxr]

For high-quality inserts, buy the factory grille from the dealer... but it is very expensive, like, $300-$400.

 

[Glen]

For high-quality inserts, buy the factory grille from the dealer... but it is very expensive, like, $300-$400.

Dave, is there a factory S600-style grill for the W124?
Years ago, a bunch of us tried fitting OE S600 inserts to our grills but after trimming them to fit, they ended up being very flimsy.

 

[gsxr]

Glen, the factory S600 grille (95-up sedan, not coupe) will fit in the facelift W124 shell, with modifications. My E500 has this upgrade. It may feel flimsy loose in your hand, but after installation in the shell, it is pretty solid. I have one of the eBay/aftermarket copies in the 500E (pre-facelift) and it is noticeably flimsier, and the coating/paint/whatever wears off much faster than the OE item.

Also, the aftermarket type generally has chrome-appearance strips which are basically shiny tape, while the OE items are real stainless steel strips. The shiny tape starts peeling off in a few years, the stainless strips should last the life of the car.


Click here for a detailed thread with part numbers:
http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5204

 

[gsxr]

Glen, the factory S600 grille (95-up sedan, not coupe) will fit in the facelift W124 shell, with modifications. My E500 has this upgrade. It may feel flimsy loose in your hand, but after installation in the shell, it is pretty solid. I have one of the eBay/aftermarket copies in the 500E (pre-facelift) and it is noticeably flimsier, and the coating/paint/whatever wears off much faster than the OE item.

Also, the aftermarket type generally has chrome-appearance strips which are basically shiny tape, while the OE items are real stainless steel strips.

Click here for a detailed thread with part numbers:
http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5204

 

[2phast]

Steer clear of factory S600 grill inserts that have been cut down. With the ends cut off, they are prone to breaking. You can find quality S600 grill copies that have not been cut. The fit and finish are excellent (depending upon who you purchase them from of course)

 

[gsxr]

Steer clear of factory S600 grill inserts that have been cut down. With the ends cut off, they are prone to breaking. You can find quality S600 grill copies that have not been cut. The fit and finish are excellent (depending upon who you purchase them from of course)

I would love to find a quality aftermarket insert, but I haven't seen any brands nor vendors confirmed as "good" in many years... anyone have a CURRENT recommendation, for either facelift and/or pre-facelift inserts?

 

[2phast]

I would love to find a quality aftermarket insert, but I haven't seen any brands nor vendors confirmed as "good" in many years... anyone have a CURRENT recommendation, for either facelift and/or pre-facelift inserts?

Mine fit perfect and has held up very well, only minor chips from rocks. Got it from EBay.de, but unfortunately, I don't have a vendor name.

 

[gerryvz]

A bunch of us did a big buy of them probably about 10-11 years ago from a large aftermarket parts house in Germany, but I can't remember which company it was, and I don't have the receipts.

Did someone try the likes of Eriscar.de ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rol607]

I purchased three different inserts from ebay and all were cheaply made. Did not even bother with putting on car. Just painted mine a semi-gloss black paint made for plastics.

would love a good quality one.

 

[500AMM]

A bunch of us did a big buy of them probably about 10-11 years ago from a large aftermarket parts house in Germany, but I can't remember which company it was, and I don't have the receipts.

Did someone try the likes of Eriscar.de ?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gerry - if you are referring to Eris Car Design, that shop wound up this fall. I wrote a bit about that here: http://www.500eboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4110

It is another Eris-car on eBay.de now, they have a wide product range including Mercedes parts too, but no S-class grill; http://www.ebay.de/usr/eris-car

 

[8899]

I purchased three different inserts from ebay and all were cheaply made. Did not even bother with putting on car. Just painted mine a semi-gloss black paint made for plastics.

would love a good quality one.

I'm pretty sure that this is the one I bought. Decent quality, but certainly not OE S600 quality:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/AVANTGARDE-G...-BENZ-W124-93-98-MIT-RAHMEN-NEW-/370933965450

 

[gerryvz]

I know when I bought mine, it was ONLY the insert and did not have the outer chrome grill shell. I had to take my old grill apart and install the new insert in the old grill.

 

[dave_gtr]

I have a similar question. My 1992 500e have a sport grille (the one with the huge emblem in the middle). It was fitted by the previous owner....I hate it. My problem is I'm not sure which is the correct grille to buy. I think my car has the facelift front end. Some of the grilles I have seen go on top of the bonnet and others like an insert (like what I have) does any one have part numbers so I can make sure I get the correct grille. If I knew how to post pics from my mobile it would be easier to show you. Thanks

 

[gerryvz]

I have a similar question. My 1992 500e have a sport grille (the one with the huge emblem in the middle). It was fitted by the previous owner....I hate it. My problem is I'm not sure which is the correct grille to buy. I think my car has the facelift front end. Some of the grilles I have seen go on top of the bonnet and others like an insert (like what I have) does any one have part numbers so I can make sure I get the correct grille. If I knew how to post pics from my mobile it would be easier to show you. Thanks

If you use the free Tapatalk app and subscribe to this forum on it, using your normal username/password, then you can easily post mobile pics via that app.

There's an easy way to tell whether a car is a facelift car or not -- the facelift cars have the hood emblem (hood star) placed into the colored portion of the hood itself. The hood emblem is also angled back at a noticeable angle. The chrome grill surround is set INTO the front edge of the hood.

The pre-facelift cars have the hood emblem rising out of the top of the chrome grill surround itself, and the grill surround is sent ONTO the front of the hood.

Here's an example of a pre-facelift hood/grill:

Here's an example of a facelifted hood/grill: