That's pretty messed up - to rip the whole grill off and smash it just to steal the star. Some people's kids need a beating or two - the ones mommy & daddy never gave them when they were little to teach them how to behave themselves.

Personally I was pretty surprised when I first discovered that the whole grill is one big piece of plastic with only a few small of pieces of chromed metal trim. I can see where it would be pretty easy to grab hold of it at the bottom corners and rip it off pretty cleanly.

Somehow I expected more from a 20 year old Benz. Like an all aluminum grill assembly with a few small pieces of chrome trim - or something...

However, since it is all insulating plastic with metal trim bars, you could always hook up an electric fence type unit to the metal bars. That would give the little b@$t@rds a nasty surprise if they dared lay a hand on it again!

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1984 300 Coupe TurboDiesel
Silver blue paint over navy blue interior
2nd owner & 2nd engine in an otherwise
99% original unmolested car
~210k miles on the clock

1986 Ford F250 4x4 Supercab
Charcoal & blue two tone paint over burgundy interior
Banks turbo, DRW, ZF-5 & SMF conversion
152k on the clock - actual mileage unknown