snook: in '83 they switched to no chrome on both the side cladding and the chrome cowls. i think the no-chrome was either a '83 model year change thing (introduction of w201 which had all black side cladding might have had something to do with it), or the safety issue you mention.

123 and 116 handles are not compatible, but 116 and 107 used the same handles for the fronts

yeah the grills can be re-chromed, or they actually make aftermarket grills in which the rectangles that comprise the 'grill' are longer and shaped differently. the mercedes one is a higher quality--i held them up side by side to make that determination

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