|
|
|
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Cleaning oxidized grill
What should I use or how do I get the chalky oxidation off of the grill. I may want to paint it black, just the plastic not the chrome trim strips.
thanks thebern
__________________
1982 240D 313,000 (4 speed) 1984 300CD 172,483 1985 German Shepherd Dog -Lacey- R.I.P.11/04/05 Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Because the discoloration is really the plastic degrading as opposed to a coating or film, the only way of getting the surface uniform is to clean and paint.
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
My 84's grill looked like that so I roughed it up so the whole thing looked equally oxidized. I was looking around here one day and noticed someone painted theirs black and did that look nice, so I painted my 83's grill black. I really like the contrast between the black and the chrome, makes the chrome so much more vibrant.
__________________
Jeff M. Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here. 1983 / 1984 300D Sold 2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold 2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
yes,but what should I use....
to clean the grill and how!
thebern
__________________
1982 240D 313,000 (4 speed) 1984 300CD 172,483 1985 German Shepherd Dog -Lacey- R.I.P.11/04/05 Hood Stars, Wrist Crowns and Obsession Dobs |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
BoostnBenz:
That's cool. Would you post a picture of more of the car? I would like to see how it makes the car look as a whole. I may be doing this next month..... Thanks
__________________
John 1995 E320 - 115kmi+ Smoke Silver/Cream (Wife's Wagon) 1989 260E - 195kmi+ Black/Grey (My Panther) 1984 300D - 242kmi+ Black/Palomino (Retired) |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
I don't know how exactly you would clean it, like MTI said it is the plastic degrading. What I did to the 84 was use a scotch bright pad and roughed the whole thing up so it was at least uniform. Also before using the black coat of paint I used a clear primer which made it look pretty decent. I used a toothbrush and some dish soap to clean the insert itself off first.
I don't really have any good pictures of it at this moment, haven't washed the car since. That day the picture of the car's front end didn't turn out very well with so much light behind it as it is still in the garage there. Maybe tomorrow I'll see if I can get a few photos of it in, supposed to rain tonight so it should at least appear clean.
__________________
Jeff M. Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here. 1983 / 1984 300D Sold 2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold 2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
Painting the greyish grill is the cheapest DIY improvement to any MB. For most cars with the chrome grill surround, you need to remove the grill (10mm bolts, some accessed through inside the hood holes) and remove some clips that hold the plastic insert. Slide off any chrome strips carefully and set them aside. Clean and degrease with warm water and Dawn dishwashing soap. Dry and prep with an enamel primer. After primer, lay down even coats of gloss black enamel. Don't be surprised if you run through 2 cans of spray paint, the egg crating of the grill uses up a lot of paint. Two coats of color, minimum. Dont' forget to paint the hood latch release too! If you drive fast or worry about chips, add two coats of clear. While the paint is drying, get some chrome polish wadding and really shine up the chrome surround, the star and the trim strips. When reassembling, make sure the chrome strips are oriented correctly and have engaged all the tabs on the plastic grill.
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
I don't really agree with an enamel primer, seems like it'd have problems being on plastic. Both the gloss black paint and clear primer I used was intended for plastic, bumper paints. The only reason I can see there would be any difference is the fact that plastic expands so much when hot versus steel expands little. Oh, and a nice perk of bumper paints is they seem almost impossible to mess up (runs). I ended up using 3 coats so EVERY visible spot on front and rear was black.
Quote:
__________________
Jeff M. Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here. 1983 / 1984 300D Sold 2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold 2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
I did it too!
I couldn't resist and I did the same.
Wow what a difference!
__________________
John 1995 E320 - 115kmi+ Smoke Silver/Cream (Wife's Wagon) 1989 260E - 195kmi+ Black/Grey (My Panther) 1984 300D - 242kmi+ Black/Palomino (Retired) |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|