little rascals broke my hood star - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

chetwesley · #1 07-16-2007, 05:31 PM

Yesterday my friend's little kids were messing around and they accidentally pulled my hood star off of my 83 300SD. I saw them messing with it, but didn't say anything. I know this is unusual for a benz owner, but I don't usually jealously guard my car; in this case, maybe I should have. They weren't pulling on it really hard, so I think it was on its way out already. Better there in the parking lot of a restaurant then on the highway or in the hands of a vandal.

Anyway, when it fell off, I heard a clank under the car, but when I looked, all I see is a sort of U shaped metal bracket. There must have been some kind of pin holding the whole thing on and maybe some other parts to hold the tension. When I got home, I tried to improvise with a paper clip through the end of the spring and the U shaped bracket, but it doesn't seem I am able to stretch the spring enough to get it on with enough tension for it to stand up or hold tightly in place.

Does anyone have a picture of all of the parts in the hood star assembly so that I can see what I might be missing? I don't really care enough to buy a new one, but the gaping hole in the hood kind of bothers me, so I need to do something.

Thanks

P.S. I searched already but didn't find the info I need, since I don't know if I actually have all the parts or not, and the descriptions people gave were kind of cryptic. If you know of a thread to direct me to, I'd be happy to look at it.

bill murrow · #2 07-16-2007, 05:40 PM

The U shaped piece fits over a spring. The spring has a little loop that sticks through the U shaped piece. Then there is a half moon shaped thing that hooks through the loop on the spring. That piece has a little notch to hold the spring in place.

Don't have any pics handy but hope my description helps. Be prepared to spend some time getting the half moon piece in place. Took four hands to get mine back on.

Cheers,

Bill

2.5Turbo · #3 07-16-2007, 09:09 PM

As to the replacement they're cheaper than you might think at the stealership. Something like $20 to $30, IIRC.

Jim B. · #4 07-17-2007, 05:33 AM

New ones are cheap at the dealer, just get another.

As someone here recently mentioned, a Mercedes Benz without its hood star is like a cat without its whiskers.

toomany MBZ · #5 07-17-2007, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2.5Turbo

As to the replacement they're cheaper than you might think at the stealership. Something like $20 to $30, IIRC.

Don't know about dealer, but $20 from here http://*************** be careful installing!

POS · #6 07-17-2007, 08:27 AM

New one at dealer is $20, you insert the whole assembly into the grill, and with a pair of channel locks you grab the U-shaped bracked under the grill and turn it 1/2 a turn. POP! It's in place. Takes about five minutes.

bill murrow · #7 07-17-2007, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

New one at dealer is $20, you insert the whole assembly into the grill, and with a pair of channel locks you grab the U-shaped bracked under the grill and turn it 1/2 a turn. POP! It's in place. Takes about five minutes.

Geez.....wish I would've known that when I put mine in. I pulled on the spring then pulled the half moon shaped through.

Took a bunch of tries before I got it.

Cheers,

Bill

tami · #8 07-17-2007, 09:10 AM

to the parents of the charming children.

bustedbenz · #9 07-17-2007, 10:09 AM

And don't put your fingers in the wrong place, that spring is stiff enough it'd probably take off a few fingers if you did it wrong...

SirNik84 · #10 07-17-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

As someone here recently mentioned, a Mercedes Benz without its hood star is like a cat without its whiskers.

I went to home depot the other day, and there was another SD in the parking lot. It was missing its hood star. and the drivers window was down. so i rummaged through my trunk.... I have just about everything in my trunk... pulled out a hood star and left it on the dash.

wish i could have seen the guys face when he got in his car.

Hatterasguy · #11 07-17-2007, 06:11 PM

Just get a new one, I think I paid $25 for the last one.

They are pretty cool, the spring kind of explodes the star into its proper position.