I am looking at possibly getting these chrome wheels, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130014783103&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003

and these chrome cowl vent thingies
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150186796305&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

I also need to get my car repainted, what does everyone think about them?

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1985 MB 300D/T

Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil.

I want this too!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-SEC-Grill-Insert-123-124-126-140-201-202-210_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33645QQihZ003QQitemZ8049157260QQtcZphoto

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1985 MB 300D/T

Fell off the WVO bandwagon when people started trying to charge $2.50 a gallon for dirty vegetable oil.

Well, my car came with bright finished cowl grilles... No problem there. To be honest, I haven't seen any black ones. I think I prefer the chrome finish.

As for wheels, if chrome is your thing, go for it. I think the colour of the car is important when using chromed wheels. It's all a matter of personal taste. Some people here will hate them, others will love them. It's your car, so do what you want. You're the one that has to be happy with them. I will say that the price is right for chromed, cast alloy knock-offs of the original forged versions.

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- K.C.Adams

'77 300D Euro Delivery
OM617 turbo / 4-speed swap
404 Milanbraun Metallic / 134 Dattel MB-Tex

Current status:
* Undergoing body work

My '77 300D progress thread

Hi John,

I really like the wheels but if it was me, I'd look for them in 15". The 14's always look a little smallish and you'll improve the handling and looks by going with a slightly larger rim and a slightly lower profile tire.

As for the cowl thingys, I would not put chrome up there. It would look a little awkward from a design standpoint (I'd rather see black) and the chrome may cause problems with glare from sunlight.

The grille looks nice but I would only do it if you replaced the hood star with the simple flat MB trademark. I consider having 2 stars on the front of the car another design faux pas...

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-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

I believe the chrome ones are stock through 82 and the black ones started in 83. I have one of each and like the chrome better.

Since you asking our opinions on this, I say:

Yes on the chrome cowls. That's cool. I had a '72 280SE and that had a really cool vent with chrome accents. So putting the chrome vent accents on a 123 makes a lot of sense and is just plain attractive. They fit with the asthetic of the car, which puts the bright work up high, close to the windows. And as another said, it was original during some years.

As for the wheels, I vote no. I don't like the chrome fender trim, and the Bundt wheels are just meant to be what they are. And that's not chromed.

As for that dash, that's easy: HELL NO!!!! Are you f------ kidding me? On a W123? It looks totally trashy. And it looks trashy in a completely unimaginitive way. I saw a 240D somewhere that was lowered and fitted with custom rims and low profile tires, but it kept the essential spirit of the car alive somehow. But pimping the three-point star is just crass.

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___________________________
1995 E320 (2009 - current)
1985 300TD Turbo black (2007-current)
1983 300TD Turbo red (2008-2009)
1972 280SE (2004-2007)
1977 300CD (2003-2004)
1976 240D (1999-2003)

Nothing says "I know how to roll"" better then a clean, restored example of Mercedes Benz as the factory intended. If you have the skill, a set of nicely matched wheels doesn't hurt. IMO

The Chromed 14" bundt cake wheels are ok, so long as you are aware that bundts are do collect brake dust (which probably you know) and the offset should be correct without having to put spacers on the wheels, and that chrome can flake or peel off, and each chrome wheel that gets dipped could look good - or bad - depending on how it came out. that is your call, on whether to choose them.

I have seen the chromed cowls on W123 cars, and to me, somehow they work. They look nice, but not having them is nice too. Again, your call.

The grille insert with the star is horrible. Don't do that. It looks self conscious, and a cheap modification designed to specifically call attention to the fact the car is a Mercedes Benz and you want EVERYBODY around to know it.

It is absolutely redundant with the hood star already on the car.

This modification is unfotunately seen in South American countries, on W123 sedans there. It looks just dreadful.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Ugh I hate chrome wheels, IMHO not understated enough. They belong on a some sort of GM car.

The cowl vents look nice though! If I had a W123 I'd get those and repaint/replace the wiper arms while I was at it, dress that area up nice.

No don't buy the grill, they just look god awful, no. Don't do it, no.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

But if you insist I have a used one in my basement that you can have for $80.+ shipping.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I wouldn't consider actual chromed rims. MB forids chroming their rims because it degrades the structure over time. A better alternative is alloy rims polished to the point that they appear chrome.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

....anything but the gay as hell SEC grill insert...

we gave you a new ....complete grill.. Don't you remember.. and Surf wanted to give it to me..... no... we will disown you



the chrome on the WHEELS( rims are for bikes.. jeeze guys) will flake off in about a year..

Just strip and go at the bare alloy wheels with various grades of sand paper until you reach 2000 grit and then move up to a buffer..(start out at like.. 400 grit)

The chrome Bundts look fine to me, and would be up to your preference. I don't know how long the chrome will last. Way too many variables in the plating to know. The chrome cowl vents are good, and like others have said are stock items for the years offered.
Now look! Anybody that would put that hideous grill on a W123 should be banned from the forum and have to sell their car. Saying it looks like ass doesn't even do it justice.
Snap out if it!!! Quick.....

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

No on the grille. Rims depends on car color. I don't like them on any color Mercedes. The cowl covers, depends on car color too. I had them on my 77, and they were alright on a dark green. I might be able to pull it off on the silver one. A white one, not so sure. On those that I"ve had, the 77 was chrome, the 82, 84, and 85 are all black.

Just for clarification purposes, here's the W123s that used chrome cowl vents.
300D: 1977-1982
300TD: 1979-1982
300CD: 1978-1982
280E: 1977-1981
280CE: 1978-1981

Seeing as those models could pull it off, I don't see why other W123s couldn't.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.