Just curious... how does the W123 look with this grille? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scoodidabop · #1 07-31-2009, 11:54 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/77-85-MERCEDES-W123-STAINLESS-GRILLE-240D-280E-300D-84_W0QQitemZ160342610426QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item25552a11fa&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

Anyone seen it before? The grille alone looks nice. Wondering how it may look on the car.

matthias08 · #2 07-31-2009, 11:56 PM

our '05 E320 CDI has one with the high gloss painted inserts, @ 55k miles, its been repainted once... and has 2 new chips already. ARGH.

atleast the dealer is willing to do it under warranty......

H-townbenzoboy · #3 08-01-2009, 12:17 AM

I did the cheapo version using some chrome trim from O'Reilly's, new OE chrome as well, and some black spray paint. This is the result.

scoodidabop · #4 08-01-2009, 02:28 AM

Looks good. Dig those headlights.

Anyone have a picture of the gray version?

MBeige · #5 08-01-2009, 03:55 AM

I prefer the stock look. The glossy plastic screams "aftermarket" in a classic car like the w123.

The S600 type grille like H-Townbenzoboy posted (twice the number of chrome strips) works, but not the glossy paint (black or gray).

On mine I painted it dark gray, with standard flat paint (primer actually - paint straight to the plastic will chip in no time) and no extra strips.

TylerH860 · #6 08-01-2009, 03:59 AM

Trigger came with a nearly new MB replacement grill and headlight doors. It was glossy plastic, and looked beautiful.

I really should have swapped that over to Ol' Turbo before I sold it.

scoodidabop · #7 08-01-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

I prefer the stock look. The glossy plastic screams "aftermarket" in a classic car like the w123.

The S600 type grille like H-Townbenzoboy posted (twice the number of chrome strips) works, but not the glossy paint (black or gray).

On mine I painted it dark gray, with standard flat paint (primer actually - paint straight to the plastic will chip in no time) and no extra strips.

That looks awesome on your car. I worry about doing this on mine... I feel like it'll look too distracting. I think the dark plastic looks downright awful against some car colors. Too obvious or something.

I dunno. It might look really sweet on mine. My new car is this color:

Dark grille? Yes or no?? With blacked out headlight doors? I think I like yours MBeige b/c you don't have matching american headlight doors that have been blacked out. The euros compliment that darker plastic very well without making the front of the car look overbearing.

lowriderdog37 · #8 08-01-2009, 07:46 AM

I used engine paint to black out the grill and headlight doors. I thought it looked great on my silver car. I would show you a picture, but I haven't been able to do it again since the wreck.

Mark DiSilvestro · #9 08-01-2009, 10:19 AM

Last summer, I found a perfect brand new 123 grill at the Virginia Baech Pick-N-Pull, for $12 on half-price day.
Might be aftermarket. Grey plastic is shiny. Wonder how well the chrome shell would hold up after long-term exposure.
Otherwise, with my '84 Euro TD, to compensate for replacing the broken Euro lights with US ones, I exchanged the good US headlight doors with my spare cracked, discolored set, which I painted over in body-color.
The $1 WalMart-brand Almond spray-paint was a perfect match for my wagon's Ivory color. Hid the flaws and IMHO looks nice. (But for the purists, it only takes a few minutes to swap back in the unpainted ones)

Happy Motoring, Mark

scoodidabop · #10 08-01-2009, 01:18 PM

Man I'm really torn.

I think I may rip off MBeige and do euros with a dark grey grille. Could be nice. My car looks awesome, but lacks aesthetic punch on the front.

pj67coll · #11 08-01-2009, 02:20 PM

MBeige. Your car looks fantastic. I did something similar to my 240D with a slightly lighter shade of grey on top of the primer. Tamiya model paints "German Grey" I believe the color was.

- Peter.

Jeremy5848 · #12 08-01-2009, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoodidabop

Anyone seen it before? The grille alone looks nice. Wondering how it may look on the car.

Might look nice on a car with Euro headlights and later-model wheels (for those who would do such a thing).

MBeige · #13 08-01-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

MBeige. Your car looks fantastic. I did something similar to my 240D with a slightly lighter shade of grey on top of the primer. Tamiya model paints "German Grey" I believe the color was.

- Peter.

Thanks Peter. Do you have pics of your car's grille? I've been looking for a better alternative to the gray I have, it's not the best I should say. If I go with a lighter shade, but still darker than a brand new factory plastic insert, I'm going for that and change the Euro headlight surrounds to the gray type (I have both).

Quote:

Originally Posted by scoodidabop

That looks awesome on your car. I worry about doing this on mine... I feel like it'll look too distracting. I think the dark plastic looks downright awful against some car colors. Too obvious or something.

Dark grille? Yes or no?? With blacked out headlight doors? I think I like yours MBeige b/c you don't have matching american headlight doors that have been blacked out. The euros compliment that darker plastic very well without making the front of the car look overbearing.

That's why I switched from a black grille insert to dark gray.