I took all the trim off my 83 300D for painting, but was surprised at how much the red trim/moulding inserts cost. The ones I saw were about $1 each, and I believe you need about 60-70 to replace them all. I found some white ones on Ebay in a pack of 100 for about $15. I figured, why not try? So today they came in and I don't see any difference between them and the more expensive red ones. They seem to fit the same. Anyone have any experience with these? Did I get a good deal or am I missing something?

(Tried to post a pic but I still can't on this forum, which is frustrating. I can post on benzworld.org though.)

On mine the lowest trim had all white ones on it. As you did I replaced them with Chinese ones.

I think the ones you bought are going to work fins as long as you do not have to remove them again. I think the China ones are likely to get stiff an brittle sooner than the Mercedes ones.

As an example when I removed the Door Panel on My 1986 Chevy a lot of the Panel Plastic Retainers broke and were very stiff and inflexiable.

I have removed the Door Panels on My 84 300D at least twice and only one of the Door Panel Retainer broke. I am guessing the Mercedes Retainers are made of better material that remaind pliable over the years.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Great. Well I hope I don't have to remove them again anytime soon. If so, I'll have about 30 extra leftover. Thanks for the reply.

I faced the same music when I did my car over. That guy on the west coast who we don't mention here had them priced very reasonably. He also had the bushings for the trunk lettering and the trim clips for the lower body panels.

BTW, what you're doing is the proper way to paint a car.

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'83 300D, 126K miles.

The exact original red ones used on our cars are very hard to find now, or they were when I needed some (unless you pay $4 each at the dealer).

The white ones are I believe the style used on the newer Mercedes. They work fine but you will find them much easier to work with if you put them in warm-hot water for a minute prior to installation.

Then they should pop right in. If one doesn't want to go into the hole, possibly due to some extra paint buildup, don't start forcing it (nifty way to chip your paint, don't ask how I know). Just take a utility knife and cut a slit in it. Should pop in fine and in my experience will still work fine.

The old red type were easy to pop in 'cold'.

I used the pointey rubber head of a screwdriver to pop them in. Probably there are better ways.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22