Group Purchase 86 - 93 W124 Avantguard Grille - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

placo1 · #31 01-24-2003, 03:27 PM

Yal,

Actually you should have only 12 horizontal and one vertical, I guess you got lucky and have a spare. Check to make sure all the chrome trim are straight, I received a tweaked one and had to return it. The longest ones will have a very small bend towards the inside end so this is normal.

These grilles are definitely far superior to the other one I have.

BTW, we need to set up an install date, looks to me like the trim will have to be shortened as well as the plastic.

yal · #32 01-24-2003, 04:24 PM

Afshin,
Thanks for the clarification. I'm all set then. Waiting on instructions

Seeing as I can't be there good luck on the install at the gtg.

placo1 · #33 01-31-2003, 12:40 PM

The install date will be tomorrow!

We have all recieved our parts and Norm, Glen, Paul, myself will document the necessary modifications and take a few pictures.

aldedmon · #34 01-31-2003, 02:56 PM

Please take lots of photos and thoroughly document the install process. Man I wish I'd had the $$

yal · #35 02-05-2003, 05:39 PM

How did it all go?!?!

placo1 · #36 02-05-2003, 06:01 PM

Well lets just say we're meeting up again this Sunday to finish them! There is much more cutting than anticipated and overall fitment will require a bit of ingenuity.

Some things you'll need for the install are additional grille clips, something to cut the chrome trim and a hand saw to cut the plastic. We took measurements last week and a few preliminary pictures but we're going to do the fitment this week.

I'll post the amounts which will need to be cut and how we clipped it on the surround. You'll also need some plastic filler for the screw at the bottom of the grille, the current hole location won't work, I'll try to explain it better after Sunday.

Cannoli · #37 02-05-2003, 06:01 PM

Well ... we are very careful with our approach. Me, Afshin, Glen, Richard, and later Paul discussed our plan of attack. Afshin was shrued enough to have a non-OE grille to practice on. We cut the non-OE grille and learned what modifications we need to do. Because of time constraints, we stopped at that point. A trip to the MBZ dealer for additional parts (clips and hood release lever) will allow us to regroup. Afshin and I are finishing our cars this Sunday.

We'll post pics as soon as we are finished.

suginami · #38 02-05-2003, 06:09 PM

Just to add to the above comments from Placo1 and Norman Anthony - there is a bit more modification than any of us realized.

I can't imagine what we would have done w/o that aftermarket grill to practice on.

The plastic filler that Placo1 mentions is to fill the hole in the bottom center of the grill where the screw goes to attach it to the chrome surround. With the original hole, the grill sits a little too far back of the chrome grill, and is not flush up against it. It's only 1/8 of an inch or so, but that hole needs to be filled in order to drill a new one.

The additional clips are needed because the original clips won't work in their original position.

We might also have to fabricate a new clip or modify an existing clip to work where the medallion logo attaches to the top of the chrome grill and the grill insert.

yal · #39 02-06-2003, 11:10 AM

Thanks for the update you guys. Wow! Sounds like another trip to the Home Depot is in order

aldedmon · #40 02-17-2003, 09:44 AM

Its been another couple weekends. Can we see some pics yet please

placo1 · #41 02-17-2003, 10:48 AM

Well the grilles are installed and they look awesome.

I'll take some pictures of the finished product this afternoon and post them.

Yal,

I'm going to have to sit down with Norm and determine how we're going to post the instructions. There are so many little details and changes to make this fit properly.

Just a brief list..........

1. You'll need a saw to cut the sides of the grille as well as a fine blad saw to cut the metal strips.

2. You'll need a Dremmel with a Diamond Bit end on it to grind the factory clips (Yes You'll need to buy a full set of clips from the Dealer)

3. Get some high quality epoxy, you'll need this to create strength in the edges of the grille since the supports need to be cut off. You'll also need to fill in the hole at the bottom and redrill that hole an 1/8" towards the backside of the grille.

This will all make sense when we post the pics. I'll keep you posted. By the way IT'S WORTH THE EFFORT!

yal · #42 02-18-2003, 11:09 AM

Thanks Afshin. I have the saw and I have to go and buy a dremmel, I lost the one I had. We're kind of snowed in til the weekend so no hurry.

mushedroom · #43 02-18-2003, 08:57 PM

wow!!!!
loads of work....hmmm
i wonder how they look

mushedroom · #44 02-18-2003, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aldedmon
I understand that all the orders have to be placed together before the pricing can be confirmed.... in that case please go ahead and place the order without me. Once some one has done the conversion, I'd like to see pictures for comparison sake. Willie has an avantegarde grill which he said he purchased from some guy off of Ebay and i really like the way his looks. The interesting thing about his is that it has 7 horizontal slats whereas all the other ones that I've seen only have 5, including the avantegarde grills which are sold at my local MB shop here in Houston.
http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1732418&a=13905537&pw=porsche
So please guys, go ahead and start without me...I'll catch up

hey aldedmon....
that's the grill i love!!!
how'd they do it like that?

mushedroom · #45 02-21-2003, 06:34 PM

check out my group discount buy thread....

POWERCHIPS discount for group order...!!!Extra HP and Performance!!!