My 123 280E is currently "ivory," you know the cream color everyone has that looks like vomit. I want to paint it black; i know its overdone, but looks nice nevertheless. How do you guys think my car would look with the headlight (US) housings painted black, and the grille insert painted black, and white/clear indicators and fogs?

I haven't been too impressed with the clear lens covers that kids like to put on their rice burners. If you did that to a Mercedes, in my opinion, it would destroy the classic 123 look, which is already very unique. Why gild the lily?

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Matt
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1995 E300 Diesel (Die Blau Frau)

well, i've always thought the amber/yellow lights on the 123 are pretty ugly; euro lights look a lot better in my opinion, but i've never been able to afford euros. This car really inspired me to fix up my car a little bit:
http://www.dhc.net/~pmhack/mercedes/280801.HTM
I'm going for a look far more refined from some kid with a honda civic and clear lenses he got from pep boys, i wanted to add a cleaner look to my headlights. The 116 and 107, two of my other favorite mercedeses, have clear fogs, which i think look a whole lot better than the amber 123 ones.
By the way, i dont have racing lights or those ugly lexus is300 lights or anything - i just put on clear side markers (like the one in the picture) and clear fogs from an older 123 (i think most 240d's had them).

i already have clear fogs... to repeat my question, do you guys think a painted grille insert and headlight housings (painted to match the body color) would look good on 123s? I've seen it done very well on 124s, but 123's have that more classic look, which i dont want to ruin.

I can see how you were inspired! Mine is Ivory
and I don't mind the co;or, but black sure looks nice!
What color is your interior?
Will that match?
Try putting black electrical tape over the
headlight rims and stand way back to get
a glimpse at what it may look like.
Are those euro lights on the pictured car?
The clear directionals don't look bad with a black body.
What kind of wheel rims do you have?
Good luck!

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1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

the pictured car has eurolights, but also euro-spec bumpers, which are smaller/less wide than ours. I have 16" 8-holes, like the s-class wheels from 92-97. Thanks for the electrical tape suggestion, i'll try that. My interior is currently the stock tan/palamino, but i can redo everything to black if needed (i have a friend with a 300d parts car that has a black interior). Thanks for all the replies

Moyukh, I am curious, was the replacement
of the original rims (14") with your current
16" 8-holes a straight swap or did it involve
alterations besides new tire size?
What size tire do you use now?
Hey, if you have the motivation, the car will look super
in Black, I don't know but it may not look bad
with palomino interior.
My interior is 'tabacco'. That would not look hot
with black body.
Cheers.

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I think mine are 205/55/16. Just make sure your offset is ok; i had 36mm offset rims at one point so i had to switch back to my old ones until i could find 22mm offset ones. 23 is the number given by mercedes techs, but i think 22-25 maybe 26 will be fine. Otherwise the install is pretty easy.
One more thing; DONT use spacers - i ahve heard nothing but bad things about them, especially at highway speeds.

You said that "123's have that more classic look, which i dont want to ruin."
The concept is interesting. It could be cool or mafia - can't tell without seeing final result. But it would undermine 123 classic look.
My view: dolled up 124's can look more modern and still retain original essence; too much refinement on 123's doesn't work... MY view.

Well, the pictured 123 looks nice, perhaps the black painted headlight frames would be too much.
One step at a time.
Have FUN!!

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

yeah, i'll definitely do the grille, not sure about the light frames yet - i just hate that dull gray! maybe all i need are new frames that arent weathered as much.....