Replacing W124 Grill
 

When replacing or painting the grill on your E class, I recently discovered a trick on replacing the aluminum strips. The stock strips are |-> in cross section, and slide directly onto the grill. The replacement strips from MB are :> shaped, and are held on with plastic clips that always seem loose. I have been told you can't get the original type strips without buying an entire grill and chrome surround.

I liked how my E class grill turned out, and am doing it to my 98 C class. When the replacement grill and strips arrived for the C, I saw that they are very similar to the old E strips, except flat on front instead of pointed. |-] shaped, as it were. I tried them on my old E grill, and they fit in the original slots without clips. The only issue is the bottom strip is about 1/4" too long and needs trimming. But they fit a lot better than the plastic clip arrangement, and look a bit more modern and bold with the flat surface.

Pictures?
 

John,
Any pictures you can share of the C-class grill strips on the E-class grill?

Glen:

I put the strips in the old grill and took some pics (not digital :( ) which I will post. I am going to redo my grill on the E after I finish the C. So many projects, so little money ;)

Keep us posted!
:)

Thanks John!
The early E-class strips appear to be the same as my '87 190E...and I agree, the C-class strips look much better!

Glen

Another project on the horizon. From reflective tape in my euro lights to this....:D :D
Thank you JCE!!

W123/4 grill chrome strips
 

Regarding the chrome strips.............I have found over time these polished Aluminum strips, become pitted, and need replacing again after some miles. Have you considered having them chrome plated which would give them a harder finish and should prevent this.

gavinbr

Exellent find, John.
Thanks for sharing!

Good Tip
 

Hey, great tip. Do you have a part number for the C-Class strips? Just to make sure I get the right ones.

Also, now you have some extra strips, have you tried to experiment with doing it for the entire grill? (Like the S600) I think that might look pretty good. But without seeing the real thing, I could just be dreaming.

# 202 888 02 85, 202 for the horizontal strips.

I need the number for the big central vertical one - they ordered one for a C for me - don't know what I'll get...

I am still playing with this. The grill strips fit perfectly in the slots, but it seems as if the strips are slightly angled so that when placed on one side of the w124 grill, they tilt slightly up, but slightly down on the other side. I am going to trim the crimped ends of the old strips and try reinserting them to see if this is my imagination, or another subtle wrinkle of MB design! I'll let everyone know what happens.

John I have the C class strips on my new insert that I havent installed yet. They look great, and fit great too.

Alon

Update
 

I meant to update this several years ago - the best strip parts to use in the older grills are from the later 124 coupes, in my opinion. They have the same flat surface and mounting method as the C class strips and the original, non-replacement 124 strips - no plastic clips needed. The part numbers I used from Phil at Fastlane are:

MBZ 1248880285 Grill Molding, Vertical
MBZ 1248880685 Grill Molding, Horizontal

In the attached pic you can see one of the pointed style original factory 1987 strips and one of the late model flat faced coupe strips. If you try and order replacement strips for an 87 you get a pointed style strip that requires a couple dozen funky plastic adapters to hold the strip on the grill. The above part number strips fit like the factory bits, but are flat like the late model 124 cars.

Attachment 33548