Bah. That's just a roll of plastic wheel well (or door edge) molding with a self-adhesive backing. You trim it to fit and it sticks onto your existing grille slats. This guy's stuff is horrendously overpriced, in my opinion. The same stuff sells at your local auto parts store for $10 a roll.

The grey piece is pretty easy to replace, a few screws on the back and it pops right out.

anyone know anything about these grill inserts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2440652109&category=33645

They apparently are made out of plastic so I have my doubts.

Also, I have a large chip out of one of the grey "slats" in the front of the grill. I'm thinking of replacing the entire grey piece. Does anyone know if replacing the grey piece of the grill alone is dificult or even possible at all?

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headrivenoise... listen.

even the original is made out of plastic with chrome strips on the front.

I was concerned about buying a new grill with the MB Logo made out of plastic for my new C240, but the one from the factory is also made out of plastic.

go figgur...

It's been my experience on ebay to contact the seller and offer them less. The kind of part your looking at is readily available from multiple sources and price competition is stiff.

I needed a new light frame for my 91 300SE and there's a guy on ebay selling them for $72 or $73. The same things sells on www.benzpartstore.com for $60 - I wrote to the guy on ebay and he told me he'd beat their price and sell me one for $55.

that was easy!

The grill insert can easily be replaced - description of technique is in the archives. A worthwhile modification is to buy the new insert (about $25-30; Fastlane sells the inserts.) and take it to a good auto paint facility. Have them prep the plastic, sparay it with matte (not gloss or flat) black paint, and then cover it with matte clearcoat that has had the material added used for painting front bumpers to protect from rock chips. I had mine done this way, and it doesn't have any imperfections at all after 3 years. Spend a bit more and replace the aluminum strips and you will have a new grill.

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

for what it's worth - I like that ebay grill. I wrote the guy and offered him $25 including shipping and he acccpted. My 91 300 SE grill is looking kind of ratty and this one looks nice.

- jeff

You can buy the grill insert from many places online and its easy to fix on.

http://www.autobodypartsonline.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_prod.html?p_prodid=21106&p_catid=1455&sid=77CBJv0mcHFNCSQ-03103173989.b0

I have an old one you can have if you want. I don't think it has a chip in it but I can check tonite.

yes, but then you have to buy the chrome strips for the grill also - correct?

Yes but they are only a couple of bucks each, they're not like the s600 ones that cost $30 each

don't say that please...

my wife and I have been watching ebay for used 600SL's and have our eye on one with low miles...

I would love to have a triple black 600 SL sitting in the garage!!!!

Howzabout my post (a couple of months back) on a DIY Avant Garde-style grill?

Cheap DIY Avant Garde grill mod for 190e.Instructions and photos.

Real easy and gives your Merc a classy new look...of course it's not the S600 grill but I think it rocks just the same!

Cheers.

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Black grille inserts are great, and now that Krylon has recently introduced its "Fusion" paint -- which adheres to plastic without chipping or flaking -- you don't need the custom work.

Just buy a spray can from WalMart and you are all set -- whether painting a new grill or your existing one.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black

Yeah, just painting the insert black does wonders to the look of the car - even without adding additional chrome strips.

The original greyish plastic of the insert looks crappy!

Cheers.

bringing an old post back...

I was searching for the fusion paint Eric silver was talking about, but I tend to think krylon only makes a gloss in this paint. anyone know what would happen if I sprayed the grille insert with the fusion gloss black, then sprayed over it with a regular (for metal) matte spray paint? Think it would adhere? Also, another option would be leaving it gloss, anyone have a gloss black grill insert? How's it look? Thanks a million everyone.

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headrivenoise... listen.

DirtySocks,

Black grilles look great.

Now that you mention it, I do recall only seeing Fusion in gloss colors. I would think that spraying a matte over the fusion would work, but check the application instructions on the can to be sure.

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

------------------------------------
Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black