Grille respray 190e

[mercmonkey]

been pottering around on my car this evening and I was looking at the front of my car. The grille insert (not the chrome bit) is looking a little sun bleached and generally unpleasant
had a quick nose under the bonnet and the whole front grill seems to come off easy, complete with the chrome surround

what i want to do is take the centre out and repaint it, maybe matt black

Ive attched a pic and the bits in yellow is what i want to repaint.

Anyone do this? and did it work?

 

[television]

If my memory is correct, that be plastic,that be, it is not easy to do.
it has to be spotless before you could paint it, you need a plastic primer, never seen it in aerosols. Aerosols are OK fo the top coat, because of all of the sides (in the square holes) many,mist coats would be needed from all angles leave 30 mins between coats at 18C degrees min. If you do it the same as original colour (BMC farina grey) if any came off it would not show.

Malcolm

 

[tom7035]

been pottering around on my car this evening and I was looking at the front of my car. The grille insert (not the chrome bit) is looking a little sun bleached and generally unpleasant
had a quick nose under the bonnet and the whole front grill seems to come off easy, complete with the chrome surround

what i want to do is take the centre out and repaint it, maybe matt black

Ive attched a pic and the bits in yellow is what i want to repaint.

Anyone do this? and did it work?

A man after my own heart! I did this on mine over a year ago (body colour) and ordinary spray primer and colour is fine. It has to be scrupulously clean and grease free obviously beforehand. Do the back of the insert first, then the front.

 

[mercmonkey]

nice was that matt or gloss?

jetwash n scrub then a quick dip in panel wipe should get it nice for painting

 

[tom7035]

nice was that matt or gloss?

jetwash n scrub then a quick dip in panel wipe should get it nice for painting

It was gloss I used. Got an aerosol made up in 'Hellfrauds' - not a perfect match but near enough so it isn't noticed on the grille.
(P.S. The white-looking bits are reflections, not the paint coming off. Still as perfect today as the day it was done.)

 

[clive williams]

Mercmonkey,

The problem with painting most plastics is with the residue of release agent on new plastic mouldings and therefore requires special primers and prep work. This should not be a problem in your case as I assume that the grille has weathered over a suitable period? The only other problem you may find is the oxidisation of the surface.
In any case, proper prep will see a good adhesion. Thoughly clean the grille to remove all the muck and then clean down with white spirit followed by a soap clean and then copious amounts of water. Dry, and spray with primer and any top coat you require.
The matt black grille will look similar to the one that Brabus produced during the '80s/90's

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[mercmonkey]

cheers for the info clive, Ive got a semi gloss black, and some primer (the stuff used to prime plastic bumpers)

someone suggested gold lol go for the "bling" look

 

[Silver Arrow]

"someone suggested gold :lol: go for the "bling" look"

Might get unfortunate consequenses with mistaken identity.

I once had a couple of chaps get in the back of a previous Merc when I was waiting to pick up my daughter!

 

[mercmonkey]

thats actually quite scary

 

[television]

What ever you do, do not try in cold weather, any thing under 18c and you stand the risk of the surface drying, trapping solvents inside.

Malcolm

 

[DAVEBERRY]

Spray Paint.

NEW MEMBER : found a good source of supply for paint and anything you need for bodywork stuff , like send off your paint code and they will make it up for you !!! special primers etc, even 48 hour delivery !!
go to www.paints4u.com

 

[RonH]

Hi,
an alternative to painting a grille is to dye it.Used Vinylkote to give my Cosworth grille a satin black finish.The stuff is quite remarkable in that it is not a surface coating but actually "bonds to the molecules,changing the pigmentation"...their words, not mine!.
It will not alter the surface texture, so any age related surface imperfections to a grille will show up, although a new plastic insert for a 190 is relatively cheap from GSF or Euro Car Parts.
Also used it to change the colour of a leather steering wheel from brown to dark blue.....looked like new!.
Worked for me, maybe give you something to think about!.

P.S. can be supplied in ANY colour mix....apparently!.

 

[mercmonkey]

someone else suggested polycarbonate paint (the stuff used to paint RC car shells) as that bonds to the plastic as well.