Radiator Grille for 190 - colour and fitting

[sazzy]

I recently had a slight argument with two other cars and some deer. My car, another car, and a deer didn't come out of it terribly well. I broke a headlight and made a bit of a dent in the radiator grille. Being a fussy so-an-so I got a replacement grille even though the dent in mine isn't too noticeable.

Two things, the grille is not a genuine merc part (skint), but my cousin who has ordered it says it is quite nice. The only thing is that the plastic insert is black not grey - what's all this about then? Why isn't it grey and won't it look a bit funny?

Secondly, cousin takes cars to bits for fun, but says he's a bit worried about the grille as two of the bolts are pretty inaccesssible - he's heard they're a bugger to take off. Any tips or helpful suggestions?

Cheers

Sazzy

 

[wireman]

I had a damaged grille on my 1989 190, those blots are down a hole and you need an 8mm socket with very thin walls to remove the grile shell.
I left the dented one mine on cos the old bolts were a bit tired and no amount of carefull swearing would shift them.
I always wanted to re colour the grey bit matt black, but didnt just in case it looked wrong.

 

[anyweb]

been there, done that, you can see the second hand replacement grill attached in this photo
http://anyweb.kicks-ass.net/personal/me/mycar/updates/june--2004 153.html

which i sprayed matt-black (looks better)

and in this shot you can see the grill it replaced (broken bits here and there - i STILL have it actually)

http://anyweb.kicks-ass.net/personal/me/mycar/updates/june--2004 067.html

removing the old grill and replacing it was the easiest job I've done on the 190d (1987 model) .


cheers
anyweb

 

[sazzy]

Thanks gentlemen, I'll let you know how we get on. I suspect the air in Nottinghamshire may be a certain shade of blue whilst it is being done.

 

[sazzy]

Btw, thanks for the photo - the grille insert looks much better black than I would have expected.

 

[anyweb]

my pleasure, i've gotta say i love the 190's the amount of stuff i did with that car brings a tear to my eye

 

[sazzy]

Well, the car looks great again - I like the black insert now. The only difficulty came from re-inserting the pin that stops the merc star from being nicked. There was a lot of puffing, blowing and swearing going on.

I know what you mean about the 190 - the cousin who sold me mine has missed it so much he bought another and so now has three cars and a van - which is perhaps a bit more than necessary - but they get under your skin. He's replaced it with a 2.6. I would SO lose my licence or wrap myself around a tree - talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Thanks again for the advice

Sazzy