Replacing the Mercedes emblem

[Nik_Codling]

Hi All,

The Mercedes star on my front grille (W124) is a bit wobbly - i suspect the spring might be loose inside. Its been like it since I bought the car, I've never got round to doing anything about it. However, I'm wondering if anyone can advise my how it is removed - it's not obvious looking at it behind the grille.

Also, should I buy genuine, or will GSF or somewhere similar do one just as good? I only ask because living by the sea means I need to clean my car reguarly and I'm sick of doing it all the time - I'd like to use a carwash for convenience, but I'm worried that it may damage a fragile emblem. Knowing my luck it would snap off and score it's way up the bonnet!!!

cheers,

Nik

 

[Bob 2316]

No! dont do it. wash it by hand as a car wash will ruin the paintwork over time and can never get it properly clean. also when you wash yr car by hand you get up close to it and can see when areas may need attention, repairing stone chips etc before they turn into big rust bubbles.

 

[wagamama]

Have to agree with bob here.

Handwashing is the way to go. It's the only real way of examining your car every two to three weeks. I've noticed so much more just by doing a handwash. esp since I got it back from the repairers!

Alternatively, getting a couple of buxom young females clad in their bikinis to help wash the car wouldn't be too bad :lol:

 

[joe bloggs]

Open bonnet and attack the thing from underside, best to get a new Star from dealer, only £15-£20 quid with 2 year warranty.
Easiest way to remove it is to pull the horizontal pin out that holds the spring, it will then fall to pieces so you can chuck it in the bin, old Star makes a fancy keyring.
New Star is easily fitted, shove it in the hole and give the collar underneath a 90 deg. twist, job done., should survive carwash, but like the guys above I would advise against them.

 

[sali]

On an associated topic

Hi,
Has anyone replaced the bonnet emblem with the kits that are now available to have the merc emblem lying flat on the bonnet rather than standing merc star (ie like the SL's/SLK's). I saw the price of the kit inc. emblem and fitting parts at www.specialvehicle.co.uk £30 (inc P+P).

 

[joe bloggs]

yyeeugggghhhhh, no way - how to half the value of your car in one easy step, only thing I can think of worse is the grille with the big star on it aaaarrrgghhhh, get a Corsa with a Bass Box

 

[sunil sood]

the star is availble from gsf- and only slightly cheaper than dealer.
but if it is boxed in a genuine merc box from gsf-then it is also the genuine article but cheaper.

i bought one from gsf for my 190e-geniuine article from gsf in the merc box.

 

[thekeeper24]

the carwash won't (or hasnt for me) taken the star off, but i only found out b/c i had no choice and i was staying in a foreign area for a few weeks and all i could find were those auto-washes, better then lettiing it stay dirty. definately do wash it by hand or with a few girls in binikies always works....

 

[Nik_Codling]

car wash/merc badge

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I got the answer I needed for the badge, thank you!

Regards car washes, I don't like the idea of using them regualrly, but I live right next to the sea (the sea wall is about twenty feet from my bedroom window). When there is a south easterly wind and the waves are up it's not uncommon to come out in the morning and find my car covered in a salt mist. This has killed my girlfriend's MGB in under two years, and I don't want my Mercedes to go the same way. I don't want to be outside cleaning my car all the time in the winter (I don't mind when the weather's warmer), hence the convenience of a carwash.

As for bikini clad babes.....hmmmm.....

cheers,

Nik

 

[thekeeper24]

since your car gets covered every single night and im assuming you can't park in a garage, then why not invest in a car cover for it????

 

[Nik_Codling]

salt

Unfortunately (a) my garage is not really wide enough, and (b) it's got my far more precious motorbikes in it!

I tried a cover but the (often) high winds shredded it! It's not unusual to get 30-40 mph winds where we are. It's worth it for the nice summer weather though, bring it on!

In the meantime I'll be out there far more often with the new brush attachment for the garden hose!

Nik

 

[Spike]

You need one of these

 

[joe bloggs]

Does it do that while driving?, Wife said she would like one too, not sure why.

 

[Spike]

LOL

Nope, fraid not it goes down when I lock the car and up when I open it. Tell you what though, it comes up with such a speed I wouldnt want to be sitting in it at the time.