Bonnet star

[icom102]

what do yous think of the loss on the c and e class of the classic grill and bonnet star in the uk where in other countries its still available?

 

[fab1975]

I believe it is an absolute disgrace and this subject has been debated on this forum (as well as elsewhere) for a long time.

The "Exclusive / Elegance" versions of the C class (and probably of the E class as well) are available in at least all the following countries, which makes the lack of such an option in the UK even more frustrating:

- Australia
- Austria
- Canada
- China
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Ireland
- Russian Federation
- Saudi Arabia
- Spain
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United States of America

 

[icom102]

so why has the mercedes UK done this the current C and E class in the UK looks POOP

 

[markjay]

It was probably due to lack of demand.

For some reason the UK market seems to prefer lowered/stiffened cars with body kit and 18" wheels to standard-height cars with 16" wheels.

This is in spite of constant complaints about speed bumps and potholes on our roads...

I think MB simply responded to the market's demand. They probably sell more non-AMG 'AMG' cars in the UK than anywhere else.

 

[icom102]

well up till a few years ago if you looked at the likes of the autotrader AMG spec cars on there was about 3% so i dont see that been a excuse to change

 

[190]

I agree it's probably lack of demand. If you look at W204's when both options were available the majority of buyers seem to have opted for the sports grille. All part of the push to a more youthful image. I'm not remotely youthful which must be why I've got the classic grill and bonnet star.

 

[Hawkwind]

Bonnet star every time for me, otherwise it's not a Mercedes

 

[Cannnon]

I am proactively trying to locate one to put on my CLS w219, but I hear it cant be done for this car due to it being a larger star, and having the large one in the grill

 

[KillerHERTZ]

so why has the mercedes UK done this the current C and E class in the UK looks POOP

Rewind 10 years and alot of members on here were getting rid of their bonnet stars and replacing them with the 'BSG' (Big Star Grill).

MB only do what the market dictates. Look at the W204, virtally noone ordered the elegance model over here compared to the Sport.

 

[MancMike]

Look at the W204, virtally noone ordered the elegance model over here compared to the Sport.

Yep, it's rare I see another.

On the W205 I'd have to have the elegance, even if it meant importing parts, etc. I think it looks leagues more classy than the bsg.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Best combo which if I had ever bought a W204 I would have done:

Sport body, Elegance grill:

 

[MancMike]

That has a sniff of the W212 about it, with the more muscular body kit paired with the elegance grille.

 

[fab1975]

Rewind 10 years and alot of members on here were getting rid of their bonnet stars and replacing them with the 'BSG' (Big Star Grill).

MB only do what the market dictates. Look at the W204, virtally noone ordered the elegance model over here compared to the Sport.

I wonder if that is actually the case, as I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that the UK is the only major car market in the world where customers are not given the same choice available to their counterparts in virtually any other country.

As for the fact that the W204 with the bonnet-mounted star did not really sell well in the UK, I have heard too many urban legends from MB salesmen. My favourite was from MB Manchester, where I got told that only 4 customers in the UK bought the classic version of the W204, hence why MB UK did not make it available on the W205. Apart from the fact that the same logic could have not been applied to the E Class, as the W211 was not available with the Sports grille, it was "funny" that apparently 3 out of those 4 UK customers lived in my neighbourhood. It is a small world, isn't it?

My personal explanation is that here in the UK Mercedes has always been (wrongly IMHO) perceived as an "old man's car", which objectively deterred some younger / sportier customers to buy a MB instead of a BMW or an Audi. Therefore, by removing the most distinctive and traditional element of the front car design from almost all their models, MB UK sent a strong message to those potential buyers: "hey, we have changed, you can look sporty on a MB as well". Fair enough, it is the market baby.
What I do not like is the message sent to their more traditional customers, which I would rather not type on a forum, as you have probably guessed anyway

Why cannot we have the same choice as in the Republic or Ireland or South Africa (where most W205 are built)?

Just to give you all an idea of what we are missing, please find below two pictures I took at MB Stuttgart a few months ago:

 

[TheFoX]

This is no different from Marmite. You either love them or hate them.

I personally don't like the bonnet star, preferring the grill badge. To me, the star looks too statesman like, as if you'd expect royalty or a diplomat to exit the vehicle on arrival.

It is also a vehicle specific thing as well. While an E class would suit the chrome grill and bonnet star, could the same be said about an SLK. While Mercedes hold on to their traditional cars with examples such as the E class, they have also broken in to the more sportier market, with the E coupe, SLK and SL, CLS, A class and the S coupe, not forgetting the SLS. Would these suit a chrome grill and star? I doubt it.

Mind you, I think it is short sighted of Mercedes not to offer the chrome grill and star as an option to the buyer, so that if someone did want to buy a more traditional Mercedes, they would have that option.

 

[ChrisEdu]

As above, I think it's horses for courses. Some models, such as the S and E class, suit the star better than the SLK or SL. I think, on a sporty car the star is better on the grill, but in a waft-mobile it's better on the bonnet.

 

[optimusprime]

Could be to do with rules and regulations ,But as for the Jaguar, it was not fitted for safety reasons, as the car itself did no real damage in an accident, but the mascot was the thing that killed the pedestrian

 

[ash59fifty-uk]

As above with the U.K. being so artsy fartsy with health and safety, in a country where it's sometimes a requirement to wear a hard hat in a field...

I personally don't like the star. As a child I always wanted a BMW or a Mercedes, a bloke up the road from me owned a brand new BMW and I went to the same school as his kids, he gave us all a lift home once I felt like royalty in it

He then bought a Mercedes and the star was pinched within a week, has just put me off since then. They seem to be on the yearly shopping list of the local 'go to guy/girl' for the boots gift boxes at Christmas if you know what I mean...

They look hard to get off, but when the thief can't get it off what does he/she do? Bust it in the process

 

[icom102]

well as for mercs with the bonnet mounted star not selling all you need to look at the auto trader hardly any had the sports grill the sports grill looks crap wake up mercedes UK and catch up with the rest of the globe