Agreed. I keep looking at my 124 and thinking exactly that. But then I ponced about with the grille on my C240, thought it looked great then realised after re-fitting original grille that it actually looks better the way it was designed.
I did try spraying the grey insert on the 124 with some Back too Black and that did darken it until it rained.
S124 E280 Est (Storm Trooper variant), R129 SL320, Hiace campervan
Chrome for me - the car was always tending towards regal even as an E36. Paint up the grey grille if you can be ****d ... mine needs the same paint job I think for the right look. Would you mind if I post it to you?