The power of the "gunsight"

[CabrioDave]

Back in 1982/83, my daily driver was a W116 450SE ... and I loved it.

The warm memory was one of the reasons why I came to buy my present A124 Cabriolet (as a prototype classic car) a few months ago. So much of the styling and detail (though not the power ... ) was still the same. I found myself really enjoying the "regal wafting" style of driving.

Then, while polishing the bonnet, I broke off the star badge.

Suddenly, I drove differently. In front of me now was just a "normal bonnet" of a "normal car". No sense of regal progress so ... no regal progress!

I've now fitted a new star ... and it's back! The car has been promoted again, and I feel no need to rush.

Is it just me, or are modern cars missing something important?

 

[renault12ts]

Back in 1982/83, my daily driver was a W116 450SE ... and I loved it.

The warm memory was one of the reasons why I came to buy my present A124 Cabriolet (as a prototype classic car) a few months ago. So much of the styling and detail (though not the power ... ) was still the same. I found myself really enjoying the "regal wafting" style of driving.

Then, while polishing the bonnet, I broke off the star badge.

Suddenly, I drove differently. In front of me now was just a "normal bonnet" of a "normal car". No sense of regal progress so ... no regal progress!

I've now fitted a new star ... and it's back! The car has been promoted again, and I feel no need to rush.

Is it just me, or are modern cars missing something important?

Just you...the coupés don't have the star.

 

[CabrioDave]

Just you...the coupés don't have the star.

"The coupés" (whatever that means) certainly did. And now don't.

As far as I can determine, only the S Class saloons now have the star. Pedestrian safety was a good reason to get rid of the star ... so why does the S-Class have it?

 

[markjay]

The 'sporty' trim Mercs generally don't have the star.

For the UK, MB decided to omit the star from all C-Class models... including the SE and SE Executive etc.

So if you want a new C-Class with a star, you can either order it in Germany and import it, or you can buy a star-grill and star (and bonnet?) in Germany then replace them on your new UK-spec Merc....

Not coming to the UK any time soon:

 

[Charles Morgan]

All nine Benzes I've owned have had bonnet stars. I can't see myself buying a Mercedes without one.

Did you get a blue laurel leaf base star in the end Dave?

 

[Lotiman]

I opened this thread thinking it was breaking news that somebody had managed to get to the new US President already!
Don't really know why but I love the bonnet star on my car. Seems to give it a more classy look.

 

[whitenemesis]

I really missed the bonnet star from my CLS55, from the driver's seat it could almost, I said almost, look like a BMW...

 

[John Jones Jr]

I consider bonnet star a necessity, totally indispensable. Without it I couldn't 'shoot' the a5sholes I find blocking my progess. Great therapy.

 

[del320]

All nine Benzes I've owned have had bonnet stars. I can't see myself buying a Mercedes without one.

Did you get a blue laurel leaf base star in the end Dave?

Probably the prime reason for hanging on to my 21 year old C124! (Sad git)

After over twenty years of Mercedes ownership, I consider them now to be indistinguishable from other German brands. Credit where credit is due, only BMW, Bentley and Rolls Royce (all German) now retain anything vaguely resembling a traditional grille. And for those who would argue that the present grille harks back to the SL, remember it is ubiquitous on vans and lorries too - a market the above-three have not entered.

It's a bit ironic that Kia are now punting out some good-looking vehicles with an immediately recognisable grille. Mercedes have made a big mistake in the UK market.

 

[CabrioDave]

Did you get a blue laurel leaf base star in the end Dave?

Yes, I did, thanks ... eventually! First purchase was a good-looking but ineffectual cheap copy; second from eBay a genuine used part which then didn't match the eBay picture (the pictured item was fine; what came had absolutely all the blue enamel polished away, a corroded star, and a dent. I returned it, and the seller claimed never received. Until I mentioned the signature shown on Royal Mail's tracking site ... )

So, off to my local M-B dealership (Birmingham), which had new ones in stock.

40-odd quid, so I shall be polishing more carefully in future

 

[renault12ts]

"The coupés" (whatever that means) certainly did. And now don't.

As far as I can determine, only the S Class saloons now have the star. Pedestrian safety was a good reason to get rid of the star ... so why does the S-Class have it?

SL, SLK, CL...no bonnet star.

 

[whitenemesis]

sl, slk, cl...no bonnet star.

cls ...

 

[Charles Morgan]

W114, W123, W124, W202 CLK, W111 & W112 coupes/cabs all had stars. The W140, R107 and W126 coupes didn't.

 

[saff]

The bonnet star exudes class. Love it!

 

[CabrioDave]

(Deleted - pics didn't work.)

 

[gr1nch]

W222 UK models have it. Here's one and as nearly new, it's a way more expensive than new (for exactly the same model)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201701131264501

 

[David404]

The bonnet star on my W211 gives a sense of occasion every time I get in, every time I walk past it...

 

[ianrandom]

Yeah I love the star on my old W126.
When I bought the coupé version it took me a while to get the hang of no bonnet star. Does seem a bit empty there.
But then the C126 grille is so good on its own.

 

[219]

Yes , I often feel something is missing from my SL , but I also know a star would look so wrong on that bonnet .

I just look at my 190E and smile ; still tempted to get another S124 .

 

[ianrandom]

I saw a C126 that had an upright star fitted on the bonnet - the owner must have felt the same as I did at first. It looked really wrong though actually.