W124 Coupe Grille question

[RayTubes]

Hello! First post, but I've lurked for a while. Anyway, I got my hands on a 220CE at the start of the year for a great price, didn't have many major problems, but I've just recently sorted out everything really important.

But, it's a got an aftermarket grille, a kind of bolt on grille surround to make it look more like W126 SEC or something, you know, big star? Then you just slip the new insert in there and finish it up to make look as seamless as possible, in theory.

I don't really mind the way it looks, not top of the list stuff, but the surround has gotten very cracked and rusty, to the point where flakes rain down when I open the bonnet, AND it covers the fog lights, so...not perfect.

Does anybody have any experience with these kind of modifications? More specifically, removing them and installing a stock grille again? Ha ha, can I just rip it off? Maybe it's more time and cost effective to just sort out a new bonnet? No pictures I'm afraid, but hopefully somebody knows what I'm talking about.

Any advice is appreciate, thanks.

(also, it's early 93, so I believe pre facelift)

 

[bing]

Plenty on eBay OEM ,or aftermarket Avantgarde types which is a popular upgrade on 124s

http://m.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?isRefine=true&_nkw=w124 grille

 

[RayTubes]

Thanks man, but I've already got a replacement in mind. I'm just wondering if reversing this mod is really worth the time and effort, I'd really like to, but I don't fancy wasting money on sorting it. I've searched around and I can't really find any information on others' experiences reversing, so this is a bit of a stab in the dark I guess.

Not my car, but this is pretty much identical:

 

[bing]

Oh no That's a bonnet replacement then !? I had a feeling u meant this after reading your post again about Fog lamps being covered ..doh!

Classic Rude Mercs SEC Bonnet upgrade back in the 80s

 

[RayTubes]

Yeah, I think you're right, I'm taking the car to a body work guy for another issue tomorrow, so I'll get his opinion, but I'll probably just replace the whole bonnet if I get the chance...but that's a different headache for a different day.

I'll just live with it for a bit, until I can eventually source one near by. Thanks though!

 

[RayTubes]

I'm going to replace the bonnet entirely, I'm fairly certain the car if prefacelift, but I just I want to confirm and double check before I sort the replacement, what do you reckon, is it prefacelift? Hoping to replace with this Mercedes E class W124 bonnet 300ce saloon estate coupe | eBay

 

[nick mercedes]

I'm going to replace the bonnet entirely, I'm fairly certain the car if prefacelift, but I just I want to confirm and double check before I sort the replacement, what do you reckon, is it prefacelift? Hoping to replace with this Mercedes E class W124 bonnet 300ce saloon estate coupe | eBay

Your car is a prefacelift one, you can tell by the black bumper insert.

Have you got a grille?

 

[RayTubes]

Still deciding on a grille, I'm a big fan of this one though, what do you think? I'm open to suggestions CHROME AVANTGARDE GRILL FOR MERCEDES E CLASS W124 1983-1992 PRE-FACELIFT MODEL | eBay

 

[nick mercedes]

Still deciding on a grille, I'm a big fan of this one though, what do you think? I'm open to suggestions CHROME AVANTGARDE GRILL FOR MERCEDES E CLASS W124 1983-1992 PRE-FACELIFT MODEL | eBay

I'd leave the SEC look grille/bonnet on it, old skool retro 124.

 

[RayTubes]

When I got the car I was happy to just leave it as it came with the spoiler and the SEC style grille, but the metal frame for the grille insert is VERY cracked and rusty, it rains down on my head when I open the bonnet, and I could easily just pull it off with little force, ha ha. That mod has obviously not lasted as well as the rest of the car at all, plus it covers the fog lights and a little stone flung at just the right angle could get through the space under the grille and hit the fan (unlikely, but possible)

I wanted to save the rest of the bonnet (it's in great condition) but it looks like the SEC grille modification is hard to reverse or repair, so I figured I'd switch the whole bonnet and just get it fitted and repainted. I've got a big old dent above the offside rear wheel (skip lorry went into it, I bought it like that) that I need sorted, I'm past MOT now, so I was going to get both done in one shot when I'm with the bodywork guy.

As I said, it's hard for me to dislike any of these coupes, now matter how they look, so I'm open to any suggestions that can help me save it how it is for less cash, but it's looking like a full on bonnet swap.

 

[Ballajatt]

When I got the car I was happy to just leave it as it came with the spoiler and the SEC style grille, but the metal frame for the grille insert is VERY cracked and rusty, it rains down on my head when I open the bonnet, and I could easily just pull it off with little force, ha ha. That mod has obviously not lasted as well as the rest of the car at all, plus it covers the fog lights and a little stone flung at just the right angle could get through the space under the grille and hit the fan (unlikely, but possible)

I wanted to save the rest of the bonnet (it's in great condition) but it looks like the SEC grille modification is hard to reverse or repair, so I figured I'd switch the whole bonnet and just get it fitted and repainted. I've got a big old dent above the offside rear wheel (skip lorry went into it, I bought it like that) that I need sorted, I'm past MOT now, so I was going to get both done in one shot when I'm with the bodywork guy.

As I said, it's hard for me to dislike any of these coupes, now matter how they look, so I'm open to any suggestions that can help me save it how it is for less cash, but it's looking like a full on bonnet swap.

Hi Ray,

I am after SEC style grille bonnet for my w124 CE, if you are planning to change it, can you please let me know I can swap my CE original bonnet with you for SEC.

Bal

 

[RKC-benz]

Hi Ray, I am after SEC style grille bonnet for my w124 CE, if you are planning to change it, can you please let me know I can swap my CE original bonnet with you for SEC. Bal

Just reading this thread ... The OP just got lucky. Time for a roadside swap in the motorway services somewhere perhaps?!

 

[WDB124066]

Yes, it's like finding a hens tooth in a bucket of rocking horse poo really isn't it!

Nice to see it work out.

 

[RayTubes]

Hi Ray,

I am after SEC style grille bonnet for my w124 CE, if you are planning to change it, can you please let me know I can swap my CE original bonnet with you for SEC.

Bal

Hi mate, I was able to get hold of a bonnet replacement in the end, a guy about 10 minutes from me was breaking a 300ce at exactly the right time...that's two hens teeth for me then, ha ha

My car is with the body shop right now in fact, they've just shut today, but I could get in contact with them tomorrow (24th) and make sure they don't scrap the old bonnet and keep hold of it for you if you like, Bal?

As I've mentioned in my older posts, the modded grille surround is rusty and cracked, but the "original" bonnet is in good shape, if you know what I mean?

I'm in east kent, near canterbury btw. If you're still interested, I could take some more detailed pictures of the bonnet when I pick up the car? Also, please don't tell me your car is almandine red, because they've just primed my BLUE replacement one for the respray, ha ha