(Yet another) Original Grille or Panamericana on my SL350?

[MadMerx]

You did ask, so...... I prefer the look in the first photo from your original post. To me, the larger horizontal line looks better than all the smaller verticals lines (imho)

P.S. Well deserved award for Norway.....

 

[C240Sport97]

Pics in post 1 are with AMG Sport pack, pics in post 8 are without (different shape spoiler)

It makes a big difference with the Panamerica grill

 

[Slartibartfast]

You did ask, so...... I prefer the look in the first photo from your original post. To me, the larger horizontal line looks better than all the smaller verticals lines (imho)

P.S. Well deserved award for Norway.....

Yes, all them fjords!!

 

[V6GBJ]

The new grille cost £180 to buy, plus whatever the body shop charges for fitting it (can't do this myself)

[SIZE=4][B]23 Romeo Tango[/B][/SIZE] studied Panamerica grilles before swapping his own. He recommends Bentleygrills​

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-ML-W166-GLE-2015-ONWARDS-AMG-GT-PANAMERICANA-GRILLE-GRILL-BLACK-CHROME/333817197022

 

[Slartibartfast]

[SIZE=4][B]23 Romeo Tango[/B][/SIZE] studied Panamerica grilles before swapping his own. He recommends Bentleygrills​

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-ML-W166-GLE-2015-ONWARDS-AMG-GT-PANAMERICANA-GRILLE-GRILL-BLACK-CHROME/333817197022

Thanks for the link - not for my car though. This is the link to the one I was looking at (Bentleygrills also):
Panamericana grille for SL R231

 

[Petrol Pete]

Someone on here did it a while back and the new grille exposed normally unseen cheapo bracketry in the background for all to see, easily remedied I suppose.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Someone on here did it a while back and the new grille exposed normally unseen cheapo bracketry in the background for all to see, easily remedied I suppose.

There's a vid available showing a "fix" for this using black mesh:
Youtube video Panamericana grille mesh

 

[E55BOF]

I'd give you two likes for that if I could. I'd already wondered what I was going to do to protect the gubbins behind it when the existing grille's mesh had gone, and Shazam! there's the product and the answer. Thank you.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I'd give you two likes for that if I could. I'd already wondered what I was going to do to protect the gubbins behind it when the existing grille's mesh had gone, and there's the answer. Thank you.

Here's another great video showing mesh installation:
Attaching Mesh to Panamericana grille

Mesh available here:
Mesh

 

[E55BOF]

Now I know exactly what to look for, there's lots of options out there. The OE grille mesh on my CLS is plastic, and the Panamericana grille I've ordered is ABS plastic, so I may go for a plastic rather than a metal mesh.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Now I know exactly what to look for, there's lots of options out there. The OE grille mesh on my CLS is plastic, and the Panamericana grille I've ordered is ABS plastic, so I may go for a plastic rather than a metal mesh.

I'd be interested in what you do get

 

[E55BOF]

This is it:

FRONT RADIATOR GRILLE 2012 TO 2014 CLS CLASS C218 CLS350 CLS500 PANAMERICANA GT | eBay

Best Offer of £110 accepted; or I could have had an identical item, which was the only other chrome surround one I found when I was looking, from Bugaria for £178...

I don't doubt they both came from the same Chinese factory, but if the quality was poor, I wouldn't want to have to return it to Bulgaria, irrespective of the price.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

I am afraid I don't like the Panamericana grille on anything but the car that it is supposed to be on. It's right on Dave's S63 because it it supposed to be there. On others I think it looks a bit Mickey Mouse

​

 

[bolidemichael]

From the original photo I'm 49/51 leaning towards the original.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I am afraid I don't like the Panamericana grille on anything but the car that it is supposed to be on. It's right on Dave's S63 because it it supposed to be there. On others I think it looks a bit Mickey Mouse

​

On a saloon car maybe. Don't agree for an SL. All in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Yes I've seen them for sale, fortunately it's something I can do myself but it's still money wasted if I decide I don't like it once it's on. Once I'm back at work properly and earning some spare money I might take a punt.

Sell one of your SLs.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Sell one of your SLs.

...or sell the grille and get most of your money back?

 

[A.J.]

On a saloon car maybe. Don't agree for an SL. All in the eye of the beholder.

Makes it look angry Rory

 

[Slartibartfast]

Decisions, decisions

(I like them both)

 

[SmartAmg]

Decisions, decisions

(I like them both)


View attachment 111480View attachment 111481

Toss a coin Seriously though, Defo the Panamerica.