pagoda grill surround wanted.

[Paul99]

My surround is badly damaged (from a previous owner) they can repair it at a cost, but might replace it.  seen a few "new" OEM ones for around £300 ish.  Anyone tried the OEMs?  Or if anyone wants to sell a non dented (rubbish chrome is fine) one please let me know!  (Just the surround, the star etc is fine.)

Many thanks

Paul.

[mdsalemi]

Paul,

An OEM means one made either by or specifically for Mercedes-Benz.  If you can get a new OEM grill surround for 300 quid, run don't walk to buy it.  From MB here in the USA last I heard they were in the vicinity of $2,200 each.

Fit is ALWAYS an issue particularly if body work has been done on the front. Be wary of stress cracks in the upper corners.

I exchanged from one vendor 4 different surrounds before we found one that fit properly.

[enochbell]

+1 on Michael's comment.  I bought an aftermarket surround and it proved to be worthless, it could not be made to fit.  I would stay away.

g

[mdsalemi]

I should add that buying one "rechromed" or repaired and rechromed might be trouble. Those who don't know what they are doing with this piece can destroy it so it won't fit--EVEN and OEM unit. Getting one re-chromed must be done by someone who takes the care it needs.

[Garry]

I also agree with Michaels comment, it took me two tries to get a aftermarket grill to fit then I gave up and had the original one fixed and re-chromed which was about twice the cost of the aftermarket ones but at least fitted correctly.

Garry

[kampala]

My grill surround and star had a little damage on the nose.  I chose to repair.  I had the repairs done by a small shop that was familiar with these very thin metal parts ... it was a metal polishing shop and did not do their own chroming.  Later I found a shop to chrome it.  I have to say, two very well known chrome shops said they could not do the repair.  It does take someone familiar with these very thin metals.  

Luckily for me it all worked out ... the back of my star was lost for awhile but was later found so all was good.  

Regarding using a REPRO.  I have understood from this forum and from a pagoda expert in Los Angeles that they never worked great in the past ... however ... I have been told by this expert that he has tried the NEW surrounds that came out about 6 months ago and he is very pleased with the results ... a word of caution ... he had the opportunity to test it out and could return it if he did not like it ... I don't know if I would chance it without being able to return it.

I also had a broken point on the star so a repair made sense since the polisher was able to rebuild the tip.  

I have included photos of my grill before repair, after repair but before chrome and a shot of it on the car after chrome (I don't have a good shot after install and I am away from the car at the moment).  I am happy with the repair.  The finished repair does not show up well in my photo but it did come out quite nice.

Best of luck ....

[stickandrudderman]

Have yours repaired and MATCHED TO YOUR CAR before you have it chromed.

[Paul99]

Thanks for the thoughts.....  My surround is VERY badly damaged - cost to REPAIR is £400 then chrome is about £100, so £500 min.  I recently bit the bullet and bought a front bumper here : 

http://mercedesrestorationparts.com

Just arrived.  Looks identical, weight is the same and chrome finish is close to perfect.  So tempted to try the surround for $600 (£400ish)   http://mercedesrestorationparts.com/100362.html I will mail them to get an assurance of fit.  Worth a try!  Also will try Ebay etc!

Why didn't I decide on an MGB !

[dpreston Virginia]

I purchased a surround from Mercedes Classic Center. It fits perfect. Club members do get a discount on the cost. I would not scrimp on the focal point of the car. Call them up and discuss the fit and cost.
If it doesn't fit you can send it back!

[Paul99]

Nice!  how much did the surround cost from the Classic Centre please?

[dpreston Virginia]

Just give Tom Hanson at the classic center he will give you the price. Members get a discount.........