Mesh Grille DIY

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-12-2006, 06:40 PM

I had $20 to burn, so I bought a couple sheets of universal mesh which I made into a grille for the my 202. I'm still mixed on the results. This is more of a stepping stone to the Advantgard grille than permanent I think. anyway, here's the progression:

1. Start by removing the 8 screws holding the stock grille and frame into the bonnet. It's pretty intuitive, so I didn't shoot any pictures of it.

2.Take a piece of cardboard (i used the cardboard from the shipping to do this) and cut it into the shape of the inside of the grille frame. It should come out roughly the size of the stock grille.

3. Take the mesh (I had a 10"x36" sheet and plenty to spare widthwise) and cut it so that it's a little larger than the cardboard on every side. you'll need to use wire cutters to accomplish this, and wear gloves if your hands aren't tough and manly like mine, because the edges can be sharp.

4. Push the mesh into the grille frame, bending the excess mesh over so that it fits snug within the frame. it'll come out looking like this (I did black and silver, liked silver better)

5. I took little rubber corks bought from Lowe's for about 29Â¢ each and put holes in them so they could fit behind the stock clips on the frame (which are removed with the screws) to hold the mesh firmly in place to prevent rattling. This also isn't a very tough concept so you get no pictures (mainly because i forgot to take them).

6. I also put one over the screw at the bottom to keep it in place centrally.

I put it on to the car, remembering the whole time that the bonnet release lever was there, and that i'd have to cut a hole to route it through.

7. I cut at the very top, which is less noticeable, but I now have to have a piece of a hanger in my glove box that i use to push the lever up into the hole to be pulled every time I want to look at my motor, which isn't too often right now. It ends up looking like this:

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS JUST A DIY, NO OPINIONS ARE NECESSARY

**SLAMMED_C** · 09-12-2006, 07:08 PM

That turned out really nice dude.. thats kinda what Ive been trying to do fpr the past 8 months!!.. but Im also modifying my chrome frame too.. so thats my excuss for it taking so long!!
any thoughts of painting the grill white to match your car?

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-12-2006, 07:29 PM

the mesh itself or the frame? I figured i'd leave what's chrome, chrome. unichromatic only works for black IMO. as for the mesh, i'd thought of it, but i'm still not sure I like it enough to invest in a can of paint. I just high heat gloss black'd Paul's intake to make it match stock a little better. turned out awesome, i'll do a DIY on that as well.

**SLAMMED_C** · 09-12-2006, 07:59 PM

I meant paint the mesh white. but if your not going to keep it then I guess why bother?!
nice.. should be interesting.. hope to see pics of that intake soon!

**KenzBenz** · 09-12-2006, 11:47 PM

how do u open ur hood now?

**therock2689** · 09-13-2006, 02:46 AM

Originally posted by K_Sport Driver
[B]Iit in place centrally. I put it on to the car, remembering the whole time that the bonnet release lever was there, and that i'd have to cut a hole to route it through. I cut at the very top, which is less noticeable, but I now have to have a piece of a hanger in my glove box that i use to push the lever up into the hole to be pulled every time I want to look at my motor, which isn't too often right now.

He explained it in the post, i got ur back K_Sport

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-13-2006, 06:28 AM

haha! thanks for holding it down, Rock.

lewda · 09-13-2006, 07:36 PM

im sorry, but that looks ghetto as hell, and looks damn ricey in my own opinion.....im pretty disappointed.....

**97C28O** · 09-13-2006, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by KenzBenz
how do u open ur hood now?

And that looks ugly IMO. Doesn't quite flow with the Benz. I'd leave it stock instead of that!

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-13-2006, 08:22 PM

thus why my feelings are mixed on it. Looks a little too much like the CTS-V grille.

**Fizzle** · 09-13-2006, 08:22 PM

I HAve Been Thinking Of Doing The Same To My 280, But Wasn't Sure How It Would Look. Seeing It On Yours Has Pretty Much Convinced Me. As Well As the Fact Mine Is White Too. But I Think I'll PAint Mine White To Match, I'll Post Pics. Love It, Keep Up The Good Work.

White 202s Are The Best!!!!! Keep'em Clean!!!!!!

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-13-2006, 09:42 PM

dude, you capitalised every word in that post. crazy. I'll be up in Chicago on Friday for the Tribe Called Quest concert. great city, but their baseball teams suck ass.

**Rey99C280** · 09-14-2006, 04:36 AM

Originally posted by 97C28O
And that looks ugly IMO. Doesn't quite flow with the Benz. I'd leave it stock instead of that!

Sorry but I agree with 97C280. Remember it's a Benz. . .

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-14-2006, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by K_Sport Driver this is more of a stepping stone to the Advantgard grille than permanent I think.

remember my first post

**Abuimad** · 09-14-2006, 07:41 AM

i dont know, i like it and i hate it, try to paint it black and see how that goes man

**benz90220** · 09-14-2006, 07:48 AM

the grille is the most important part of a benz, without the "Benz style" grille it doesnt look like a Mercedes anymore, why dont u also remove the emblems and the badging, that way u could lose trace of it ever being a Mercedes

**rman** · 09-14-2006, 08:15 AM

not really my taste. you think cutting springs is ghetto, but this, you wear on your exterior? It's chicken wire for crying out loud.

**K_Sport Driver** · 09-14-2006, 08:55 AM

I already said I didn't like it. it's an experimentation, and I wrote up a DIY for people who DO like it. this was not an opinion thread. I'm puting on the intake this weekend and it's going back to stock until I get an S600 or Advantgard grille. calm down, peeps.

**94benZo** · 09-14-2006, 10:04 AM

I did that mod when I had my civic hatch 5 yrs back...

I just didn't think it look right on our benz.. I thought about putting them on the lower grills though.. that might turned out all right...
anyway, if you decide to keep it, make sure you buy a can of clear coat and spray the grill, other wise it'll be coroted in a couple of weeks and the coat will give it a nice shiny look.

**Fizzle** · 09-14-2006, 10:16 AM

Hey If You Don't Want It, The Grille, Then Bring It With You When You Come Up Here To Chicago. I'll Take It Off Your Hands, Plus It'll Save Me The Time of Fabricating One Myself.

P.S. First Letter Caps Is Just My Style.

White 202s Are the Best!!!!! Keep'em Clean!!!!!

**Dr. ///AMG** · 09-15-2006, 07:59 PM

man whoever thought this looked good on a W124 needs to be hit w/ a stick.... i mean w202.

**benzofanatic** · 09-16-2006, 12:14 AM

first i got to give you props for tryin it and doing it your self. its good to experiment with cheap DIY's and just see how things look. in my opinion for people considering this, the only mesh grill that belongs on a mercedes is a Strut Grill cuz it matches the class of the mercedes other wise stick with an avantgaurde grill for an upgrade. again not raggin on you for doin the mod, ive always been woundering how it would look after seeing a lot of 300 C with strut grills.

lewda · 09-16-2006, 11:21 AM

seeing those pics make me more and more angry that you did that to a mercedes, go buy a ford

**rman** · 09-16-2006, 12:09 PM

Originally posted by lewda
seeing those pics make me more and more angry that you did that to a mercedes, go buy a ford

i'm a huge ford fan. but i'd never use chicken wire.

**c280nz** · 09-22-2006, 04:09 PM

that is exactly the same as my grill i made which is on my car at the mo. i think they look good. although i have been on the lookout for better quality mesh mor like on the bentlys but havent found the exact type i want yet.
its different anyway!

-and i dont really care that none of you like it and what he has done and think its ricing up a mercedes,
i like the mod!

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