Grille Color?

[OU1954]

Can anyone tell me the grille colors for the 500SL if there are more than one?

I would like to repair or replace my 98 SL500 grille and in the parts list there are two items:

129 880 03 85 (W/Silver Arrow Edition)
and
129 880 02 85 (W/O Silver Arrow Edition)

I have some indication that the Silver Arrow Edition was for model year 2002 only, the last year for that model, and that the grill would be chrome, as is my 98 model.

The grilles listed in eBay are all version 02 85 and they look black in the photos.

There are a lot of "enhancement kits" on eBay which are simply paste on chrome strips to change the grille from black to chrome, which makes me think that black should have been standard on my car.

I thought I liked the chrome, but perhaps black makes sense.

Any comments appreciated.

DAW :confused:

[ALUEB]

One thing I can tell you. The 99 -00 C 280's had color coded grilles, matching the body. except in white, red and silver cars, the grille's were black, I recently saw a very preety dark green C280 and the grille slat's wer painted brown However this is the only one I have seen without a black grille. I did check the sales brochure as there is a picture of this green color on a C Class and the brown was the correct color.

I had my 99 C280 grille's frame painted the color (brilliant silver) of the car, came out good, and gave the car a more fluid look in the front. I was actually sorry I didn't have the grille slat's painted silver also.

As far as the black silver slat's on eBay. I have seen these grille slates. Plastic is a very versatile material. It is called black chrome paint. It comes from the tuner set. A lot of accessories for the tuner cars have the "black chrome" especially the JDM. duplicolor sells the color in a spray on. So that being said someone might have taken a MB grille or a aftermarket and sprayed it the black chrome. If done correctly it is attractive. On a silver car, it would be a nice touch. I am not sure but I think it is a two step process. Like that speckle clear coat duplicolor has in a can. This is also an interesting look, It is clearcoat with either gold, silver specks and other colors, in the cleacoat and it is not meant to paint a entire car, but say the bumpers front and back, rocker panels etc, Anything made of plasic. IKt is supposed to contain flex agents so it doesn't crack.

I just brought Duplicolor trim paint. It adheres to rubber, plastic etc. You need an adhesion promotor, As most trim is either rubber of plastic and flexible, and adhesion promotor is more a flex agent. I am going to use black on some of the trim on my 450 SLC. As I am finding out that forwever black and even griot' black trim restorer's do wear off. Even thou they are supposed to be "long lasting, that horrid white is coming thru on some pieces. Forever Black seems to last longer then the Griot's. the duplicolor is one of those guaranteed for the life of the car things. Saw it demo'd on SPEED TV a few weeks ago.

Personal I am a chrome freak and that's one reason I love the 450SKC chrome and stainless, all over the car, God those were the days, my friend I thought they never end, but they did.

When the grille frame was out for painting I tried some chrome tape on the slats of the grille, and before I mounted it I had my son hold it up behind. Not a good look on a Silver C280. so I took it off and wash the remaining glue off with alcohol. Black grille slats are best , on silver car.