You'll have to forgive me if this is a stupid question, but is it possible to have the mesh style grill, like the one on an XKR fitted to an XK? I've always loved the look of the XKR, but mainly because of the grill. I decided against an R when I bought my XK convertible a week ago on the grounds that it would probably be a step too far. My soft top XK is to be my every day car and will clock up about 15K to 18K miles or so and I didn't think I could really justify the fact that I'd be constantly buying tires and brakes, let alone the fuel consumption. I know this because my Beemer and even my Saab went through tires and brakes like they were going out of fashion and they were not a patch on the Jag.
Although I do love the styling on my 2005 model, I just wondered if it was possible to have a mesh grill fitted and if so how much you think it would cost.
I should mention that I have the Adaptive Cruise control with the radar thingymabob mounted, would that be impacted by a change in grill?
Look forward to hearing from you. Best regards,
XK front grill
Moderators:MarkX, mike020150
Hi Pappy
I have had a December 2005 XK8 Coupe for the last three years or so
and replacing the 'rabbits teeth' with a stainless steel grill was one of the
first mods I did ... So, Yes it is possible to do.
I can't comment on your Adaptive Cruise Control sensor because my car
isn't fitted with it ... No doubt one of the more technically minded lads
will advise you on that.
I got both my upper and lower grills from 'Adamesh' and have been
pleased with the quality and appearance ... Still looking OK, even after
three years. What do you think?
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa29 ... aper15.jpg
Regards
Chris
I have had a December 2005 XK8 Coupe for the last three years or so
and replacing the 'rabbits teeth' with a stainless steel grill was one of the
first mods I did ... So, Yes it is possible to do.
I can't comment on your Adaptive Cruise Control sensor because my car
isn't fitted with it ... No doubt one of the more technically minded lads
will advise you on that.
I got both my upper and lower grills from 'Adamesh' and have been
pleased with the quality and appearance ... Still looking OK, even after
three years. What do you think?
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa29 ... aper15.jpg
Regards
Chris
-
Happypappy
- Posts:14
- Joined:Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:16 pm
Hi Chris,
Many thanks for that. I'll have a scout round and see if I can find out if it's likely to mess with the radar. I assume not as I know the XKR can have the adaptive cruise control and they have the mesh grill.
Your car looks superb and is exactly what I'm after. Spot on.
If you've had yours for three years I'm assuming by now you've found anything nasty that could have been lurking. How have you found it? I've only had mine for 11 days but for 6 of those I had to lock it away and go off to work. Heart breaking it was. However, my first decent run in it is tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to that. I've clocked up nearly 400 miles already and that has just been pootling around the lanes and roads where I live.
Many thanks for that. I'll have a scout round and see if I can find out if it's likely to mess with the radar. I assume not as I know the XKR can have the adaptive cruise control and they have the mesh grill.
Your car looks superb and is exactly what I'm after. Spot on.
If you've had yours for three years I'm assuming by now you've found anything nasty that could have been lurking. How have you found it? I've only had mine for 11 days but for 6 of those I had to lock it away and go off to work. Heart breaking it was. However, my first decent run in it is tomorrow and I'm really looking forward to that. I've clocked up nearly 400 miles already and that has just been pootling around the lanes and roads where I live.
-
Happypappy
- Posts:14
- Joined:Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:16 pm
Sorry, one more thing Chris, I've looked on Adamesh and they say full fitiing instructions, easy fitting etc. Now what they are probably not taking into account is my level of dexterity and expertise, or utter lack of it. Are we talking push/pull fit, and a couple of screws or are we talking taking off the front bumper etc etc here? I'll still probably go ahead, the difference is whether I take it to somewhere to have it done or not that was all.
Many thanks and best regards,
Keith
Many thanks and best regards,
Keith
Hi Keith
The fitting of the grills is fairly straightforward and there is no need to
remove the bumper, or any other bodywork panels. As I say, it's three
years since I did the job but as I recall it is the order you do things in that
matters.
Take the number plate and plynth off first followed by the 'rabbits teeth'
and 'chrome tranverse bar'. As I remember, there are a couple of large
plastic rivets that hold the teeth in place and I just slid a chisel under the
head and cut through them.
Once you've got everything out put the lower grills in first, followed by
the plynth and number plate and the top grill last. That was the order
in which I did it and I suppose it took me two or three hours fiddling about
getting everything 'just right' ... But that's me !! Believe me, I'm no
mechanic, but it really was a job that I felt quite confident in doing myself,
and you do tend to take that extra bit of care on your own car.
Besides, if you try and aren't successful then you can get someone else
in to do the job ... Go on ... Give it a go !!
Hope this helps ...
Regards
Chris
The fitting of the grills is fairly straightforward and there is no need to
remove the bumper, or any other bodywork panels. As I say, it's three
years since I did the job but as I recall it is the order you do things in that
matters.
Take the number plate and plynth off first followed by the 'rabbits teeth'
and 'chrome tranverse bar'. As I remember, there are a couple of large
plastic rivets that hold the teeth in place and I just slid a chisel under the
head and cut through them.
Once you've got everything out put the lower grills in first, followed by
the plynth and number plate and the top grill last. That was the order
in which I did it and I suppose it took me two or three hours fiddling about
getting everything 'just right' ... But that's me !! Believe me, I'm no
mechanic, but it really was a job that I felt quite confident in doing myself,
and you do tend to take that extra bit of care on your own car.
Besides, if you try and aren't successful then you can get someone else
in to do the job ... Go on ... Give it a go !!
Hope this helps ...
Regards
Chris
-
Happypappy
- Posts:14
- Joined:Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:16 pm
Hi Happypappy ,
Welcome to the club and forum , must admit you got me going with the mesh grill especially when Chris came on with photo's of his , then I realised you don't have an XK you have XK8 , the designation "XK" is given to the newer shaped version
, I can vouch for Chris' grill looking great in the flesh , he's done a great job ,
This is my 98 XK8 last year in Lincolnshire
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... omp004.jpg
This is my baby and me enjoying a few laps of Silerstone recently
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... res002.jpg
And this shot shows the upgraded rear end so far with chrome plinth , spoiler , jewel lamps and quads
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... O008-1.jpg
Best Wishes ,
Nik
PS I would be interested in buying your old rabbits teeth and chrome splitter when you fit your new mesh grill
Welcome to the club and forum , must admit you got me going with the mesh grill especially when Chris came on with photo's of his , then I realised you don't have an XK you have XK8 , the designation "XK" is given to the newer shaped version
, I can vouch for Chris' grill looking great in the flesh , he's done a great job ,This is my 98 XK8 last year in Lincolnshire
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... omp004.jpg
This is my baby and me enjoying a few laps of Silerstone recently
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... res002.jpg
And this shot shows the upgraded rear end so far with chrome plinth , spoiler , jewel lamps and quads
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/ ... O008-1.jpg
Best Wishes ,
Nik
PS I would be interested in buying your old rabbits teeth and chrome splitter when you fit your new mesh grill
Antigua Blue XK8 Coupe.....1998.75 MY.....Reg No ..N1XKO
-
Happypappy
- Posts:14
- Joined:Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:16 pm
Hi Nik,
No problem. When I stump up some more lolly to have the mesh grill I'll let you know. Of course I did mean an XK8, it was me being a lazy typist.
Nice photos. Mine's only been on the quiet Lincolnshire roads since I've had her but tomorrow she starts to earn her keep and will wizz me down to a client in the South in grand stayle. I've never looked forward to driving to work as much in my life.
I worked out that for the last few hundred miles I'm hitting 22 MPG which is about 20p per mile, but what a bargain quite frankly. No doubt when/if I eventually calm down I'll be able to improve on that, but who would want to until you really have to?
Take care all. If the government gets their way we'll all be driving around at 20 MPH anyway, so fuel consumption won't be such an issue. However, if they do I'll be doing my 20 MPH in 4.2 litres of style that's for sure. As William Wallace would say if he were here now, "They can take away our lives. But they will never take away our cars".
No problem. When I stump up some more lolly to have the mesh grill I'll let you know. Of course I did mean an XK8, it was me being a lazy typist.
Nice photos. Mine's only been on the quiet Lincolnshire roads since I've had her but tomorrow she starts to earn her keep and will wizz me down to a client in the South in grand stayle. I've never looked forward to driving to work as much in my life.
I worked out that for the last few hundred miles I'm hitting 22 MPG which is about 20p per mile, but what a bargain quite frankly. No doubt when/if I eventually calm down I'll be able to improve on that, but who would want to until you really have to?
Take care all. If the government gets their way we'll all be driving around at 20 MPH anyway, so fuel consumption won't be such an issue. However, if they do I'll be doing my 20 MPH in 4.2 litres of style that's for sure. As William Wallace would say if he were here now, "They can take away our lives. But they will never take away our cars".
Hi Happypappy ,
My daughter lives in Bournemouth and I have made the trip down in my "8" many times , I arrive almost as fresh as when I left , seldom stop and average 29-30 mpg if I set a goodly speed on the cruise control , 8's are generally quite economical when cruising at 80-90 for long periods (KPH of course 
) , normally takes me around 4 hours door to door , have a great trip
Quite correct Michael , but I actually want a splitter , it's a bit like the difference between lights and lamps / bulbs and lamps/bonnets and hoods etc , what a strange language english is when a fat chance and a slim chance mean the same 
,
Best Wishes ,
Nik
My daughter lives in Bournemouth and I have made the trip down in my "8" many times , I arrive almost as fresh as when I left , seldom stop and average 29-30 mpg if I set a goodly speed on the cruise control , 8's are generally quite economical when cruising at 80-90 for long periods (KPH of course
) , normally takes me around 4 hours door to door , have a great trip Quite correct Michael
, but I actually want a splitter , it's a bit like the difference between lights and lamps / bulbs and lamps/bonnets and hoods etc , what a strange language english is when a fat chance and a slim chance mean the same ,Best Wishes ,
Nik
Antigua Blue XK8 Coupe.....1998.75 MY.....Reg No ..N1XKO
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