The two posts in the XK8 grille have always bothered me aesthetically...how easy or hard is it to swap the 'bucktooth' grille, as I call it, for the simple mesh grille?

Am I correct that the 'bucktooth' grille is for early XK8s, while the solid mesh grille is for XKRs?

I think I saw a mesh grille for $800 or so new, but I'm sure they can be found for cheaper on the parts market. Is it easy to get one out of a parts car and easy to substitute one for the other?

Has anyone done the swap?

 

The Mesh Grills are for the XKR. My 2003 XKR has the "buck tooth" and mesh. I really don't know when they moved to the flat grill.

Anyway, the grills are readily available aftermarket (Mina, Adamash, etc...). I understand you need to drop the bumper to do the swap. However, that's reportedly pretty simple (a few bolts and clips).

There are a few threads on this process, so search is your friend.

 

My wife's 2006 Victory Edition XK8 was built during the last month of XK8/XKR production (May 2005) and also has the "bucktooth" grill (I call it the catfish grill because it looks more like a catfish mouth to me). I think the mesh grill looks better, but my wife has always been happy with her catfish grill which means there is no need for me to spend cosmetic money on the car to replace her grill....

 

I actually like the two overriders and 3 grill sections that mine has, here's a random XKR off the interwebz with it:



It's not like they're Mercedes diving boards (I'm looking at you USA bumper R107 SLs) on any of the X100s .

I'm guessing that's the easiest swap. You might find them easier or from a member that wanted to go to the 1 piece later grill.

 

I wonder if the non-"buck teeth"/flat are all aftermarket or euro-only?

 

Yes all flat grills are aftermarket.

The car in the photo 80srule posted is a stock XKR grill which I think looks the best on the XK8/R.

 

I don't think that any of the OEM mesh grills are truly "flat", more like convex.

I wonder where they got their inspiration...


I got my flat stainless one from Adamesh.
I like the slightly forward lean it has when recessed a bit deeper along the bottom too.

 

Good idea, rothwell. For those of you who want to make the change to mesh, find a big-enough kitchen strainer and just bolt it on....

 

rothwell, I like that look...a little more recessed...more like my E-type.

I'm also sure the overriders are very convenient for mounting the front license plate.

Thanks for your help, all!

 

Only looks good on the facelifted 04-06 years, unless it's the 3-piece xkr one. You don't want to change the buck-tooth for the catfish..

 

I installed the Adamesh convex grille on my 04 XK8: hand woven convex mesh grill | jaguar xk8 mesh grill | jaguar xkr convex grille

It does not require removal of the entire bumper and was fairly easily installed in an afternoon. I don't find it to be too bulbous either. I don't think I have any closeups but here are a few recent shots of the car: https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...3/#post1642104

Try to ignore the unsightly front license plate, which I am still trying to decide what to do with...