My X-Type was feeling a little neglected for the last 6 months since I got the XJR, so I thought I'd show her some love by getting her a new face. She had a mesh grill, the kind that you make yourself by cutting away the vertical vanes and adding the mesh inserts in their place. It was reasonably well done, but had a tiny crack at the top ever since I got it.

I always liked the 2008-style grill, so my girlfriend bought it for me as a birthday present (she's awesome too!) After a hand wash and a black wax, I put it on today.

Here she is with the old grill before the change:







The new one came from Mina Gallery, and it took two weeks to get here, but they did a nice job fabricating and painting it. (I think they're a sponsor, so I won't get in trouble for plugging them, right?) Pricey though - $420 for the combo upper (painted) and lower.

It's made of fiberglass, and feels more substantial than the plastic original. The mesh they used is a bit tighter than the old mesh. Putting it in was a breeze - 4 bolts, 5 minutes. I'm going to have a go at putting in the lower tomorrow (that looks a bit trickier.)

And her she is with the new grill:








I like it so much I think I may do the same for the XJR.
After all, Christmas is coming, and I've been a very bad boy!

I'd love to get her painted too - there's crackling on the hood, and 11 years worth of minor scratches and wear all over her.
Anyone know what I might expect to pay in the NYC metro area for a good full-body paint job in the same ebony color?
(I've never had a car painted, so I have no idea whether that might be $1,000 or $5,000)

 

good job, looking nice.

Yes Mina are a sponsor here, hope you got your forum member discount?

Thanks for sharing

 

Well I lived in Chicago and depending on who does it you could pay anything from 1500 to upwards of 4500 depending on how much work they have to do and if its a part off paint job or spray as is. Your staying with the same paint , make sure they use jaguar paint and not some paint that looks close to it. For a pint of paint for mine it was 168 bucks from the factory. The local paint guy said he can make it for 75.. He did and the paint was not even close. Thank god it was not my money being spent. He ordered the right stuff the second time and even after 10 years you could not tell the different between what was new paint and what was 10 years old..

 

Looks very sharp. I've been considering doing the same to mine. Does anyone make the same 2008 style grill with a more open mesh? I believe I've seen one mentioned, but I'm not even sure what to search for.

Thanks

 

I have the cracking on the hood, too! My finish, otherwise, is great! May I suggest that you go for the chrome mirror covers. They are genuine Jaguar parts and easy to install and they are not "caps." But the real deal! I have the mesh as well. I got the one where you do not have to gut the gills/bars in the existing grill. She looks good! (I think that mine is a boy!) Thanks for sharing and for posting.

 

So far I only have the bottom grill with mesh on mine :-(

 

Where do you get the mesh to do the grill mod yourself? I'd like to upgrade to Meat bag's original modded grill.

Btw, the Mina grill looks really nice but $420 is far north of what I'm willing to pay