Hi all,

I found a nice Vanden Plas grill (surround) on eBay and I was wondering if I'd be able to do a simple swap between this and the current body colored XJR grill.

Would I be able to keep the mesh inserts?

Please share your inputs and experiences.

Many thanks

 

Yes, as long as you are sure it is a x308 grill, and not the slightly different x300, everything is "plug and play".
The mesh inserts have 2 pins, and 2 screws for mounting, the chrome inserts click in.

Note the VDP grill has notches in the upper part, where normal XJ8 grills are smooth.
Not everyone's taste.

 

Thanks! Just ordered it, hoping for a relatively painless install.

I personally like the ribbed top over the smooth non Vanden Plas grill.

Thanks again for your help.

 

Oh no, can I swap my old growler onto the new grill? Or do I need to buy another?

 

looking forward to seeing your finial results ...

 

The growler was stuck on with double stick tape at the factory - It should come off fairly easily - mine did.

 

Thanks for that, saved me $30!!

 

If you remove the growler from a painted XJR grille
what is left underneath?

Clean painted surface and no holes?

 

I've gotta buy this guy a drink

I looked really closely at both VEP grills and XKR grills. XJR's are stickers and have no holes. VDP's have holes for the same aesthetic piece. Interesting how minuscule a detail can be.

Found one off eBay for $32 and ordered. Should be here next Saturday, and the grill gets here next Monday.

Many thanks

 

While on the VDP flare topic, does anyone know how difficult it would be swapping the body colored XJR trunk piece for the VDP one?

 

Very easy, 4 bolts from the inside.
But note, the VDP is shorter, so be sure your paint under the present one is ok.

 

Open the boot/trunk, remove the lining from the lid, remove the nuts/bolts that hold the moulding on.


Shut the lid and wash away x years of mud/crud etc ... wax, buff up, open lid bolt on new shinny moulding, refit linning to lid.


Shut lid buff away all the finger prints, go get a cold one and a chair, sit down and admire.

 

That'll be gin on ice please

So I'm good to go on just pulling it off the painted grill?

Debadging was the real motive for asking.

 

Did it to my XJR. However, be very careful removing the nuts. The stud to the trim is plastic and the nuts are made of sheet metal and when backing out, can cut off the stud, or you might twist off the stud. Found out the hard way, but it looks a lot better than the body color trim, that's for sure! Found mine in the junk yard for $15.