Hi all,

I recently traded in my 2000 XKR for a 2008 XKR. its a lovely car but the quality of the radiator grille and lower grille on the new car is horrible and in my opinion really lets the whole car down.

My old XKR had nice real wire mesh, the new car's grilles are very cheap in comparison, and look it. They're basically just a cheap plastic diamond-shaped mesh with chrome on the front edge.

The 2010 onwards cars have a somewhat nicer grille. Its pretty much identical plastic grille but it has a sort of ripple in it so from a distance at least it looks slightly more like wire. It might be my imagination, or an effect of the ripple, but the chrome on the 2010+ grilles seem to look significantly brighter too.

The dealer says a 2010+ front and lower front grille would together run around $1400 just for the parts. Its a lot of money, and even then it would still be a plastic grille, so I'm hesitant about that solution for the small visual improvement.

I am considering replacing my grilles with actual wire ones (aftermarket as apparently Jag don't make any). But I'm afraid a wire grill could interfere with the adaptive cruise as a wire mesh is basically a Faraday cage (highly effective blocker of electromagnetic signals). In fact I'm wondering if this is why they switched to plastic in the first place.

That said, the old-shape XKRs (2006 and earlier) had real wire grilles and also had an adaptive cruise option. I'm guessing the radar module was behind the grille as there's really nowhere else for it to go. For some reason pre-2006 XKRs with adaptive cruise are really rare so I don't know for sure, but I believe they kept the wire grille.

Can anybody help with actual knowledge/experience about the compatibility of real wire grilles and adaptive cruise, and/or how this was dealt with in pre-2006 XKRs (assuming its even an issue)?


Thanks,
JustNiz

 

JustNiz: Jaguar does offer real chrome mesh grill inserts. I ordered them thru the parts department and put them in my '08 XK and they look great. I have dynamic cruise control and have not had a problem with it. You can see photos of my car in the Garage area (listed as XK-GRR).

 

I installed a wire mesh lower grill on my Super V8 and it did not effect the adaptive cruise control. I later removed the grill though because I just didn't like it on that car.

 

Do you happen to have the part number? My car is at the dealers right now so it would be great if I could just phone him with it and have it added.
As of this morning, he still believes Jag don't make real wire grilles for new-shape (2007+) XK's/R's at all.

Thanks!


PS> Just noticed this morning that the front edges of the 2010+ plastic grilles are chromed (shiny), 2007/8's are basically silver paint. Thats why the newer ones look better/brighter.

 

Add-on question if I may
Is the 2007 grill the only year with the horizontal bars coming off both side of the grill emblem?

I've had "snide" references to Jag using early Ford Taurus front ends...

Thanks
Vince

 

I've thought that myself.

 

+1

 

Is that a "Yes" or "No"

 

A quick look on cars.com at all the photos of XKs for sale seems to confirm its only on 2007.

 

Dang,

Not knowing Jag history, I was hoping it might have been a "retro" thing.

Now all I'll see is the Ford branding till I swap it out... grrrrrr

Peace
Vince

 

Just got the new grilles fitted today.

Before: (sorry its blurry.. didnt notice until too late) but you've all seen a stock grille anyway. In my opinion the pre-2010 grilles (such as on my car) are particularly cheap-looking.


After:


It really makes the car look a whole lot better now. The pictures don't really do the difference justice.

The dealer assured me it wont be an issue but I've yet to test if the adaptive cruise radar still works as well now it has a metal mesh infront of it, rather than plastic.

For others thinking about this: Main grille part number: C2P17354 Lower Grille: C2P9190
Cost $251 + $189 through my local jag dealer but I found too late you can get them significantly cheaper by googling your interweb.

I also had just the badge mount chromed to match the grille wire as it comes with a dull finish. The badge+mount is easily removeable (just 2 bolts) if you prefer the plain grille look.

Neil.

 

I don't know about the 08, but in the 10, the adaptive cruise emitter/sensor box sits in the bumper above the grill and fires through the painted portion - therefore no grill interference.

 

Cool! I guess you must be right about 08 too as I have since tested the adaptive cruise and it still works fine.

 

I have a 2007, and also like the look of the newer mesh grills. I was wondering how involved the replacement process was. I have time, and a fair assortment of basic hand tools, but I've never taken a body panel off. Do I need a lift to get under the car ? Is there perhaps a "Step by Step" posted for this, that I have not seen?
Thanks !

 

Yes, the '07 winged Jaguar Growler looks like a Ford Taurus.

 

The grilles do come with some crappy instructions. No text, only a few vague diagrams.
I had the dealer do it. I know they had to take the nose section off. I don't know how hard (or easy) that is.

 

What did the dealer service department charge you for labor?

 

2 hours, as I recall.

 

For those interested. Just ordered these from Nalley Jag. C2P17354 Lower Bright Mesh Grille $213.35 & C2P9190 Upper Bright Mesh Grille $160.65 These prices include the 15% Jag Forum Member Discount + free shipping via UPS in the Continental US.