Bright vs Normal Grill

[mikey k]

A dealer has suggested to me a "normal" grill looks better on a lightning silver car as it has more contrast.
I can only find cars with the optional bright finish grills on has any one got a normal one or got any pictures of one?
Google turned up nothing

[Steve*B]

I was always under the impression mikey that the 'normal' grills were the ones that suffered the milky finish after a while when left open to the elements. Someone with the normal grill would be best placed to comment but it's worth considering this potential downside if you choose it.

[Jockman]

mikey k said:

A dealer has suggested to me a "normal" grill looks better on a lightning silver car as it has more contrast.

Mikey, ask Wilmslow ?? if they can source you a black grill instead - that would be an even bigger contrast !!!

The bright grill will compliment lightning silver, just as the rear clear LEDs will. There is no need for a contrast in this area.

I think you know when you are being fobbed off

[Ed50]

Mikey,
I'll try to send you some pics tomorrow of my Lightening V12 with a standard grill,I went for the standard over
the bright finish because the darker surface looks meaner IMHO.
I've had no milkey issues at all and have been pleased with its quality and finish in general although it's crap at
dodging flies......

[SHIFTY]

I have the darker grill on my N420, but car is Carbon Black. I had to have the grill replaced as the powder coating colours were different. Replaced at a dealer but the new ones now use plastic for the vertical uprights and the powder coating is already chipped. I was starting to look for a bright finish grill as I understand that all of the 7 slot ones are now highly polished stainless steel, so no milkyness and no chipping.

[yeti]

My Chiltern green (greenish grey) car had the dull/dark finish grille - it was basically plastic coated stainless steel which I realised when it started getting stone-chipped! I thought it made the car very ordinary looking as it was a dark to medium grey.

Had it removed, chemically cleaned off and polished. Much happier now

However, with bright silver car, I see that it might be more appropriate.

[Speedraser]

I think the dark car-bright grille and light car-dark grille theory makes sense. Mine is Onyx with the bright grille, and when I was considering Tungsten, I was thinking perhaps getting the standard (darker) grille.

[alxce]

Hi Mike, I have before and after pics of mine in Titanium silver which I will email to you. Not sure they will help very much as it's difficult to tell the difference from a distance.
I will probably switch mine back to the normal grille at some stage because I agree with the comment about contrast on the silver cars. And has been mentioned many times, the bright finish one is a bit of a pain to keep clean and shiny.
Looking at the website posted in another thread that shows pics of the Vantage in all it's many colours the Titanium one has black wheels which I think look great. Add a black powder coated grill to that and you could have a stunning combination. Food for thought ?
Alan

[jonamv8]

Onyx with the bright finish as a contrast on mine.

Spend an hour cleaning it and it looks terrible pretty much immediately after.

Any tips on keeping these clean?

[yeti]

jonamv8 said:

Any tips on keeping these clean?

I wonder if a very light wax after cleaning/polishing could help? Mine just has water spots every time I look at it even if it's dry out!

[pilgrim7777]

I think most of the marks are hard water deposits, so possibly a wipe over with white vinegar should move the marks. Very good for cleaning windcreens.

[Jockman]

jonamv8 said:

Any tips on keeping these clean?

I seem to recall Rick mentioning to me something about a wipe with de-ionised water

[michael gould]

Jockman said:

jonamv8 said:

Any tips on keeping these clean?

I seem to recall Rick mentioning to me something about a wipe with de-ionised water

or you could just get your driver or man to clean it

[Neil1300R]

Or read the FAQ's!!

Big section in there on cleaning.

[peterr96]

michael gould said:

or you could just get your driver or man to clean it

Nice!

[mikey k]

Jockman - it was Wilmslow that suggested it but couldn't show and example

ed50 & alxce - pics would be great

Shifty - AFAIK all "bright" grills are polished stainless, the milky staining is the hardness left in the water after it evaporates, hence the suggestions for DI water and vinegar for cleaning. A coat of wax is a good idea as well. I've used this stuff on the wheels (works well!) and might give it a try on the grill.

http://www.shipshapenorfolkltd.co.uk/ect/proddetai...

Yeti - shame the "normal" grill chips through the powder coating exposing the stainless

The vertical bars are plastic, so I'm presuming the "normal" grill is powder coated black and shouldn't suffer from the milky hard water stains. I presume it is stainless under neath the powder coating. Powder coating will not adhere to plastic very well, it uses static to coat it prior to baking it on.
Are the later grills 6 or 7 slats?

[alxce]

[quote=mikey k]
ed50 & alxce - pics would be great

/quote]

Mike, sent them yesterday morning around 9:30, let me know if you didn't get the email.

[mikey k]

Thanks for the pics guys

So it looks like the “normal” grill is black and just polished on the front edge of each blade where as the bright finish is polished all over the blade

Decision made "normal" on a lightning silver to get the contrast

[Ed50]

Nice choice Mikey, I've seen it somewhere before....

My only question is and sorry if I've missed it what model are we talking about .

[mikey k]

Vantage S roadster in Lightning Silver with light weight seats and sport pack wheels