Custom lower grille build.

[ExMX5owner]

The grill looks great. The fog light covers will go nicely I think. Just out of curiosity, what was the driver (no pun intended) for this project? Just wanted a different look?

Thankyou sir.
My grille was completely missing when I bought the car, as were most of the factory attachment pionts. To replace it would be not ony be difficult, but quite costly. I,m retired and have the time, so I thought I would make one. The fog light covers are just an afterthought that I think will help all of it look like it is supposed to be there... .. .

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Thankyou sir.
My grille was completely missing when I bought the car, as were most of the factory attachment pionts. To replace it would be not ony be difficult, but quite costly. I,m retired and have the time, so I thought I would make one. The fog light covers are just an afterthought that I think will help all of it look like it is supposed to be there... .. .

The look seems very consistent with the look of the gills on the M roadsters....would be a great fit on those IMO.

 

[ExMX5owner]

The look seems very consistent with the look of the gills on the M roadsters....would be a great fit on those IMO.

Yes, I thought the same. I would like to make some for an M just for giggles. Sadly, No pattern to work off...

 

[IainP]

It looks fantastic.
Very factory, it’s certainly better looking than any of the aftermarket options. I’ll bet it’s better fitting too!

 

[Zephyr]

Ever considered using the parts you made as molds and make these in Carbon Fiber?
That would be awesome.

 

[IainP]

But expensive.
The mould needs to be 5-6 times the thickness of the part to be moulded, and in two sections. Carbon is 6 times the cost of ‘glass and would need a couple of layers, both sides trimmed, then bonded together and lacquered, or coated in clear epoxy. Very labour intensive.
Making them in balsa, or similar, as Shaun has done, then ‘skinning’ them in carbon would give the ‘look’. Not sure what the cost of the cheapest skinning kit is, I think in the £50 range. Again though, labour intensive, wrap in carbon, 4 coats of epoxy clear, sand it smooth, polish. It looks fantastic, but it’s not quick.

 

[Zephyr]

Vinyl wrap in 3M dinoc imitation carbon?

 

[IainP]

It looks ok’ish, but you can easily tell if difference to real carbon.
I’ve developed a bit of a Lighthouse Keeper (Tooo Faar, YouTube) obsession with the stuff, my workstation has a carbon pad


My tools have carbon tubes on them, and far too many bits of car are remade, or covered in the stuff.
This is carbon/black twaron (generic Kevlar) in the making, it’s more contrast than just carbon.

 

[ExMX5owner]

It looks fantastic.
Very factory, it’s certainly better looking than any of the aftermarket options. I’ll bet it’s better fitting too!

The grille itself is supported off the front bar from the four existing holes that usually hold the skin on, reason being is that you can take the occasional knock to the bumper without smashing the grille, since they are not connected, but seperated by about 1/4 of an inch, just two plastic straps that are sacrificial against lateral flex. the fog light grilles just screw onto the plastic infill an clips in..

 

[ExMX5owner]

Ever considered using the parts you made as molds and make these in Carbon Fiber?
That would be awesome.

I thought about it, but put it firmly in the "too hard" basket.. . I should have them finished tomorrow, I'll post em up when done..

 

[ExMX5owner]

View attachment 247735

Done.. Now I need to get the bumper painted...