Styling Panda grilles interchangeable?

[celshady]

Quick question - does anyone know if the eco grille will fit perfectly to replace the grille on my dynamic? Fittings look the same in the parts images online. Has anyone done this? I think I prefer the look

 

[DaveMcT]

Compare the main bumper parts numbers. If the same both grilles will fit. Fiat parts are very modular so it will most likely fit.

 

[rmjbn1]

Forum member testacorsa has done exactly that here.
He doesn't give much detail, so I guess it was a straight swap. He's a friendly chap so might give you more info if you ask nicely!

 

[DaveMcT]

On that point of modularity, I've got the whole front bumper from an ordinary Panda on a 100HP. It dropped straight on. I just need to get around to painting it.

 

[celshady]

On that point of modularity, I've got the whole front bumper from an ordinary Panda on a 100HP. It dropped straight on. I just need to get around to painting it.

oh awesome - I was wondering about this - does the arch edge line up OK or are you adding extensions there too?

 

[celshady]

Forum member testacorsa has done exactly that here.
He doesn't give much detail, so I guess it was a straight swap. He's a friendly chap so might give you more info if you ask nicely!

Brilliant - thank you very much for showing me that! Looks like it is a straight swap and his reasons are the same as mine. I ordered it yesterday so will just give it a go when it shows up

 

[celshady]

Clearly chose the wrong ebay seller to buy the grille from. Could have made one myself by now out of papier-mâché and frogspawn

 

[koalar]

Classed as a mod and needs to be declared. Going from black to chrome on a Mini is normally an extra £25.

 

[celshady]

So the grille arrived and went on.

I like it from 10ft away - generally I'm a fan of the 10ft rule - but close up the fit is really poor. The bonnet to grille lines are destroyed and the panel gaps are way off - left to bonnet is massive, right is tiddly. I've tried to tighten the screws using washers - there's no metal collars in the grille part - to spread the load.

Should I stand for this or return it? I'm in two minds. I think it was £20 new on ebay. Should I have gone for a genuine item, or maybe a used one instead?

The bumper has definitely taken a hit or two in the past, but the original grille's clips etc were all intact. I think this is a bad copy part personally.

What do you guys think?

(oh and this will be declared as a mod - I have wheels and springs and so forth to go on also)

 

[DaveMcT]

Assuming the new grille is parallel, you need to be sure the bumper is level - measure your bumper to bonnet gap at left and right.