Pics of my Billet Grille

[jfanaselle]

Well I finally got my digital camera back so I figured I'd post some pics of my grille. My car's a little dirty and the sun was harsh this morning, so they didn't come out too great. Before anyone starts asking about how easy the installation was or how much it cost; I didn't install or buy the grille. It was already on the car when I got it new from the dealership. They wanted $699 for it, which I certainly wasn't going to pay, but this was the only car on the lot that was equipped the way I wanted it (Black Hatchback SL without convience package) so the guy gave me the grille for $100 or else I was going to go buy one at a different dealership. The grille gets alot of comments, and I like it because alot of people aren't too familar with Versas anyway, but after seeing my car from the front, they usually have no idea what kind of car it is.

[Clipsed]

I personally don't like it, it makes the front end look nasty, but to each their own.

[lain]

If you like it thats all that matters...but personally..i wouldnt.

[KimberKenobi]

I'm not going to say I hate it... I just like things to be even and I don't think there's enough silver on the rest of the V to carry it through.

I know a few people on here have tried to make grills like that with varying degrees of success. It certainly looks quality (and not just slapped on there).

[Rockhound]

I'm not going to say I hate it... It certainly looks quality (and not just slapped on there).

I agree. I'm not sure if I could "pull that off" - but it looks very classy and nicely installed. Looks like a factory option.

There's a fine line between "to each their own" and "it makes the front end look nasty". I think we all know what's probably more appropriate.

[Neo Xian Wu]

makes it kinda look like a PT Cruiser to me for some reason. i guess maybe get some chrome wheels and call it a day *shrugs*

[TheClevelandSound]

lol...of course i love it haha.

[Clipsed]

I don't know, it just looks out of place, but man does that 2nd pic look like a scale model car lolz. I just don't really like too much chrome and billet grills only look good on some vehicles, and I don't think the Versa is one. They usually look better on trucks. You have to remember that everyone has their own opinons, and you might like it, it is your car, but not something I would do to mine, just as I enjoy my retroed HID headlights and you guys don't. To each their own, but I would have rather saved my money and spent it on a nice CF grille.

[CodeRed]

Ehh, I don't like it. Kind of makes it look like a Mauron. To each his own.

[jfanaselle]

Well I expected mixed reactions, but that's exactly why I posted the pics - so everyone can develop an opinion about if this is something they want to do or not. I was actually getting emails from people asking if they could see it because they're thinking about it but they want to know what it looks like. I'll be honest, I didn't like it at first, and if it wasn't already installed on the car, I certainly wouldn't have purchased it after the fact. But this was the only car on the lot that I wanted and they wouldn't remove the grille because they sent it off to a shop to have it installed. When the guy said he'd basically give it to me for free ($100 installed which went onto the loan of my car), I did it. Now that I've looked at it for so long, I really do like it. It's grown on me alot. I think it makes the body lines of the hood look nicer, and when the car is freshly washed, the polished metal looks awesome agains the black paint and clean headlights. The photos really don't do it alot of justice so if anyone is going to be at the micro meet in November you can check it out.

[Clipsed]

ok, if I show up in my bucket, I will tell everyone what I thought, and you can tell everyone here what a POS I drive! literally, you think I'm fuggin playing well I'm not! lolz!!! Maybe I should just hitchhike down there lolz

[CodeRed]

ok, if I show up in my bucket, I will tell everyone what I thought, and you can tell everyone here what a POS I drive! literally, you think I'm fuggin playing well I'm not! lolz!!! Maybe I should just hitchhike down there lolz

I didn't understand one word there.

[sashadeuce]

im waiting for a midget with a bunch of bling to come out of the versa rappin about rollin on 22's.

[NOreasonY]

I guess amongst all the negatives here, ill take the other side of it. i think it looks pretty good...its got a clean look to it. i think having the black car saves it. if it where red or white I'd say no. But yeah i like it. Its looks like it was installed really well.. doesnt look cheap. which is what matters. I think with some wheels with a polished lip or something it would look even better. I was thinkin about getting it and i have dark blue. after seeing this I'll def keep it in mind.

anyone a photoshop guru and wanna photoshop it on to my car?? haha

PEACe

[CodeRed]

I guess amongst all the negatives here, ill take the other side of it. i think it looks pretty good...its got a clean look to it. i think having the black car saves it. if it where red or white I'd say no. But yeah i like it. Its looks like it was installed really well.. doesnt look cheap. which is what matters. I think with some wheels with a polished lip or something it would look even better. I was thinkin about getting it and i have dark blue. after seeing this I'll def keep it in mind.

anyone a photoshop guru and wanna photoshop it on to my car?? haha

PEACe

Bulld0g is quite good in photoshop, you might want to send an email to him.

[Jemdawg]

(On the topic of grilles) where the eff can you get a decent one? Fiberglass or CF preferably.

[redversasblue]

No one likes it so you have to take it off or else the Versa Gods will smite you. I looked at my Versa for like an hour and couldn't find a Honda badge anywhere on it.

[Clipsed]

No one likes it so you have to take it off or else the Versa Gods will smite you. I looked at my Versa for like an hour and couldn't find a Honda badge anywhere on it.

[Nismo V]

Nice grill.. I would have made it black to match the car.. not into chrome.. but if your happy that's what counts

[weems84]

(On the topic of grilles) where the eff can you get a decent one? Fiberglass or CF preferably.

I actually ordered mine off of flebay. Found a CF grill the guy also has fiberglass grills as well. Doesn't sell very often so you have to keep checking. I don't know if i can give his user ID on the forum without breaking a rule so email me if you want it. Shipping is extremely slow still waiting on mine to come in.

I think jquick has the cf grill already.

[drummernamedpat]

I think it's awesome. I am a fan of the billet grills. I used to have a Nissan p/u that was dropped and I had planned on putting a billet grill on. Never got to it though.

Don't listen to all the naysayers, rock it out!

[fastlyfe]

thanks for posting the pics. I saw something like that on ebay but no pics. I for one dont like to cause attention to myself so i wouldn't do it but if you painted the grill black or gunmetal i think it may look a little better. but keep it up. all you need is black rims with a chrome lip and it will ballance out the car. chrome only in the front is over whelming but if you get the rims and maybe chrome door handles (on ebay it might match) I would just paint it. good luck on your ride

[jfanaselle]

I have actually considered painting it black, but I would want it to shine still so I should use some kind of transparent plack paint (maybe lens paint?). I'm just worried that it'll get all chipped up because I drive 150 miles a day and the paint probably won't adhere too well to the aluminum.

[Jemdawg]

You'd have to prime the surface and then spray the paint, which would likely reduce the reflectivity, but you could get the paint to match the color of the car. I think that would look just as good. You could throw a few coats of clear on top of the paint, it wont chip any more than anything else on the front end.

[jfanaselle]

How do you suggest getting paint that matches? Can I buy a spray can from Nissan directly?

[CodeRed]

How do you suggest getting paint that matches? Can I buy a spray can from Nissan directly?

You can give the color code to a auto repair shop (they usually can mix paint) and they will mix you as much as you want. Or while your there, just let them spray it professionally for you. Another method for painting it could be powder coating it, from what I hear it is stronger then paint and might hold up on those 150 mile drives.

[bulld0g]

I have actually considered painting it black, but I would want it to shine still so I should use some kind of transparent plack paint (maybe lens paint?). I'm just worried that it'll get all chipped up because I drive 150 miles a day and the paint probably won't adhere too well to the aluminum.

here is a chop for ya....to see what it would look like...

[jfanaselle]

Thanks for the chop bulld0g. It looks good but I don't know if I like it that much. I wish I could retain the shine while making it black... almost like a black chrome or something. I wonder if a plating shop would be able to plate the grille with black chrome. Powdercoating would definately hold up better than painting, but it would really lack shine at that point, unless they added metal flake to the powdercoat which might look kind of weird. What's everyone else's opinion on this? Should I leave it polished or paint it black?

[CodeRed]

Thanks for the chop bulld0g. It looks good but I don't know if I like it that much. I wish I could retain the shine while making it black... almost like a black chrome or something. I wonder if a plating shop would be able to plate the grille with black chrome. Powdercoating would definately hold up better than painting, but it would really lack shine at that point, unless they added metal flake to the powdercoat which might look kind of weird. What's everyone else's opinion on this? Should I leave it polished or paint it black?

Go find a local power coating shop, they will show you examples of thousands of colors they have. Including high gloss black (no metal flake).

[Urq]

Thanks for the chop bulld0g. It looks good but I don't know if I like it that much. I wish I could retain the shine while making it black... almost like a black chrome or something. I wonder if a plating shop would be able to plate the grille with black chrome. Powdercoating would definately hold up better than painting, but it would really lack shine at that point, unless they added metal flake to the powdercoat which might look kind of weird. What's everyone else's opinion on this? Should I leave it polished or paint it black?

black chrome is very expensive about 2 or 3 times as much as normal chrome.But I do like it better in the black color.