View Poll Results: How do you feel about the Factory Grill
It chips to much and makes my car look bad
67
43.51%
It isn't perfect but it's not too bad
71
46.10%
I don't care
16
10.39%
Voters: 154. You may not vote on this poll
OEM Grille Chipping, Replacement option
#31
Originally Posted by 559MostWanted
yea i dont mind rock chips...i had my civic for 7 years driving streets and Highways and it wasnt too bad. I do drive far back from other vehicles. hopefully everything will be good. The way I read the posts here it seems like its not the rocks faults but more like cheap paint?
#33
#34
#35
#37
I'm going to purchase a replacement from Jason in the spring. No sense thrashing up a new one in the middle of winter. In addition to snow tires maybe I will end up swapping in my winter grille as well. :-)
My local dealer simply stated it was rock chips and would not replace. I noticed chips on an '08 loaner I had in November so it seems problem is not fully resolved.
My local dealer simply stated it was rock chips and would not replace. I noticed chips on an '08 loaner I had in November so it seems problem is not fully resolved.
#40
#43
I don't know guys. I had ine replaced I think in January last year. It looked like I was coming from the war zone. Since that I put 18k miles in the car and find only 1 tiny chip on it. I never changed my driving habit or nothing. So it must be the grill. Before there were 100's of them in 2 months.
Just an advise if you go and ask for a replacment. Take the guy out and ask if he knows anything about chrome plating. Yes or know he should know the chrome plating is more durable then the paint. That should be your starting point. No matter if it is on plastic or metal.
Then ask him to check if a little area and count how many tiny chips he can find. Then just ask him if he can find a same amont or more on the paint around the grill.
That's what I did. I went there with no appointment. Asked them if they can help me. They were asking if those are chipping from road dirt. I told them the same if that's the case I should have my paint chipped also around the grill. He walked out there was only 1 little chipping on the paint and 100's of them on the grill. He said ok lets go in and order a new one.
Since that I am happy.
I hope it works out good for you guys. I thought first maybe the replacement will chip too. But it wasn't the case for me. It is perfect. I am a happy camper.
TG
Just an advise if you go and ask for a replacment. Take the guy out and ask if he knows anything about chrome plating. Yes or know he should know the chrome plating is more durable then the paint. That should be your starting point. No matter if it is on plastic or metal.
Then ask him to check if a little area and count how many tiny chips he can find. Then just ask him if he can find a same amont or more on the paint around the grill.
That's what I did. I went there with no appointment. Asked them if they can help me. They were asking if those are chipping from road dirt. I told them the same if that's the case I should have my paint chipped also around the grill. He walked out there was only 1 little chipping on the paint and 100's of them on the grill. He said ok lets go in and order a new one.
Since that I am happy.
I hope it works out good for you guys. I thought first maybe the replacement will chip too. But it wasn't the case for me. It is perfect. I am a happy camper.
TG
#44
Originally Posted by ABQ_G35
Well, let me tell you this, if anyone thinks the older cars had better paint, forget it! My first new car, a '68 Mustang, had paint chips all over the front end, at the scoops on the sides and anything else that faced forward, I had that car 4 years, and had the lower valence below the front bumper repainted after 3 years it looked so bad, I probably repainted the black grille at least 3 times, wish they had the clear back then. Having owned 2 previous Infiniti's, the '04 only had the mask on the hood, and living in NM, we get a lot of sand blowing here and you wind up driving right into it sometimes, I think this paint holds up very well given that. You also have to remember, the cars of today hug the road a lot lower than the old cars. The newer paints are so much better than those "classic" paints. Just my .02. Rock hits paint, paint chips, regardless of how tough the paint may seem!
Haven't had the same robustness with paint on my G. No way, no how.
#45
Originally Posted by XR400R
I have to disagree with that completetly based on my experience with cars (which goes back to 1968). My '95 F-150 has good, old solvent-based acrylic paint & a slug from a .38 wouldn't chip that paint. No hood chips at all. I once got hit by the discarded carcass of an 18-wheeler recap. It dented the heck out of the front of the hood, but didn't break the paint!
Haven't had the same robustness with paint on my G. No way, no how.
Haven't had the same robustness with paint on my G. No way, no how.