Tom's TDCi Titanium X...

[Toms306]

So, the anniversary present I ordered for the car was a set of gloss black honeycomb grills and fog surrounds for it, the ST bumpers are a different shape so the lower grills are specifically made in honeycomb for the non-ST and usually out of stock on ebay... Well they got stock in last week so I jumped on it...

Got excited when the box arrived...seems an odd shape for grills but ok...



Woop...



Also ordered some gel plates so I didn't have to stick the dented pressed plate on the new grill...




Now, some of you will know how delicate the bonnet lock is on Fords, why they cant just use a cable I don't know. Anyway, kept checking it at every opportunity... Tiny air intake is the same even on the proper engine ones!





Lock still working, just needed to release it from the tabs before pulling the grill...



Old grill off and lock still working!



But this is where it goes downhill...

New grill out. Hmm, badge sits a bit low, and there are scuff marks from the badge flip already. Bit annoying but tried to fit as I'd got that far...



Offer it up and it doesn't fit properly either. Manage to get it in but it sits a bit proud, push the lock into position and break the damn lock.

Photo's stopped now as I'm trying to fix it, lock inner doesn't push back as it should. Have to remove the grill again. Lock still wont go back. Remove the whole lock from the car (easier said than done with a solid boost pipe in the way). Still cant do it, put it back again. Put all my weight against it while turning the key and finally it went in...and immediately fell out again. Urgh.

In the end I had to refit the old grill, put all my weight against the lock while turning the key and it did go back in, but feels really rough. Seems to work atm but I won't be at all surprised if it fails now and leaves the bonnet stuck closed.

Also tried to remove the lower grill but the bumpers too flexible, it just bends as I'm trying to pull the clips out and somethings gonna break before it comes off. So gave up on that.

Did fit the gloss black fog surrounds though, they left the factory in faded grey for some unknown reason. Not sure if I like them without the grills as well. One of the tabs broke off them as well.






So not really sure what to do now, doubt I can return the grills, guess I'll just try to sell them to someone who is less fussy than me maybe? No idea...