Does anyone know if a true all black OEM grill exists? I was on the chrysler parts direct website and found that they sell a black and neutral grill. The neutral grill was like 350.00 or so, but the black one was 150.00. Also the black grill was not listed to fit my car, a 2008, but was listed for a 2006 crossfire. Is the black version an actual grill? Was it what was found on the base model crossfires? If it is, I am curious because in the pictures I saw online of base cars, the grills look identical to the one on a limited. Also, why the extreme price difference?

 

don't know ,, I had mine painted black. jim
amxfiresrt6002.jpg

 

I would call them and ask them the difference. You are correct there are two different grilles listed for the later model Crossfires.
I punched in the same info for an 05 and got 1 grille and I think it was 259$
I always thought all years of the Crossfires were basically the same but I was wrong. There are subtle differences, I have no idea what they all are. One involves the glove box size from older to the newer ones. The newer Crossfires seem to have a smaller glove box due to the knee airbags. So this doesn't surprise me but the people at Chry. Parts Direct are nice and seem on top of the parts, I'd call them.
Pat

 

grilles are all the same in size...and look...if there are black ones, first I have heard of it..

 

If I remember correctly, RickZ's base car has a much darker grill than my 04. I don't have a clue as to why it would cost less. But then I never could figure out why an SRT6's bumper cost less than a NA's bumper either.
I would think a grill from all five years of production would be interchangable.

 

Me to! Plus the price advantage is significant. In any event, the lady friend ordered me a grill and I decided it would be worth it to take a chance on the black one. I'm sure I could return it if it isn't what I am expecting. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

^^^ What he said.

I work in service parts redistribution department for Nissan, and often the "discontinued" models fetch lower prices on service parts even if they are better looking or more effective. Case in point, the SRT bumper.

My guess is that the designation of "base" forced Chrysler to sell it for a lower amount because the darker color isn't OEM spec for the "higher line" of XFs.

Little does Chrysler know, we actually prefer the darker color. Pocket the savings and enjoy!

 

See what you wrote just makes to much sense! Chrysler however, doesn't do things logically. The black windshield surrounds are FAR more pricey than the silver ones--like 3-4 times the price!

Update: I did call chrysler part direct to clarify what I was hoping to get. Supposedly the grill is black and the neutral is silver--that doesn't really clear much up for me though. More importantly, the grills are on indefinite back order with 200 pending orders for grills currently. Isn't this illegal? Doesn't chrysler need to have parts for cars for up to 10 years after production of the car? This is one of the downsides to owning this car. What a mess--Chrysler+Mercedes+Karmann+Fiat+VW/Audi (who revived Karmann)= a f'ing mess!

 

I know this sounds tacky, but look on LKQ online for a salvage OEM grille. If a Crossfire was rear-ended, the grille will be in great shape. Simply remove the silver trim, hit the grille with a coat or two or Krylon fusion, and it will be good-as-new. The fusion stuff works great, as it actually bonds with the plastic. I used it on my Ranger and five years later it still looked brand new.

Just a snack for thought in case you don't like the idea of waiting...

 

That sucks! I guess they could argue that have parts available doesnt mean they have to be on hand. Just that they can get them....eventually.

I'm thinking billet grille if I have to replace mine.

 

And this is "Tacky" why?

That's where I got a perfect replacement hood for my scoop project, and in the very near future where I believe most every Crossfire owner is going to be forced to go when ever they need to replace a damaged part.

 

I said sounds tacky. I've personally used salvage yards so much, I'm known by name. I firmly believe in them. To wit, I'll be sourcing an eventual C32 brake upgrade from LKQ.

You know as well as I do though, if I simply said "hit up a junk yard" there would've been internet police telling me what a bastardization that would be for our fine auto.

Can't win on the net sometimes.

Sometimes you get great stuff from a salvage yard. Other times, the "junk yard" is aptly named. Win some, lose some.

 

4 day weekend
4 day weekend



Price is determined by what the market will bear, ie what you think it is worth. Woody

4 day weekend

 

I know for a fact that the base grill is the same as the limited.

Could what you are seeing be the lower black grilles for the right and left? Makes sense to me.....

 

JHM, I've got "family" connections with LKQ in Memphis, that's why I was razzing ya about it. It's all good.

 

Its weird. When you punch in 2008 you get two distinct grilles, does not say upper or lower. Both are priced differently. When you punch in 2005 you only get one choice. You would almost think that the 2008 listing is for upper and lower based on the price difference. I guess we will find out.
Wonder how a grill would look in carbon fiber?

 

No it wasn't the same. RickZ's "base" car had a much darker grill than either mine or Tom2112's grill. We made the comparison at Quaker Steak & Lube in SHaron PA . (Tom's home town).

It didn't look as though it had ever been repainted either.

 

I once purchased a grill at the stealership and was asked if i wanted black or silver. I opted for the "black" grill instead with the $150 price. When i received it, it was exactly the same as the one i had before, black with the silver accent stripes. All x-fires use exactly the same grill and there is no shuch thing as a "slighlty darker" grill unless it was painted.

 

First off, I never said "slightly darker". I said "MUCH darker". If the parts department guy asked you if you wanted a black or silver grill, wouldn't that mean there was more than one?
Doesn't it stand to reason that since "ALL" Base cars only come in Black (except for the Special Red Roadster model) that their grill could actually be black? Where as the Limited or SRT6 comes with the "Silver" grill.
Other than looking closely at only one Base car grill, I've never closely inspected any other grill for comparison. As I said, it did not appear to have been repainted.
The grill on my 04, is actually more of a dark grey metallic.
If a couple of a "Base" car owners would simply go out and check their grill with a flashlight to determine if they can see ANY metallic paint on the flat surfaces of the grill, the question of "Two" different grills could be settled.

 

My base model was originally equipped with the black grill with silver accents.l (the black is not painted or there is no metallic). I have seen Limited's and the grills are lighter. The 2005 oe fiche does list both grills and the black is listed with only the manual transmission, the silver is listed with both transmissions. This would also suggest that the base was equipped originally with the black grill,