A pair of black kidney grilles arrived during the week as a result of an eBay transaction, so today I chose to clean the car and fit them. I’m not really a fan of large lumps of chrome on the front of an otherwise discreet vehicle, and as such the tractor has sported black kidney grilles for a couple of years:

Not everyone’s cup of tea I know, but I prefer it. Still, back to the M5, which was still covered in grime and roadkill from its Cornish adventure of a fortnight ago.

After a wash it was grille fitting time. I’ve heard people complain about black grilles, saying that it looks as if there’s a bit of the car missing. Well, here’s what it looks like when there actually is a bit of the car missing!

And this is what it looks like when there’s a black grille in situ. Also, a good comparison with the standard affair.

There’s clearly a difference! However, I can see the argument, and the way that the grilles come apart gave me an idea. I’m trying to avoid the great slab of chrome effect of the originals, but I quite like the front of the slats being chrome. As the grilles come apart into two pieces I made up a grille consisting of black outer but chrome inner – shown below compared to a full black unit.

I really liked that effect! Shows there’s something there, but a bit more stealthy. I therefore converted the other side:

I’m really happy with that effect. So, facelift complete and stealth grilles fitted, here’s a couple of obligatory ‘side-lights on’ shots of the car – I think it’s really smart!

Now this leaves only one question: to debadge, or not to debadge. Hmm!