Hello, as far as I can tell it is a fairly common modification for people with magnas. I have a Silver TS magna and I love it, the thing I dont like about it is the plastic grille, particularly when I compare it with the other 2nd gen grilles around. What I would like to replace it with is the grille from either a verada kr or a diamante.

1stly is it as simple as unclipping/unscrewing the grilles and swapping them over? (I have noticed the diamante grille seems to be different in shape due to the lights etc (Is it?))

2ndly I have noticed that the verada kr grille has painted edges and I doubt I would find one the same colour as mine... any comments on how it would turn out if I got the whole part painted a chrome colour (bad idea I know) but i can imagine it wouldnt be easy to get the new paint to match the old paint...

3rdly can anyone recommend somewhere around brisbane I should look for these grilles or is it a matter of calling up all the local wreckers and asking about any veradas with an intact front? (Im assuming finding a diamante grille would be a tough ask)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Essentially you have a few options. I assume that you have an Executive, hence the grey plastic grille.

TR = All "Magna" models, 1991-March 1994
TS = All "Magna" models, March 1994 - March 1996

KR = All "Verada" models, 1991-March 1994
KS = All "Verada" models, March 1994 - March 1996

N.B. Veradas are the range of upper-spec Magnas, just like how a Fairmont is an up-specced Falcon.
Veradas & Magnas have the exact same bodyshell. Veradas just have larger bumpers.

All Verada's are V6. Magnas can have the 4-cylinder 2.6 Astron engine or the same V6 as the Verada.

You could go for a TR SE or TR Elite grille - these have a chrome outline all the way round it and many horizontal slats.

The KR Verada grille is a massive black item with 6 or 7 horizontal slats.

The KS Verada grille is the one with the body-coloured edges. Yes they are rare and even rarer to find one in good condition, in your colour. Bear in mind too that not all Magna colours were available on the Verada (Eg. Arctic Blue, Red [non-metallic], that medium green don't know what it's called), and the Verada range also had some special colours reserved for itself (like the dark metallic grey-blue and dark metallic green).

As an alternative, a TS SE grille is basically the same as a TS Executive grille, except that the colouring is a lighter shade of grey and it has a thin chrome strip running across the top & bottom. Hardly noticeable difference between TS Executive & TS SE grilles unless you look closely though.

The grilles just have about 8 clips that you just unhitch with a screwdriver, and pop the new grille in.

Alternatively, if you go for a Diamante grille, you will need the headlights as well. This is because the grille has a chrome strip than runs across the entire width of the car, enveloping the headlights.

FYI : Just go on to www.carsales.com.au to find examples of the various models outlined above, in case you don't know what they look like offhand.

Dimi108 did a pretty decent summary of the various Second Gen grilles you can get:

Click to Open (http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/6555/goodnightng0.jpg)

Keep in mind though that the second shot down, the 91-95 Diamante grille is not just a grille. It's a complete assembly of headlights + indicators + grille, so expect to pay a little more for it (at least $250). All the others are direct quick fit grilles, unclip the 6 or 7 tabs at the back, slide the old one off and snap the new one in.

Okay well thankyou for the correction, I was definitely thinking of the KS verada, (me likey). Hard to find you say... damn :( And the diamante ones (91-95), they would be fairly hard to fit wouldnt they?, but is it just me or does the one in that photo (2nd down), look like a bmw from that era?

If I were to find the ks verada grille, any idea how it would look completely painted (yeah yeah I know, but compare it to non matching paint) chrome so that i can try to make it look like its not supposed to match the paintwork?

Try some Jap import places around Brissy, I think the place I got mine was called Any Jap Spares on the far northside, Japanese Diamante grille (same as KS grille, not US/Euro Diamante) was $45 at the time.

Almost impossible to "paint" in chrome, any spraypaints turn out looking like ****, worse than plain silver. Best to get a paint place to colour-match your existing paint (takes into account any fading from age), and do the entire thing, or mask out the slats (a proper job will take like 2 hours to mask, trust me, I've done it) and just paint the surrounds.

Alternatively, if you are going to get the parabolic headlights, so can get an "unpainted" or stratos grey grille, and apply chrome tape to the slats. That way you get a proper chrome finish that doesn't degenerate, and the black/chrome scheme fits nicely with the paras; see my profile pic (not the best shot, but you can get the idea)


Replacing the entire front with the US/Euro Diamante grille+lights+blinkers isn't too difficult from what I've heard, it should slot right in, just need to make sure you get the entire set otherwise you are screwed. A set usually goes for $300-350+, if you can find one.

lol there is a KS grille at a wreckers near me..... I should have picked it up. probably gone now....