Hey,

Just recently joined the forums, I've got a '05 Series 1 ES Limited Edt 380, in silver.
I'm looking to replace the front grille with a VRX or GT one. If anyone could point me in the right direction, that would be appreciated!

Also, there is a slight blemish in the paint on the bonnet, just wondering how other users have touched this up?

In terms of the air intake, i wanted to replace the entire air box with an aftermarket air intake.
Any other owners done this? Is it do-able without problems?

Any help is appreciated,
Cheers.

Hey,

Just recently joined the forums, I've got a '05 Series 1 ES Limited Edt 380, in silver.
I'm looking to replace the front grille with a VRX or GT one. If anyone could point me in the right direction, that would be appreciated!

The only way to do this is to replace the entire front bar, as both the upper and lower grill inserts are different. Complete and undamaged second hand GT or VRX front bars are hard to come by (let alone in your colour)and cost plenty, and new ones cost even more!

Also, there is a slight blemish in the paint on the bonnet, just wondering how other users have touched this up?

Go to your local dealer and buy a 'touch up' pack. About $25 IIRC. Comprises a small jar of paint, another small jar of thinner, some little pieces of fine grade sandpaper and a little brush. I've used it for repairing small stone chips and scratches and it works a treat. Don't stint on the thinner, you'll need to use plenty to get a smooth finish. Word of warning - don't use the sandpaper unless you have a really bad paint defect or blemish, it's nowhere near fine enough. Your paint colour code is on your VIN plate in the engine bay.

In terms of the air intake, i wanted to replace the entire air box with an aftermarket air intake.
Any other owners done this? Is it do-able without problems?

If you mean removing the airbox completely and replacing it with a CAI/pod set up, I'd recommend against doing this.
A decent CAI/pod set up is not cheap and there are issues with excess heat if you mount the pod in the engine bay.
Just as effective and much cheaper simply to get the 90mm US Galant intake snorkel (plenty of threads & posts about it on these forums), and to cut the end off the lower intake resonator. Or if you don't mind some loud induction noise, just remove the lower resonator altogether. It's a free mod and relatively easy. Again, plenty of threads & posts about this mod on these forums.

Any help is appreciated,
Cheers.

See rid bits above, hope this helps.

KJ.

Welcome to the forums. Another Limited Edition finally! Me too. Although base model I haven't (nor want to) changed anything externally, but have done all the "cheap mods", being: US Galant intake (bigger than ours), K&N air panel filter (some will say better, others will not), straight-through muffler (better than standard one), and of course rims and lowering (not part of the cheap mods, but makes the car look better).
Anyway, heaps of threads here to help you out. Check the Encyclopedia thread, lots of useful stuff in there.

See rid bits above, hope this helps.

KJ.

Hey,

thanks a lot for such a detailed response :D

In terms of the grille, i was more interested in just replacing the top grille, as i realise the GT & VRX have completely different front lips.
I've been able to easily remove the top grille, and just want to be able to insert a GT grille there, if that makes sense? ha
And cheers for the info on the paint & air intake, I'll be sure to check out those alternatives.

Hey,

thanks a lot for such a detailed response :D

In terms of the grille, i was more interested in just replacing the top grille, as i realise the GT & VRX have completely different front lips.
I've been able to easily remove the top grille, and just want to be able to insert a GT grille there, if that makes sense? ha
And cheers for the info on the paint & air intake, I'll be sure to check out those alternatives.

Still won't work with top grill only, it's a different shape.

KJ.

if you want i can meet up and have a look with you sometime. have a series one GT.
yeah the touch up kits are great especially if only little spots. doesnt work as well on the electro blue or molten red(which i have) as they are three layer paints (there may be more colours like this, they are the only ones the guy at the shop told me about._

Still won't work with top grill only, it's a different shape.

KJ.

Ah, that's a pity.
There was a grille listed on ebay which was from a VRX, and the dude said it could be installed into any 380?
i'm guessing he's wrong then..

Also, would you be able to post a link of the proper/easiest way to remove the lower intake resonator?

thanks.

Welcome to the forums. Another Limited Edition finally! Me too. Although base model I haven't (nor want to) changed anything externally, but have done all the "cheap mods", being: US Galant intake (bigger than ours), K&N air panel filter (some will say better, others will not), straight-through muffler (better than standard one), and of course rims and lowering (not part of the cheap mods, but makes the car look better).
Anyway, heaps of threads here to help you out. Check the Encyclopedia thread, lots of useful stuff in there.

Thanks.
Yeah it seems a lot of 380 owners have done those cheaper mods.
I was sure that the grilles were identical in shape... oh well!

Ah, that's a pity.
There was a grille listed on ebay which was from a VRX, and the dude said it could be installed into any 380?
i'm guessing he's wrong then..

Also, would you be able to post a link of the proper/easiest way to remove the lower intake resonator?

thanks.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65965

it is in the PS41 thread

Cheers man,
So just to be sure; there's no different 380 grille that i can fit to the ES?

I dont think so but check it out with stormie at a meet to be sure

if it dont work maybe you could mod one up like the 2nd genners do

i did the air intake and filter mod yesterday, and i was wondering is there a 'wrong' way to install the filter? my original filter seemed to be in the back of the housing, where as the new K&N one sort of clipped onto the front of the house almost like it was facing the other way .. is that normal? :) first time doing anything like this so i figure i may aswell check - sorry if its a dumb question :D

i did the air intake and filter mod yesterday, and i was wondering is there a 'wrong' way to install the filter? my original filter seemed to be in the back of the housing, where as the new K&N one sort of clipped onto the front of the house almost like it was facing the other way .. is that normal? :) first time doing anything like this so i figure i may aswell check - sorry if its a dumb question :D

If you're talking about the K&N filter then there is only one way it will go in such that the airbox closes up properly, because it has three 'square' corners and one 'rounded' corner. And yes, it does seem to go in the front of the airbox compared to the stock paper filter. So you've probably got it in the right way around.

KJ.

thanks :) it wasn't until i'd put it all back together that i thought about it properly .. and it was like 42 yesterday when i did it :) - my only day off and it arrived yesterday -