Black lower front grill on 328

I assume you're talking about the one with the horse emblem clamped to it -- there's a lower lower front grille that comes black anodized from the factory.

I'd check the instructions on some paint stripper products and see which work non-abrasively, and also if they're recommended for metal. As far as I know, the aluminum is a natural brushed finish, so there's no underlying finish to worry about. Unfortunately paint stripper is the most toxic stuff known to man, so wear gloves, etc.

You might check with Daniel at Ricambi America (sponsor here), also T. Rutlands, if you decide to replace it.

You'll also have to let us know how you like the car and the dealer -- I've heard some mixed things about Don Leasing.
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Jon,

Your 328 looks more gorgeous with each picture you post!

Barry

mforni......If you're near Ferrari of Central Florida, stop in and show it to them. Let the pros handle your grill. I've seen this type of restoration done at their sister facility here in New Jersey. You'll never know it was ever painted. And I hope it was just painted and not powder-coated.

 

Thx, but ... that's not mine (notice the mirrors!) Just happened to be the best pic I had handy with a straight-on front view. My car below...

Good point about the powder-coating, although if someone butchered a 328 by blacking out the grille I'd guess they did it on the cheap.
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OK. I see that now, Jon. Right, let's hope he's talking about the "lower lower" front grill and not the lower front grill, in which case.............

Don't do anything yet, mforni!

 

when i got my 328, the boss asked "are you gonna paint the grill"?
i said no, if the bullfighter says no, then no means no. why is no
so hard to elucidate?

 

Way to throw my weight around.

 

From his description it sounds like he's referring to the lower-lower front grill... the one just above the spoiler. In that case leave it alone unless it needs re-anodizing..

 

what part of no, is not understood here?

 

oh but, removing the buttress wing does reduce drag and gives the car a higher top speed.
also the red on black kit is so de reguiere...

 

Here is what mine looks like
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I see its a Euro 328 .. maybe they came with black grills.

 

mforni, that's the upper front grille, the one with the horse, and it's not supposed to be black, though yours is not the first one that I've seen that way.

The lower front grille, the one inside the fiberglass spoiler, is supposed to be black. Mine isn't, because it's missing! In fact, it has been since I bought the car four years ago. Aside from the presence of the mounting tabs it's supposed to attach to, the absence is not really noticeable.

 

Nope the Euro cars had the aluminium finish, see below:


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Looks like someone tried to make the front of your 328 look like a Testarossa. Doesn't look too bad actually.

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+1

And frankly it looks much better in natural aluminum. I'd put it back, pronto.

 

I agree. But for originality's sake, you can restore the original finish. Another thing I've seen done, with 550s and 575s, is polishing away the black paint on the frontal aspects of the grill slats. This yields a very elegant effect.

 

Yep the grill is suppose to be aluminium color... if it is painted may I suggest removing it & soaking it in a tub of MEK?.. I just finished removing-cleaning- and powder coating the 'vent' for the AC condenser (right side wheel well on USA model). I first cleaned the undercoating off with MEK... I also cleaned the paint from the mounting hardware (washers-screws etc..) & MEK does a great & easy job of it. Only draw backs are it's toxic, flammable, & you need to do it outside for ventilation & wear heavy duty gloves.. Oh yea it evaporates fast too... Try this first it should clean up rather easily. MEK is about $20.00 a gallon

Good luck,
Mike

 

Appalling. You will be blessed on your next trip to the Vatican if you can put this right.

 

Jon,

Did you have the amber front turn signal lenses on your car polished or is there some protective film on them in the photo? They look super smooth. The one cosmetic difference that I actually kind of prefer on the U.S. version of the 328 is the full length amber signal lenses. Makes the front seem a little less broken up and a little wider somehow.

I think the blacked-out grille is a legitimate/decent looking mod. Really makes the horsey stand out and makes the front end look ever so slightly more modern (not that it's needed or that everyone would want that). Certainly having the bare metal grille on your car looks classy because of the black body color. Black grille on a black 328 would not look kool (unless you had the radiator painted Candy Apple red ;-)

 

Max, one more thing...MEK will dissolve plastics. If you can use a metal tub, or I used a heavy duty concrete mixing tub that I got at home depot. It is black, about 6 inches deep, 18" wide & and about 2' long. The plastic is heavy duty enought to stand up to the MEK, look for it in the bagged concrete area. It was cheap about $4.00, and it's still in good shape to use on other 'projects'.

Mike

 

They were smooth when I bought the car (used). No film over the plastic lenses. Botox injections, maybe.

 

i don't know, i rattle canned my lower, lower, lower front spoiler and you can't tell it from original. i guess i'll be the first one to scold you for having the ppi after you bought it.

 

When I got my 328 it had a black grill as well. I liked the look, but wanted to bring it back to the original. If I didn't like it I figured that I could always go back to black. I am not going back, though. I think it looks 10x better with the original color.

Here is a link to the stuff I used. I used the "Phase 1 Paste" product and it worked great. Get the small size.

http://www.starten.com