N16 DCi-R
- Thread starter edk
- Start date
A few pics showing the process. A journey that took over 14 months to complete! The idea started before I had even bought the car and I was playing with photoshops to see how I could improve the looks as I was never keen on the kidney grille on the N16. After a while I stumble across the N16 in other countries:
In Australia, Thailand and Malaysia the N16s look like this (or there abouts).
Found an aftermarket open mouth grille for it. Same fittings to the chassis as with my UKDM N16.
Photoshop fun finally ends with finding the grille and makes for a simple change rather than a fully custom bumper which featured in many earlier photoshops.
Found a place to buy one in Australia! It arrives
Importing the bonnet was looking to be expensive so I looked into getting the bonnet cut and shaped as per the Aus bonnets...also very pricey. Struck gold when I found one on Ebay, AND painted in my colour...I still dont know what it was doing in this country as it doesnt fit any cars here...
And so the work begins after getting hold of a second bumper from a scrppy for £8...
Huge thanks to stufagti on this as he had a large hand in it's construction. We make a great team!
Dodgy DIY work
Something that was played with in early photoshops that I decided to go ahead with:
Due to some alignment issues because of flex and what not it was decided that we should blend the grille with the bumper and figured it would look better blended and lined up correctly, rather than seperate and not quite right.
...and so how it was before it was sent off to be painted
With it first fitted on the car at the bodyshop
Later the OEM mesh/grille from the lower part of the bumper was cut to fit and the center section used for behind the new grille up top.
In Australia, Thailand and Malaysia the N16s look like this (or there abouts).
Found an aftermarket open mouth grille for it. Same fittings to the chassis as with my UKDM N16.
Photoshop fun finally ends with finding the grille and makes for a simple change rather than a fully custom bumper which featured in many earlier photoshops.
Found a place to buy one in Australia! It arrives
Importing the bonnet was looking to be expensive so I looked into getting the bonnet cut and shaped as per the Aus bonnets...also very pricey. Struck gold when I found one on Ebay, AND painted in my colour...I still dont know what it was doing in this country as it doesnt fit any cars here...
And so the work begins after getting hold of a second bumper from a scrppy for £8
...Huge thanks to stufagti on this as he had a large hand in it's construction. We make a great team!
Dodgy DIY work
Something that was played with in early photoshops that I decided to go ahead with:
Due to some alignment issues because of flex and what not it was decided that we should blend the grille with the bumper and figured it would look better blended and lined up correctly, rather than seperate and not quite right.
...and so how it was before it was sent off to be painted
With it first fitted on the car at the bodyshop
Later the OEM mesh/grille from the lower part of the bumper was cut to fit and the center section used for behind the new grille up top.
Both...
I'm going to buy more lower OE mesh and have it to fit on when not on show, then remove it for things like JAE and meets
Behind it they'll be a nice big after-market intercooler which I'm fitting soon.
Its looking good mate, I may even look into doing a similar conversion on my front end in the future. Definitely going to be good getting both our cars together at Fast and Modified for some photos, I've just got another mod added to mine tonight and will have a couple more by the time we get upto Scotland hopefully.
Mick
Mick
Im tempted to send you a couple of sneaky pics, but I think I'll make ya wait lol
Mick
what about us! update needed mick....
Got to say I'm totally loving everyone's reactions like this
N16's for the w...oh wait a minute
Deserter!
I bought a p1 bumper to test out on and I'm afraid just as much work is needed as most of that area of the OE bumper/grille needs to be cut out the same as the p2 :/
Mick off the top of my head:
Grille from www.xracing.com.au - £120 delivered
Bonnet from Ebay - £70 delivered
OE bumper from scrappy - £15 delivered
Bumper painting by Panelcraft - £120
Estimated £50 on tools and materials including:
3 pots of filler
Fibre glass tissue, resin, hardener, spatulars
Sanding tools like different grades of paper, block, sponges
Aluminium mesh
Plastic trunking from B&Q
Borrowed Stu's dremmel and mouse power sander (ESSENTIAL!)
I also used L shape plastic bits cut off from where the bumper surports the upper grille, and cut offs from the p1 bumper I had. Any strong L shapes will do though.
I don't think I left anything out. Comes to £375. Spent over a period of a year