Body Shop says Platinum Grill will not fit XLT :(

[Drew47000000]

So! In my never ending quest of dressing up our XLT a bit we hit a major snag this week. We contacted our local Ford Parts Dept and ordered the lower Platinum Grill insert and ordered the center and upper section off ebay used. The parts dept insured us that the part#'s showed compatibility between all trims so we took the plunge and ordered away.

After all 3 parts arrived I made an apt at a local body shop/collision center to have the parts installed. A full day later the delivered the vehicle back to me with no changes stating that the Platinum grill inserts are not compatible with the XLT. Sounded like the base/receiver that the inserts connect to was part of the problem and that the inserts were wider than the ones coming out of my XLT. Also the headlight design/shape could possibly be different affecting some of the dimensions?

This came as a complete shock. The parts dept said it would work and I also saw a picture of a seller on ebay who made the conversion some how. The seller was advertising the foglight chrome trims (which we also ordered) and if you study the picture you will see its definitely an XLT Exp. but with the Plat. grill. See Link Bellow.

I guess I'll return the grill inserts and chalk it up as a no go but If anyone has any ideas/suggestions before I ship them back i'm all ears.

Thanks for listening!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-Fro...Lv5PairwiseWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985

 

[armoredsaint]

please don't install cheap Chinese junk on your nice expedition

 

[Drew47000000]

please don't install cheap Chinese junk on your nice expedition

someone on this forum recommended them. They looked decent but if not its only $30.

 

[carymccarr]

please don't install cheap Chinese junk on your nice expedition

That nice expedition already has lots of foreign (including Chinese) parts.

 

[3tonsoffun]

Parts departments don’t know their ass from their elbow. Mine once also told me that I couldn’t put the chrome window strip that goes down the side of 2016 ELs rear windows onto my wife’s Limited bc their system said its “not compatible” with limited models

 

[Dice Roll]

There used to be something called Hollander interchange guide or something like that. Listed compatibility of stuff. Not sure if they are still around or if that’s the exact name. Might be of some help to you.

 

[Deadman]

Thats why I bought the better model.....I've messed with dressing up lower models and it was a hassle one way or another.

 

[brhulen]

Interesting thread here. In addition to our two Expeditions (11&97) I also have a 2015 F350 KR on which I also wanted to install the Platinum grill. The local Ford parts department also assured me it would fit and although I didn't pull the trigger on an OEM Platinum grill at over $1000 I later found out they were not in fact compatible. Suffice to say always double check!

 

[Drew47000000]

Body shop sent me more detailed parts diagrams today. There's different base assemblies which the inserts connect to. Long story short its a no go and not worth the $ it would take to complete.

Thats why I bought the better model.....I've messed with dressing up lower models and it was a hassle one way or another.

When we bought our 202A XLT it had about $10k in rebates last NOV and like $1k on Limited and above. It was about $20k difference to go to the 303a limited and we just couldnt justify that so we went for the 202A for about $48k considering its my wife's mom mobile and the kids will surely be hard on it anyway.

 

[Dice Roll]

Sounds like ford isn’t hip to guys dolling up lower trims. Walled garden on the good stuff.

 

[Deadman]

Somebody could make a killing making better front ends for these things.

 

[AKentPhoto]

Somebody could make a killing making better front ends for these things.

Lincoln offers one...

What if you painted your factory grille? What color is your truck?

 

[Drew47000000]

Lincoln offers one...

What if you painted your factory grille? What color is your truck?

Ours is Oxford White. I just like the Plat Grill but I can live with it the way it is

 

[edizzle]

Lincoln offers one...

What if you painted your factory grille? What color is your truck?

im not sold on the lincoln. i personally think the platinum expy is a much better looking front end. one of the things that drives me crazy about the lincoln is the fact they used the older style LED running lights where you can see each individual LED instead of the glowing strip like the expy and most other newer vehicles. they look like the autozone kit i see on old hondas and toyotas! I know it is knit picking but i swear once you notice it, you will think the same thing every time you see one!!!

 

[carymccarr]

im not sold on the lincoln. i personally think the platinum expy is a much better looking front end. one of the things that drives me crazy about the lincoln is the fact they used the older style LED running lights where you can see each individual LED instead of the glowing strip like the expy and most other newer vehicles. they look like the autozone kit i see on old hondas and toyotas! I know it is knit picking but i swear once you notice it, you will think the same thing every time you see one!!!

Expy looks like a bloated explorer, that’s not a bad thing if you like explorers. The Lincoln individual leds seem more of a design aesthetic...doesn’t come off cheap looking to me but I can see how someone may compare it to older rope lighting.

If you like Star Trek, the platinum is certainly for you!





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JExpedition07]

Expy is a bloated explorer, that’s not a bad thing if you like explorers. The Lincoln individual leds seem more of a design aesthetic...doesn’t come off cheap looking to me but I can see how someone may compare it to older rope lighting.

If you like Star Trek, the platinum is certainly for you!





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lincoln has a flat nose and bold grille, it looks like a truck based auto where the Expedition kind of became more tame like a crossover look. Historically the Expedition has based front fascia styling cues off the F-150 gens 1-3 per the brochures...that went away for 18+ and designers said instead of cuing off the F-150 they took the front fascia roots from the Explorer now so your sentiments about that are technically correct.

 

[AKentPhoto]

@edizzle
I'm honestly split on the Platinum vs Navi... They both are great looking front ends. There are things I like about each. I'm definitely jealous of the LED light bar cut out in the Expi bumper too.

If you are wondering why they went with individual LEDs this is why. I like how they stuck to the same theme with the fogs as well...

 

[edizzle]

you can do that, as audi, mercedes, bmw, etc. all do with the smooth linear led. i know that is a small gripe but it REALLY dates the front end to me. the ONLY other cars i see with "rope light" LEDs are old ricer cars with the kits from autozone. their is not one luxury vehicles i know of in the last 5 years that uses that style of LED. in fact Audi started the LED "brow" light fad with that old style at least 10 years ago and has long since moved on to the new linear systems.

 

[edizzle]

to be clear, i love the navigator! beautiful truck. we weighed heavily before ordering or platinum. we decided the styling of the platinum was more for us. now the interior is no contest......navi knocks em dead.

 

[carymccarr]

to be clear, i love the navigator! beautiful truck. we weighed heavily before ordering or platinum. we decided the styling of the platinum was more for us. now the interior is no contest......navi knocks em dead.

Wow. You chose an expy over a Navi because of the front LED’s. Eesh. Talk about cutting of your nose to spite the face. You’re sacrificing interior, more power, HUD...all because leds?

Glad you’re happy but...