Page 1 of 2
D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:37 pm
by johnny406
Right... Yet again I am going to ask about D9 frontend on the D8...
I know the Grill will be pretty easy to fit with some modest adjustments (I hope) just like fitting a facelift grill on a MK3 Mondeo... Filing and Bolting Really.
The Headlights however, is the wiring harness the same... and are they the same shape... I could do some grinding

and then just bolt them in.... and long as they are secured, and I'd secure them so they wouldn't come off even in a crash anyways
So what exactly is stopping me guys?
I like the Rear lights on my D8 luckily

so they are not getting changed, what a silly idea that painted stripe is...
If someone like Steve_Earwig who has both a D8 and D9 would be so kind and to just unbolt one headlight from each car and try them out on each other and see what stops what etc, I would be most grateful
Thanks.
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:10 pm
by steve_earwig
Yeah, right, as if

I draw your attention to the shape of the top of the bumper and the leading edge of the bonnet. The grille on the D9 is actually taller, as well as narrower. The slam panels are quite different too (although you'll have to change this anyway when you change the bonnet as the catches are, umm, different). The wiring looks more or less the same between the cars, just the bulbs are different. Not sure about the mountings as I've never looked at them on the D9 (and hopefully never will) and the D8s are made out of araldite (you think I can afford to buy new lights just 'cos the mountings are broken?

). The wings actually do look the same shape to me (I made a template and tried it once) don't quote me on that though.
It seems a bit of a nightmare to me but I'd love to try it, if I had as much access to spares as you lot in the UK I reckon I'd have given it a go by now. It might just be as simple as bonnet, bumper and slam panel or you might need to change everything foreward of the windscreen. Just to change the grille

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:13 pm
by Welly
You've just put my reply to shame steve so I won't bother now

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:28 pm
by johnny406
Thanks....

Thanks me told.... Think I still might attempt it or some other crazy idea.... Hey how about a 4 door Ferrari Saloon Replica sprayed Champagne Gold like an E-Klasse

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:21 am
by mjb
Yeah, this is a common question - maybe we should come up with a faq thread - and the answer's always the same: it's a no-go. You need the D9s grille, lights, slam panel, bonnet, bonnet catch, bumper and wings. All in all it's going to be cheaper and easier to buy a D9...

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 12:47 pm
by eoin27
You need:
Bumper
Grille
Lights
Bonnet
You don't need:
Wings
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:17 pm
by steve_earwig
I think the only difference is where the repeaters are.
No slam panel? I know, hold the bonnet shut with some gaffer tape

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:31 pm
by mjb
If the light clusters are different shapes, how can the wings not have different shaped holes in them?
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:18 pm
by steve_earwig
But are they though?

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:37 pm
by Welly
It's a close call.
Cool picture

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:51 pm
by steve_earwig
Thanks, shame I took it in the days before I had the front springs on the D8 changed.
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:46 pm
by eoin27
a mate of mine has d9 wings on his d8
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:57 pm
by steve_earwig
Well, conclusive proof I reckon [/smug git]
Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:21 pm
by mjb
No, this

is conclusive proof...
a REAL pair of D8.5s
copied the original image to a new layer with 50% transparency, flipped, copied, cropped the copies, then moved to align the outer corners of the lights
There looks like a sliiiight difference in the upward curve, but that could be due to the angle of the photo... I'm conceding defeat on this one

Re: D9 Lights and Grill.
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:12 pm
by Welly
That, is really clever
