AndyG

I was curious as to whether a 1997 upper grill will mount up to a 1995 ES300? I like the chrome accents on the grill a bit more than the flat black look.

Thanks for any input on this.

Lexucan

I think you're probably out of luck since the shape/size of the hood changed in '97 for the first model year of the 3rd gen. ES

AndyG

Ok, in that case, no worries, a black one looks better than what's on there now, which is nothing so it looks like a mouth with no teeth just smiling away.

Lexucan

you can buy "chrome" grille kits on ebay to add a bit of chrome look to the grille, but they are just cheap strips of plastic with an adhesive tape on the back to stick over the edges of your current grille. have no idea how good it would look or how long it would last.

AndyG

heheheh yeah.. I saw those. Thanks, but I'm not sold on those looking halfway decent. I'll keep it black and stock.

AndyG

Wait, lexucan, where did you get your grill?? You have the exact same ES300 (looks wise) as mine and that look great!

Lexucan

Mine is the original OEM grille. I just took it off and had it chrome-plated. But IIRC, by 1995 Lexus had changed it from a metal grille, which is what mine is, to a plastic grille, and of course, plastic can't be plated. But check your grille, maybe it is metal, in which case, you could just remove it (there are only four nuts to loosen if I remember correctly) and take it to a local plating shop. I think mine cost about $150 to have plated.
I had considered the ebay "chrome" grille kit too, but decided no way, not putting no cheezy looking plastic strips on my Lex! LOL