Chrome-effect gill inserts for just £2.30
The standard gill inserts are painted black. This looks fine on light-coloured cars but as the picture below shows, they 'fade' into the background on darker colours. Chrome inserts are available as part of the chrome exterior pack, but with the right paint, an almost equivalent effect can be achieved at a very low cost.

The first step is to remove the entire gill unit. This is held on by five plastic compression clips and one cross-head screw. The hardest compression clip to remove is the one next to the bonnet (US=hood) hinge, so practice first with a long-nose pair of pliers on one of the others. Remove the screw last to avoid the unit accidentally falling on the ground.

The black gill insert is one continuous piece of mesh, sandwiched between the outer gill plastic and a black inner support. Unhook the inner support from the eight securing tabs.

You can then spray the inner mesh. On the advice of Stallion I used Auto K Lack Spray from Peter Kwasny Limited. Hardware stores such as B&Q sell other paints that may be suitable.

Reassemble the gills, but before refitting, splay the legs of the plastic compression clips with a screwdriver. Refit and check that each compression clip is securely held.

And then stand back to admire the finished effect.

The total time (including taking the photographs) was about forty minutes.

Tim Cullis, August 1999 Link to another gill article on MZ3.net

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