Ok so I figured I start my own thread.....
ive got '13 QX56...took some damaged to the front end I figured I get the whole car fixed with
- 2 tone paint job (black from the windows up, White on the bottom half)
- a chrome delete
- Painting Roof Rails (Black)
- Grille Swap to '15 QX80
- Headlight Swap to '15 QX80
-Powder coat Rims (Black)
SOoooo Here's what I would like some help with,.... id like to know whether or not the Grill swap and the Headlight swap will fit perfectly on my QX56 without any special modifications.
That's an excellent plan for a custom look, and you're right to be concerned about the fitment. The front ends of vehicles, especially during a mid-cycle refresh like the one between the 2013 QX56 and the 2015 QX80, often have subtle differences that can complicate a swap.
Based on what I know about these vehicles, here's a direct answer to your question about the grille and headlight swap:
The Grille: The 2015 QX80 grille will fit your 2013 QX56. The grille itself bolts into the same locations on the bumper and body. However, the 2015 QX80 has a slightly different front bumper design with a different fog light area and lower valence. While you can install just the grille, for a truly seamless and OEM-quality look, it's often recommended to swap the entire front bumper assembly as well. This is especially true for the blacked-out grille, which will look best with the refreshed bumper design.
The Headlights: This is where it gets a little more complicated. The 2015 QX80 headlights will not be a simple plug-and-play swap with your 2013 QX56 headlights. The shape and mounting points of the headlights themselves are different, as is the wiring harness. This would require some fabrication work to the body and a custom wiring job to get them to function properly.
The easiest and most common way to do this conversion is to get an "OEM Style Facelift Kit" that includes the front bumper, the grille, and the headlights. These kits are specifically designed to bolt onto the 2011-2013 body and include the correct wiring to make everything work without major modifications. You should consult with a professional body shop that specializes in custom work, as they will have the experience and knowledge to make this happen correctly.
For the rest of your custom plans (the two-tone paint, chrome delete, and roof rail painting), those are straightforward cosmetic modifications. The grille and headlight swap, however, is a much bigger project than it seems on the surface.
