I was parked next to an X-Type today and noticed a difference when examining from the front. In that big elongated oval opening under the front bumper there is a horizontal plastic piece that runs almost the whole length of the opening. On mine, it was silver (same color of the car - and cracked slightly on one end, which I never noticed:() - on the other it was not painted (the other X was red). What does that mean?

I am planning on ripping it out and putting a mesh gril in that area anyway.

BTW - Since someone stole mine and I am looking for a replacement - I was thinking of stealing his hood leeper emblem[sm=icon_rofl.gif], but didin't.

BTW - the sporty red on X-Types looks friggin awesome[sm=icon_rock.gif].

On your painted piece, it just means that the painter was getting creative....black looks better though...but i hear ya on replacing it with the stainless mesh. I did mine and it was a BITCH! But looks good in the end