[theastronaut]

The shine may not even last a couple years if it's not sealed or maintained with metal polish, depending on the climate where you're at. Aluminum dulls out fairly quickly if it isn't sealed. You could use a metal polish like Wenol or Autosol every couple months to keep it in tip-top shape, or clear coat it. I'm not sure how well clear would stick to bare metal though, and if there is any future damage it would have to be stripped before the aluminum could be buffed out again. There is a company called Zoops that makes a sealant for polished aluminum that keeps it from oxidizing, and would allow the grill to more easily be repaired in the future if needed.