[aerobod]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Whatever grille there is should be easily removable.

You mean like this?

https://autofrontmask.com/collection...2020?maker=BMW

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by soflacarguy

I appreciate RockCrusher sharing your experiences and providing some reassurances.

I will say, however, while the likelihood of the vehicle taking serious damage from debris or rocks impacting and damaging these parts are in our favor - this open rectangular area will still vacuum and collect a smorgasboard of leaves, pebbles, etc.

I think iirc it was the Carwow reviewer who really got down there and showed us how much junk his test car collected. That on its own will drive my OCD crazy.

The air intake areas can collect trash. With the radiator fans running these cars are just vaccums sucking up trash.

First encountered this with my 2002 Boxster. Then with my 996 Turbo. For the Boxster I had to remove the front bumper cover and even unbolt and gently swing the A/C condenser out away from the radiator to clean out the trash.

Later when I had the car in the tech would blow out the trash from the back side. And they did this for my Turbo, too.

[DSTR]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Whatever grille there is should be easily removable.

Correct. Those areas are easily cleaned of road debris and foliage refuse.

[KevM2]

So I just took delivery of my g87 and I notice it came with a sort of a plastic “mesh” or grille that sits right on flush on top of the front facing radiators. Based on pictures posted, I’ve noticed some come with this plastic mesh and other don’t- not sure why such a discrepancy from factory. Now whether or not this mesh is much effective in preventing road debris from puncturing holes is another question but at least it’s better than nothing from factory.

[CFO]

Originally Posted by KevM2

So I just took delivery of my g87 and I notice it came with a sort of a plastic “mesh” or grille that sits right on flush on top of the front facing radiators. Based on pictures posted, I’ve noticed some come with this plastic mesh and other don’t- not sure why such a discrepancy from factory. Now whether or not this mesh is much effective in preventing road debris from puncturing holes is another question but at least it’s better than nothing from factory.

Thanks for the info. Can you please take a pic of this mesh?

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by CFO

Thanks for the info. Can you please take a pic of this mesh?

I droppped it off for ppf this morning but will take a pic as soon as i get a chance. For now, here’s a picture of a car from a post on this forum and I’ve magnified and tried to mark the outline of the mesh’s grids with the white lines, otherwise it’s very hard to see it. (But all those black lines in front of the radiator is a plastic grille)

[JustinHEMI]

Originally Posted by CFO

Thanks for the info. Can you please take a pic of this mesh?

Here you go, just behind the bird.




You can see it a little better behind this bird.

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by JustinHEMI

Here you go, just behind the bird.




You can see it a little better behind this bird.

Yep can see the mesh really clearly. So it’s a puzzle as to why not all of them come with this from factory

[JustinHEMI]

Originally Posted by KevM2

Yep can see the mesh really clearly. So it’s a puzzle as to why not all of them come with this from factory

I agree it is a puzzle. I think early speculation was that manuals come with it and autos do not, but I'm not sure we actually ever corroborated that. If that was shown to be true, that still wouldn't make sense.

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by JustinHEMI

I agree it is a puzzle. I think early speculation was that manuals come with it and autos do not, but I'm not sure we actually ever corroborated that. If that was shown to be true, that still wouldn't make sense.

That’s what I was noticing as well and thought maybe had something to do with that big radar in front in autos and which would maybe reduce air flow so that they decided not to add the mesh which would further reduce air flow …. But then I noticed pictures of some manual cars also missing this mesh so I have no idea

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by M2siast

What makes you say some cars don’t come with it from factory?

Im basing it on picture posted online from people who just take delivery… I doubt anyone would be taking these off if present

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by M2siast

I’m just thinking that because no one is taking pictures of their radiators (like Justin had to because of the birds) are you certain to have been able to assess they did NOT have the guards based on shared pictures?

That’s a good point. I was almost certain I had seen good quality pictures where they were missing but I’m trying to find them now and having trouble…. Could it be that early on some were missing and now they’ve been putting them on every one?

[Larryatl]

My manual has the plastic protectors in all 3 areas.

[T_U_D]

Just wanted to drop this here.

[Reesnat]

Originally Posted by T_U_D

Just wanted to drop this here.

Only Manuals have the protection in all three places. Automatics have the transmission cooler in front that they for some ridiculous reason thought required no protection.

[Ravenseal]

I can confirm my (manual transmission) car has the plastic protector on the three front facing heat exchangers, but not the one that sits horizontally/downward. That one actually already has a couple of small impact marks, which I did not expect. I wonder why they didn’t put a plastic protector on it?

[KC87ZB]

Originally Posted by M2siast

Likely because it's very unlikely something can come with enough velocity to pierce it sitting in that angle.
The ones that are vertical can get a piercing rock coming straight at them.

I don’t think that mesh cover will stop a rock at the right angle/velocity. It will limit fin damage with light object impacts.

The oil cooler (horizontal) mount fins are tightly spaced and seem less prone to light impact damage but time will tell.

I never thought I’d have to pull out the shop vac and suck debris out of the grill before I wash the car, but hey, it is what it is.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by KC87ZB

I never thought I’d have to pull out the shop vac and suck debris out of the grill before I wash the car, but hey, it is what it is.

At least you can get a vac in there!

[M2PDX]

Originally Posted by aerobod

You mean like this?

https://autofrontmask.com/collection...2020?maker=BMW

Or this!

Easy on, easy off. Takes 5 minutes max.

https://www.novistretch.com/collections/mustang

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by DSTR

Thats a decent solution and worthwhile until something else is developed. Ordering that now.

A kind thank you for providing that link. My car is transiting to Germany. I will not take it out until that is put on at the dealer during presale preparation. Its more important than paint film in my opinion.

Just an update on that product I posted the link for. I wanted to make sure it didn’t slow down airflow significantly before installing it so I just tested its restriction to air flow using a blow drier and measuring the air flow speed with an anemometer. To my disappointment, without this grille, the air flow speed topped at 40km/h (with the particular hair drier I used) and with the grille, only 30 km/h. Now you can imagine at higher speeds that a car normally drives, this restriction might become even more significant.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by KevM2

Just an update on that product I posted the link for. I wanted to make sure it didn’t slow down airflow significantly before installing it so I just tested its restriction to air flow using a blow drier and measuring the air flow speed with an anemometer. To my disappointment, without this grille, the air flow speed topped at 40km/h (with the particular hair drier I used) and with the grille, only 30 km/h. Now you can imagine at higher speeds that a car normally drives, this restriction might become even more significant.

There's a web site with a chart of the various screen types which provides numbers based on wire size and mesh opening how much the air flow is restricted. My recollection is any screen that would catch the litter would really restrict air flow.

And for a new car to add that restrictive of a screen if God forbid the engine developed any issue the chances are any warranty claim would be denied is very high.

Might mention when I cleaned my Boxster radiator ducts out there was leaf/plant litter sure, bugs, wrappers, but lots of much smaller stuff like sand and dirt. The presence of this smaller stuff would require physically cleaning/removal as it would get through any screen.

[KevM2]

Originally Posted by RockCrusher

There's a web site with a chart of the various screen types which provides numbers based on wire size and mesh opening how much the air flow is restricted. My recollection is any screen that would catch the litter would really restrict air flow.

And for a new car to add that restrictive of a screen if God forbid the engine developed any issue the chances are any warranty claim would be denied is very high.

Might mention when I cleaned my Boxster radiator ducts out there was leaf/plant litter sure, bugs, wrappers, but lots of much smaller stuff like sand and dirt. The presence of this smaller stuff would require physically cleaning/removal as it would get through any screen.

If I install this grille/mesh, it would be only to prevent some/most of the potential damages from bigger debris. The air restriction I measured has made me second guess doing this. Whether or this measured air restriction translates to decreased cooling is another matter. I might do some IAT measurements before and after install to see if there are any differences.