Upgrade on plastic grill mesh insert?

kvc · #1 06-10-2016, 10:30 PM

In the past few months, I've managed to get two large holes in one of my upper mesh grills, both from Marri tree gum nuts. The culprit 'gum nuts' are about golf-ball in size and about as solid. Parrots sit in these trees, that overhang the highways in my region. After they peck the inside of the nut for the seeds, they simply drop them. If you happen to be driving past as this occurs, you can end up with a nice bullet shaped star in your windscreen, dent in the bodywork or in my case, several holes in the plastic mesh grill. If you are following another vehicle as they drive through the carpet of gumnuts, they tend to get flicked up too, resulting in large bangs and dents or worse.
Not only has this put a couple of holes in my grill, but also nice dents to the radiator core. Thankfully, no leaks.
Wondering if anyone has attempted to replace the plastic mesh grill inserts with something a little more robust, like steel or aluminium (with a 'how to' thread) or has come across a seller that offers something like this?

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admranger · #2 06-11-2016, 12:49 AM

The best stuff is stainless steel mesh like the guys at RaceMesh have. However, they don't make it for our X5s and it is silly expensive (upper grills they make and they want $399 for those! I can't imagine what you'd have to give for it with your import duty taxes... That being said, I have the same situation w/2 holes in my upper grills. Thinking about just buying some of the SS mesh and doing a DIY, folding some SS sheet material over the edges (or something like that) to make a nice fit.

Good luck on your search.

g300d · #3 06-11-2016, 05:44 AM

IIRC these grills have tabs, the bumpers have slots, and you pretty much slot it into place.

I remember flexing the grills to put them in.

But a rigid stainless grill I am fairly confident can be done, maybe even via OE mounting system.

wpoll · #4 06-11-2016, 06:50 AM

I have the same issue (but caused by birds in my case - SBJs) and have a sheet of black expanded alloy mesh in the workshop awaiting inspiration.

I'm going to look at how best to do this when I get some weather warm enough to pull the front bumper with destroying the clips.... Probably in the spring.

willy_manily · #5 06-11-2016, 07:46 AM

I'd like to know how to fix mine also! I have a two cracks in the lower mesh and it annoys me daily!

g300d · #6 06-11-2016, 08:46 PM

Wpoll, have you looked into using silver instead of black? I think the titanium colored grills look neat and really liven up the front end.

Willy, if they are just cracked and not missing portions yet, you can fix that up easy with any strong epoxy. I would maybe glue some steel wire behind the cracked portion for additional support. Bumper cover will probably have to come off for that though.

wpoll · #7 06-12-2016, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g300d

Wpoll, have you looked into using silver instead of black? I think the titanium colored grills look neat and really liven up the front end.

Nice idea but as the replacement mesh isn't going to line up as cleanly as the OEM mesh (each "diamond" fits exactly to the edge) I think it may be better to hide the change rather than highlight it!

I broke another small piece of mesh off today while washing the car - dang!

One thought I had about fixing it is to remove the old clip on grill inserts and cut off the old mesh part with a dremel - leaving the clip-on frames. Then add new alloy expanded mesh to the OEM clip-on frames. Viola!

Not sure how to attach the mesh yet...

g300d · #8 06-12-2016, 05:03 AM

Gotcha, good points, and good idea on using the OE frame!

omodos · #9 06-12-2016, 05:09 AM

appreciate anyone who fixes theirs with a custom fix to add a diy with pics, mine is cracked too and have managed to slot in a plastic sheet paper thin that I predrilled holes in, slotted it in between the broken mesh and the bumper, this covers the massive hole and looks okish but on the other side where i had a smaller hole I put in a round rubber grommet....whole thing is functionsal but looks tatty...darn bmw these bits of plastic are as fragile and brittle as crap....worse still in the removal...just havent plucked up the courage to do

admranger · #10 06-12-2016, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpoll

Nice idea but as the replacement mesh isn't going to line up as cleanly as the OEM mesh (each "diamond" fits exactly to the edge) I think it may be better to hide the change rather than highlight it!

I broke another small piece of mesh off today while washing the car - dang!

One thought I had about fixing it is to remove the old clip on grill inserts and cut off the old mesh part with a dremel - leaving the clip-on frames. Then add new alloy expanded mesh to the OEM clip-on frames. Viola!

Not sure how to attach the mesh yet...

could you just roll the mess over the edge in a few spots and then it would be a friction fit with the bumper/grill interface? I suppose some epoxy may also work, if it works w/plastic and metal (rough the surfaces up to give some teeth for the adhesive to adhere to).

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