DIY: Grille Removal

[MikeYo]

Tools needed:

8mm socket
10mm socket
Socket wrench
Flathead screwdriver

Guide:

Red - Flathead screwdriver
Blue - 10mm socket
Yellow - 8mm socket
Green - pinch and push out
White - push out


Front end



First remove all clips circled in red with flathead (6 total), also remove all 10mm bolts circled in blue (10 total).



clips circled in red upclose



FYI: There are two 10mm bolts that are covered by rubber, pull back rubber and remove bolts

Left side (looking head on)



Right side (looking head on)



At this point you should be able to lift the cover up like this... dont lift it too much as it is still attached by 7 pinch and push clips (circled in green) and 2 push clips (circled in white)




Lift enough to reach in and undo the 7 pinch and push clips (circled in green) and the 2 push clips (circled in white)



Once all clips are removed it should lift up like this...



Removing this 10mm bolt and turning the reservoir away makes its easier to remove the plastic piece




wiggle this plastic piece out as it is now free... looks like this..



Top view



Now reach in and loosen the 5 8mm bolts (circled in yellow)





Next pinch and push 4 clips from the inside of the grille, top and bottom X2 (circled in green)



once completed it should look like this...



In total when removed you should have:

6 clips (circled in red)
10 10mm bolts (circled in blue)
5 8mm nuts (circled in yellow)

To put everything back together do the whole process in reverse...

Good luck!

[MikeYo]

repainted my grille gloss black instead of ultra flat black in picture #1.





and the last one just because i love looking at my car!

[terrycs]

Nice DIY! Sticky please!

[07 G35S Sedan]

You are the man, Awesome write up!!!!

Could you elaborate on the process related to sanding, priming and painting?

What brand / color paint did you use?

Also just need to find time and better weather before I do this mod.

[g35_6gear]

Soooooo much room for an intercooler.

[treacherous]

Nice! Thanks! I plan to swap out and install a new OEM grille in a few weeks.

[SVLRx]

save pics and sticky?

[MikeYo]

I used Dupli color ultra gloss black and dupli color color match clear coat. 4 layers of black and 8 coats of clear.

[georgesa]

07SilverG,

Very nice DIY.

When I attempted to do this before, there were 2 screws that blocked me from lifting the piece (pic #6). I even removed the white reservoir (pic #9). I've attached a pic of which screws I'm talking about.

I cracked my cover, so I gave up. How did you past these? Just by wiggling the cover?

[MikeYo]

Originally Posted by georgesa

07SilverG,

Very nice DIY.

When I attempted to do this before, there were 2 screws that blocked me from lifting the piece (pic #6). I even removed the white reservoir (pic #9). I've attached a pic of which screws I'm talking about.

I cracked my cover, so I gave up. How did you past these? Just by wiggling the cover?

you must take out the left screw from the white resorviorand loosen the other, then turn it about 50 - 60 degrees away making a pretty big gap and making it easy to get the plastic piece by

[gary c]

Great DYI post, that's just one of the advantages of belonging to Driver....


KNOWLEDGE

[treacherous]

I decided to go ahead and swap in my new OEM grille this morning.

Not sure if this is because I have an X but I only had to remove 7 (10mm) bolts to remove the top cover. I also removed the 2 (10mm) holding the coolant recovery tank in. It just made it a lot easier to get my hand in there since there are a couple pins that hold cover in place that you have to pull rearward to remove that end of the cover.

In addition the nuts that held my grill in place were 10mm instead of 8mm.

I would also have some narrow needle nose pliers handy to release the clips. This makes that process fairly easy. I just used the flat nose screwdriver to release the clips holding the hood release cable in place.

All in all pretty easy and only took me 15-30 minutes.

[VenomGx]

great job on the grille and DIY!! plan to do mine once it gets warmer.

[07 G35S Sedan]

Originally Posted by 07SilverG

I used Dupli color ultra gloss black and dupli color color match clear coat. 4 layers of black and 8 coats of clear.

Thanks for the info related to the paint and number of coats. Although can you speak about the sanding process to eliminate the chrome. Did you start off with a course sand paper and work your way to a fine paper? Did prime it and / or color sand it?

[MikeYo]

i only used 400 grit sandpaper to sand it down until all the chrome was off and it became white, if you start to get to deep it starts to turn black. stop sanding that area of that occurs. it takes a little effort because of the angles you have to get into towards the sides. i sanded it by hand and couldnt see how it could have been done nicely with a power tool. i sprayed one coat of dupli color primer, layed down 4 layers of glass black and 8 layers of clear, let it dry for 2 hours and reinstalled.