Found between the headlights of your vehicle, the radiator grille is a piece of trim, usually in a mesh pattern, that covers the opening leading to the engine bay. The radiator grille is as much a piece of protective equipment as it is a cosmetic feature, and its designs are distinctive to each brand and model of vehicle (e.g., the kidney grilles of BMWs). For that reason, you might want to replace your radiator grilles if they are unable to serve their function, or are looking worse for wear. Keen to learn more about radiator grilles, how to make a good purchase, and how to install them? Keep reading on.

What Radiator Grilles Do

The primary role of the radiator grille is to allow cool air from outside the vehicle to flow into the engine bay to cool off the engine and the radiator, as well as other parts, all while keeping debris out. However, just as important is its cosmetic function—the radiator grille is a key feature of the front fascia of each vehicle, contributing to its distinctive looks. Many models of cars are distinguishable at first glance just by looking at their radiator grilles. As such, even if your radiator grille is still able to allow airflow through, it might still need replacing if you're looking to liven up your vehicle's appearance.

Radiator Grille Types

Mesh

Mesh grilles are made up of thin strips of metal or plastic interwoven with each other to allow air to pass through. They can be more stylish and luxurious than their billet counterparts.

Billet

Billet grilles are made from billet aluminium and usually feature vertically or horizontally stacked bars. These are lightweight, typically less expensive, and offer a sportier look.

Bolt Over Style

Bolt over is a fastening style of billet radiator grilles. With this style, the billet radiator grille is simply bolted on top of the original plastic grille.

Replacement Style

For the replacement style of grilles, the original radiator grille has to be first removed before it is replaced. This may require some drilling and cutting, and might be a challenging job. The replacement style of grille is the one primarily described in this article and sold by BE FORWARD Auto Parts.

Signs It's Time to Replace Your Radiator Grille

Cracks and Damage

When your vehicle travels on the road, it will pick up dirt and debris, such as rocks, that can damage your radiator grille. If the radiator has visible cracks or any signs of damage, it might allow such debris into the engine bay, possibly damaging expensive parts like the engine. What's more, damage to the grille might be a blemish to its appearance. You may want to get a replacement radiator grille in such cases.

Not Properly Aligned or Loose

A properly working grille is well-aligned, resting in the middle of the front fascia, and is not crooked. If yours is loose and/or not correctly aligned, there may be some damage that is causing such an issue. While it might not seem like that big of a problem, a misaligned grille can impair airflow and lead to less efficient cooling of the engine and other parts.

Rust

Your grille might become rusty or corroded if water has gotten under its finish. Rust is quite difficult to reverse, and so you might want to get a replacement grille.

Poor Airflow

Allowing air to flow through properly is the primary role of the radiator grille. If your car is overheating with a drop in engine performance, there might be poor airflow, which could be caused by an issue with the radiator grille. Get yours checked with an automobile professional to see if you need a replacement.

How to Choose the Right Radiator Grille

Aftermarket or OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) radiator grilles are those made by either the car brand itself or their authorized manufacturers, whereas aftermarket units are made by third-party manufacturers.

We recommend investing in OEM radiator grilles to return your vehicle to its original level of performance. Because of the more stringent levels of manufacturing, you'll likely get more use out of an OEM replacement. Not to mention, aftermarket units may void your vehicle's warranty.

Vehicle Compatibility

To guarantee a proper fit, ensure that you're getting a radiator grille specific for your vehicle, as they can differ between models and even model years. You can search for radiator grilles by your vehicle's VIN.

Installation and Considerations

The following are the installation steps to replace the original radiator grille completely.

1. Open up the hood of the vehicle and locate the grille top.
2. If the grille uses metal bolts, unscrew and remove them. If they are made of plastic, you can use a flat-head screwdriver to pop them off.
3. The grille top can then be removed to allow access to the grille below.
4. The original can then be removed and replaced by the new grille.
5. To secure the replacement grille, reverse the preceding steps.

As a caveat, in some instances, the front bumper will have to be removed, which means undoing more bolts and disconnecting the fog lights. In other cases, there might be some drilling and cutting to remove the original grille.

Where to Buy Quality New & Used Radiator Grilles

Brand-new radiator grilles can be found at various trusted auto parts dealers. For used radiator grilles in excellent condition and at great prices, shop here with BE FORWARD Auto Parts.