[RotorOver]

Custom Mesh Side Grilles

Made my own set of custom side grilles. Came out pretty good!

 

[antennahead]

Looks nice!

 

[don]

Made my own set of custom side grilles. Came out pretty good!

Really nice, what sort of mesh is that? Do you have plans to do the front as well?

 

[RotorOver]

Looks nice!

Thanks!

 

[RotorOver]

Really nice, what sort of mesh is that? Do you have plans to do the front as well?

Thank you! It’s a perforated aluminum hex mesh powder coated in flat black. It’s sold for applications like this.

Yes, I’d like to do the front. The bumper cover has to come off though, so I need to set enough time aside to do it!

 

[don]

Thank you! It’s a perforated aluminum hex mesh powder coated in flat black. It’s sold for applications like this.

Yes, I’d like to do the front. The bumper cover has to come off though, so I need to set enough time aside to do it!

Ok please post a DIY when you do it. IMO, it does look a little nicer than the regular Zunsport ones. A bit finer and geometric perhaps. Is it this one?

https://www.amazon.com/CCG-Perforated-Grill-Mesh-Sheet/dp/B00F3FJYSQ

I assume with the sides you simply pop out the plastic and cut the mesh to size to sit inside?

 

[RotorOver]

Ok please post a DIY when you do it. IMO, it does look a little nicer than the regular Zunsport ones. A bit finer and geometric perhaps. Is it this one?

https://www.amazon.com/CCG-Perforated-Grill-Mesh-Sheet/dp/B00F3FJYSQ

I assume with the sides you simply pop out the plastic and cut the mesh to size to sit inside?

Also, the Zunsport side grille version goes in front of the blades, which I suppose is a matter of personal preference aesthetically. I believe that's it in silver, but got it from their website.

I don't think you can pop out the outer grill from the front, that's why I say I'd pull the bumper cover off, but I would just fit and mount them from behind without pulling the outer grille pieces out, if that makes sense.

 

[Baka1969]

Looks good.

I'd be curious of the flow rate.

 

[RotorOver]

Looks good.

I'd be curious of the flow rate.

Thanks! It's a 77% opening but they don't give flow rate info. It appears to be more open than the Zunsport version, but they don't give any specs. A couple of the wire weave styles shown on the customcargrilles.com website sit at a 60-65% opening.

 

[Francisbrewer]

Looks ?

 

[Scubaregs]

Looks good. How do the side intakes come off and how did you attach the mesh?

 

[RotorOver]

Looks good. How do the side intakes come off and how did you attach the mesh?

Thanks! The side intakes have 3 tabs on the front and rear that need to be popped off. I put some painters tape down and then wedged trim tool between the intake and the body prying each until you hear a pop. It sounds like something is breaking when you do this. Here is a link to a video on removal. The rear tabs also had to be pried out unlike what the video shows. I think after the first removal they all come out easier.

To make the grille, I cut a pattern out of cardboard based on the back side inlet of the intake and used that to trim the mesh with a quarter inch or so of overhang. I then shaped the mesh around the back side inlet leaving some overhang and trimmed any excess. The mesh can be held in place using a thin screw driver through a hole in the mesh pattern to position it while you re-install the intake back in over the top of it. You need to ensure there are no gaps between the mesh and the intake using the screw driver to reposition the mesh. You want the intake to capture the edge of the mesh all the way around. Unfortunately, it won’t just sit in place in the opening while you position the intake for re-install unlike what is described in the video.

 

[don]

Thanks! It's a 77% opening but they don't give flow rate info. It appears to be more open than the Zunsport version, but they don't give any specs. A couple of the wire weave styles shown on the customcargrilles.com website sit at a 60-65% opening.

Any chance you've done the front yet? I went out on a bit of a drive day, a couple of hundred miles and already quite a few dents in the side radiators particularly (maybe softer). :|

I need to decide whether to go Zunsport or the hex mesh which does look nice.

I wonder if the bumper removal is easy enough? You mentioned that's how you'd do the front? I think Zunsport you can do them without any removal, but your system certainly looks nice.

 

[RotorOver]

Any chance you've done the front yet? I went out on a bit of a drive day, a couple of hundred miles and already quite a few dents in the side radiators particularly (maybe softer). :|

I need to decide whether to go Zunsport or the hex mesh which does look nice.

I wonder if the bumper removal is easy enough? You mentioned that's how you'd do the front? I think Zunsport you can do them without any removal, but your system certainly looks nice.

I started playing around with removing the bumper cover, got all the fastners off and was able to pull it away an inch or so, but couldn't figure out to how to remove the headlights, then the electrical connections on both sides sit about a foot inside the bodywork. Maybe they are accessible once the headlights are out? IDK. Additionally, I couldn't see enough of the headlight washer tubing to see how it iwould be disconnected. After this attempt, I found a video that showed the headlights have fastners at the front end that need to come out, but haven't reattempted it since seeing that.

Zunsport would be way easier for the front radiators for sure, at least until someone documents the bumper cover removal. The other item to figure out with the custom mesh is a mounting method. Some sort of bracket and/or screws would probably work best.

 

[don]

I started playing around with removing the bumper cover, got all the fastners off and was able to pull it away an inch or so, but couldn't figure out to how to remove the headlights, then the electrical connections on both sides sit about a foot inside the bodywork. Maybe they are accessible once the headlights are out? IDK. Additionally, I couldn't see enough of the headlight washer tubing to see how it iwould be disconnected. After this attempt, I found a video that showed the headlights have fastners at the front end that need to come out, but haven't reattempted it since seeing that.

Zunsport would be way easier for the front radiators for sure, at least until someone documents the bumper cover removal. The other item to figure out with the custom mesh is a mounting method. Some sort of bracket and/or screws would probably work best.

Great that you had an attempt but I agree it seems a little involved to get the front bumper off.

I did watch a couple of 991 videos and they had to remove the head light to fully unclip the bumper. There was also a special Porsche tool in the tool kit to remove the headlights. I assume it is similar for the 718. I might check with my dealer to see if they do it.

But I agree Zunsport is looking easier for the front. There is literally nothing much to clip on to from the inside for the GTS, unlike the S or base which has the vanes to cable tie to and of course no center radiator. Possibly you could wedge it between the front and rear plastic pieces.

 

[GregW]

<snip>The other item to figure out with the custom mesh is a mounting method. Some sort of bracket and/or screws would probably work best.

I put mine in like this--
Cut a piece of thin card the size of the mesh.
Worked out how to put the mesh behind the grill from the front. Yes, there is a way.
Copied that with the real mesh.
Held the mesh in place with two black cable ties--invisible unless you are level with the grill.

 

[RotorOver]

Great that you had an attempt but I agree it seems a little involved to get the front bumper off.

I did watch a couple of 991 videos and they had to remove the head light to fully unclip the bumper. There was also a special Porsche tool in the tool kit to remove the headlights. I assume it is similar for the 718. I might check with my dealer to see if they do it.

But I agree Zunsport is looking easier for the front. There is literally nothing much to clip on to from the inside for the GTS, unlike the S or base which has the vanes to cable tie to and of course no center radiator. Possibly you could wedge it between the front and rear plastic pieces.

Apparently the bracket and the tool that removed it went away with the 991.2 and 982. The fastening bolt now sits at the front and below the headlight revealed when you slide the bumper cover forward.

 

[don]

Apparently the bracket and the tool that removed it went away with the 991.2 and 982. The fastening bolt now sits at the front and below the headlight revealed when you slide the bumper cover forward.

I'm not sure if I want to DIY the bumper removal.

Do you think its possible to cut a template for the hex grill and squeeze/flex it through the front into place and use the edges as tabs?

Matt at custom car grills seemed to think there is enough flex and room to get it through and you could fold the edges to make tabs.

Seems to be a bit of space to get it in looking at this photo example:

 

[RotorOver]

I'm not sure if I want to DIY the bumper removal.

Do you think its possible to cut a template for the hex grill and squeeze/flex it through the front into place and use the edges as tabs?

Matt at custom car grills seemed to think there is enough flex and room to get it through and you could fold the edges to make tabs.

Seems to be a bit of space to get it in looking at this photo example:

The GTS looks to have more room available to work with. Way tighter on the S. Maybe try what @GregW did?

 

[don]

Yes Greg used more flexible gutter mesh which worked fine and easy to get in. That is a good option.

The other issue with the GTS is that there isn't much to cable tie on to, it is more a gaping whole, unlike the S and base which has the vanes running across. Hence I think some small tabs could work and the stiffer mesh might actually work better for the GTS.