robtroxel

Was at the dealer looking over the chrome bumper side grills on the hybrid and decided to get them for my non hybrid tech.

Got them ordered from Delray Acura. www.AcuraOEMParts.com.

71102-TX8-A11 GRILLE, R. FR. BUMPER SIDE (LOWER) 1 $27.23 $27.23 71107-TX8-A11 GRILLE, L. FR. BUMPER SIDE (LOWER) 1 $27.23 $27.23 Subtotal:$54.46 Shipping Charge [Shipping Charge may vary with package size / weight]: $7.00Handling Charge:$3.95Sales Tax:$0.00Total Order : $65.41

ddantzler

Nice, I might follow you on this mod too. Looks like they may not be the easiest thing to install. Looking forward to any details you provide on the process.

Trentimus

The grills look like they don't vent air as well as the regular ones.. is this wrong?

robtroxel

No sure till I have them side by side for the vent area. I'm also thinking about putting LEDs in the Hybrid vents before I install them. I'll take my time on that part. If any of you have suggestions on LEDs that don't look like a Christmas tree string, let me know. I wonder how a say 15 light string of bright LEDs would look?

rxj27

No vents at all. Its one solid piece...

ddantzler

Could that not be problematic?

4cruizn

I've been wanting to do this for awhile, too. Thank you for posting the PN information, and keep us posted on the install!

robtroxel

It would be easy to drill some inconspicuous cooling holes in the Hybrid side grills if needed. When I get the grills, I will look them over closer and let you all know!

Trentimus

Maybe you could do an acrylic over the top of them.. somehow.. and that would look better. Otherwise, DRL LEDs, outside of Audi, will find no fan in me.

Thanks rxj27.. I was REALLY considering this BUT I have been under the impression that air circulation is the on of the best things for a motor all my life.

Trentimus

I wouldn't mind contemplating that with you; can you post a picture of one when they arrive?

spdandpwr

Yea, drilling holes would be your best bet. Those oem grills on the non-hybrid models were intended to ventilate air. For what it's worth, engine performance won't be affected as the air intake grabs air from a location in the fender.

Trentimus

You'll probably still see a raise in temperature just because there isn't as much free flowing air on the radiator/engine area in general.. but then again it's probably not much.. hrmmm

robtroxel

I received the lower grills and love the look of them. Sorry, still haven't mastered the way to load up the pictures. What my plan is to open up the solid plastic for ventilation(suspect they are solid because of the hybrid's need for an aerodynamically smoother front end). I am shopping for some LED's that can be mounted in those cavities to find that will be bright enough an still have a factory look. I kind of like the hockey stick look on some of the Benzes out there. That may take some time, which is OK since winter finally got here.

Any advice on the install is appreciated. I hope I don't have to pull the front bumper cover to install these though. No access to a body manual which I maybe should invest in for 50 bucks.

spdandpwr

There is a fog light removal pdf floating around the internet...that will be your diy as you need to remove the grills in order to change the bulbs.

robtroxel

Thanks for that pointer. If I read the fog light install instructions right, there is a fog light cover that fits over each side grill. Still not sure if the side grills need to be removed after that, to take out or change the Fog Light bulb though. It would be a relief if I can get at the retaining screws holding in the original side grills and pull them down through the bottom bumper opening.

vtec_88

Got them done just recently.

4cruizn

That looks great with the OEM underbody kit! Did you install them yourself?

terdonal

Looks good.

robtroxel

Did you have to pull the bumper completely off? Any advice is appreciated. Also did you drill any ventilation holes?

Thanks

vtec_88

Thanks guys.

I got my friend that works at Toyota to do it. Acura wanted $250+tax for labour!
you have to take the bumper off first in order to do this. I think around 25 tapping screws/clips and your usual screws on the side (why they make it so complicated?!), and unplugged the fogs. You have to take out the fogs first, there is a hidden screw. All you have to do now is swap the grille piece and everything should sit flush! Good luck!

ps. No I didn't drill any ventilation holes. I hope it doesn't affect anything.

piguo1

I love the way the hybrid grills look. Please let us know if there are any cooling problems. Also the air intake has to be somewhere down there in the drivers side, I haven't checked.

The concept ilx had different grilles with LEDs drls. They really should've kept that design.

piguo1

I order my grilles two weeks ago from Honda Parts Unlimited. It took them over a week to ship them out, so I was a little upset. Then I got started in the dismantling of the fog lights and I noticed they had shipped one hybrid and one regular grille. This is ridiculous, gotta wait two more weeks to redo this. That's if they even want to pay for the new shipping, has anyone order from them before?

robtroxel

Can you snap some picture of the install? I have mine ready to go from DELRAY Acura (See earlier posting) They have been a pleasure to work with on this and the hybrid spoiler I installed. Sorry for your difficulties.

Are you going to open up the solid grills? I believe I will on mine though I am adding some led drls to the grills before they are installed.

piguo1

I opened one of the two sections in one grille, It's very easy to cut through the plastic with a box cutter. Still waiting for the other one to come back, they sent me a return label, but they still have not shipped a replacement. Last time I order from them.
I want LEDs too, they would look sick in the hybrid grilles but I still don't know where to wire them to.

robtroxel

Thanks for the update. I'm using one of these to switch the LED drls on

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Trentimus

4cruizn

Installed today.

Yes, I also used a dremel to carefully cut out areas for the air to flow normally as it did with the non-Hybrid honeycomb grilles. I can post pictures of that process later if anyone is interested. Total parts & labor for this update about $150, and that was with a bodyshop charging me $95 to R&I the bumper.

robtroxel

This mod using the factory parts looks great! I hate that the front bumper has to be pulled to do it.

neveronlineilx

When looking at some pics it reminds me of the Civic with the chrome inserts Honda added in there... but seeing the cars in this thread I like it more than before... but I am still not 100% on wether I like it or not...LOL

Good Job swapping it out though!

usdmJON

I like it. This will be in my future for sure when I do my custom sri/cai. Definitely a good luxurious look for those keeping their chrome trim.

JMJ3rd

I like it a lot! Great job getting it done! I want that, too.

Timmy18

Looks great, Tyson! Really cool to see everyone starting to make their ILX's their own.

Now if only we could get an update on Switt23's Dual exhaust (est. to be done by the second week of august) !!

usdmJON

One more week!

Timmy18

JMJ3rd

Gonna be sweet!

spdandpwr

Looks great!!!!

vtec_88

Looks great! esp. with the Afp kit!

xdtownx

Did the hybrid switch out today. Heres a picture of the front with one of each installed for you guys to compare. Overall simple mod only took about a hour start to finish(2 beer job). Got my local Acura shop to price match from the internet, only paid 60 bucks total!!! Im thinking I should drill some holes for air flow though after reading this thread....

usdmJON

How far out did you hang your STI lip?

Looks like I can see the flat areas of the lip right infront of the fog lights.


I really like the chrome accents. I think it would look better with the chrome grill but to each their own. I really want to do this!!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

damn, would love to check out your ILX at the Big Ass Texas meet this year in San Antonio.
https://acurazine.com/forums/texas-319/postponed-big-texas-meet-2014-postponed-910574/