[Techno 9000]

Having seen the comments about damaged radiators, I realised how many bits mine had accumulated in the few thousand miles I've been running it. I think it must have been renewed just prior to buying it, as it was utterly as new last December, and now looking somewhat secondhand.
I was looking at the BMW rock guards, but decided they;
1. cost a bit
2. took a bit of dismantling to fit
3. didn't cover the whole rad in any case

Sooo, I took a look at the bay of e, bought some mesh [Universal Honeycomb Black Plastic vent car tuning racing Grill Mesh 40x120 cm ( 371513683770 )] for under £20 and have fitted it in front of the diagonal stay bars with a few cable ties.

There was plenty enough mesh to do the area in front of the intercooler as well.
No fixing for this piece, i just made it slightly longer (wider) than the area available, so that it bows forward to keep it clear of the intercooler and prevent it rattling about.

Tested to 9 leptons with no issue so far.

Top piece I cut to 69 cms wide by 21 cms tall.
The intercooler piece 73 cms wide by 19 cms tall.
Both pieces went in through the space vacated by the removal of the kidney grills as its flexible. For the top piece I used two cable ties to each diagonal stay bar, one top one bottom, then one from the metal bracket at the centre to the mesh to provide support. Use long (10" or so) cable ties to help getting them in place around the stay bars and work from the centre out.

[dizzy619]

Top job mate.

Great diy

[Kal101]

Good job and a good idea.

Is the honeycomb rigid or flexible?

[Techno 9000]

Flexible enough that it can be twisted for installation, but seems stiff enough to hold shape under load (airflow).
A fairly soft plastic; I didn't want to have it up close to the radiator in case heat melted it. Also I didn't fancy putting it on the rear of the kidney grills,both for cosmetic reasons and ease of removing the grills again. The front of the stay bars seemed a good compromise.

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by Techno 9000

Flexible enough that it can be twisted for installation, but seems stiff enough to hold shape under load (airflow).
A fairly soft plastic; I didn't want to have it up close to the radiator in case heat melted it. Also I didn't fancy putting it on the rear of the kidney grills,both for cosmetic reasons and ease of removing the grills again. The front of the stay bars seemed a good compromise.

Just completed same due to your excellent DIY the only thing I changed and it may be due to being a convertible is that there was also a stay bar in front of the intercooler at the bottom so I attached same cable tie method to the bottom piece for more security. Followed your dimensions, perfect fit and agree mesh is flexible but strong to hold shape.

[Techno 9000]

Thanks. Glad its helped.

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by Techno 9000

Thanks. Glad its helped.

Worth £20 and an hours labour as opposed to a new air conditioning condenser or inter cooler plus labour, no contest. It would take something for a stone to get anywhere near.

[insanecoder]

Thinking of doing the same
do you guys hear it rattling about when you drive?

[WTruter]

Great DIY, just wondering if you have experienced any increase in temperatures?

Only reason I ask is as I know even "open" styled mesh has a huge impact on airflow, which will affect the air onto the rads.

Might be negligible for road use, but worth keeping an eye on temps just in case.

(OEM's spend a lot of time on the shape and open size of any vents / mesh to optimise airflow.)

[Techno 9000]

Haven't heard anything as yet.

I considered intercooler / inlet temp's, also engine coolant temp. Clearly 'if' it's going to be an issue, the height of summer will be the time.
I'm considering a custom map by Unicorn, so that might reveal an issue if the maximum Bhp achievable is obviously lower due to high exhaust temperatures.

[TiredGeek]

I did this with black aluminium the day the car was collected from the stealers.
I've done over 3k miles now, round town and high speed motorway cruise - I've had no issues with temperature. As was already said, road use will be fine, track use, maybe not....The car takes ages to get the oil temp up to normal so it can't be blocking too much airflow

I opted for the easy route lower down and put the mesh outside the factory plastic, fastened on with very small cable ties. Very easy to remove when it becomes damaged.
The kidney grills were yanked out (don't follow the ytube videos of removing the bumper, just give 'em a damn good tug evenly and they just pop out) and the mesh formed into the shape and cable tied inside this time.
I didn't want leaves etc getting through the kidneys and falling down inside the bumper area so the mesh is tight up against the back of the kidney.

I even did the two grills by the fog lights, drivers side has (what I believe is) the oil cooler in there, the passenger side is a blank but had to be done to match...

Overall I'm happy enough with the result, though I may well go down the plastic route if these don't last well.
eBay, £7.90 ish. Can't go wrong at that even if it needs doing every year

[jbeer]

I looked at my Mar '18 M Sport radiator and intercooler and mine seems to have OEM rock guard already on it

[chris-c]

Anything nov17/dec17 onwards should have them as standard.

[RENT-A-GOAT]

Originally Posted by chris-c

Anything nov17/dec17 onwards should have them as standard.

Anyone know if these OEM ones are available to order?

[jbeer]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

Anyone know if these OEM ones are available to order?

Looking on Real OEM the part number is 17118485042 and is listed as a quanity of 2 so assume that 1 is for the radiator and the other for the intercooler.

[greatbm]

Originally Posted by jbeer

Looking on Real OEM the part number is 17118485042 and is listed as a quanity of 2 so assume that 1 is for the radiator and the other for the intercooler.

Looking up price around £45 mark and as 2 required £90 plus fitting. If straight forward and flexible may get both through the kidney grille aperture if not remove top screws of bumper cover and pull forward to get access. Looks like the fixing may be a barb type of fitting that goes through the cooling fins to attach.

[AlwynMike]

Originally Posted by greatbm

Looking up price around £45 mark and as 2 required £90 plus fitting. If straight forward and flexible may get both through the kidney grille aperture if not remove top screws of bumper cover and pull forward to get access. Looks like the fixing may be a barb type of fitting that goes through the cooling fins to attach.

To convert earlier cars (like mine) looks like a different radiator is needed, along with 2x mounts etc as well.

[greatbm]

[QUOTE=AlwynMike;23898702]To convert earlier cars (like mine) looks like a different radiator is needed, along with 2x mounts etc as well.[/QUOTE

Thats what i thought looking at realoem, expensive rock guards ill stick to the cheaper mod.

[jamiegrant10]

Originally Posted by chris-c

Anything nov17/dec17 onwards should have them as standard.

Is the definitely suppose to be fitted from December 2017? I have a March 2018 built 335d and seem to be missing?

[TiredGeek]

Originally Posted by jamiegrant10

Is the definitely suppose to be fitted from December 2017? I have a March 2018 built 335d and seem to be missing?

I think it's only factory fitted on those weak petrol engine cars
My Aug 18 335dx doesn't have them but I diy'd some just in case

[Ss66]

Decided to change the grills so good opportunity to add some protection.

[stevei]

Originally Posted by chris-c

Anything nov17/dec17 onwards should have them as standard.

not fitted to mine