Some things we do to our cars are purely visual, such as MGF Air Intake Bling. This is one of those items.
Background #
There’s is nothing functionally wrong with the stock factory mesh on the air intakes of an MGF. In fact, the same mesh is used on the front bumper valance grill. If you are upgrading the air intakes mesh then you are probably also considering updating the front bumper valance mesh also. Rather than having a similar article about that, take a look at the Bumper Removal article. The hard part is the removal of the bumper to change the mesh. The actual mesh switch over for the bumper valance is so simple, it doesn’t warrant a specific article.
I came across a listing for an OEM woven and polished stainless steel grille kit. It contains all the four pieces needed. A little expensive, perhaps, but it was OEM MG Rover part. This, I felt, made the extra cost well worth it as I could rely on things fitting without drama! I was not looking for drama early in my ownership lifecycle. So, I obtained the MGF Stainless Steel Grille Kit for £125.
Plain stainless mesh is not the only option. Some integrate MG logos and other designs are available. EBay UK site has the most options. Try this link/search on eBay UK.
Procedure For Changing The Air Intake Mesh #
Perhaps one of the easier things you’ll do for your car!
Removing the Original Intakes #
On an MGF this is surprisingly easy – there’s 2 screws. If you have a later MG TF I understand it’s a bit harder. From what I have seen it requires the intake to be carefully pried out of position. But back to the easier MGF and the 2 screws.
These should be fairly easy to see/find as they are basically top and bottom of the intake behind the mesh. They are Phillips head screws. The gap in the factory black mesh is quite wide and makes access pretty easy. I try to show the 2 screws in the images below. These are taken after install of the stainless message which has a smaller/tighter mesh – so not so easy to see.
Removing the Original Mesh #
Prior research of this procedure revealed that the mesh was simply held in place with RTV or other similar non hardening glue.
So, with the vent cover off the car I could see the holding material at various points around the outer edge of the grille. Some careful prying and pressing and the original mesh piece was coming away from the surround. Eventually, black mesh was free from the surround and out of the way. I removed the remains of the original RTV/glue and prepared to insert the new mesh.
Installing the New Mesh #
You can use black RTV to hold the new mesh in place. Just redo what you saw when removing the original mesh. Put some RTV is various locations around the provided rim/lip. Keep this small enough so you don’t have RTV ouzing to the outside and become visible. You can always put some strategic bigger drops at various places around the rim. Let this setup and dry before trying to refit the intake to the car.
The fitting wasn’t exactly the same with the new mesh and the gaps between each hole in the mesh were much smaller. This made the fitting of the retaining screws to attach back to the car more complex than it might have been. But with some prying for access to the screw heads and other “finessing” it all went back together.
The End Result – Before & After #
So you can see the before and after. It may help you decide whether you like this, or not. Going to add MGF Air Intake Bling?
Other Materials #
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