How to remove FR bumper lower Grill / Mesh ?

[StealthInspired]

Hello,

I am trying to remove the Grill that is at the bottom of the front bumper (between the fog lights).
But cant see where its clipped in, or how I should start ?

When cleaning the car recently I've noticed a couple of cracks on this lower plastic grill, therefore would like to remove it and install a complete new one.

Thankyou.

 

[mds1256]

I have had my grill off a few times now.

1. take your front SEAT badge grill off (the main one of the front of the car). Two push in clips need removing at the top of the grill.

2. Remove fog light grills (one screw in each) then pull off

3. reach down into the bottom of the bumper (using the hole where you have removed the SEAT grill) and use a little flat head screwdriver to flick all the little clips off and pull out bottom grill.


Takes a bit of doing but you will get there

 

[StealthInspired]

Hi mds, thankyou for your feedback.

By "flick all the little clips off" what does this mean? From the back?
As Im confused how the clips on the Grill are slotted into the retaining plastic lugs in the bumper?
(If I had a spare bottom grill to look at off the car, I'd understand this pretty quickly).

 

[mds1256]

Hi mds, thankyou for your feedback.

By "flick all the little clips off" what does this mean? From the back?
As Im confused how the clips on the Grill are slotted into the retaining plastic lugs in the bumper?
(If I had a spare bottom grill to look at off the car, I'd understand this pretty quickly).

If you can wait until the weekend I will be taking mine off to re-paint the bottom lip.

I will take some pics for you?

 

[StealthInspired]

Hi mds, thats very kind of you, although the job is now done (not how I wanted though)...
Tried for ages to get the Grill clips off trying various techniques, but it just wasn't moving. So....

Using wire cutters, I snipped the plastic Grill mesh ALL THE WAY ROUND so it came out, leaving just the outside of the Grill still fitted to the bumper. But at least now I had a big 'hole' I could work with.
Then using the cutters, I went round and cut off the end of each grill clip on the inside, so just the straight bit was left on the clip, meaning I could pull the grill out, from the bumper mounts.

As I was scrapping this Grill meant in the end, it didnt matter if the grill was broken.
Also, this method meant the job could be done with the Fog grills left intact, plus main centre Grill too.

If I was planning to keep the Grill, my method is rubbish, as I'd have wrecked a perfectly good lower grill !!

Rough diagram - Side view of the Grill (red) and how it fits the bumper brackets (black) - also with the bumper bottom lip shown.
You need something to expand the top and botton bits that effectively locks the thick end of the clip in! Easier said than done !

 

[mds1256]

Mine is more like and inverted for the otherside of the grill

Full graphic rights: StealthInspired. Altered by: mds1256 for informative purposes

I only had to lever the little springy clip upwards then pull out the grill one step at a time.

 

[StealthInspired]

So what did you use to lever up the bracket catches?

With the Grill removed, its amazing how much road debris had been 'sucked' into the Tray there behind the grill - ie: gravel, leaves etc.

I have a new Grill ordered with my local SEAT dealer - £40.
But first, with the grill now off, this weekend there will be some Vinyl being fitted.

Again thankyou MDS for your feedback, plus copyright pic alterations , it should greatly help others who might be in a similar situation.

Repainting your Lip Black I take it, being a Red car? A la Cupra styleee.

 

[FR_Flavoured]

Vinyl on a black car could look stunning. Keep us updated.

 

[mds1256]

So what did you use to lever up the bracket catches?


Repainting your Lip Black I take it, being a Red car? A la Cupra styleee.

Used a little flat head screwdriver and poked it in from the side and levered it up.

cupra stylee yeah, on white car though

See my post : http://seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=316062

 

[n_d_fox]

Are these both face lifted FR's or Pre face lift ?

Also, does the above method (not the cutting the grille out one) remove the section behind the number plate as well or is that seperate ?

 

[mds1256]

Are these both face lifted FR's or Pre face lift ?

Also, does the above method (not the cutting the grille out one) remove the section behind the number plate as well or is that seperate ?

Mine is Pre-Facelift.

The whole bottom criss-cross grill comes out as one section. on mine the part behind the number plate is part of the bumper

 

[StealthInspired]

Are these both face lifted FR's or Pre face lift ?

Also, does the above method (not the cutting the grille out one) remove the section behind the number plate as well or is that seperate ?

Mine's pre-facelift too.

Also, while my technique wasnt the best, I have been able to safely remove the Grill without causing any damage to the bumper or paint. More a "dissection" of the Grill than an efficient "out in one piece" technique.

Here is a picture of a pre-facelift FR, with main Grill plus this lower Grill removed...
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3059508&postcount=6