Hello All.

I just installed a 2018 "style" grille on my 2014 405.

The new grille is from China and looks and fits fine.

Question: On the inside of the original grille there is a metal brace in the middle (refer to photo).

1. I couldn't work out how to remove it and place it on the new grille - does anyone have experience with these weird fasteners?

2. I installed the new grille without the metal brace given it doesn't look like it performs an important function - any contrary views?

Many thanks.

Click image to enlarge

Those 'weird fasteners' are split rivets, used on plastic components as the compression is lower than traditional pop rivets and therefore won't crack or split the plastic components, quite common in automotive use, difficult to find from engineering suppliers.
I'd say the metal bracket is a stiffening brace to prevent vibration or chatter under ram air load.

Thanks for the explanation.

So I could drill them out and reinstall using normal rivets?

Be careful with the rivets, they're split and have a thinner reduced section on the shank so they don't put excessive load on the plastic, you could put some washers under the heads so as to spread the load if you can't get the right ones.

FAB

I installed mine without, left it on the original grille, 9 months later no issues at all, no noise vibration etc.
So I think its fine to leave it on the old grille, but keep the OEM grille so the next owner can choose to go OEM if he wishes.
Some dealers/traders will try to haggle you down over non-OEM parts and having to “restore” back to the original spec.  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” -where’s the fun in that?

I did wonder what the bracket does, have one on mine and dent understand its function. and being about 3mm thick steel, bit over kill? 2019 L405 SV Autobiography

Harmonic dampening device… Stops creaking/rattling… Same devices found all over Range Rovers… Exhaust, bumpers, ARB’s… Loads of them…

Makes sense. Just thought 3mm thick was a bit over kill lol 2019 L405 SV Autobiography

It’s the weight that is critical… The harmonic dampers on a D4 rear bumper would brake your foot if you dropped it!

Yep understood. Just painted mine a little as it was looking off. Wondered why it had felt pads fitted that touched nothing lol 2019 L405 SV Autobiography

Salsbury wrote:

Hello All.

I just installed a 2018 "style" grille on my 2014 405.

The new grille is from China and looks and fits fine.

Question: On the inside of the original grille there is a metal brace in the middle (refer to photo).

1. I couldn't work out how to remove it and place it on the new grille - does anyone have experience with these weird fasteners?

2. I installed the new grille without the metal brace given it doesn't look like it performs an important function - any contrary views?

Many thanks.

Click image to enlarge

@ James W:

Click image to enlarge

the range rover badge isnt strait [horizontal]


mine is

 ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Last edited by stan on 18th Nov 2022 1:58pm. Edited 1 time in total

Don't know if it helps or is too late.

But don't 'drill them out

Use a small screwdriver to push the 'inner round part' up and then with draw them from the other side.

You can then re-use them to fit to the other part.

Apologies if you know this already !!!

Good Luck ! L405 4.4 V8 Vogue SE Santorini Black
RRS L390 4.2 S/C Stornoway Grey
Classic Range Rover Overfinch 5.7 - their first prototype - under restoration
Late Range Rover P38
Range Rover 3.9 Classic Softdash
Range Rover Classic Overfinch 5.7 - Sadly gone
Disco 3 - Gone
Disco 2 - Gone
TD5 - Gone