So I walked out to my 8 this afternoon...and the front bottom grill is gone!

Not the large main grill in the middle, but the long thin one on the very bottom...the plastic piece is just gone. I don't think anyone stole it, I figure it must have just fallen out, but I can't believe I didn't notice it falling out. I know it was there yesterday, cause I was cleaning some bug splatters off her...I take very good care of her.

Any advice on where to get a replacement? How does it connect? Should this be under warranty? I can't believe that a piece just fell off my $30,000 car under 2500 miles!

Take it straight back to the dealer, that's got to be covered by warranty, let's us know the results.

Kevin

It just fell?! That's gotta be warrantied like SDFLY said. That's a workmanship defect. Not sure if they are held on by clips or adhessives only...

I would like to see what you are talking about personally. I don't have a lower grille below the large one on the nose of the car.

Originally posted by FighterPilot
Any advice on where to get a replacement? How does it connect? Should this be under warranty? I can't believe that a piece just fell off my $30,000 car under 2500 miles!

Replacement: See the service department where you bought your 8.
How does it connect: Who cares - you have paid a fair amount of cash - you are entitled to great workmanship and quality.
Warranty: You betcha! Just today I took my 8 in to be looked at .... One corner of my apperance package wasn't attached perfcetly and the service rep ordered a whole new kit. He said "Faulty installation or problem parts are covered by warranty - no questions asked." Take it in, get the replacement part and have them wash and buff your car for the pain and suffering you had to endure! :D

hmmm

What "hmmm?" Sounds like you don't believe us. You are entitled to a car free of defects, and you are entitled to repair at their expense. As you said, this is what you get with a $30K car. Go for it and don't be shy! Let us know how it works out.

I wouldn't rule out theft. I have heard of Acura Xenon headlights being stolen since they fit Honda models along with many other parts. Maybe someone needed this bumper piece.

Either way, this is highly unusual. Good luck and I hope your dealer installs a new one for you at no charge.

Be cordual, but if they don't at least try to be helpful, then raise hell.

My car doesnt have a front bottom grille. It never did. I dont know what you are talking about man. Theres a front center grille and two smaller grilles with foglights on them to the left and right of the center grille. The open piece at the front bottom of the bumper that you say is supposed to have agrille only has a rotary symbol and that is it. There was never any grille behind that rotary symbol inside of there. I remember thinking Ihad one too but I confused it with somethingelse. Either youput an extra grille on down there yourself and thatone fell off or you were seeingthings before like me. Only the rear bumper has a grille on the very bottom. Sorry man

Ya...after reading the post, I checked my 8 also...and it doesn't have a lower grill either...

Maybe he is talking about the black plastic trim at the very bottom of the front lip or the appearance package.

Now I am paranoid and confused... FighterPilot, can you add a picture to show us what you're missing?

Hes talking about the appearance package front lower air dam. Its not a "grille" at all- it's the optional ground effects kit that costs about $900. Your 8 might not have one if you didn't order that package.

Here's a link to the part hes talking about:

RX8 with appearance package (http://webpost.net/dr/drx/000_0183.JPG)

I don't think it fell off ... don't you think you would have heard/felt it when your car ran over it? I wouldn't be surprised if someone came up with a few tools and popped it off... which would be totally lame. If Mazda wont replace it, talk to your insurance company. :confused:

My first thought is that maybe you pulled into a parking spot that has one of those concrete bars on the ground, and accidentally bumped it enough to knock that piece off your car. If you parked in any such spaces recently, you might look in that area to see if it's laying on the ground.

dunno... just a thought.

Yeah, is there any damage? Any visible tearing on the mounting holes for the air dam?