DIY: Racing Beat Oil Cooler SCREEN Install..
 

the whole process is no more than 20-30 minutes if you dont bother straightening all the bent fins on the coolers. I found straightening them satisfying cuz my ADD side symptom OCD.

installation was very easy tho I found RB's instruction isnt the best way to put the screens in by sliding them into the gap between the plastic piece and the cooler. by doing that youre risking bending the fins again.

by removing the plastic piece around the cooler, put the screens in then reinstall the plastic piece is a much better way.

overall I think they are very easy to install and dont show too much as they do on S1's because the chrome piece under the foglights.

before
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354516

after
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354516

bumper taken off
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354665

cleaning and staightening
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354665

fitting
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354665

installing the plastic piece back
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354665

both sides on
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1280354665

Yeah they are nice. Was one of the first mods I did to my car, for I did not want to spend time "cleaning and straightening" haha.

Pretty nice. If I do this I might spray the screens black.

Thanks for the excellent post. I'm just about to order these myself, and I'm wishing I had done so last year when I first bought the car. I didn't realize just how much damage those coolers take until I read a thread here not too long ago, and then tried to clean mine out and straighten them out. Mine are already pretty beat up.

So it's not hard to get the bumper cover on and off? That was the only thing that worried me a bit, being highly mechanically incompetent!

its pretty easy all you need is a wrench, and screwdrivers

Would you say the a/c condenser screen is needed? I know there is that one on there already wasn't sure if the racing beat one was better or not

I checked mine, found there wasnt a lot of damage to that;)

Sounds like a good idea. I have the black mica so they might show even more than the AB

Thanks, jasonrxeight.

As far as the A/C condenser screen, I seem to recall that Racing Beat's website states that this one is not necessary for the Series II RX-8s.

Im thinking of trading my 04 for a 2010 R3, this looks like a first to do cause i know on mine right now i have to clean and straighten once a month just to keep on top of it. You enjoying your R3? Come Friday, Ill have to decide whether to trade or hold out a year or so.

I added the RB screens soon after I bought my new '05. But sometimes I wonder if they might be reducing oil cooling and, if so, too much on a hot summer day. Am I overthinking this?

New Yorker, you're over thinking this.
I had my screens on for almost 5 years and through some pretty hot summers and I doubt they ever reduced cooling by any significant amount.

Besides, most of our cars don't have an issue with oil cooling, it's coolant temps that are usually the issue.

I will take a few degrees increase over a rock in my cooler any day. Especially since the opening on the s2 is a tad bigger

The screens aren't being made now?

Yes, the screens are still being made. I just installed my new ones a couple months ago.

They don't seem to be a good fit, on the "inboard side of each one is a gap! Are these shaped to the series 1 sized openings?

Nope, should fit just fine. Make sure you are installing it properly. If you look at the grill it is actually bowed a little bit so that the screen isn't actually touching the coolers. Make sure the concave part is facing the grille. It will be a tight, snug fit.

its curved out so when stone hits it it would spread the force not hitting the cooler

Mine fit just fine. It only covers the oil coolers, not the entire opening in the front bumper cover, so you can see the rubber edge of the screen from some angles.

I had trouble making sure those darn fangled things won't move. It felt loose to me, on both sides.

At the end of the day, I decided to leave the filters pressing against the inside of the car, and left the small opening at the outside. Also, I made sure to keep the top of the filter behind the top fastener. I tried to get the screen between the bottom fastener and the oil cooler but the faster would keep coming out.

It was a hot day, and my ex-girlfriend has an interesting driveway, so I didn't need to raise the car to get to the bottom of the front bumper. While I was moving our stuff out of my apartment into hers (long story) I decided to paint the oil cooler screens black a couple times, and then a couple clear coats. I didn't like the look that I have seen a lot of bumper mesh gave. Less Bling, rice, whatever.

Attachment 248300

^ Painting the screens black ftw! Looks great.

@Chibana the series 2 have an a/c condenser guard already, i got a better price by getting the RB oil cooler and A/C screens together, when i took the bumper off i just replaced the stock condenser guard with the RB one. It's a LOT bigger and a lot better quality, just fyi.

Thank you for your effort on posting this DIY, Jason. It'll definitely come handy to me when I install mine. I should be ordering them very soon.

Wish I would've ordered them when I first got my R3... Didn't give importance to how much of a beating my oil coolers would've received. :( Oh well, better late than never. :p:

I'll be sure to perform the cleaning & straightening aspect for sure.

Thank you again. :)

Ordered my screens first thing this past Wednesday morning, and received them late in the afternoon yesterday! Pretty quick shipping from Racing Beat... I became very surprised and excited! :D: The screens look & feel very durable, as well.

The install took me much longer than you guys most probably, primarily because I'm not very experienced at working on cars. Still, I fortunately managed to pull it off somehow, lol.

Received some help (and company) from my teenage neighbor too. I actually really needed his help when it came time to snap back the fog light wiring in place. Connecting the wires back was not the issue, but sliding & snapping it back into the plastic holder (within the bumper) was the challenge. The wiring is not long enough... As far as I noticed. Therefore it was a very tight procedure while holding the bumper as close as possible.

Overall it took some good effort, but I received gratifying results. I'm very satisfied.

Paid $48 + shipping for both the screens, just in case anyone was wondering.

Most importantly, I'm pleased to know that my oil coolers now have that additional protection which was needed.

post some pics! I wonder how the mesh looks off a red r3 :)

Wish granted! :D: Looks much better in person, of course. ;)

oooo i like! very sexy, thanks for the pics

Still never going to be as SEXY as this gentleman I bet ----> :101384_l:
:p:

My wife just did this for my my 2010 RX8 I picked up in April. She also straightened the fins that were bent and installed the radiator screen. She was supposed to just be hanging out with me, but I went inside to get some water and when I get out she has the bumper nearly off and said to sit down and enjoy a beer. I held the light a little bit, but she really didnt want me to help or need much. Took her about 2 hours. I certainly have a keeper right? BTW we are both accountants/analysts.

an accountant wife that's willing to get dirty with a car. I applaud you sir.

Very appreciative of this thread! I just bought a new 2011 and through this thread realized I need to do this mod as soon as possible! Just received my screens today. Painted them black. The info on installation is great. I may post some pictures of additional detail for taking off the nose this weekend assuming I have time to install.

I installed the two cooler screens, took about 30 minutes. I didn't take any pictures because the instructions were so clear it really didn't require anything. Only one error in the instructions I found. On my 2011, there are 5 fasteners in the wheel well, not 4. The top one is a threaded screw. No big deal but steps 4 and 5B of the instructions actually state there are no threaded fasteners there.

I painted mine black so their presence is virtually undetectable. Since I've only had it about 3 weeks I only found one small bug in the fins. I only want my angry bee further back in the engine compartment!

Just got mine today plus the radiator screen. Will be putting them in tomorrow. Thanks for the write up!

I'll post pictures on a Black R3 this weekend after I install them. Then I suppose we'll have the trifecta. Planning on keeping them the original silver color to compliment the accents on the car. If it looks off, I might spray them black later.

And as promised, here are the screens on a black R3. Not sure how well they turned out, since I was losing sunlight, so I might take more eventually.

I have to install my screens soon, not looking forward to straightening all the fins but at least it will be a one time thing now. I will try and get some pics up of how it looks on a white rx8, but it seems to look damn good on any color rx8 :P . I thinik the ac screen really is a good thing to have, I wish I bought it with my oil cooler screens. I was cleaning out stuff near the AC screen and noticed a tiny bit of damage or bent fins but nothing huge, not even close to the damage the oil coolers are getting but it is noticeable.

I haven't checked my AC yet, but I should probably get a screen soon since I drive the car year round.

I put the ac screen in. Its a bit of a pain in the ass. Even when I had the bumper off already for the oil coolers.

I'm assuming that the install is the same on the S2, but it's best to remove the undercover. Makes the AC screen install a breeze

Not sure about the series 1 but the series 2 has a pre-existing factory installed ac screen but its very small and inadiquete IMO. I left it in place any way and installed the RB screen right over it. that may be why it was a headache for me. but regardless im glad i put it in. Here is a before and after pic. I painted it black.
Attachment 239138

Attachment 239139

This is a stupid question i just want to be sure i am getting the right screens. Looking at "Texas RX8 R3's" pics he has a redesign rx-8 of 2009-2011 body style. So my question is will the screens in my link work for my 2010? I just want to make sure.

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...30R-11759.html

yessir...

same as this:

http://www.racingbeat.com/RX8/Oil-System/11808.html

thanks

Got them all installed i am just waiting for a nice day to pull her out of the garage and take a few pic. Thanks for the advice they look really cool and they were easy to install.

I just ordered my screens thanks to this thread search, they look great and can't wait to get them.
I'm in Ontairo and wondering how long for shipping, anyone in Ontario order these yet

I can tell you that racing beat is pretty fast with shipping. I know I am pretty close to their location, but they got it out the door fast and that's what matters.

Thats really good to know, I thought about making some at first then did a search here and Baamm there they where, Perfect just what I want and no wasted time

Make sure you ordered two of them if you have a manual car. The picture on the site shows two screens, but the price is only for one. It fooled me but racing beat caught my mistake and called to verify I only wanted a single screen(I didn't, glad they called.) Was my fault for failing to read really, but the picture should be of a single screen.

Ive done two separate orders from Racing Beat. My exhaust and these screens. Both times it took 5 days to ship to Connecticut.