Just wanted to make a quick thread to go ahead and reinforce the importance of the Racing Beat Oil Cooler Grilles. When I first got my grilles I went ahead and sprayed them a flat high heat black so that it would blend in with my car. After a few months and about 2000 miles here is what they look like:





Crappy images, sorry, took them with my phone, but if you look you can see how the paint has started to come off from debris attacking it.

 

It should be pointed out that they are typically only needed with stock set ups. I have an aftermarket MS style bumper and I purchased heavy gauge wire mesh inserts (to replace the crap mesh that comes with the bumper) which were powder coated black. This being said my oil coolers are well protected.

 

True, but especially the S2's since our vents are much larger than the S1's stock bumper

 

Agreed

 

these are a GREAT addition to any RX-8.
I always find it funny what when people register and ask, "what should my first mod be?" that these are never mentioned.

instead everyone says "AccessPORT, midpipe, wheels"

 

I need to get these soon...esp with the 80 mile a day commute to work they would come in handy. Prob get these and the intake at the same time so I only have to take the bumper off once.

 

Ya, I'm glad I've got them. They don't look like that yet, but judging from what I pulled out of them, they will before long.

 

Yea i hear ya, i think after the winter is over i will probably remove them and give them another coat. Either that or if it starts to get real bad i will touch it up with a q-tip

 

Sixsix mentions that you have to take out the bumper in order to install the oil cooler grill? Is that right? If so, is it difficult to do so?

 

This was my first mod, along with the condenser screen. I was at Mazda not to long ago and one of the techs noticed and commented about how many they see come in with a rock in the oil cooler.

 

Yes that is correct and it is super easy to do. There is a DIY on it somewhere.

 

Yep, the most time consuming part is the removing of the bumper which only takes like 5 mins

 

This will be my first mod on the new R3. Do guys think that the radiator screen is as important?

 

^I pulled out over 100 pebbles from it if that helps.

 

I got that too, better safe than sorry. The pathetic grate that came on my 07 was a joke, protected about 1/4 of the condenser.

 

I should have put a cookie sheet or something under there and taken a picture of them when I was done. It was pretty unbelievable.

 

Absolutely vital. Even a good sized bee will bend fins at 70/80 mph.

DIY screens were my first mod, back in 2003!

The condensor too, it is more delicate and made from aluminum versus the steel oil coolers.

 

I will have to grab a screen for my condensor, I didn't think it was critical at first since it sets up pretty high and at an angle, but seeing what my oil cooler grill has gone through, like everyone says, better safe than sorry.

 

FWIW we are now in March and here is an update of what these bad larrys look like :

 

Yea I really need to get these, or at least find a way to put some metal mesh onto the bumper itself. My oil coolers are getting beat up pretty bad.

 

I did this as my first mod last month. Very glad I did!

 

I think s2's come with lower condenser grills already. just not a full one.

 

There is like a half grill in the middle I think but the oil coolers are fully open like in the pic above. On mine they have taken some good hits from rocks.

 

my very first mod. bought em last weekend and waiting for the UPS man to bring them to me. wait....second mod !! as I did tons of zaino already which - btw - gave me about 5 additional horsepower

 

Hmm. I should get some of these. 13000 miles and I've already got some dented fins. Link?