Radiator Front Grill - Missing (Maybe Stolen?)

[innercry666]

So I noticed today that the grill that sits with the ACC Radar is completely missing. The bizarre thing is I haven't hit anything or done anything to the car that would cause the grill to go walkabouts. Inspecting the bumper around where the grill should be there is some damage to the bumper and it looks like it has been impacted by 'something' whilst the car has been stationary. The lip of the front splitter has scratch marks that shows the grill was pulled out from it's spot.

So based on what I've seen it looks like the car has either been hit by another car whilst parked and somehow pulled out the grill, OR, the grill has been deliberately pulled out.

Has anybody heard of these grill's being nicked before?

I was parked up in Birmingham Airport Car Park yesterday and that is the only place /opportunity for this to have occurred. Considering where / how I was parked it looks slightly less plausible to me that the car was hit by another car as the damage to the bumper itself is quite minor and the grill itself would have to have been snagged by the other car and pulled out in one go.

Based on the scratch marks on the splitter it strikes me that it could well have been deliberate. Is there a (market for these kinds of car parts? I would have thought it would have been easier to have just bought the grill as a new part or is it only available as a full bumper arrangement?

Either way, not happy to say the least...

[Acprc]

It wouldn't surprise me if any part of a car was nicked nowadays. Anything to save a thief the cost. I would however ask the airport if they have CCTV coverage as most of them will and it might be interesting to see what did happen. I did lose a grill on my S5 after hitting a small bird, at speed it came out very easily. It is available as a separate part.

[PSB1]

So I noticed today that the grill that sits with the ACC Radar is completely missing. The bizarre thing is I haven't hit anything or done anything to the car that would cause the grill to go walkabouts. Inspecting the bumper around where the grill should be there is some damage to the bumper and it looks like it has been impacted by 'something' whilst the car has been stationary. The lip of the front splitter has scratch marks that shows the grill was pulled out from it's spot.

So based on what I've seen it looks like the car has either been hit by another car whilst parked and somehow pulled out the grill, OR, the grill has been deliberately pulled out.

Has anybody heard of these grill's being nicked before?

I was parked up in Birmingham Airport Car Park yesterday and that is the only place /opportunity for this to have occurred. Considering where / how I was parked it looks slightly less plausible to me that the car was hit by another car as the damage to the bumper itself is quite minor and the grill itself would have to have been snagged by the other car and pulled out in one go.

Based on the scratch marks on the splitter it strikes me that it could well have been deliberate. Is there a (market for these kinds of car parts? I would have thought it would have been easier to have just bought the grill as a new part or is it only available as a full bumper arrangement?

Either way, not happy to say the least...

There's your problem. Count your lucky stars that it wasn't the other way round, and they didn't take the car and leave the grill.

[Surrey Sam]

Very odd. Bet some chav stole it, so that they could try utilise it as an intake feed on their Audi.

[innercry666]

Cheers for the replies!

I've been in touch with the the Airport and they are looking into it. Based on closer inspection it looks look somebody may have reversed into me as there is damage to the bumper as well as the grill being missing. I suspect that the grill was damaged in the knock (not sure how though as it's inset to the bumper) and somebody has removed it (hence the scratch marks).

Hopefully CCTV will have picked it up! Missing grill cannot be seen in the picture below:

[N13LXC]

That grill just clips in. but would have to be bumped for it to come out. not with much force though. The clips are fairly minimal. hope the CCTV pick something up. I'd be raging if i came back to that!

[Afsimba]

I have spare one of these but unfortunately my car never had the radar there about £50 plus too

[innercry666]

I didn't think the grill would be cheap but £50?! Ouch!

The bumper is slightly split so it will most likely need a new one. I'm going to get a quote for the damage to be rectified and see where it stands against the excess on the insurance...

No word from NCP either

[Surrey Sam]

If it goes through insurance and you end up getting new bumper & grilles, I'd happily buy the Black Optics centre radiator grille off you. Would certainly help towards any excess charges.

[Sammyb349]

Damn - sam you beat me to it. Mine still has the parking damage from the lady that reversed into my car.

In case Sam decides to pass on the centre grill section, I'll take second dibs on it!!

[innercry666]

If it goes through insurance and you end up getting new bumper & grilles, I'd happily buy the Black Optics centre radiator grille off you. Would certainly help towards any excess charges.

Sam, I'll let you know how it goes with the insurance company and if it is available for me to sell then you get first shout as the excess with my own choice of repairer is at £1K!. No word from NCP still.

I had a conversation I had with the accident repair place today it may well be a new bumper but not sure if they will just get the bumper and missing grill and transfer the rest across. As the car has ACC it may well need to be calibrated as well as the sensor may have been knocked - I used it last week and it was fine but appreciate that it may well need to doing and better as part of the insurance claim.

So I just hope that NCP find the culprit and I can get the excess claimed back! I also hope that Audi play nice tomorrow when I get the caliper that is binding looked at as I don't want to stump over another grand for new disc ands pads....

[Rich1782]

I wouldn't hold out much hope for ncp coming up good, some utter c bomb opened their door, with some force into the rear wheel arch on my beloved pristine e46 m3 about 10 years ago and left a massive crease right down the middle of it when it was left in LHR T5 short stay. I went to the office straight away to see if any cctv or anything, their response was "you are lucky it didn't get stolen" nothing else back from them after filling in the feedback form!

[Surrey Sam]

Sam, I'll let you know how it goes with the insurance company and if it is available for me to sell then you get first shout as the excess with my own choice of repairer is at £1K!. No word from NCP still.

Cool

[innercry666]

So the car has been into the accident repair place (of my choosing) and the bumper has been replaced. Unfortunately the existing grills were re-utilised so no chance of clawing back any cash on the excess which is a shame.

Paint work looks good but the bumper doesn't sit quite right - it needs to be slightly adjusted so I'm going to go back to them Monday to see if they can rectify. I did raise it with whilst I was there and was told that as it was, was pretty good. However, no matter how good they think it is, it isn't acceptable to me! I was surprised at the response actually as I can't imagine the two Mclaren and the one Lambo owner who all had cars in for work at the time accepting the same response.

Has anybody else had to have a new bumper / does anyone know if there is any adjustment available to get it sitting 'perfectly'?