Grilles, "S" versus "i"

[GimmeA3S]

did a search on this subject but didn't find anything specific....has anyone had any experience with replacing the grille in an "i" sedan with a grill from an "S" sedan? Any fitment problems? I'm considering buying an "S" style grille from Mazda, as I like the looks of it better than the black mesh on the "i". Any info on this would be appreciated...thanks.

 

[wongpres]

It's do-able and I've seen it done before. However, I have not inspected the non-sport to sport grille conversion up close to see if there are any minor fitment problems. The reason I say this is that the curvature (actually the word 'contour' would be more appropriate) between the sporty and regular bumpers are a little bit different and it makes the grilles not have perfect fitment when swapped. I've seen one person do the reverse of what you want (i.e. regular grille with sporty bumper) and there was a little gap to the bumper that they filled in to make it a better fit.

 

[TuRbOtEcTicS]

If your thinking of buying the type s grill , i recommend you buy the eburni (not sure if i spelled it right) grill. Cost about the same, if not, cheaper than the type s grill getting it from mazda!

 

[joepro]

If your thinking of buying the type s grill , i recommend you buy the eburni (not sure if i spelled it right) grill. Cost about the same, if not, cheaper than the type s grill getting it from mazda!

Hmmm, I thought that grille didn't quite look like the stock S one. If that's the case, I'd be interested. A new bumper cover is just too expensive to justify switching to an OEM S grille.

 

[ag bullet]

Hmmm, I thought that grille didn't quite look like the stock S one. If that's the case, I'd be interested. A new bumper cover is just too expensive to justify switching to an OEM S grille.

Part of the S grille is moulded into the bumper. At least it was on my 5door. I switched grilles from the s to the i. I like the mesh better than the slats on my stock grille.

To each his own I suppose.

 

[wongpres]

Part of the S grille is moulded into the bumper.

That applies to the 5-door only, both 4-door grilles are completely distinct from the bumper (although the contours are a little different). This makes the 5-door grille even harder to change, but yours is fantastic and that's why I moved your 5-door grille change guide to the 'how-to' section.

 

[ag bullet]

That applies to the 5-door only, both 4-door grilles are completely distinct from the bumper (although the contours are a little different). This makes the 5-door grille even harder to change, but yours is fantastic and that's why I moved your 5-door grille change guide to the 'how-to' section.

I forgot about that the bumper is unique to the 5 door as well. Doh!

 

[GimmeA3S]

I went to the Mazda dealer this weekend and did a close inspection...it turns out that the grille (and the opening) is slightly larger from top to bottom on an S sedan than on an i sedan.....which is why the guy that changed his "s" for an "i" had to fill in a gap...and I'd have to actually make my opening larger....not something I wanna do, so simply put...nevermind! Thanks for all the input, guys....I'll just live with the black mesh.