Cheap DIY Mesh Grill

[Scarlett]

I am already hearing from 2023 Telly owners that are telling me the new bumper design is still a problem for rocks getting to the AC condenser. It took a while to find a 23 Telly around here, but they finally showed up and we now have 23 TellyScreen sets in stock and ready to go in the welded and woven SS mesh patterns, and these are now up on my website. The sets are essentially the same as the older ones, 3 and 4 pieces (The 4th piece covers the upper grill where the Kia badge is). The size of each piece is different, but that is about it. BTW, I am particularly concerned about the increase in size in the lower pair of intakes. These are something like 30% larger than before. Moving more opening down lower doen't feel like it will help the problem.

One other note- Kia is well aware of this issue. They did nothing that I can see to protect the radiators any better than before. If they wanted to do something to lessen the issue, the re-design was their chance to. So I have no reason to believe that this issue will improve with the new front end. Time will tell, I suppose. But from where I sit, doing something to protect your AC condenser would be prudent.

HTH!

Steve

 

[Henry G]

I purchased ABS plastic grill mesh from Amazon to use on my 2023 EX. It is pretty stiff and about 1/8 inch thick. I originally wanted to place the mesh on the inside of the openings so I started a return and ordered wire mesh. After studying the grill openings, I decided it would be easier to install the plastic mesh on the outside.

The cross bars on the lower 2 openings are recessed slightly from the bumper surface. I cut the mesh to fit the recessed area and zipped tied to the horizontal bar.

The middle opening is set back from the bumper surface at the top and bottom but not the sides. I found 2 cable clips in my junk drawer and was able to clip them over the back edge of the grill opening on the outer side edges. The clips had a screw hole and I was able thread a zip tie through the hole to secure the outer most edge of the mesh

Overall I’m pretty happy with the result. I haven’t decided how to address the open area at the top. Any mesh used for the top definitely needs to go behind the grill. I’m not ready to attempt removing the entire bumper. The plastic gutter guard mesh may be the answer

Pictures below.

 

[RiderKnight]

I purchased ABS plastic grill mesh from Amazon to use on my 2023 EX. It is pretty stiff and about 1/8 inch thick. I originally wanted to place the mesh on the inside of the openings so I started a return and ordered wire mesh. After studying the grill openings, I decided it would be easier to install the plastic mesh on the outside.

The cross bars on the lower 2 openings are recessed slightly from the bumper surface. I cut the mesh to fit the recessed area and zipped tied to the horizontal bar.

The middle opening is set back from the bumper surface at the top and bottom but not the sides. I found 2 cable clips in my junk drawer and was able to clip them over the back edge of the grill opening on the outer side edges. The clips had a screw hole and I was able thread a zip tie through the hole to secure the outer most edge of the mesh

Overall I’m pretty happy with the result. I haven’t decided how to address the open area at the top. Any mesh used for the top definitely needs to go behind the grill. I’m not ready to attempt removing the entire bumper. The plastic gutter guard mesh may be the answer

Pictures below.

Looks good. I like it.

 

[Maxton]

I purchased ABS plastic grill mesh from Amazon to use on my 2023 EX. It is pretty stiff and about 1/8 inch thick. I originally wanted to place the mesh on the inside of the openings so I started a return and ordered wire mesh. After studying the grill openings, I decided it would be easier to install the plastic mesh on the outside.

The cross bars on the lower 2 openings are recessed slightly from the bumper surface. I cut the mesh to fit the recessed area and zipped tied to the horizontal bar.

The middle opening is set back from the bumper surface at the top and bottom but not the sides. I found 2 cable clips in my junk drawer and was able to clip them over the back edge of the grill opening on the outer side edges. The clips had a screw hole and I was able thread a zip tie through the hole to secure the outer most edge of the mesh

Overall I’m pretty happy with the result. I haven’t decided how to address the open area at the top. Any mesh used for the top definitely needs to go behind the grill. I’m not ready to attempt removing the entire bumper. The plastic gutter guard mesh may be the answer

Pictures below.

I bought the same mesh for my 2023 and plan to put it on this weekend. The install would look much cleaner if the grill was behind the bumper, the upper one looks a bit out of place. You should consider taking the bumper off, its really not difficult. If you can turn a screwdriver and a wrench, you can take off a bumper. Its just a few bolts and push pins, a lot less complicated than you think.

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[Alphabets]

I purchased ABS plastic grill mesh from Amazon to use on my 2023 EX. It is pretty stiff and about 1/8 inch thick. I originally wanted to place the mesh on the inside of the openings so I started a return and ordered wire mesh. After studying the grill openings, I decided it would be easier to install the plastic mesh on the outside.

The cross bars on the lower 2 openings are recessed slightly from the bumper surface. I cut the mesh to fit the recessed area and zipped tied to the horizontal bar.

The middle opening is set back from the bumper surface at the top and bottom but not the sides. I found 2 cable clips in my junk drawer and was able to clip them over the back edge of the grill opening on the outer side edges. The clips had a screw hole and I was able thread a zip tie through the hole to secure the outer most edge of the mesh

Overall I’m pretty happy with the result. I haven’t decided how to address the open area at the top. Any mesh used for the top definitely needs to go behind the grill. I’m not ready to attempt removing the entire bumper. The plastic gutter guard mesh may be the answer

Pictures below.

nice work.

 

[CashClay]

Sharing for information purposes. I just got my 2023 Telly and first thing I did was window tint and address the lower grill for radiator protection. Used the "seagull" pattern black aluminum mesh. Turned out decent looking, definitely feeling better about being better protected from debris/rocks. Still need to do the upper grill behind the logo. Photos attached. Hope this is helpful to others.

 

[CashClay]

In case anyone has advice on installing the mesh behind the upper grill .. I'd appreciate some insight. Just curious.

 

[Tellthemride]

In case anyone has advice on installing the mesh behind the upper grill .. I'd appreciate some insight. Just curious.

there have been a few owners who have done this. Bumper needs to be removed. This thread covers how to do it.

DIY Upper grille mesh rock screen/bug guard installed

Just wrapped up installing a mesh grille for the upper grill. I already installed metal mesh on the bottom grill openings but I saw bugs going through the tiger nose so wanted to protect that too.

tellurideforum.org

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