Front Grille Mesh To Protect Your Motorhome & Car - save on expensive replacement parts cost

[Wombles]

This is now the second time that we have had to pay out a lot of money (£450) to replace the air conditioning condenser on our cars due to stone damage despite never taking either off road - first a Citroen & now a Ford & looking at where our condenser is on the motorhome can see that is very vulnerable too We understand that car dealerships have regular work replacing these due to stone damage so not just our bad luck.
This is our Transit motorhome one

Having searched for solutions found two viable options - the pretty, easy but expensive one & DIY option both available in stainless steel.
This is the pretty one https://www.zunsport.com/en which do versions for many makes of cars but with regards to motorhomes they do it for Citroen Relay (our next motorhome ) https://www.zunsport.com/en/citroen-grilles/citroen-relay-front-grille-set but currently not Fiat Ducato or Ford Transit

For the DIY version we found this UK manufacturing company who sell direct with free delivery on all their items We have narrowed the mesh choice down to this stainless steel option as suitable for car grilles as still allows adequate air flow whilst giving a lot of protection.




For our Transit based motorhome it is easy to access the rear interior of the bumper & attach it with strong cable ties. The above option costs £22.99 delivered with some mesh to spare. It shouldn't be that visible from the front.
Another option that might be preferable if the mesh is visible through your bumper is this more expensive diamond version



For our application this is £29.99 with no spare mesh but depends on size required.

 

[Wombles]

In case anyone might want either option we have emailed both companies asking if they can do a discount code for Funsters - long shot but always worth a try

 

[Ivory55]

Does it affect the air flow to the engine ? Just thinking if any problems and warranty claims etc.

 

[Barclaybasher]

The diamond version looks just like the square one.....from a diferent angle

 

[Wombles]

The diamond version looks just like the square one.....from a diferent angle

It is the same just cut at 45 degrees to give the diamond effect.

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[Barclaybasher]

It is the same just cut at 45 degrees to give the diamond effect.

I guessed that .....

 

[Wombles]

Does it affect the air flow to the engine ? Just thinking if any problems and warranty claims etc.

It would affect air flow which is why we have gone for the size mentioned but up to individuals to make their own choice. It does say on the description of this mesh "Plain weaves are used for the majority of commercial applications and for filtration where a high flow rate is required. This mesh is commonly cut on a 45 degree angle to produce car grille mesh."

 

[joka250]

In many years of running a vehicle air conditioning business I can say that the so called stone chip damage to condenses is a comparative rarity, it is more likely a combination of salt and water corrosion and that even tiny bits of grit will then cause the leakage. If you wish I could write pages on this topic but much of it would be boring. Fitting mesh will protect only in the minority of cases but it won't harm anything much.

 

[Barclaybasher]

#

now you're talkin !!

 

[deleted-member02]

I’ve got some brand new mesh that I bought for our previous Hymer but never got around to fitting it.
It’s aluminium with what appears to be a black coating.
Dimensions 125cm x 25cm.
You’re welcome to have it, it’s only taking up space in my garage...

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[Wombles]

In many years of running a vehicle air conditioning business I can say that the so called stone chip damage to condenses is a comparative rarity, it is more likely a combination of salt and water corrosion and that even tiny bits of grit will then cause the leakage. If you wish I could write pages on this topic but much of it would be boring. Fitting mesh will protect only in the minority of cases but it won't harm anything much.

Good to know the mesh won't cause any harm Thought we had just been unlucky but Googled it & came across a lot of web chats about damage to condensing units as so exposed & low down in modern vehicles. The most popular suggestion was metal guttering mesh but prefer the stainless steel options we found. Had two garages tell us that they regularly have to replace condensers - when we rang they knew the price to replace straight away which concerned us! Looking through the grilles on both car & motorhome can see how exposed they are - maybe it's modern designs or cost cutting not to have some kind of shielding. Our car condenser which is about to be replaced has many sizeable dents so must have been inflicted by stones & we remember one huge whack from one on the motorway just before our air con stopped working All in all we aren't taking the risk of another big bill - things run in threes!

 

[Wombles]

I’ve got some brand new mesh that I bought for our previous Hymer but never got around to fitting it.
It’s aluminium with what appears to be a black coating.
Dimensions 125cm x 25cm.
You’re welcome to have it, it’s only taking up space in my garage...

Thank you for your kind offer but have already ordered the mesh above - maybe someone else could make use of it?

 

[pappajohn]

So it costs 7 quid more just to cut it at 45°.

The way the ad is worded...... Difficulty getting to the cutter..... Difficulty finding the correct mesh in the factory...... makes it look like an employee is running their own sideline.

Why shouldn't they have the mesh they are advertising? .
Why shouldn't they be able to access THEIR cutter?
Why should it take longer if not a standard cut.

It's 1.6mm stainless wire, you could just about cut that with decent side cutters.
Sounds very fishy to me.

 

[tonyidle]

It's 1.6mm stainless wire, you could just about cut that with decent side cutters.

You can. I used to buy it in 8x4 sheets & cut it to size for Reliant Scimitar grilles.

 

[joka250]

The reason the condenser is so exposed is to allow sufficient airflow to allow it to do it's job, if air flow is restricted too much the air conditioning will lose efficiency and may contribute to engine over heating. Stone chips difficult to prevent but one course of action that may help is to gain access to the most exposed area and very gently with a small soft paint brush and possibly A suction vac remove the debris you find wedged between the fins and in the various crevices. Much of this debris will consist of very fine grit and dust, bird feathers, bits of leaf and more. All of this debris becomes almost a paste when wet and sits in vulnerable crevices and causes rotting of condenser. This if followed from relatively new may help to prolong life. Do not be tempted to wash it out with a hose or pressure washer and do be gentle, don't try and prise things out of the way, don't undo anything, just gentle cleaning.

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[pjay]

I replaced my grilles with stainless mesh from Lockwood international back in 2009, still looking ok after 9 years....

 

[Wombles]

Lockwood products & prices are competitive for the number 3 stainless mesh but need to add the extra £4.90 p&p when comparing. Handy tip about cutting too "This stainless steel mesh will not dent or lose its shape, like cheaper meshes do when bombarded with stones thrown up by the cars in front. This is a quality product, and you will need good quality wire cutters to cut it, similar to the ones used for cutting piano wire."
@pjay thank you for the excellent photos - it does look smart on the diagonal It's helpful to know it can look good for a long time as well as being protective.

 

[EuroTrotters]

It is a common issue with Car A/C Systems.

Motorhomes, A class in Particular suffer from stone chips and what the OP has done is what we do.

Mercedes Quoted £1200 to replace our Frankia A Class Condenser.

Ended up doing it myself for £100.

 

[EuroTrotters]

We have been experimenting with "Extreme" Leak sealant with mixed results.

 

[joka250]

We have been experimenting with "Extreme" Leak sealant with mixed results.

I experimented with this and similar products 20 years ago, would avoid like the plague. I know things change in 20 years but the technique remains the same.

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[DBK]

So it costs 7 quid more just to cut it at 45°.

The way the ad is worded...... Difficulty getting to the cutter..... Difficulty finding the correct mesh in the factory...... makes it look like an employee is running their own sideline.

Why shouldn't they have the mesh they are advertising? .
Why shouldn't they be able to access THEIR cutter?
Why should it take longer if not a standard cut.

It's 1.6mm stainless wire, you could just about cut that with decent side cutters.
Sounds very fishy to me.

It will cost more because there is more wastage assuming they start with an 8 by 4 sheet of the standard mesh then cut rectangles out of it at 45°. When they have finished they will have a lot of triangles left over which they have no use for.

 

[EuroTrotters]

I experimented with this and similar products 20 years ago, would avoid like the plague. I know things change in 20 years but the technique remains the same.

Has worked in my Sprinter Traveliner (s0 far without issues)

 

[Wombles]

Our mesh to DIY fit to rear of the Transit grille arrived today Just got to find time to fit it now.

 

[Wombles]

Going for the pretty option for our car as trying to fit a DIY version would involve removing best part of the front! Thankfully https://www.zunsport.com/en/ has agreed 15% discount for Funsters on their whole range with code MH121518

 

[Ninjabob]

Just had the condenser replaced on my SMART £500. Very common that they rot away. Loads of labour getting access.

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[Wombles]

Mr Wombles is finding making the DIY version for our Ford Transit based Chausson a bit time consuming - photos hopefully coming soon.
This is the Zunsport option fitted to our Ford Tourneo MPV car easily in 30 minutes (would be less doing it again) & we do think as well as being protective that it's pretty :

 

[Wombles]

The Zunsport mesh grilles arrived quickly well packed in a large cardboard box & were much more sturdy & well finished than we expected. We went for the slightly more expensive black option (nylon polymer coated stainless steel) so they don't stand out but also available in silver stainless. For our car as it's a set of three grilles it isn't a cheap option (but much cheaper than replacing the condenser again ) but for our new van conversion (Citroen Relay/Jumper) with two https://www.zunsport.com/en/citroen-grilles/citroen-relay-front-grille-set & as it's silver will go for the stainless ones so £135 less Funster discount £114.75 - Mr Wombles says they will be worth it compared to having to spend hours making some again!
We had to do a DIY version for the mesh grille on the Transit as none available & luckily our DIY option can be fitted without dismantling the front but this is not the case with our car. We have suggested to Zunsports that if the latest Ducato is also likely to get similar stone damage then mesh grilles might be a popular motorhome accessory at the right price? We are lucky that they already make one for the Relay but as two thirds of motorhomes sold in the UK are on a Ducato base (according to MMM magazine) hopefully they will consider manufacturing grilles for that one too.
We have our damaged condenser (photo below) & can see that although there was one major stone hit that caused the leak there were a shocking number of ones almost as bad! This is for a low mileage 64 plate car that has never been off road & always driven with care. It's disappointing that manufacturers don't fit protective mesh grilles as standard as the condenser unit is so susceptible to damage & expensive to replace.

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[pjay]

Nice one, a few piccies when you've fitted them would be good.

Pete

 

[Wombles]

Nice one, a few piccies when you've fitted them would be good.

Pete

Mr Wombles has just finished fitting the Transit DIY one so photos coming soon

 

[Wombles]

We found Zunsport via Google searches & thought their grilles would be a mass produced imported product but manufactured by them as a family run company in the UK & they supply their products direct to car manufacturers including Jaguar which explains the quality finish. According to their video a large part of their retail sales are for Porsche cars (so good enough for motorhomes! ) - it's a long video but possible to zip through to see the manufacturing process:

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