Pre-facelift lower bumper grill replacement?

[HankLloydRight]

Is it possible to replace this piece without pulling off the bumper?

If not, how hard is it to pull the bumper and replace this piece (in hours and complexity)?

Additionally, how much does this part cost new, if anyone knows.

thanks.

 

[artsci]

Hank,

The bumper must be removed to replace this piece. It's not hard to removed the bumper but you'll need a helper once you're ready to pull it off. Two screws in the fender, two bolts on the top side (accessible under the hood), and a number of plastic clips on the underside.

That piece (it's one) is less than $200.

Here are removal instructions for both bumper and grille from the service manual:

 

[HankLloydRight]

Thanks, Rick!

Is there just one electrical harness connector to disconnect? Do you think that step is necessary to replace the facia grill piece?

 

[artsci]

Thanks, Rick!

Is there just one electrical harness connector to disconnect? Do you think that step is necessary to replace the facia grill piece?

If you need to jockey the bumper around to remove the grille, yes.

 

[DavidB]

The 2013 grill (built prior to the autopilot radar) is interchangeable with the 2015 grill with the rectangular opening for the radar.
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edited for better clarity.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Tesla is charging me $150 (P+L) to replace the grill piece, so that seems like a bargain to me.

I forgot about the AP1 radar cutout. That would have caused a problem (I was going to the swap grill parts with my P85D).