TRD PRO grille install

I know this topic has been talk about a lot, but I wanted to share my experience and possibly add some minor details. Originally I purchased a knockoff off of Ebay which didn't accommodate sensor's garnish, so I returned it, then made another mistake by ordering one from Madhornets, which was of terrible quality and to the garbage it went. At that point I was done experimenting and ordered an OEM grille which by the way cost me only $179.00+tax (should've done that to begin with). An OEM piece looks slightly different (better quality), it also has some type of protective layer (possibly a clear coat). Yes it is slightly shinier than the knockoff ones, but it gives it a more upscale look, IMO. Unlike knockoffs it comes without the fill plate.

Before I assembled everything together I noticed that the OEM garnish sensor plate doesn't sit flush with the grille in the upper part. Not sure why Toyota did that but I didn't really like it so I used some neoprene spacers I had laying around to even it out and it came out perfect. I also bought an extended harness (recommended for a clean look). Over all I am very happy with the OEM parts, everything fit like it suppose to, even if it's slightly more expensive. Who knew, lol

 

Awesome!

 

wow, $180 for OEM? thats cheap! I was going to say Tacomabeast has them also for 150ish and seems good quality

 

I bought it at the dealer's cost. Good old friend hook up, lol

 

OEM for $180?!?!? I hate not knowing someone from the dealer.

 

Got my oem grill snd garnish $250 including tax

 

I always kind of suspected dealers were doubling their money on the damn thing

 

I looked at mine and it sits flush, it's OEM as well. Weird you had to use spacers.

 

I've seen other OEM grilles that had garnish sit uneven. Not sure why Toyota designed it like that. Try pushing yours in, see if it moves.

 

It is tight, no movement at all.

 

Mine was 260$ with oem wire harness garnish and oem grill

 

Sits flush I'm trying to get a better pic.

 

Yea, my borderline OCD will drive me nuts if that happened.

 

Mine is wedged in. Not flush. Was too hot today to open up the bottom clips so it can snap better. I’m getting error to clean the sensor but it’s due to the cover.

 

I have an OEM Pro grille not installed yet and very happy I did instead of the knockoff one!!!

 

Nice!! Definitely getting one soon!!

 

Challenge accepted!

 

That looks great, I am still going back and forth on if I want to swap mine out.

 

here one:https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2018-trd-pro-grille-garnish-issue.538299/
another one here at 0.57sec: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WItdMLSW-g
and another one: https://mycarboard.com/product/amaz...18-2019-trd-pro-grille-w-garnish-insert-2018/
one more: https://picclick.com/GENUINE-OEM-NEW-Toyota-Tacoma-2016-2019-TRD-PRO-262899169565.html#&gid=1&pid=3

I wonder if it's by design or some kind of a QA issue?

 

So I am assuming everyone who has bought them for under $300 have the hook up? Cant seem to source one out for those prices.