Lexus gx470 TRD style grille -- Install tips and lighting wiring

[sshevela]

Good morning all,

Recently I installed the Garage Alpha TRD style grill w/ the 3 grill lights and wanted to give out some insight on my install process.


First off, with the lights. Out of the box the grill lights are just open ended wiring to power the lights.
After some research, I came across a YouTube video where a guy was installing the grill but wanted the grill lights to come on with the driving lights AND the headlights. This way the lights would always be luminated with the vehicle on.
As he recommended, I ordered 2x Single pole Single throw relays to create and OR gate with the pair of identical relays. Both relays are wired identically, but the signal wire for one goes to the power wire of the low-beam headlight and the other to the power wire of the day-time running lamp (Grill lights come on when locking and unlocking the car too). Relay schematic and link to relays below, along with the guy's amazing video. If you're the gentleman who made the video THANK YOU.


Another helpful tip is the supplied hardware with the kit.. Absolute Junk, not too sure what Garage Alpha was thinking with the supplied hardware.
My original hardware rusted and the bolts broke off. Instead I used 8x Weld bolts (pictured below) paired with flange nuts. But I would use nylon lock nuts if I were to do it again.
The grill only needs a to be hand tightened as if you were to over tighten them you would break off the mounting tabs on the grill. It is very fragile!

Lastly, the finish of the grill itself is a flat black, almost looks unfinished and needing paint. Not too worried about it just wish it didn't look so fresh off the 3D printer. The Lexus/ Toyota logo separates from the grill so painting the logo itself would be a very easy process.

All in all the grill looks nice on the 470, I do believe the kit could improve in quality as the grill itself looks like it would shatter with the smallest stone, along with the useless hardware.

• YouTube video with install and wiring -

• Relays used - Amazon product ASIN B01J53IH5M

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

 

[Sixto Lezcano]

I bought new hardware from Lexus, very helpful. The garage alpha grille is nice but a little flimsy.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

Those weld bolts look like a good option.

I was pretty underwhelmed when I received my grill.

Between the random strip of 1/4" adhesive foam, the mold marks on the plastic, the atrocious hardware, the fact that my hood latch doesn't open my grill anymore because the tab is so flimsy and the fact that I never got a response when I emailed the vendor to address my concerns, I will say I expected WAY more for my money.

Not the quality you'd expect for our Lexus'

 

[sidneyhop]

I was actually wondering why I was taxed when I live out of state. Also sales tax applied to shipping. Just too much apathy for customers.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I was actually wondering why I was taxed when I live out of state. Also sales tax applied to shipping. Just too much apathy for customers.

Yeah, I had to double check my invoice because GarageAlpha adds tax on top of tax and shipping...it seems. I bet they don't even send the tax money to the corresponding states. And shipping is high. However, it's on us the consumers who were willing to pay a high price to get a new look on the grill even if it's expensive and flimsy.

Anyways, I just installed the grill and I dropped my hood latch plate and I can't find it....arghhh. It's somewhere in the engine bay. I did re-use all my existing bolts and added a leftover thick washer to a bolt supplied by GarageAlpha to hold it in place.

And my existing Lexus OEM grill was being held by a couple bolts. Most of the plastic retainers on the Lexus OEM grill were already broken off....at least on my grill. So, let's not overstate the high quality of the Lexus OEM grill.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Those weld bolts look like a good option.

I was pretty underwhelmed when I received my grill.

Between the random strip of 1/4" adhesive foam, the mold marks on the plastic, the atrocious hardware, the fact that my hood latch doesn't open my grill anymore because the tab is so flimsy and the fact that I never got a response when I emailed the vendor to address my concerns, I will say I expected WAY more for my money.

Not the quality you'd expect for our Lexus'

@ArBrnSnpr -- Can you elaborate more on your hood latch not opening anymore?

I had an issue with the wire hook no longer staying attached to the metal latch that goes on the grill. In my case, it turns out there's a plastic fastener that holds that wire hook in place. My plastic fastener broke off when I took off the grill.

After attaching the wire hook to the metal latch, I bent it so it wouldn't come off so easily. That solved the problem temporarily, but I need to figure out if Lexus sells the plastic fastener by itself, so the wire hook doesn't come unattached when offroading and makes me work hard to open the hood.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

@ArBrnSnpr -- Can you elaborate more on your hood latch not opening anymore?

I had an issue with the wire hook no longer staying attached to the metal latch that goes on the grill. In my case, it turns out there's a plastic fastener that holds that wire hook in place. My plastic fastener broke off when I took off the grill.

After attaching the wire hook to the metal latch, I bent it so it wouldn't come off so easily. That solved the problem temporarily, but I need to figure out if Lexus sells the plastic fastener by itself, so the wire hook doesn't come unattached when offroading and makes me work hard to open the hood.

The plastic piece of the grill that the latch mounts to is so flimsy on my grill that when I depress the hood release latch it just bends the plastic because it's weaker than the spring in the latch mechanism. It's going to break soon, then I'll have to rig up something.

Huge POS and a total waste of money in my opinion. Classic case of aftermarket Chinese quality garbage that reminds me of late 90's aftermarket Honda Civic parts.

The grill looks nice, but the list of positives absolutely stop there.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Got it. Mine is not bending as much and it works fine for now. Let's just say I'm not looking forward to the long-term reliability of this grille. I'll have to make sure I carry zip ties, plastic goo, and duct tape in my gear box. And might as well jerry rig something now for when the latch detaches from the grille.

 

[sshevela]

Once I was done with the install I shut the hood and didn't even try to re-open it after the fact.. I guess I will learn the hard way if the latch is finicky or not.

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought the grill was flimsy. Thought I was being too critical.

 

[jiggletits]

Hang onto your stock grills kids, you'll want them back someday

 

[jiggletits]

Got it. Mine is not bending as much and it works fine for now. Let's just say I'm not looking forward to the long-term reliability of this grille. I'll have to make sure I carry zip ties, plastic goo, and duct tape in my gear box. And might as well jerry rig something now for when the latch detaches from the grille.

This just seem like a lot of work to have something purely for looks.

 

[sshevela]

This just seem like a lot of work to have something purely for looks.

Its really not of work at all. I could have probably done it in 30 minutes if I didn't get all fancy with the electrical.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

This just seem like a lot of work to have something purely for looks.

Pure lipstick

And my stock oem Lexus grille is not worth saving. I think 6 out of the 8 integrated plastic bolt holders are completely broken.

But for those whose grille is in working order, save it!

 

[Oldjonny]

Pure lipstick

And my stock oem Lexus grille is not worth saving. I think 6 out of the 8 integrated plastic bolt holders are completely broken.

But for those whose grille is in working order, save it!

Installed my grille over the holiday break. After fighting with fasteners and spending an additional $20 in parts, finally installed it. Immediately removed it and set it aside. Did not like the quality. Have reached out to the manufacturer, but if I don't hear from them, this one will be available for cheap. Glad my factory grille was still in great shape.

 

[sidneyhop]

Installed my grille over the holiday break. After fighting with fasteners and spending an additional $20 in parts, finally installed it. Immediately removed it and set it aside. Did not like the quality. Have reached out to the manufacturer, but if I don't hear from them, this one will be available for cheap. Glad my factory grille was still in great shape.

My original grill was missing from the GX I recently purchased. If you dont get a refund for this please LMK. Im interested. Thanks

 

[Oldjonny]

My original grill was missing from the GX I recently purchased. If you dont get a refund for this please LMK. Im interested. Thanks

Will do. Its not horrible, just not what I would have expected for quality. The fasteners they supplied were totally useless and the factory fasteners do not fit the slots correctly. I would think they could have easily remedied that with a mold revision, but I also know that these are produced overseas, so who knows how long that might take to accomplish. Will let you know.

 

[jiggletits]

Clean OE Grills are all over ebay for $200 or so

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

Crazy how the supplier was active on the forums and responded until some negative feedback started to pop up. I'm very unimpressed that rather than responding and trying to make things right he seems to have taken his wad of cash and vanished.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Crazy how the supplier was active on the forums and responded until some negative feedback started to pop up. I'm very unimpressed that rather than responding and trying to make things right he seems to have taken his wad of cash and vanished.

Their business model is finding niche products that can generate profits. Not really deliver a quality product. And he made a good profit including high shipping charges and charging more tax than he was supposed to.

And super aggressive on don’t contact me if you are not patient with a 60+ day waiting time.

But it’s also our fault for wanting this grille so bad.