REVIEW: MC Autoparts TRD Pro Grille & TSS Garnish

I would have loved someone to curse at

 

Probably the worst project I’ve tried in toyo land

 

I spent four hours in ikea today. That wasn’t the least fun I’ve had this week.

 

I feel your pain. I run from that place.

 

Just an FYI a little heat helps with the clips, and I do mean a little. It made things move around a bit that otherwise would’ve broken.

NOT A LOT OF HEAT THEY WILL MELT QUICKLY!

 

I bought the 2014-2017 cement surround with the TRD PRO grille. I wanted to swap my grille with the PRO grille to use the cement surround. I found it was cheaper to buy the cement surround and hood bulge from a dealer on eBay than to buy the color matched parts and new grille with new TSS emblem sensor from Sparks Parts. I was OK with using my original grille.

So I too had a “fun” time removing two grilles from two surrounds. Yes a little heat from a heat gun worked well, but like @Omohundro said, “NOT A LOT OF HEAT THEY WILL MELT QUICKLY!” And quickly means within five seconds. I think I broke one tab, three or four are deformed AKA MELTED, and the others turned out OK. All still worked along with the screws to keep the grille attached to the surround.

So now I have some bitchin’ chrome parts, (surround and bulge) along with a 2014-2017 PRO grille waiting for a new home.

 

Not sure if this shows what you’re looking for, but here are pics from the MC Auto grill on my Tundra, and the OEM Pro Grill on the Sequoia. (MC Grill has the white letters.)



Aside from the blemishes, they look and feel the same.

Also, I looked over the OEM Grills on the Sequoia, my 2017 Tundra, and the grill I took off my 2021 Tundra. No blemishes whatsoever anywhere on them, so the statement that “they all have them” is patently false.

 

Thanks for the comparison.

 

I actually ordered one of these today, just the center piece, and it was backordered due to covid at least a few weeks, so I took it as a sign to cancel the order and go with the more expensive option, after seeing the pictures of some of the installs. I may spring the extra cash to get the OEM one with the color matched surround. Does anyone know where the best place is to get that and does it come with the above hood vent or is that a separate purchase in addition to the grille with the surround on it?

 

@Roman , Cool Springs Toyota. I'd call him on the telephone, right now internet sales are not working.

 

Thanks sir, i PMed him.

 

Hood bulge is separate

 

I just swapped the Limited insert on my ‘18 for the MC Auto grill as I was ready for a change. So far I’ve done this three times (‘17 TRD Pro insert > Limited insert > ‘20+ TRD Pro insert) and I don’t understand the frustration. A flathead screwdriver and a little patience goes a long way. It took me about 30 minutes this time from removal from the truck to replacement with no broken tabs.

Regarding the grill itself, the quality is good. I’m not a fan of the TSS garnish, which is why I opted to keep my Limited grill in the first place, but the more new vehicles I see driving around, the more I’ve come to accept these radar sensors being a part of life until the manufacturers start figuring out how to blend them in better. Our 2020 4Runner has the same thing and it’s hideous. I decided I was ready to make the leap on my Tundra. With the exception of the garnish looking like ass, I’m happy with the grill.

 

Man, that does look really good. Tbh, from the small blemishes I see that some are pointing out are probably our own nit picking.

But from afar, it looks damn aggressive!

 

You can't really even see the blemishes because they're on the back of the grille, unless you look down into it. The TSS Garnish is way more noticeable. Its the only thing that anyone ever comments on, for mine.

 

I'm looking to order this when it's back in stock, it says it's for 15-21 models, someone on the website even asked them if it will fit a 2014 and they said no, are the clips different or do they have no idea what they're talking about?

 

I am stumped as far as getting the logo price attached. The holes seem to small for the screws provided.

 

They fit, you just gotta screw them in there.

 

Had a small issue with my grill today, the sensor cover came off, I guess the adhesive doesn't like the Houston heat too much. Grill is only a few months old, so ill contact them and see what they say.

 

Hmmm, mcautoparts.com is now Dear customers, we are having an internal problem that needs to be resolved.

 

Wonder what that’s all about??

 

Did they ever doing anything about this? Mine was doing something similar.

it looks like they’re shut down now. I’m guessing they got a cease and desist?

 

C&D would be my assumption, yeah, given that they are willing to process cancellations and refund people's money.

 

I had the same issue with my Garnish from them when I went through a car wash. I had a spare one but I am debating on spending the money for the actual Toyota garnish.

 

I want to take it off and reapply some adhesive but I’m not sure what kind of adhesive to use. I don’t want to use anything that will mess with the TSS

 

They sent me a new garnish, but I bought one on Amazon and just used that, and I have the other one as a spare in case this one falls off too.

 

Sweet I haven’t bothered looking at Amazon. I will have to take a look since it’s just a matter of time before mine fully comes off.

 

Do you have a link?

 

So insofar as alternate TRD Pro grills, where does that leave us?

• Order something off Alibaba and cross yer fingers
  
• Taco Vinyl -- seems like most people are at 5-6 months with no product, and the price is approaching OEM anyhow
  
• https://empyreoffroad.com -- $300, but are you supposed to use this in conjunction with the $220 Bumper Shellz? It is out of stock anyhow...

Are there other options?

I have in my notes here that the OEM route is:

• Grill $336 - 53101-0C070-B0
  
• Bulge $217 - 76180-0C030-B1
  
• Sensor cover - $309 - 53141-34010
• Clips $2 - 90183-06044 (QTY:2)

So just under $862 based on the prices from Sparks.