Any opinion if this part is needed? A plastic baffle on the front grill, held on with a few plastic rivets. I have left it out, but does it serve any useful purpose other than cosmetic.

 

i think its just cosmetic... i doubt that it might play a part in the cars aerodynamics...

 

its a little lip thing that supports the bottm part of the bumper a little more, but you dont really need it.

 

Diverting/funneling oncoming air into the [engine] bay and/or radiator and/or air filter???

 

Ha! I rememebr that thing from when my kit was installed... I was like wtf is this?

 

that fell out of my bumper too when i plowed into a cone at an auto-x. i never put it back... wonder if I should?

 

you don't need it....i took off both sides in mine....more air for the radiator

 

It doesn't support any part of the bumper - it hangs from the top by 2 plastic push-in clips. It's just there to protect vital items. The passenger side, behind that plastic thing, is where some of the lines to power steering and others are. Rocks hitting those items could damage and cause malfunctioning. I guess since Nissan put that on the passenger side to protect certain items, they decided even out the look by putting a matching one on the driver's side. IIRC, there's nothing behind driver's side plastic.

 

I've always wondered what those are... thanks bratha

 

Much of the above is true ---Its air diverter/protection/cosmetics----I think you will notice there is a L or and R stamped into it

 

I had the same exact issue and posted about it as well. Imagine that!

https://my350z.com/forum/maintenance-and-repair/298675-broken-plastics-front-bumper.html

 

If you had used the ADVANCED Time Warp Search you would have seen this thread

 

+1 ... noobs

 

One glance at the location of the said items and its surrounding parts would've told you its function - no need to ask on a forum about some plastic piece which doesn't do anything but protect PS lines on the passenger side. Imagine that!

 

I appreciate the feedback and the sorry for the redundant thread. Thanks!