Where to get a hood vent?

[WorthaTry]

While driving my newly acquired Weekender home from the seller's house last week, a (very) large bird took off from the highway median just in front of me and crashed into my windshield. I've had a few bird strike encounters in the past but this one was so large I instinctively ducked. To my surprise the windshield survived, but when I stopped for gas a while later I discovered it had broken the little air vent that's embedded in the hood just below the windshield.

Any suggestions on where I can find a replacement for this vent? I tried Bus Depot but no luck there.
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2001 EV MV Wk

[67rustavenger]

Look in the classifieds here. There a few guys parting out EV's, maybe one of them has that vent in the Ivory color.

Sorry to read that on your maiden voyage you hit a bird big enough to break that upper hood vent.

Look at the bright side, you didn't have to get your trans rebuilt before you got to drive your new to you EV for the first time, unlike me.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[WorthaTry]

I did a few searches in the Samba classifieds and the best I could find was a few places that might be able to supply the whole hood, hopefully with the embedded grille still intact.

Today I had the EV in the shop for the required state inspection and one of the guys there picked up his phone and said the words "Eurovan fresh air intake grille". In seconds he had google search results showing places with the part I need in stock.

One of those was, believe it or not, Bus Depot. Whom I'd spoken to on the phone and informed me they did not have it. But here it is: https://www.busdepot.com/70181904401c

I just ordered one from Poptop World: https://poptopworld.com/products/original-vw-carav...ake-grille

Moral I guess is, like in many other parts of life, knowing the magic words is important.

Next question: if you were replacing this part on your EV would you leave it stock black, which matches other front-end accessories (bumper, grill, etc) or would you get it painted to match the rest of the body, like it was originally?
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2001 EV MV Wk

[67rustavenger]

Awful nice of the DMV guy to search for ya, and great finds on the parts.

When I bought my 03 EV, I considered painting the grills black. My friends talked me out of the idea.
That said, in your case, leaving the grill black would look pretty good, based on the pic you posted above.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[WorthaTry]

[HeyCrutch]

Ebay is always your friend in these kinds of situations. Since you have a black grill on the nose, get this stain black one for upper air intake on the hood.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203222731420?_skw=eurovan...BMnNfSoPpl

At around $50 not bad. I've had one on my van for 3 years.

EDIT: Didn't see the post where you said you'd already ordered one from PTW. You'll be happy with the black one.
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-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[WorthaTry]

Ahhh... My EV feels much better with a new air intake grille finally installed.
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2001 EV MV Wk

[67rustavenger]

That looks great. Nice work!

Now, get out on the road and enjoy your EV.
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!

[WorthaTry]

Yup, working on plans and prep for a ~ 6 week trip next month. A lot of details to pull together.
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2001 EV MV Wk

[67rustavenger]