How to Remove the Grille on a 2014 or Newer Subaru Forester

Application:

If you are planning removing the grille on your 2014+ (Fourth generation) Subaru Forester you are probably thinking about doing one of the following

Adding a sport grille to your Forester
Painting or Plasti dipping your grille
Installing an LED light bar behind the bumper skirt of your 2014+ Subaru Forester (Click for DIY)

Tools required:

Flat head screwdriver
Very short Phillips screwdriver. (Having a long one handy might be a good idea too)
8mm socket (Top section only)

Removing the lower section of the 2014+ Forester grille

If you have A 2014 forester XT there will be 10 body clips holding in the front grill/intercooler ducting. The are in the following locations. I assume the normally aspirated version of the forester probably has 6 clips holding it in.

Carefully use a flat head screw driver to separate the body clips at the designated pry-points.

2014+ Subaru Forester Body Clip Locations for front grille

Next there are four hidden screw holding the grille on. You will need a very short Phillips screwdriver to get the bottom two out (the shorter the better). The top two are easier to get out with a long Phillips. Removing the body clips from the intercooler duct work will make your life much simpler to get at the bottom two screws (basically required).

2014+ Forester XT grille hidden screw locations

Once you have removed 10 body clips and 4 screws the lower section of the grille will pop out. There are four plastic tabs holding it on if they are stuck you may have to unlock them with you fingers by pushing out on them gently.

2014 Forester Front Grille Removed

The following image is not mine, but if you want to remove the bumper entirely the general location of the body clips are marked below.

Removing The Top Section of the Grille

You will probably only need to remove this section if you are replacing your grille with a sport grill or you cracked your existing one.

Remove the inner six 8mm nuts. Removing the lower two will likely make it easier to pry off the upper section. The outer most nuts hold the trip on along with two screws that are only visible once the upper grille section has been removed.

2014+ Forester Upper Grille Section Attachment locations six 8mm nuts

Once you have the nuts off carefully pull or pry outward in the center of the piece . There is one body clip like stopper in the center. It will require some force to pop it out. (see bottom picture)