My exhaust heat shield under the front of the engine is rattling like you wouldn't beleive

Can't get it off cause the bolts are welded on (or seem to be)

If I was to remove it using an angle grinder and not put another one in its lace what are the consequences???

 

You have to be careful about parking in long grass during the summer, but apart from that not a lot. Do you still have the undertray fitted, as a lot of people remove this as well to help cool the sump and engine bay generally. You are not alone in have a rattly heat shield as "they all do that sir". It ages since anyone brought it up on here though. When I got mine 4 years ago everybody was talking about it. I think there was a recommended fix of refitting the heat shield with some washers between it and the mounts, which apparently helped to cool the heat shield. It got less hot and was less prone to cracking due to the the stresses of getting hot and then splashing through puddles etc.

 

Cheers Stuart