[H.Solo]

Can't tell... I'm going to wait until the OEM "Alu silver" parts are available and compare them to the CF.
I wouldn't want some replica or retrofit parts... just the OEM!

[just4kickz]

yeah but OEM costs so much... hopefully morristown will do its thinggg.

[Artz 330]

to answer all your questions, an ABS type plastic or fiber glass is stronger. The CF spilters are very thin, and the slightest debris cracks then at highway speeds. I got them for free but i wouldnt spend the money on them again. They are very cheap. Mine are all cracked to hell.

[Ghunger]

Originally Posted by just4kickz

haha okay plastic?

so in what order from strongest to weakest when comparing FG, CF, and Plastic?

Kind of a tough question.
-CF is stronger in general, but often aero parts like this are made very thin to save weight and cost. CF does not handle impact damage well esp. when it's thin.
-Fiberglass is similar to CF in that it's brittle but the fibers in it aren't as strong as CF.
-Plastic is least "strong" but it's much less brittle (usually) and would probably handle impacts and such the best of the three. These are all generalizations but give you an idea.

Personally I'd go with the painted plastic because it's the cheapest. We're not shaving ounces here to race and it would be the easiest and cheapest to replace if damaged.

[just4kickz]

haha or not to replace... i have no intention of buying parts that are almost guarenteed to last less than a few months... lol =)

[H.Solo]

Got the CF parts off ebay for a resonable price from an official BMW dealer. I'll have them painted right after I get them and post some pictures after I installed them.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by shadye90

I thought i saw a while back someone was making the front cf oem style front splitters in fiberglass or abs plastic..Does anyone know where I can find them..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-...71587652QQrdZ1

happy bidding

[H.Solo]

Got them painted last week and installed them today:

before: http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/594/vorher1ii.jpg
after: http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6750/nachher3vt.jpg



(more pics to come, when I take the tape off...)

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by Pretender

damn...if I need matching color front lips, I'd go for the Hartge front lip. look better than the OEM.

I agree! Might as well get something other than the splitters.

[andy]

I saw a pic of a car here with unpainted CF splitters and thought: what if the nose section was CF too? I did a quick PS and this is what I came up with. What do you think? Too ricey?

[just4kickz]

wow carbon front thing... never seen that before!

[H.Solo]

I'm not to fond of that carbon look... i prefer paint!

[Boondoggler]

I picked up a pair of replica CF splitters on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

I'm not a big CF fan, but I like the shape of the CF splitters, so I'm planning to get these painted body color prior to the install. I'll take close up pictures before and after the paint job, and before and after install, so in case anyone is interested in seeing the quality of this replica CF weave, they'll be able to get a view of it.

The fit of the replicas is quite good, only issue is one side needed to be heated a bit to make it sit flush with the bumper. It will fit fine once it is adhered to the bumper.

As I expected, they didn't come with any 3m tape or other method for application. I know the OEM units come with stickers you are supposed to apply to the bumper prior to using betalink, so that you can remove them at a later date without destroying the bumper.

I'm thinking of either using 3m tape or betalink. While 3m tape would make for fairly easy removal at a later date, my concern about using 3m tape is that it might be too thick, and possibly make the edges of the CF splitters stand off the bumper too much. Is the 3m tape people use for taping on spoilers and other mods thin enough so that this won't be an issue? The 3m tape that came with my replica ACS roof spooler worked fine on the rear window, but seemed about 1/16 of an inch thick, with might make something you're trying to mount flush, like these CF splitters, stand up off the main surface too much. Maybe I'm just being a worry wart, but I'd like to get opinions from folks with more expertise with these kinds of mods than I. Installing the ACS roof spoiler with 3m tape and the OEM trunk lid spoiler using betalink are the only experience I have with sticking mods on my car.

If people think the 3m tape isn't a good option, is it possible to buy tape similar to the masking tape included with the OEM CF splitter anywhere that would allow me to protect the bumper and use betalink to do the install? I used betalink to install the OEM trunk lid spoiler, so I understand how to work with it, but with these CF splitters, I'd like to ensure that whatever approach I use, I can remove these at a later date without damage to the original paint job on the bumper. I'm concerned that due to their somewhat brittle nature, they might get beaten up with rock damage and need to be replaced. If that happens, I don't want to ruin my bumper removing them.

Advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Mark Chen]

Originally Posted by Boondoggler

I picked up a pair of replica CF splitters on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...RK%3AMEWA%3AIT

I'm not a big CF fan, but I like the shape of the CF splitters, so I'm planning to get these painted body color prior to the install. I'll take close up pictures before and after the paint job, and before and after install, so in case anyone is interested in seeing the quality of this replica CF weave, they'll be able to get a view of it.

The fit of the replicas is quite good, only issue is one side needed to be heated a bit to make it sit flush with the bumper. It will fit fine once it is adhered to the bumper.



Advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

one side needed to be heated a bit to make it sit flush with the bumper
right side,right?
can you tell me how to heat it?
using hair dryer?
BTW,did you get any cracks on them?
cause I do
just get the same thing from the same guy
however, there are some cracks on it

[Boondoggler]

The passenger side unit was the one that I found to be a bit of a misfit. I found heating with a hair dryer made the material soft and plyable. Heating from the back of them works better than heating the outward facing surface. Once it's softer, you can manipulate the lip into the shape you want. If you hold it in place and allow to cool, it retains the shape.

I do see a few small hairline cracks in them, nothing major, certainly nothing that would be noticable once they are installed. My bigger issue is when you test fit them on, the really look like they've been slapped onto the bumper, not a very clean look at all. I've not seen the OEM ones in person, so I don't know if my impression of these is consistent with what I would see from the OEM units, or if these are of a significantly lower quality and fit. I bought these with the plan of painting them prior to install, so the hairline cracks are even less important to me. But after test fitting them on today, I think the only way they'll really fit well is to thoroughly betalink them on, making sure all edges are totally adhered to the bumper to avoid that "slapped on" look.

I'm not sure I'm up for that. I've already reached out to the seller to request a return, as I'm thinking I'd rather install the DTM replica Hartge lip based on the photos I've seen of it. Unfortunately the eBay sale clearly states no refunds, only exchanges or "store credit" so I expect the return request to fall on deaf ears.

[Mark Chen]

well, My cracks are kind of big
I email the seller some pics of damaging item
he ask if I can accept it
If so, he can offer me $40 and I can keep the item.
I ask him if I can exchange.

[Boondoggler]

At least you got a response from the seller, I haven't yet, but it's only been a few hours.

If he refuses to exchange, and you're really unhappy with the yours, I'd probably be willing to exchange mine with you. Like I said, they have very minor hairline cracks. I'm thinking I'm going to fight for a refund anyway, what's it matter if it's with yours or mine?

PM me the pictures that you took so I can see what you mean by major cracks.

By the way, I love those CSL reps you have, nice wheels!

[Mark Chen]

PM sent

[Boondoggler]

PM Replied

[Mark Chen]

the seller said he can send me a new set after I file the damage with UPS.
how to do it

[Boondoggler]

Originally Posted by Mark Chen

the seller said he can send me a new set after I file the damage with UPS.
how to do it

Unfortunately, it sounds like he's scamming you. It looks like he's trying to blame the cracks in your CF lips as a shipping issue, not a manufacturing issue. It will be extremely hard for you to obtain a refund from UPS for this unless the box you received them in was heavily damaged and you claimed it at the time of reciept.