Bodywork

sbce90 · 06-21-2010, 01:03 AM

As you may have seen, I have some damaged panels on my car. The main things bugging me are two nasty scratches on both sideskirts and damaged front bumper. There are other small chips which bother me, but they're too costly to be fixed on a "size v price" scale. I went to some bodyshops today and have been told the skirts will be about 500 each. Also, the front can be fixed, but in its repaired state it will no longer be the flexible plastic it is meant to be. Rather, it will look like new but be more brittle and next time i hit something the area will just crack and possibly cause more problems. Quotes for the front have varied from 300-900, and a suggested whole new front bumper.

My thoughts are...

- Performance side skirts? Online I have found them for 350 euros shipped for both. They sell both as part of the kit, which I found weird.. as BMW dont sell anything else together.. part # 51192149517 ? Price for getting these and painting them will be similar to just repairing the current sides I imagine?

- Splitters for the front? Fitting splitters can cover up 99% of the damaged area. I was a thinking about splitters a while ago, but decided against them. However, if they are in fact a cheaper alternative then why not? I could partially or fully paint them just to make them blend in a bit better too. Also, OEM or reps for the splitters? Personally I am an OEM fan simply because of guaranteed fitment but for splitters which have a greater chance of damage and abuse, then would cheaper reps be more worthwhile?

Some pics of the damage. I couldn't get a good shot of the scratch on the other sideskirt as scratch on silver didn't show up in the photos.

John_01 · 06-21-2010, 03:18 AM

I am having trouble understanding what you posted, because it isn't clear whether the prices mentioned include the repacement parts. I thought it would cost more for genuine BMW parts. From the looks of it, it dosen't seem necessary to replace the skirts. For the bumper replacement, I couldn't understand how much extra a new bumper will cost. If you have since learned about the clearance needed around the front of the car, I wonder if you would be ok with a slightly more fragile repaired bumper. I have the same M-sport bumper and I am super careful not to hit anything with it. I think it is largely a matter of parking carefully and slowing right down over bumps, ramps, uneven road intersections etc.

benaud · 06-21-2010, 04:32 AM

Nasty scraps there... i saw this video the other day where they repair a bumper on an old BMW 840, interesting technique, but maybe not applicable to you.

--action starts at 4:30

As far as your skirts are concerned, i would be tempted to have a crack at it myself, you have little to lose as it's on the underside of the skirt, a clean, light sand and touchup may be ok short term. If it looks crap then go the "Performance" ones instead.

MFKN3 · 06-21-2010, 07:44 AM

I'd import performance or replacement m tech sides and get the front replaced or install splitters.

mark325 · 06-21-2010, 09:10 AM

I vote M3 Sides and splitters :P

sbce90 · 06-21-2010, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_01

I am having trouble understanding what you posted, because it isn't clear whether the prices mentioned include the repacement parts. I thought it would cost more for genuine BMW parts. From the looks of it, it dosen't seem necessary to replace the skirts. For the bumper replacement, I couldn't understand how much extra a new bumper will cost. If you have since learned about the clearance needed around the front of the car, I wonder if you would be ok with a slightly more fragile repaired bumper. I have the same M-sport bumper and I am super careful not to hit anything with it. I think it is largely a matter of parking carefully and slowing right down over bumps, ramps, uneven road intersections etc.

- To fix current skirts is 500 per side. This is purely a repair of what I already have, no new parts.

- BUT, my point was that I can get 2 new performance sideskirts for 350 euros shipped, which is like the price of repairing one current side. The only extra cost would be getting the new ones painted and I think in the end it would cost similar to repairing current ones. However, I would have new set of sideskirts for the same price as a repair. (I hope thats a bit clearer)

- To fix the front (as is, no new parts) , one place quoted 300. One quoted 900 and another one quoted 450ish. However, all said that a new bumper would be better but didn't give a quote for a whole front end replacement. I'm not in the position to be able to afford a new front end replacement so I didn't bother asking for a ridiculous quote.

- Again, same dilemma here. For the price of a repair, I can get some splitters to just cover it up and not risk greater damage later should I accidentally hit something. Plus, splitters are easily replaceable so should I scrape or hit something I can simply change a splitter instead of needing another repair.

As for splitters looking to ricey... I'm way beyond that. I have come to the realisation that I have black wheels which = instant rice. I would most likely partially paint splitters too just to make it blend in a bit better.

sbce90 · 06-21-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benaud

Nasty scraps there... i saw this video the other day where they repair a bumper on an old BMW 840, interesting technique, but maybe not applicable to you.

--action starts at 4:30

As far as your skirts are concerned, i would be tempted to have a crack at it myself, you have little to lose as it's on the underside of the skirt, a clean, light sand and touchup may be ok short term. If it looks crap then go the "Performance" ones instead.

Wheeler Dealers! I love that show!

John_01 · 06-21-2010, 10:22 PM

SBC, It seems like your decision comes down to personal taste. I'm not really sure if the performance skirts are much of an improvement on the M-sport ones. It just adds a little fake duct in front of the rear wheel - Not that its offensive or anything. I wrote before that splitters might look a bit out of place if u are not lowered. Anyway, its just my opinion.

I also enjoy watching Wheeler dealer and some of the others on Discovery Turbo. However most of the content is getting pretty old now, so I'll probably change my subscription.

sbce90 · 06-21-2010, 10:58 PM

I have been thinking about it today and I think that getting in new skirts is just a whole lot more effort for something that isn't actually better.

John_01, I do remember your comments from before and I'm still tossing up about the front. I suppose I would have to drive around really carefully regardless of whether its splitters or a brittle bumper.

06-21-2010, 01:03 AM	#1
sbce90 Me Boosta 264 Rep 5,721 Posts Drives: 320i / MB C63 / VW up! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (3)	Bodywork - damage As you may have seen, I have some damaged panels on my car. The main things bugging me are two nasty scratches on both sideskirts and damaged front bumper. There are other small chips which bother me, but they're too costly to be fixed on a "size v price" scale. I went to some bodyshops today and have been told the skirts will be about 500 each. Also, the front can be fixed, but in its repaired state it will no longer be the flexible plastic it is meant to be. Rather, it will look like new but be more brittle and next time i hit something the area will just crack and possibly cause more problems. Quotes for the front have varied from 300-900, and a suggested whole new front bumper. My thoughts are... - Performance side skirts? Online I have found them for 350 euros shipped for both. They sell both as part of the kit, which I found weird.. as BMW dont sell anything else together.. part # 51192149517 ? Price for getting these and painting them will be similar to just repairing the current sides I imagine? - Splitters for the front? Fitting splitters can cover up 99% of the damaged area. I was a thinking about splitters a while ago, but decided against them. However, if they are in fact a cheaper alternative then why not? I could partially or fully paint them just to make them blend in a bit better too. Also, OEM or reps for the splitters? Personally I am an OEM fan simply because of guaranteed fitment but for splitters which have a greater chance of damage and abuse, then would cheaper reps be more worthwhile? Some pics of the damage. I couldn't get a good shot of the scratch on the other sideskirt as scratch on silver didn't show up in the photos.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

06-21-2010, 03:18 AM	#2
John_01 Colonel 241 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I am having trouble understanding what you posted, because it isn't clear whether the prices mentioned include the repacement parts. I thought it would cost more for genuine BMW parts. From the looks of it, it dosen't seem necessary to replace the skirts. For the bumper replacement, I couldn't understand how much extra a new bumper will cost. If you have since learned about the clearance needed around the front of the car, I wonder if you would be ok with a slightly more fragile repaired bumper. I have the same M-sport bumper and I am super careful not to hit anything with it. I think it is largely a matter of parking carefully and slowing right down over bumps, ramps, uneven road intersections etc.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2010, 04:32 AM	#3
benaud Private 3 Rep 69 Posts Drives: '07 BMW 320i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Nasty scraps there... i saw this video the other day where they repair a bumper on an old BMW 840, interesting technique, but maybe not applicable to you. --action starts at 4:30 As far as your skirts are concerned, i would be tempted to have a crack at it myself, you have little to lose as it's on the underside of the skirt, a clean, light sand and touchup may be ok short term. If it looks crap then go the "Performance" ones instead. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2010, 07:44 AM	#4
MFKN3 Colonel 137 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: supercharged 4.4L stroker E92 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (2)	I'd import performance or replacement m tech sides and get the front replaced or install splitters.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2010, 09:10 AM	#5
mark325 Europhile 15 Rep 374 Posts Drives: 06 E90 325i Manual Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sunny Coast, QLD, AU iTrader: (0)	I vote M3 Sides and splitters :P __________________ '06 E90 325i 6MT \| Full M3 Kit \| H&R Euro Race \| VMR V710 \| Colour Kidneys AusBMW :: My Tutorials
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2010, 10:22 PM	#8
John_01 Colonel 241 Rep 2,643 Posts Drives: E90 325i, E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	SBC, It seems like your decision comes down to personal taste. I'm not really sure if the performance skirts are much of an improvement on the M-sport ones. It just adds a little fake duct in front of the rear wheel - Not that its offensive or anything. I wrote before that splitters might look a bit out of place if u are not lowered. Anyway, its just my opinion. I also enjoy watching Wheeler dealer and some of the others on Discovery Turbo. However most of the content is getting pretty old now, so I'll probably change my subscription.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-21-2010, 10:58 PM	#9
sbce90 Me Boosta 264 Rep 5,721 Posts Drives: 320i / MB C63 / VW up! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (3)	I have been thinking about it today and I think that getting in new skirts is just a whole lot more effort for something that isn't actually better. John_01, I do remember your comments from before and I'm still tossing up about the front. I suppose I would have to drive around really carefully regardless of whether its splitters or a brittle bumper.
	Appreciate 0 Quote