[ghost chili]

I need to replace my hood, so I'm considering the Mod Bargains VRS style FRP vented hood for e92.

I already posted in the track section, asking about possible cooling benefits, which would be my main reason for doing this. But I'm also curious what people's thoughts are from a cosmetic modifications point of view, especially from those that have tried the FRP version.

Here's what bothers me. I can get an OEM hood for around $460 from Tischer (shipping doesn't matter since I'm buying other items). On the other hand, a Mod Bargains hood will cost me about $760 shipped, and that's FRP, not carbon. So, I'm paying $300 more for a hood that looks kind of cool and might provide cooling benefits, but is a definite downgrade in terms of materials, and fit and finish. I know it's lighter but I don't care about that so much.

I'm leaning towards saving my $300 and sticking with OEM. What do you think?

[ModBargains.com]

There are additional benefits to the E92 vented hood other than the extra cooling benefits from the open vents. The hood is also significantly lighter than it's OEM counterpart. Fitment is spot on and in my opinion is 99%. Sure the material is FRP, but it can be easily painted body color for a perfect match. Here are a ton more pictures of the E92 vented hood installed on a few of my customers and fellow forum members cars for you to check out!

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/MISC/Carbon-Fiber-Vented-Hood-E92-335i-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/MISC/Carbon-Fiber-Vented-Hood-E92-335i-2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/Exterior%20Pieces/BMW-E92-328i-335i-Carbon-Fiber-Vented-Hood-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://www.**********s.com/images/Products/Exterior%20Pieces/BMW-E92-328i-335i-Carbon-Fiber-Vented-Hood-2.jpg[/IMG]

[Slow_335i]

I think the hood looks awesome, but if you don't feel the price difference for oem is worth it stick with he oem.

[O HELLA BMW]

Wouldn't water be a problem since the hood has vents ?? ESP if you have an aftermarket intake ??

[ghost chili]

Originally Posted by **********s.com

There are additional benefits to the E92 vented hood other than the extra cooling benefits from the open vents. The hood is also significantly lighter than it's OEM counterpart. Fitment is spot on and in my opinion is 99%. Sure the material is FRP, but it can be easily painted body color for a perfect match. Here are a ton more pictures of the E92 vented hood installed on a few of my customers and fellow forum members cars for you to check out!

Thanks, Alan. I've read that the hood has a reputation for great fitment, but I'm still a little worried whether I'll be happy with 99%. I'm also a little concerned about replacing stuff with FRP on a road going car - but I'm also unwilling to pay for carbon, especially since I'll paint it anyway.

Originally Posted by Slow_335i

I think the hood looks awesome, but if you don't feel the price difference for oem is worth it stick with he oem.

Yeah, I do like the way it looks...

Originally Posted by O HELLA BMW

Wouldn't water be a problem since the hood has vents ?? ESP if you have an aftermarket intake ??

From the searching I've done, water is pretty much a non-issue. I've also read that if you have an exposed after market intake, it will get dirty a lot quicker.

[Ghoti]

On the SG 335i in the photos above, it looks awesome, but the theme of the car is very agressive. On the white (?) one, not so much. IMO, vents painted a different colour than the hood look out of place.

On the cooling benefits, I have no empirical evidence, but I'd think that unless you are racing or otherwise using your car to its fullest potential, the power benefits would be minimal (are you really going to feel an extra 5 or 10 hp?)

If you're not 100% about it, I'd suggest sleeping on it. If you're still not 100%, your mind is raising a red flag.

Just my 2 cents...

[ghost chili]

Originally Posted by Ghoti

If you're not 100% about it, I'd suggest sleeping on it. If you're still not 100%, your mind is raising a red flag.

Exactly what I was thinking. I gave it a lot of thought this week, and the conclusion I came to is that the aggressiveness is going to look a little out of place with what I'm trying to achieve.

My car is 99% daily driver, not a track princess or a show car. I need to be honest with myself or I could end up blowing a bunch of money and regretting it later.

Maybe I could justify the cooling, but even then, if I'm only tracking the car 2-3 times a year, it will probably be a while before I progress to the point where I need to put money into in cooling.

[dwells]

What are the disadvantages of FRP? Obviously there's some - BMW wouldn't have added weight unless it was for a decent reason.

I wish they made a hood without the vents and just the indent. The vents are just too aggressive for most cars.

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

Originally Posted by dwells

I wish they made a hood without the vents and just the indent. The vents are just too aggressive for most cars.

100% agree. I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[O HELLA BMW]

I like the dukes dynamics vented hood

[Shazmonkee]

+1

[dwells]

Apparently they make a version of that hood without he vents and just the F10 style character lines. Anyone got a pic of it on an E92?

[tres]

Originally Posted by ghost chili

Exactly what I was thinking. I gave it a lot of thought this week, and the conclusion I came to is that the aggressiveness is going to look a little out of place with what I'm trying to achieve.

My car is 99% daily driver, not a track princess or a show car. I need to be honest with myself or I could end up blowing a bunch of money and regretting it later.

Maybe I could justify the cooling, but even then, if I'm only tracking the car 2-3 times a year, it will probably be a while before I progress to the point where I need to put money into in cooling.

when you do progress to spending on cooling you should get and oil cooler, since its your dd you will see the benefits in summer traffic and your 2-3 times a year on the track

[Ghoti]

Originally Posted by ghost chili

Exactly what I was thinking. I gave it a lot of thought this week, and the conclusion I came to is that the aggressiveness is going to look a little out of place with what I'm trying to achieve.

My car is 99% daily driver, not a track princess or a show car. I need to be honest with myself or I could end up blowing a bunch of money and regretting it later.

Maybe I could justify the cooling, but even then, if I'm only tracking the car 2-3 times a year, it will probably be a while before I progress to the point where I need to put money into in cooling.

Yep, agree 100%.

[NJ330i]

I would do it for my E90, but $$$ is low at the moment. When I had the $$$ the hood was out of stock

[ghost chili]

Originally Posted by dwells

What are the disadvantages of FRP? Obviously there's some - BMW wouldn't have added weight unless it was for a decent reason.

A FRP hood won't provide the level of protection a metal hood would in a head on collision.

Originally Posted by O HELLA BMW

I like the dukes dynamics vented hood[/IMG]

I like their D2 hood, but mixed feelings about the E90 LCI lines near the center of the hood on an e92.

Originally Posted by tres

when you do progress to spending on cooling you should get and oil cooler, since its your dd you will see the benefits in summer traffic and your 2-3 times a year on the track

Good point. I've scratched the surface on some options talked about in the track section. I wonder if there are any oil cooler(s) that make use of the stock ducting from the 335is / PPK inside the fender forward of the front wheels... that would be pretty clean and effective. I bet there are, just haven't looked really.

[Shazmonkee]

Originally Posted by ghost chili

A FRP hood won't provide the level of protection a metal hood would in a head on collision.



I like their D2 hood, but mixed feelings about the E90 LCI lines near the center of the hood on an e92.



Good point. I've scratched the surface on some options talked about in the track section. I wonder if there are any oil cooler(s) that make use of the stock ducting from the 335is / PPK inside the fender forward of the front wheels... that would be pretty clean and effective. I bet there are, just haven't looked really.

Also, Fiberglass + accident = headache.

I think the D2 hood looks great because it has the vents with the LCI lines; otherwise, I wouldn't have a preference for it.

[ghost chili]

Not to be a conformer or anything, but the D2 is beginning to grow on me the more I look at it.

[ntrinh91]

I want this hood on the pre-lci e90, anyone knows if it exists?

[secretsquirrel]

Originally Posted by dwells

I wish they made a hood without the vents and just the indent. The vents are just too aggressive for most cars.

+2

[twinturbopg]

if u want to go with OEM get one used, save urself a lot especially since u will be on the track. hopefully find somebody that has a hood of ur car color and no need to repaint. if u do need to paint shouldnt be more than 300. and used oem hoods are cheap.

[JET335]

I love the look of the Mod Bargains VRS style FRP vented hood, but i have an E90 LCI. Is there another hood that fits the E90 that looks the same?