Early iS front spoiler attachment question

[ELVA164]

Hey R3v,

So I traded for a "cow catcher" iS front spoiler for my '87, and I decided to test-fit it a couple days ago and see what I needed to do to attach it. I noticed that most everything lines up fine, but the two tow hooks under the bumper appear to get in the way of the buckets for the fog lights. I know these hooks have to be cut for a plastic bumper swap, but are the tow hooks on an iS in a different spot than a regular i? Is cutting just the way to go?

Thanks!

[Nsquared97]

I don't think they are, my IS still has towhooks on the front. I'll have to go out and look at my car, but I don't remember any issues with the hooks hitting the fogs. Are you using the es/is fogs/mounting brackets?

[squidmaster]

is your bumper tucked?

[ELVA164]

I'll take pictures of everything I have tomorrow, but my car has the regular metal valance on it now with untucked bumpers, and I have a full iS valance with the mounting brackets and things on it. I need to fabricate the bracket on the left side, but everything else is there. I'll try to see if I can take a picture of where it makes contact in case it was just from an incorrect angle of attack or something.


Actually, my sig pic is exactly what the car looks like now except for the regular i valance, which I traded for the iS valance.

Edit: Do you think it matters that it's a sedan? I didn't consider that possibility before...

[Nsquared97]

I'll take pictures of everything I have tomorrow, but my car has the regular metal valance on it now with untucked bumpers, and I have a full iS valance with the mounting brackets and things on it. I need to fabricate the bracket on the left side, but everything else is there. I'll try to see if I can take a picture of where it makes contact in case it was just from an incorrect angle of attack or something.


Actually, my sig pic is exactly what the car looks like now except for the regular i valance, which I traded for the iS valance.

Edit: Do you think it matters that it's a sedan? I didn't consider that possibility before...

Alright, just to be clear. Your talking about the 87 is front 'lip,' like the one in my sig with the foglights mounted in it? The metal 'valence' I am 99% sure is the same between 'i' and 'is.' You just have to take off the black plastic 'i' lip in your sig, and with the mounting brackets the 'is lip' should bolt right onto your metal 'valence,' although I am not entirely sure if it would have the holes drilled for it.

Not trying to treat you like a child in any way, just trying to make sure we are all on the same page.

[squidmaster]

I have an 87 eta sedan and I have an iS lip (not mounted) but it clears the tow hooks iirc

[ELVA164]

Alright, just to be clear. Your talking about the 87 is front 'lip,' like the one in my sig with the foglights mounted in it? The metal 'valence' I am 99% sure is the same between 'i' and 'is.' You just have to take off the black plastic 'i' lip in your sig, and with the mounting brackets the 'is lip' should bolt right onto your metal 'valence,' although I am not entirely sure if it would have the holes drilled for it.

Not trying to treat you like a child in any way, just trying to make sure we are all on the same page.

Oh, yeah, it seems like people call this thing a ton of different names. I think officially it's called a "spoiler valance" but then the metal valance is under it and it could be a lip...but anyway, yes. The thing with the fog lights is what I have. The black plastic lip is what I traded for the iS lip I have now, so that's out of the way. It also looks like all the holes are there. I'll need to get someone to help me hold it up so I can see what my deal is. I'm almost positive now that it's just me trying to mate it up on my own that's causing the issues.

[squidmaster]

I had to use blocks to hold it up while adjusting mine

[agent]

If you don't have them already you'll need mount brackets. They are NLA from BMW so you can either buy some from Chuck at Sunspot (details in my build thread) or fab your own. I think Levent may stock Chuck's brackets too.

[Nsquared97]

I think on mine I mounted all the brackets to the car, then you can basically just hang the lip/valence from them while you bolt it all together.

[ELVA164]

Edit: It looks like the right tow hook is bent down; could that be enough to get in the way?
Good idea about mounting the brackets first, that might be the way to go. I took some pictures of the spoiler and the car to show what I mean, but did not have a chance to hang it again.





This is the bracket I need to make up.


The tow hooks appeared to hit in this area.






As far as I can tell, everything is in order. I think mounting the brackets before the spoiler should help. Let me know if anything looks funny though!

[Nsquared97]

That tow hook on your pass side does look to be bent down a bit, I would bet that's your problem.

And I had the same problem with that bracket missing on the side. My solution? Get it hung up on the car, then I drilled a hole through the tab that sticks up directly above where that bracket used to be, and drilled straight into where that meets the fender. Threw a bolt through it and it was good to go (hit the hole in the fender with some paint to prevent rust) Once you put the bumper shrouds back on you won't see it.

[bastianshaw]

update?

[ELVA164]

So pretty delayed response here (forgot about this thread....) but here is a quick picture now that the sun finally came out!



I'll get some detail pictures next chance I get. Aside from bending the right hand tow hook up again, everything went together great. It's a beautifully engineered piece, I was very impressed. And it had a super-satisfying "thunk" when it went home, too.