Wrap it up?

[Mafiaracers]

I just got a front chin? lip? splitter?....chin? Whatever goes under the valence...forgive me, I'm new. It's brand new, in box, needs prep, sealer, primer, paint, install.

I could paint it. My initial thought was to paint it black and add a rock guard coating on it as well. However, I have a decent sized roll of 2x2 twill carbon fiber cloth, 60" wide. I could have it wrapped in CF, then apply several layers of clear coat to protect it (to a degree of coarse).

Paint is cheaper, fiberglass fab shop might charge a little more. First glance, its gonna be black, be it painted or CF.

Thoughts?

[e34john]

Which one do you have?

[Mafiaracers]

Only Picture I could find....I have the exact one this car has.

http://bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/1988_BMW_318it_e30_Wagon_M3_Power_Front_1.jpg

[Mafiaracers]

PS, this is my car.

[e34john]

That lip if brand new comes primered. I sprayed mine with plastic paint from a rattle can for like 3 dollars. I might roll it with truck bed liner or get some other rubberized paint next summer.

If you wrap it, the lip will get stiffer. The way it is its pretty forgiving and I've hit some big dips and speed bumps with it. If I would have put a splitter or reenforced it with fiberglass or carbon fiber, that would would have ripped off the car when it took a hit or been cracked already.

[Simon S]

isn't it just a black piece of plastic?

screw it on and go drivin..

[Mafiaracers]

Yeah its plastic. It was white out of the box, some primer coating. It has clips for attaching it to the valence.

[Simon S]

It was white out of the box, some primer coating.

gotcha. if it's the splitter i'm thinking of - just paint it black. wrapping it sounds a little overkill since it's likely to take abuse

[TexasTerp]

the link isn't working, I would suggest painting it

[Mafiaracers]

word, I'll just paint it....save the CF for another project :)

[Julien]

you bought an IS lip, congrats, now paint it either body color or flat black

[SpecRaceM5]

Make sure to not only use the clips, but add some screws. Mine is held in only by screws. I have had them fall off with the clips (usually after catching something) and then they get run over and are destroyed. The plastic is very strong and will take some abuse, but if it falls off it is done usually.

[325ix]

definitely paint it. Carbon fiber is more for high end race cars

[Mafiaracers]

Hey matt, It came with the car, part of the deal so...

I'll look into attaching it in a more secure manner. There's a tiny dent in the valence that needs to be addressed before I attach it though....hell, I haven't even looked under the car to see where it mounts!

Allow me to be the first to say....I"M NEW! lol