Smooth Valence

[shmutzigE30]

ok so i know bmw used aluminum valences on the late models and all the ones ive seen around me had a bumpy texture to reduce rock chip visibility.

my question is that often i see people on the forum with smooth ones and im wondering if theyre after market or modified originals??? and has anyone ever molded an is lip into the valence?????

Thanks

[shmutzigE30]

and ive searched and found this but is it the only way??? ahhhhh

Part II - The Abject failure of Aircraft Stripper...

Today (09/24/06), we began stripping the rubberized undercoating off of my late-model front valence. Well actually, we sort of started yesterday. What we had planned to do was soak the paint/rubberized crap with Aircraft Stripper. I was told by several people that this shit would turn the undercoating to goo, and we could just scrape it off with a putty knife.

WRONG! It didn't work, it hardly even softened it up. So what do we do? Go back to Harbor Freight and buy a $5 wire wheel and strip the shit off with a Makita grinder, that's what!

This stuff no workie. Should have guessed, $4 a can at Wal-Mart...



The front valence, before stripping. See at the left of the vents where we tested the grinder. It worked real good...



Andrew going to town on the paint/undercoating. The wire wheel stripped this crap off like it wasn't even there:



One side completed. In the large flat areas, this shit was really thick!



Like I said, THICK. This was after about 3 minutes of stripping this area.



Stripping of the bumper mounting area. About halfway up, the undercoating stopped and it was just paint. VERY easy to remove:



Finished with the lower portion of the valence:



The finished, stripped, smoothed valence. Smooth as a baby's behind. And I should know, I've got one to check it against!



It might not look it in these pics, but this thing is shiny and VERY smooth:

[88e30is]

I have a smooth one. It has a rubber like paint on it. Like rhino liner or something. Strip it, prime it, paint it. IS lip goes right on.

[kronus]

I cannot agree with Janderson's experience, but maybe the aircraft paint stripper I used was of a better quality.. it took the paint right off my valence, with no problems. I then primered and painted the bare metal, and now have a smooth valence.

[shmutzigE30]

I cannot agree with Janderson's experience, but maybe the aircraft paint stripper I used was of a better quality.. it took the paint right off my valence, with no problems. I then primered and painted the bare metal, and now have a smooth valence.

so the aircraft paint stripper got rid of the bumps??? or did you have to do something after that

[kronus]

Well, yes. The metal is smooth, because it's sheet metal. They use a textured, lumpy primer on the valence and rocker panels so that it hides dirt, scratches, and small dents that would be evident on a smooth finish.

[Raxe]

so the aircraft paint stripper got rid of the bumps??? or did you have to do something after that

Gets rid of the paint too.

[guibo09]

how bad does it look if you keep the textured valence and ad a smooth IS lip?

[shmutzigE30]

how bad does it look if you keep the textured valence and ad a smooth IS lip?

+1

can someone PLEASE post an up-close pic with a textured valence and smooth lip, painted or black anything will help???

[dannyg]

how bad does it look if you keep the textured valence and ad a smooth IS lip?

Not bad at all...



I want to keep the car as original as possible, so I just added the IS lip.

[Farbin Kaiber]

+1

can someone PLEASE post an up-close pic with a textured valence and smooth lip, painted or black anything will help???

90% of the cars with an iS lip look like this. Go search Members Rides.

[nando]

the late valance is not aluminum... unless aluminum rusts like steel does.

[guibo09]

90% of the cars with an iS lip look like this. Go search Members Rides.

yeah didnt the 318is and 325is come from the factory with textured valance and smooth lip? or was the lip textured also?

is there a way to recreate the same texture? i think i would consider doing that with the lip.

[E30FreaK89]

no the IS lip would'nt come with texture from the factory. but i would assume that the valence when brand new off the boat would be very glossy and fresh and you would'nt even be able to tell.

[nando]

the textured valance with new paint looks just fine. most people have sandblasted/chipped/bent valances so they look like ass.

and don't texture the lip, I've seen it before, it's not attractive.