Front Carbon splitter on the cheap

[Enders13]

I just couldn't justify spending upwards of £600 for a carbon front splitter, so I decided to have a go at vinyl wrapping. Bought a fibreglass copy from Latvia on fleabay which also had the fitting bracket copied in fibreglass. Then went to a UK vinyl company and bought 3m of 1520width 5d carbon. The fit of the copy splitter was excellent but the finish was aweful, just a token spray of black paint that was rough and something vinyl was not going to stick well to. So I sanded it back to base on the important bits and sanded smooth the rest with 800grit wet and dry. The good thing about vinyl is you don't have to have it perfect like paint.

I've watched maybe 30 vids on wrapping, I recommend CK Wraps on pootube, he's good at explaining all the pitfalls and techniques. I'm pretty stoked on the result. All for about £135 plus some sikaflex 221. I didn't need 3m of vinly but now have loads left to pep up other parts of the car

[Russmov]

Originally Posted by Enders13

I just couldn't justify spending upwards of £600 for a carbon front splitter, so I decided to have a go at vinyl wrapping. Bought a fibreglass copy from Latvia on fleabay which also had the fitting bracket copied in fibreglass. Then went to a UK vinyl company and bought 3m of 1520width 5d carbon. The fit of the copy splitter was excellent but the finish was aweful, just a token spray of black paint that was rough and something vinyl was not going to stick well to. So I sanded it back to base on the important bits and sanded smooth the rest with 800grit wet and dry. The good thing about vinyl is you don't have to have it perfect like paint.

I've watched maybe 30 vids on wrapping, I recommend CK Wraps on pootube, he's good at explaining all the pitfalls and techniques. I'm pretty stoked on the result. All for about £135 plus some sikaflex 221. I didn't need 3m of vinly but now have loads left to pep up other parts of the car

You did a great job! Looks good and for a fraction of the cost.

[Cranswick852]

Looks great and I'm very interested in trying the same. I like the look of the front splitter but can't justify the price of the OEM product. Can you give some details on how it's fixed to the car. I note you say brackets are moulded in fibreglass, and that you used a silicon sealant. Did you drill into your front bumper? Also, how long ago did you fit it, have you travelled at motorway speeds over any distance, and how is it holding up?

[maDjzo]

That came out really nice! Congrats on the upgrade, way to cut a significant chunk of that OEM cost!!

[Enders13]

Originally Posted by Cranswick852

Looks great and I'm very interested in trying the same. I like the look of the front splitter but can't justify the price of the OEM product. Can you give some details on how it's fixed to the car. I note you say brackets are moulded in fibreglass, and that you used a silicon sealant. Did you drill into your front bumper? Also, how long ago did you fit it, have you travelled at motorway speeds over any distance, and how is it holding up?

You can see the brackets in the first two pictures. They are located by using some of the original bumper bolts then screw them to the bumper and remove the tags at the bolt positions so they don't fowl the bumper. After that it's just a case of applying sikaflex across the front of the brackets and a few blobs at each wheel arch and bobs your uncle. I only fitted it on Saturday so no driving as yet I've already tested it's solid and I'm not worried. The top of the splitter is angled in and sits on the brackets which means the adhesive is not having to do too much work.

Motorway to work tomorrow, I'll probably have the radio turned down out of paranoia 😎

[hufington]

Looks fab.

[Enders13]

Thanks for the positive comments, the real test of the vinyl wrap will be at the hand carwash I go to, their jet wash is pretty powerful!

[taseal]

Originally Posted by Enders13

Thanks for the positive comments, the real test of the vinyl wrap will be at the hand carwash I go to, their jet wash is pretty powerful!

They wrap entire cars with these, you'll be fine.

looks great.

Makes me wanna get that sport bumper. lol

[hufington]

Originally Posted by Enders13

Thanks for the positive comments, the real test of the vinyl wrap will be at the hand carwash I go to, their jet wash is pretty powerful!

Unless they go right to the corner of the wrap and keep the pressurized water at the same spot for a long time, it'll be fine.

[Chigger]

Originally Posted by Enders13

You can see the brackets in the first two pictures. They are located by using some of the original bumper bolts then screw them to the bumper and remove the tags at the bolt positions so they don't fowl the bumper. After that it's just a case of applying sikaflex across the front of the brackets and a few blobs at each wheel arch and bobs your uncle. I only fitted it on Saturday so no driving as yet I've already tested it's solid and I'm not worried. The top of the splitter is angled in and sits on the brackets which means the adhesive is not having to do too much work.

Motorway to work tomorrow, I'll probably have the radio turned down out of paranoia 😎

Did you use a template to mount the brackets (to their correct location)?

[Enders13]

Originally Posted by Chigger

Did you use a template to mount the brackets (to their correct location)?

The brackets are U shaped, each end fits to an existing bumper bolt to locate it. I test fitted the splitter before committing to fixing the bracket wit 6 self tapping screws. See this guide👇

http://www.protuning.info/bmw-f15-ca...-installation/

[P1]

A job well done!

[Wah]

15% eBay coupon today... really tempted to do this.

[Chigger]

Originally Posted by Wah

15% eBay coupon today... really tempted to do this.

Yup, saw that. Very tempting....

[Cranswick852]

How is that splitter holding up after a week's driving including some motorway miles? Seriously looking at following your lead and ordering the same product this weekend

[Russmov]

Originally Posted by Enders13

The brackets are U shaped, each end fits to an existing bumper bolt to locate it. I test fitted the splitter before committing to fixing the bracket wit 6 self tapping screws. See this guide👇

http://www.protuning.info/bmw-f15-carbon-m-performance-bodykit-installation/

What size of screws did you use to attach?

[NJDJ]

Wow! You did a great job and it looks really nice.

[Russmov]

Should something like this be used as well?

[Wah]

Got my FRP parts yesterday from Latvia... Now I gotta wrap it. I tried to wrap something in CF vinyl once and failed miserably, so I'm trying to decide how to proceed. The parts seems like they are pretty good quality... I ordered both the front lip and the rear diffuser for $400 total.

Enders13 When you wrapped it, did you do the lip in sections or one long piece of vinyl?

[Markbebb]

That looks great. I’ve just bought a black 4d and need to do this. Where in the UK are you?

[Markbebb]

Originally Posted by Wah

Got my FRP parts yesterday from Latvia... Now I gotta wrap it. I tried to wrap something in CF vinyl once and failed miserably, so I'm trying to decide how to proceed. The parts seems like they are pretty good quality... I ordered both the front lip and the rear diffuser for $400 total.

Enders13 When you wrapped it, did you do the lip in sections or one long piece of vinyl?

pm'd you mate

[Russmov]

Any update on how this splitter is holding up?