Front Spoiler Hangup

[mad_ludwig]

Has anyone else had problems with the front spoilers hanging up on the ever present concrete berms in parking lots. Mine got caught on a bolt that was not recessed and caused the front bumper to pull down a bit.

I had it fixed by my friend and local BMW expert "Fritz" and he cut about 4 cm off the replacement spoiler to give better clearance

Anyone else have similar problems

 

[luvmybmw]

Yes pulled mine completly off on the drivers side. Did not hear anything when I parked then when I pulled away HOLLY COW it was loud didn't know what happened until I got out and saw the whole thing hanging. Needless to say I was po'd I only had the car two weeks.

 

[RokleM]

When I got my used 2002 330i, that was about the only damage on it. The low hanging "scratch pad/stop" is allllll torn up (need to just cut it off), with a ton of scratches on the underside of the spoiler itself.

I looked into it, and got an estimate of about $1200 for replacement Guess I'll be waiting on that.

Being that I saw that damage when cleaning it, I don't have much of a problem getting hung up myself. I make sure I keep it far enough away to not tear it up any more than the previous owner did.

 

[Kirby]

Has anyone else had problems with the front spoilers hanging up on the ever present concrete berms in parking lots. Mine got caught on a bolt that was not recessed and caused the front bumper to pull down a bit.

I had it fixed by my friend and local BMW expert "Fritz" and he cut about 4 cm off the replacement spoiler to give better clearance

Anyone else have similar problems

Keep an eye on your temperature gauge. The spoiler was designed and put there for a reason, part of which affects air flow into the radiator and engine compartment.

Example: On the 80's Firebirds, they had no front grille opening. The lower spoiler was used to divert air under the car into the radiator at highway speeds. These spoilers frequently got broken or removed as you described above. Then the cars would overheat at highway speeds. At idle/low speed they were fine because the fan could move enough air for the low RPM heat.

I do not know if bimmers have the same issue, but keep an eye on it!

 

[bmwrocks]

I wonder if the cutting the guy did was on those black plastic airfoils that protrude below the rest of the underneath in the front. I sometimes hear those guys scrape the ground when I can't take a steep entry into a road at enough of an angle. I am not sure exactly what those airfoils do, but they are there in many vehicles nowadays. They are made of very flexible plastic so they don't easily break off.

 

[Section_8]

I wonder if the cutting the guy did was on those black plastic airfoils that protrude below the rest of the underneath in the front. I sometimes hear those guys scrape the ground when I can't take a steep entry into a road at enough of an angle. I am not sure exactly what those airfoils do, but they are there in many vehicles nowadays. They are made of very flexible plastic so they don't easily break off.

By the time I hear those airfoils gringing it's already too late...

My airfoils are still in one piece, I like to think that having them there quite possibly has helped save the bumper some after going over speed bumps and the like (Kinda like a rubber 'stopper' as the car bounces over the speed bump).

[driving2]

 

[squarehat]

Many newer cars have strategically placed underbody airfoils to cut down on drag and increase highway fuel economy. (Think of the Lexus LS 430 commercial where they spin it in a wind tunnel to show how air flows smoothly both above and underneath the car.)