New Skids

MVF4Rrider · 11-05-2009, 08:07 AM

I made these skids using 1/4" plastic sheet. I used my RPI skids as a pattern, then expanded the outer area to provide more protection. Finished using BMW spray paint kit in body color. They've been tested to 175 mph!

nmulax · 11-05-2009, 01:06 PM

Look good

Matty C · 11-05-2009, 01:07 PM

Not bad I would like to see a photo from below.

mhughett · 11-05-2009, 01:56 PM

I'm not being critical or anything but I'm just trying to understand the purpose of this part. These parts sit pretty low by themselves and now you are adding additional cladding to the bottom and this additional part is sure to drag the pavement every time you go up and down a driveway or parking lot that has any elevation change. Why do you want to do this?

nmulax · 11-05-2009, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhughett

I'm not being critical or anything but I'm just trying to understand the purpose of this part. These parts sit pretty low by themselves and now you are adding additional cladding to the bottom and this additional part is sure to drag the pavement every time you go up and down a driveway or parking lot that has any elevation change. Why do you want to do this?

Better to scrap an additional piece of plastic/metal that can easily be replaced then your bumper.

mhughett · 11-05-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmulax

Better to scrap an additional piece of plastic/metal that can easily be replaced then your bumper.

This is the part I don't understand. Without this part here, your current bumper doesn't scrape now unless you are going too fast through a dip of some sort. If you do hit a dip that would have damaged the original bumper, this piece of plastic isn't going to keep the original bumper from being damaged anyway. Effectively, you are installing what amounts to a decorative part that you know is going to get beat up on a daily basis and look like hell after a few months of getting scraped. The OP seems to have done a nice job installing the part but I'm not sure it's for everyone.

nmulax · 11-05-2009, 02:56 PM

The skid plates are for those of us with the Z4M. The front fangs have a tendency to scrape more then the regular Z4 bumper since they stick out farther. Also, a lot of us have our car lowered, so scraping is an regular issue.

MVF4Rrider · 11-05-2009, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmulax

The skid plates are for those of us with the Z4M. The front fangs have a tendency to scrape more then the regular Z4 bumper since they stick out farther. Also, a lot of us have our car lowered, so scraping is an regular issue.

Exactly. The sole purpose is in case I bang the front against something, I'd rather it be something I made and can easily replace versus the lower bumper. Plus the RPI skids won't protect against curbs higher than the bottom of the skid. I used the whole RPI skid as a template, and enlarged from there. So underneath they are almost exactly like the RPI skids. Plus, I ruined the RPI skids in the process of making the template, so they are no longer. Not a big loss. I thought they were somewhat inadequate to begin with in terms of fang protection. These are meant to be purely functional (damage control), not cosmetic. Perhaps they also function as a small splitter?

imom · 11-06-2009, 12:16 AM

How much time did it take you to make and how much in material cost? I like to get a set or make a set.

MVF4Rrider · 11-06-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imom

How much time did it take you to make and how much in material cost? I like to get a set or make a set.

I spent about a half of an afternoon making them. I clamped two sheets together, cut them out, and sanded the edges so I'd have a matched pair when separated. I did it back in Germany in April and they've been on ever since. I want to say all materials cost about $100, but I have enough material remaining to make a couple of pairs whenever I need. They're definitely not perfect but they will do the job intended and if I destroy one or both, it's not the end of the world.

xjeeper · 11-09-2009, 06:20 AM

Very nice, wanna sell me a set? :}

MVF4Rrider · 11-09-2009, 09:58 PM

^^ not really

They weren't difficult to make, but not a lot of fun nonetheless. It's a good winter project. If I ever make another set I'll make two sets and sell one (unpainted). I have enough material for at least 3 more sets.

11-05-2009, 08:07 AM	#1
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	New Skids I made these skids using 1/4" plastic sheet. I used my RPI skids as a pattern, then expanded the outer area to provide more protection. Finished using BMW spray paint kit in body color. They've been tested to 175 mph! Attached Images __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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11-05-2009, 01:06 PM	#2
nmulax Brigadier General 378 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	Look good __________________
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11-05-2009, 01:07 PM	#3
Matty C First Lieutenant 20 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Roadster, 2006 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bodensee iTrader: (0)	Not bad I would like to see a photo from below. __________________ 2007 Black Sapphire Z4 //M Roadster, Hamann Front End, Hamann Rear Diffuser, Hamann 19 Inch Anniversary Wheels, Eisenmann Race Exhaust, Group M Intake, RPI Ram Air, CDV Delete 2006 E46 M3, 2004 Jeep Rubicon, 93 Golf VR6
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11-05-2009, 01:56 PM	#4
mhughett Captain 25 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok iTrader: (0)	I'm not being critical or anything but I'm just trying to understand the purpose of this part. These parts sit pretty low by themselves and now you are adding additional cladding to the bottom and this additional part is sure to drag the pavement every time you go up and down a driveway or parking lot that has any elevation change. Why do you want to do this? __________________ 2013 Audi TT RS (Tech Pkg, Sport Exhaust, Heated Seats, Sirius) Retired--2007 Z4 M Coupe (Imola Red/Black, Premium Pkg, Heated Seats, XM, Bimmian stubby antenna, CDV delete, Apex EC-7--Anthracite, Goodyear F1 Asymetric 2.
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11-05-2009, 02:56 PM	#7
nmulax Brigadier General 378 Rep 4,320 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2006 Location: Metro-Detroit iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 Z4M Coupé [7.66]	The skid plates are for those of us with the Z4M. The front fangs have a tendency to scrape more then the regular Z4 bumper since they stick out farther. Also, a lot of us have our car lowered, so scraping is an regular issue. __________________
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11-06-2009, 12:16 AM	#9
imom First Lieutenant 29 Rep 313 Posts Drives: Subaru BRZ ....... Z4MR (SOLD) Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	How much time did it take you to make and how much in material cost? I like to get a set or make a set.
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11-09-2009, 06:20 AM	#11
xjeeper Private 3 Rep 58 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mandeville, LA iTrader: (0)	Very nice, wanna sell me a set? :} __________________ Interlagos Blue over black extended leather E86 M coupe. 0-60 in 4.21 (calculated from E.T.) 1/4 mile in 13.1 @ 106. Bone stock.
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11-09-2009, 09:58 PM	#12
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	^^ not really They weren't difficult to make, but not a lot of fun nonetheless. It's a good winter project. If I ever make another set I'll make two sets and sell one (unpainted). I have enough material for at least 3 more sets. __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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