Z4M Front Bumper/Splitter Clearance

Vorsatz · 06-23-2017, 05:39 PM

Hi guys! I'm a relatively new owner of a Z4M and I'm loving it so far. I've been looking at front bumpers and splitters because I enjoy the aesthetic appeal (I haven't hit the track... yet

)

However, there are many hills and roadbumps where I live in California and I'm worried about the clearance of these splitters for daily driving. Will they scrape terribly? I'm cool with some degree of scraping, but if the splitter grinds terribly over every speed bump or on entry of every hill, I might just give it up altogether.

I'm looking especially at the splitters like the Mstache, which I've read has pretty good clearance, and the Arkym, which looks like it might have pretty bad clearance. Has anyone used these on a daily?

Any thoughts or input would be much appreciated

Edit: The preceding assuming stock height.

NickyC · 06-23-2017, 10:13 PM

The car is pretty low as is, dropped on my H&R coils I stopped worrying about scratching up the fangs a long time ago. It's just going to happen no matter what I do. No way you can run one of these cars lowered with a splitter without damaging it eventually, I don't even think I'd last a week with one.

If you keep the stock ride height maybe, but if you plan on lowering the car pass on a splitter.

Vorsatz · 06-23-2017, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyC

The car is pretty low as is, dropped on my H&R coils I stopped worrying about scratching up the fangs a long time ago. It's just going to happen no matter what I do. No way you can run one of these cars lowered with a splitter without damaging it eventually, I don't even think I'd last a week with one.

If you keep the stock ride height maybe, but if you plan on lowering the car pass on a splitter.

Hmm that does make sense, although I don't plan on lowering it for now. I'm worried that even at stock height any splitter is just going to get destroyed real fast

If it were just cosmetic scratches without ruining the splitter structurally, I think would be okay with it.

RossBMWZseries · 07-23-2017, 09:27 AM

I dropped my car with H&R springs. I installed my carbon fiber front lip (looks a lot like the Mstache lip), and it lasted me a month. This is because I don't go over anything I see on the road, I go around it. I drive SLOW and at an angle in dips and bumps. I would scrape it pretty much everyday, sometimes not too bad, most of them time pretty bad. There was a clearance of 3 inches down there. All the beating was taken at the bottom of the lip so you couldn't really see it, but I knew it was there so it kept me up at nights lol. After the 1 month of looking like a badass, I went to Discount tire to get my new wheels and tires installed, and right at the entrance to their parking lot there was a big... looked like a speed bump but not man made, not sure how it got there. Story short, I showed up to Discount (which was 20 feet away) with a broken carbon fiber lip. The pictures I took of the new shoes would've looked great if it wasn't for that lip.

Would I spend $400 again for that lip? You're damn right I would!

StickMon · 07-24-2017, 07:43 PM

The height isn't the only problem, but also the distance from the wheels to the end of the nose.
I've scraped my stock setup several times pulling out of gas stations and whatnot.
By the time the wheels are in the gutter the nose is way out in the street.
Pulling out at a 45° angle isn't always an option.

Finnegan · 07-24-2017, 08:29 PM

Not much more to add here other than this is why Porsche offers a lifting front end as well as relatively cheap splitter replacements on GT3, etc. GT3 is 179 bucks. Made to be replaced! Unlike everything else not a bad price....

Vanne · 07-25-2017, 11:54 AM

i have the apr splitter, and ever though the roads here are like glass we do have speed bumps from hell..
the apr splitter (mines custom) protects my fangs nicely and the bottom of the splitter is pretty darn strong fiberglass so it can take a beating, and does. looks perfect and does one hell ova job.

love it.

Hedward · 09-17-2017, 08:35 AM

I have the mustache 2 splitter with stock suspension. The clearance is reduced by 3/4". As I recall, the net clearance is now about 4-1/2" with the splitter in place.

The HACK · 09-18-2017, 11:54 AM

Problem with the splitter isn't the actual height clearance, since it doesn't really add much thickness to the bumper. At least, no thicker since the OEM under tray is the lowest point up front, not the bottom of the bumper.

Regardless, the same problem you're going to run into with the concrete parking blocks with the bottom of the fangs, you'll run into and then some with a splitter because it extends the bottom plane of the bumper further out by several inches. So if you're already concerned with scraping or damaging the bottom of the fangs on the front bumper, adding a splitter definitely won't help. I've since gotten used to using the reflection of the car next to me to gauge how far I am to the parking blocks, and since the car is so much shorter than your typical vehicle, I've learned to leave plenty of space up front when I park.

Issue with the splitter being extended further out from the bottom of the bumper comes when you go up or down driveways, or inclines/declines longer than the length of the car, since having the rear up higher than the front means the splitter comes a lot closer to the ground than where the end of the bumper fangs used to be. Just gotta learn to approach all driveways at a sharp angle rather than straight on to allow one wheel to lift up the front of the car before the other clears. There's not much you can do about dips in the road, it's just the nature of the beast. Speed bumps, same thing. If you can, approach it from an angle other than perpendicular to the bump.

Or just learn to deal with occasional scraping.

pungo · 09-18-2017, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The HACK

Regardless, the same problem you're going to run into with the concrete parking blocks with the bottom of the fangs, you'll run into and then some with a splitter because it extends the bottom plane of the bumper further out by several inches.

This what I don't understand. Why do people feel the need to pull so far forward into a parking space? Especially with such a short car, even an average size car, people pull so far forward. I can see it with really long car, SUV or pickup truck, but a Z4, come on, give yourself some space.

Unless you run at the track allot, I would not even consider a splitter unless you only drive conditions that allow it without scraping, which would be pretty rare.

AriuSen · 09-18-2017, 07:43 PM

After one day. Good luck op.

Lol jk. With stock height you will be more than fine with lip or splitter.

That happened from going off the track lol

Over it · 10-15-2017, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanne

i have the apr splitter, and ever though the roads here are like glass we do have speed bumps from hell..
the apr splitter (mines custom) protects my fangs nicely and the bottom of the splitter is pretty darn strong fiberglass so it can take a beating, and does. looks perfect and does one hell ova job.

love it.

Interested in your attachment underneath. I see your not running the supports.

Vanne · 10-21-2017, 10:31 PM

Drilled to match the bolts on the bottom and attached further to the rear for support. That and there isn't as much over hang as the non modified Apr splitter...

racerbruce · 10-23-2017, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorsatz

Hi guys! I'm a relatively new owner of a Z4M and I'm loving it so far. I've been looking at front bumpers and splitters because I enjoy the aesthetic appeal (I haven't hit the track... yet

)

However, there are many hills and roadbumps where I live in California and I'm worried about the clearance of these splitters for daily driving. Will they scrape terribly? I'm cool with some degree of scraping, but if the splitter grinds terribly over every speed bump or on entry of every hill, I might just give it up altogether.

I'm looking especially at the splitters like the Mstache, which I've read has pretty good clearance, and the Arkym, which looks like it might have pretty bad clearance. Has anyone used these on a daily?

Any thoughts or input would be much appreciated

Edit: The preceding assuming stock height.

Lowered 3/4 inch front and 1/2 inch rear....Bilstein B8 shocks and Eibach Pro-Kit springs....ZHP performance control arms, etc....just BARELY clear driveway curb when approached at a 45 degree angle.

The HACK · 10-25-2017, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racerbruce

ZHP performance control arms...

I'm curious as to why. The Z4 already came with ZHP control arms.

Over it · 11-11-2017, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanne

Drilled to match the bolts on the bottom and attached further to the rear for support. That and there isn't as much overhang as the non-modified Apr splitter...

Thanks, maybe I missed it but what is the length out from the stock bumper. Looks like the center cut-away gives you some additional clearance as well

Over it · 11-11-2017, 03:39 PM

FWIW in road racing, we often use plywood or aluminum sheet for the splitter. The plywood wears well, is strong and is easily finished or refinished with Carbon wrap, painted etc.

RossBMWZseries · 04-03-2018, 12:22 AM

Does anyone have the Schieddmann or Mstache lip attached to their car as well as the APR lip? Yes, both together.

I’m looking to buy the Schieddman CF lip again but don’t want to spend that much money if it’s gonna last me one month again. I was thinking that if I install the APR CF lip under it, it could possibly protect the Schieddman lip. I just don’t know if it would look horrible.

06-23-2017, 05:39 PM	#1
Vorsatz Registered 1 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW Z4M Coupe Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Z4M Front Bumper/Splitter Clearance Hi guys! I'm a relatively new owner of a Z4M and I'm loving it so far. I've been looking at front bumpers and splitters because I enjoy the aesthetic appeal (I haven't hit the track... yet ) However, there are many hills and roadbumps where I live in California and I'm worried about the clearance of these splitters for daily driving. Will they scrape terribly? I'm cool with some degree of scraping, but if the splitter grinds terribly over every speed bump or on entry of every hill, I might just give it up altogether. I'm looking especially at the splitters like the Mstache, which I've read has pretty good clearance, and the Arkym, which looks like it might have pretty bad clearance. Has anyone used these on a daily? Any thoughts or input would be much appreciated Edit: The preceding assuming stock height. Last edited by Vorsatz; 06-23-2017 at 10:44 PM..
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06-23-2017, 10:13 PM	#2
NickyC Lieutenant General 17463 Rep 10,660 Posts Drives: M4 CS. Former G82, x2 F82, F80 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Jacked out of my mind iTrader: (23)	The car is pretty low as is, dropped on my H&R coils I stopped worrying about scratching up the fangs a long time ago. It's just going to happen no matter what I do. No way you can run one of these cars lowered with a splitter without damaging it eventually, I don't even think I'd last a week with one. If you keep the stock ride height maybe, but if you plan on lowering the car pass on a splitter.
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07-23-2017, 09:27 AM	#4
RossBMWZseries Major 224 Rep 1,130 Posts Drives: '11 E92 328i LCI & '06 Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: San Juan TX iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M Roadster [7.00]	I dropped my car with H&R springs. I installed my carbon fiber front lip (looks a lot like the Mstache lip), and it lasted me a month. This is because I don't go over anything I see on the road, I go around it. I drive SLOW and at an angle in dips and bumps. I would scrape it pretty much everyday, sometimes not too bad, most of them time pretty bad. There was a clearance of 3 inches down there. All the beating was taken at the bottom of the lip so you couldn't really see it, but I knew it was there so it kept me up at nights lol. After the 1 month of looking like a badass, I went to Discount tire to get my new wheels and tires installed, and right at the entrance to their parking lot there was a big... looked like a speed bump but not man made, not sure how it got there. Story short, I showed up to Discount (which was 20 feet away) with a broken carbon fiber lip. The pictures I took of the new shoes would've looked great if it wasn't for that lip. Would I spend $400 again for that lip? You're damn right I would! __________________ 2014 BMW X5 Sdrive35i F15 2011 BMW 328i E92 LCI 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster E85 2013 BMW S1000RR K46 R.I.P. 1998 BMW Z3 Roadster 1.9L E36 SOLD
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07-24-2017, 07:43 PM	#5
StickMon My other car is on Mars 636 Rep 3,124 Posts Drives: 2006 MR Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lo-Cal iTrader: (1)	The height isn't the only problem, but also the distance from the wheels to the end of the nose. I've scraped my stock setup several times pulling out of gas stations and whatnot. By the time the wheels are in the gutter the nose is way out in the street. Pulling out at a 45° angle isn't always an option. __________________ Warning: May contain traces of nuts.
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07-24-2017, 08:29 PM	#6
Finnegan Dog Listener 701 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Not much more to add here other than this is why Porsche offers a lifting front end as well as relatively cheap splitter replacements on GT3, etc. GT3 is 179 bucks. Made to be replaced! Unlike everything else not a bad price....
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07-25-2017, 11:54 AM	#7
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	i have the apr splitter, and ever though the roads here are like glass we do have speed bumps from hell.. the apr splitter (mines custom) protects my fangs nicely and the bottom of the splitter is pretty darn strong fiberglass so it can take a beating, and does. looks perfect and does one hell ova job. love it. __________________ 2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC - Building/Developing Z4 GT3 Powered by
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09-17-2017, 08:35 AM	#8
Hedward Private First Class 60 Rep 115 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW M Roadster Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	I have the mustache 2 splitter with stock suspension. The clearance is reduced by 3/4". As I recall, the net clearance is now about 4-1/2" with the splitter in place.
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09-18-2017, 11:54 AM	#9
The HACK Midlife Crises Racing Silent but Deadly Class 1821 Rep 5,337 Posts Drives: 2006 MZ4C, 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Welcome to Jamaica have a nice day iTrader: (1)	Problem with the splitter isn't the actual height clearance, since it doesn't really add much thickness to the bumper. At least, no thicker since the OEM under tray is the lowest point up front, not the bottom of the bumper. Regardless, the same problem you're going to run into with the concrete parking blocks with the bottom of the fangs, you'll run into and then some with a splitter because it extends the bottom plane of the bumper further out by several inches. So if you're already concerned with scraping or damaging the bottom of the fangs on the front bumper, adding a splitter definitely won't help. I've since gotten used to using the reflection of the car next to me to gauge how far I am to the parking blocks, and since the car is so much shorter than your typical vehicle, I've learned to leave plenty of space up front when I park. Issue with the splitter being extended further out from the bottom of the bumper comes when you go up or down driveways, or inclines/declines longer than the length of the car, since having the rear up higher than the front means the splitter comes a lot closer to the ground than where the end of the bumper fangs used to be. Just gotta learn to approach all driveways at a sharp angle rather than straight on to allow one wheel to lift up the front of the car before the other clears. There's not much you can do about dips in the road, it's just the nature of the beast. Speed bumps, same thing. If you can, approach it from an angle other than perpendicular to the bump. Or just learn to deal with occasional scraping. __________________ Sitting on a beat-up office chair in front of a 5 year old computer in a basement floor, sipping on stale coffee watching a bunch of meaningless numbers scrolling aimlessly on a dimly lit 19” monitor.
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09-18-2017, 07:43 PM	#11
AriuSen Lieutenant Colonel 777 Rep 1,923 Posts Drives: Z4M Coupe Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (9)	After one day. Good luck op. Lol jk. With stock height you will be more than fine with lip or splitter. That happened from going off the track lol Attached Images __________________ Instagram: ariusen26 Youtube: Track vids
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10-21-2017, 10:31 PM	#13
Vanne Down Under!! 1621 Rep 4,294 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4MC Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Dubai iTrader: (4)	Drilled to match the bolts on the bottom and attached further to the rear for support. That and there isn't as much over hang as the non modified Apr splitter...
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11-11-2017, 03:39 PM	#17
Over it Mad Man 24 Rep 87 Posts Drives: car Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: US iTrader: (0)	FWIW in road racing, we often use plywood or aluminum sheet for the splitter. The plywood wears well, is strong and is easily finished or refinished with Carbon wrap, painted etc.
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04-03-2018, 12:22 AM	#18
RossBMWZseries Major 224 Rep 1,130 Posts Drives: '11 E92 328i LCI & '06 Z4MR Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: San Juan TX iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M Roadster [7.00]	Does anyone have the Schieddmann or Mstache lip attached to their car as well as the APR lip? Yes, both together. I’m looking to buy the Schieddman CF lip again but don’t want to spend that much money if it’s gonna last me one month again. I was thinking that if I install the APR CF lip under it, it could possibly protect the Schieddman lip. I just don’t know if it would look horrible.
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