Wamt your opinion!

[FL318is]

I am thinking about cutting the front bumper apron in the area between the fogs. I would open the existing 2 slots into one larger one and put diamond mesh in the larger opening. These pics are taken with a really bad, old floppy disc camera but you get the idea.

Is there any reason structurally or otherwise that I shouldn't do this?

[asubimmer]

I did it before I put on the cow catcher, I think it looks great. And no there were no side affects lol

[Vladi]

I like stock better. Just my 2 cents...

[asubimmer]

ohh paint the brake ducts black if you do that, it would look better ;)

[///Motorsport]

ohh paint the brake ducts black if you do that, it would look better ;)

really? hmmm... im missing the bottom piece of the two slots you are going to join... maybe i should be considering this too. asubimmer have any pics of when yours was like this?

[asubimmer]

yeah sure do, but i'll have to dig em up

[FL318is]

Sounds like a plan. After I tackle the elips and painting the pitted surface with duplicolor clear.

When you did yours how did you roll the edges? Also did you screen the opening?

[christophbmw]

I like stock better. Just my 2 cents...
Werd.^^

[asubimmer]

here we go, finally found the pics...

If I still had it like that I would paint the brake ducts and fog deletes black :D
http://i10.tinypic.com/2irm3x4.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/2hgte0j.jpg

[FL318is]

I like the look. Tryed to take my bumper off but didn't have a torx big enough. If I am correct just undo the torx and disconnect the turns and fogs. Anything else?

I painted behind the grill with black and will change the elips this weekend. Have a seasonal job interview and if I get it then, I am going to do the car from ground up.

[asubimmer]

yeah its a 55 torx

[MustPayDaddy]

i was considering this too cuz i was missing the lower slot as well, until i found an oil cooler grille. how would you attach the diamond/square chicken wire?

[FL318is]

On my E46 I basically used auto grade weather striping and wedged it in between the mesh and bumper. I bent the wire mesh edges so it follow the bumper's curve lines. Make any sense?

Once I can figure out how to get this E30 bumper off I will come up with something similar. Keep me posted if you have an idea.

Since the first post I have adapted a CAI to the car. Now I am thinking about running aircraft scat tubing from the airbox down to the new larger grille opening. For the moment I only have one high beam.

[MustPayDaddy]

think you could snap a pic of how you mounted it? cant really picture it with weather strippin...

[FL318is]

think you could snap a pic of how you mounted it? cant really picture it with weather strippin...

First chance I get I will recreate the process. But for now the bumper is on the E46 and don't want to take it off. I should be able to get som pics within the week.

[Alpine003]

Aesthetically, do what pleases you.

Aerodynamically, you'll be catching slightly more air. I thought about opening up the bottom slot but realized that opening it up won't serve any purpose unless you get an oil cooler. The radiator starts from the upper slot.

Also, the area is metal so you do run the chance of getting rust spots if you aren't careful in repainting the cut areas. If you ever to want to sell it, you won't be able to return it stock very easily either.

With salty winters here, opening up the bottom slot only can lead to rock chips and eventually rust, so I figured I would leave it alone.

I'll be lucking if I can escape this winter without any broken windshields.

[MustPayDaddy]

gotta love tha california climate! zero rust on mines! even throughout winter... can a 325 oil cooler work on our m42s?

[Choking Hazard]

Why don'tcha just paint the cross piece black?