IS Lip on Alpine White - Paint Alpine or Black?

[adam12hicks]

Hey guys, my car didn't come with a lip and I found one with the 10 clips new for $128 on one of the retail sites, so it's on the way. I also ordered some Paintscratch.com Alpine White paint and clear to paint it, but I notice a lot of guys are leaving theirs black. I'm guessing it's a lot easier to keep clean if it's black.

I plan on putting black splitters on it to protect it from scrapes.

Do you guys think I should paint it white or leave it black? I'm wondering what most IS owners do who live with the car and know how well the front lip does or does not hold up.

Thanks for any thoughts!

[KenC]

I think black looks best on cars without foglights. If you have fogs, I'd say definitely go white. You bought Alpine II, right?

But then again, if you're going to toss a splitter on it, it looks kind of funny when the lip is black too...

[bmw327]

I'd leave it black, forget the splitter (ricey, IMHO), and be careful parking but that's just me. It's your car, so do what you like and have fun!

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb193/cmjudd/BMW%20318/IMGP3772.jpg

[adam12hicks]

Yeah I don't have fogs... just a couple plates. Looks like the only options my car got was the LSD diff and the manual sunroof and apparently the BBS basketweaves... although I thought they were stock in the US. Other than that I think it's pretty base.

Thanks for posting the pic... that gives me something to compare to. I think it might look a little sportier painted white personally, but I agree the splitters are a little bit bling.

Adam

[1991318is]

I'd go black if you still have the black on the sides and back, simply because it completes the black trail around the bottom of the car. Makes it equal IMO

[Cobra Jet]

Yea, I'd do black as well. Since it's the lowest spot on the car, with it being black it won't show as much road debris or bug splatters, plus as stated above by 1991318is, it completes the look w/ the rest of the lower black sections.

[adam12hicks]

Cool then that's what I'll do. Thanks guys.

[ak96ss]

To buck the trend, IMHO:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/2006TopBanana/SFAw7baHJTI/AAAAAAAADeE/YY0Nr-NnyGM/s800/img_1358.jpg

[Cobra Jet]

To buck the trend, IMHO:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/2006TopBanana/SFAw7baHJTI/AAAAAAAADeE/YY0Nr-NnyGM/s800/img_1358.jpg


Don't mean to jump thread topic - but did MD commission a special license plate just for BMWCCA? That's cool!

[ak96ss]

Yep, we have our very own plate - MD will do anything for a buck!

[tjts1]

Hint:
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=108269

I picked up mine yesterday for $8 and sprayed it today with a $1.99 rattle can.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/2578207385_ce12d3e03e_o.jpg

[adam12hicks]

Yeah that's definitely less than I paid, but I'm cool with having the original look IS lip on the car. But that's sweet for the moola!

Anyways, car's done, lip is black. It's getting closer to where I want it to be :) Got it tinted today too, and of course I took this picture this morning before I had it tinted...

http://www.golilm.com/BMW/318is.jpg

I'm pretty happy with my little 91 318is for under $3k. Interior is perfect and it's a one owner rig that's never had any damage.

[tjts1]

That car looks incredibly clean. Definitely worthy of agenuine IS lip.