Discussion
When I bought my 3R there were some `textured` aluminium trim pieces under the exhaust tail pipes. During a recent trip down to Bristol and back to join in the `caring with cars` event one of them disappeared, (fell off), somewhere on the M5. They seem to have been glued in place with some form of silicon and I guess the effect of a hot day and some rain weakened the bond. Anyway their purpose was to mask some slight marking on the upper part of the rear diffuser caused by either the previous standard exhaust collapsing down or from heat damage as the exhaust runs just above the GRP moulding. As one needed replacing I decided to remove the other one and use `mirror finish` stainless steel for replacements. The stainless was 0.5mm thick and was bought off eBay.
I made a cardboard template and then roughed out the parts using a fine metal cutting blade in the jigsaw so they were about 5mm oversize and then trimmed to the exact size using tinsnips. That way you get a much cleaner edge without having to spend ages filing the parts. The parts are handed so the template is just turned over for the second item. Then using stout gloves I held the parts in place and bent them around the rear diffuser moulding with a final tweak around a metal rod. (The diffuser moulding has a slight curve in plan view but even though the bend you produce is `straight` the final result is OK). I then drilled and tapped two M3 holes in the rear cross member to hold the parts in place with some pan head stainless screws. (A further tip - don`t remove the plastic covering over the mirrored side of the material until you have the parts finished ready for fitting - that way you don`t risk damaging the surface). The end result is much neater than what was there before. My car has a Haywood and Scott exhaust that runs just above the diffuser top moulding and these trims parts now stop any further damage. I`ve also inserted a small fibre washer between the exhaust and the trim to ensure they are spaced apart. (The exhaust which has largish end pipes has to run just above the surface so that it doesn`t foul the rear clam shell when the latter is tilted open and shut). Here are some photos of the end result:
It also now gives a lead in to a conversation with the `ignorati` at petrol stations - "yes as well as the rear wing the car also uses F1 technology with a blown rear diffuser for extra downforce - cough..." (It looks like the current generation of rear facing F1 exhausts which have titanium heat shields).
I`m now looking at making some stone guards with the remaining material to be fitted at the lower rear edges of the wheel arches. I`m not keen on the look of the plastic parts some owners have sourced from the US.
I made a cardboard template and then roughed out the parts using a fine metal cutting blade in the jigsaw so they were about 5mm oversize and then trimmed to the exact size using tinsnips. That way you get a much cleaner edge without having to spend ages filing the parts. The parts are handed so the template is just turned over for the second item. Then using stout gloves I held the parts in place and bent them around the rear diffuser moulding with a final tweak around a metal rod. (The diffuser moulding has a slight curve in plan view but even though the bend you produce is `straight` the final result is OK). I then drilled and tapped two M3 holes in the rear cross member to hold the parts in place with some pan head stainless screws. (A further tip - don`t remove the plastic covering over the mirrored side of the material until you have the parts finished ready for fitting - that way you don`t risk damaging the surface). The end result is much neater than what was there before. My car has a Haywood and Scott exhaust that runs just above the diffuser top moulding and these trims parts now stop any further damage. I`ve also inserted a small fibre washer between the exhaust and the trim to ensure they are spaced apart. (The exhaust which has largish end pipes has to run just above the surface so that it doesn`t foul the rear clam shell when the latter is tilted open and shut). Here are some photos of the end result:
It also now gives a lead in to a conversation with the `ignorati` at petrol stations - "yes as well as the rear wing the car also uses F1 technology with a blown rear diffuser for extra downforce - cough..." (It looks like the current generation of rear facing F1 exhausts which have titanium heat shields).
I`m now looking at making some stone guards with the remaining material to be fitted at the lower rear edges of the wheel arches. I`m not keen on the look of the plastic parts some owners have sourced from the US.
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