DIY alternative front splitters.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
DIY alternative front splitters.
I made a simple lip spoiler from polypropylene to stop it catching on low curbs and for looks ! I then added a rubber trim to finish the look and had it on my car for about 5 years, but the splitter was completely ripped off when we had some flooding back in winter and got washed away sadly.
I recently found some off cuts of the plastic sheet I used left over in my garage, but as they were not the full length could not do the same lip spoiler again sadly, so instead opted for a corner style splitter. My first pieces looked too wide I thought, so took them off and shortened them.
Can I ask what your thoughts are?
First images is the original spoiler I made that got rippe off with and without the rubber trim, then the wider splitters and finaly after a cut them down.
I recently found some off cuts of the plastic sheet I used left over in my garage, but as they were not the full length could not do the same lip spoiler again sadly, so instead opted for a corner style splitter. My first pieces looked too wide I thought, so took them off and shortened them.
Can I ask what your thoughts are?
First images is the original spoiler I made that got rippe off with and without the rubber trim, then the wider splitters and finaly after a cut them down.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 21
From: So Cal
CLK Cabrio
Love the original, the new one reminds me of the splitter in the bumper of the Ferrari 458. I personally think its a bit aggressive. However, nicely executed, so its only personal taste now. Do you have a link to the material or any info? thickness? Also, how did you attach it?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
Love the original, the new one reminds me of the splitter in the bumper of the Ferrari 458. I personally think its a bit aggressive. However, nicely executed, so its only personal taste now. Do you have a link to the material or any info? thickness? Also, how did you attach it?
However I watched the new UK Top Gear last night and they were testing the new Dodge Viper at Top Gun and its front splitter was very retro, so after that changed my mind to liking my own again.
The material is polypropylene, black shiny on one side and textured underneath. To decide on the shape I offer up the basic sheet to the underside of the car with box support etc, stand back and squint to see how it looks ! I use masking tape and imagination to mask off areas that I want to cut !
Once decided, mark the two points under the car for a datum, drill clearance holes in the polyprop sheet and then use self tapping capped screws through the polyprop sheet into the underside of the car bumper. I also made a small metal Z-section support where there was not enough purchase underneath.
That’s it.
Last edited by A1EK; Jun 1, 2016 at 05:31 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 535
Likes: 44
From: Pottstown, PA
'97 S500 Coupe, 2016 AMG S63 Coupe, 2007 Audi Q7
I agree the original is timeless; however, change can be good and the new look is unique and gives the car an aggressive race car look. Dual exhaust in the rear would complete the look.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 505
Likes: 58
From: Gold Coast, Oz.
C300 S205 AMG, GLA 45 AMG
2 weeks ago i made an entire front end engine undercover from scratch for the father in laws 1997 CLK.. it had lost both front side undercovers and only had the center sump cover but even that doesn't extend to the rear of the front skirt..
3mm black ABS...
A lot of fiddling around, marking cutting re-checking, then heat moulding to mate onto the inner wing liners.. screw fixing using the factory mounts wherever possible and a few extra ones to the inner wing liners..
3hrs start to finish.. cost 50 pounds or $100AUD.
His feedback.. the car is so much quieter.. i imagine the engine bay runs cooler now too and his fuel consumption will have improved..
in summary it was well worth doing....
3mm black ABS...
A lot of fiddling around, marking cutting re-checking, then heat moulding to mate onto the inner wing liners.. screw fixing using the factory mounts wherever possible and a few extra ones to the inner wing liners..
3hrs start to finish.. cost 50 pounds or $100AUD.
His feedback.. the car is so much quieter.. i imagine the engine bay runs cooler now too and his fuel consumption will have improved..
in summary it was well worth doing....
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: Denver
2001 Mercedes clk430
I made a simple lip spoiler from polypropylene to stop it catching on low curbs and for looks ! I then added a rubber trim to finish the look and had it on my car for about 5 years, but the splitter was completely ripped off when we had some flooding back in winter and got washed away sadly.
I recently found some off cuts of the plastic sheet I used left over in my garage, but as they were not the full length could not do the same lip spoiler again sadly, so instead opted for a corner style splitter. My first pieces looked too wide I thought, so took them off and shortened them.
Can I ask what your thoughts are?
First images is the original spoiler I made that got rippe off with and without the rubber trim, then the wider splitters and finaly after a cut them down.
I recently found some off cuts of the plastic sheet I used left over in my garage, but as they were not the full length could not do the same lip spoiler again sadly, so instead opted for a corner style splitter. My first pieces looked too wide I thought, so took them off and shortened them.
Can I ask what your thoughts are?
First images is the original spoiler I made that got rippe off with and without the rubber trim, then the wider splitters and finaly after a cut them down.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
To be honest I took the inspiration from a calender hanging on my kitchen wall, specificaly the Nobel super car...
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 50
From: Yokohama, Japan
2000 CLK 320
Yeah man, didn't seem like anyone was interested in my custom work so I stopped posting. It also does not seem like anyone is doing any custom work which was the real reason why I kept checking back to see what the latest custom / one-off was.
Speaking of rubber edge. I was just looking at this
http://www.ezlip.jp/
Have you ever seen that before?
Speaking of rubber edge. I was just looking at this
http://www.ezlip.jp/
Have you ever seen that before?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: Denver
2001 Mercedes clk430
Yeah man, didn't seem like anyone was interested in my custom work so I stopped posting. It also does not seem like anyone is doing any custom work which was the real reason why I kept checking back to see what the latest custom / one-off was.
Speaking of rubber edge. I was just looking at this
http://www.ezlip.jp/
Have you ever seen that before?
Speaking of rubber edge. I was just looking at this
http://www.ezlip.jp/
Have you ever seen that before?
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 168
From: Glasgow, Scotland, UK
SL 350 R230 (3.7L with AMG Speedshift autobox)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Fro...4AAOSwfQRXMUvc
When I did my previous lip I just used rubber trim and pushed it over the edge and it clamped on, same idea but I think the stick on version may look neater. If I were to do it, I would just add it to my the edge spolier lips as I think this would make a more interesting bottom line.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 50
From: Yokohama, Japan
2000 CLK 320
Yes this is the stuff I was going to use. There is a nice shinier version on ebay that has the carbon graphite look ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Fro...4AAOSwfQRXMUvc
When I did my previous lip I just used rubber trim and pushed it over the edge and it clamped on, same idea but I think the stick on version may look neater. If I were to do it, I would just add it to my the edge spolier lips as I think this would make a more interesting bottom line.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Fro...4AAOSwfQRXMUvc
When I did my previous lip I just used rubber trim and pushed it over the edge and it clamped on, same idea but I think the stick on version may look neater. If I were to do it, I would just add it to my the edge spolier lips as I think this would make a more interesting bottom line.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 70
Likes: 4
From: Denver
2001 Mercedes clk430
Yes this is the stuff I was going to use. There is a nice shinier version on ebay that has the carbon graphite look ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Fro...4AAOSwfQRXMUvc
When I did my previous lip I just used rubber trim and pushed it over the edge and it clamped on, same idea but I think the stick on version may look neater. If I were to do it, I would just add it to my the edge spolier lips as I think this would make a more interesting bottom line.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rubber-Fro...4AAOSwfQRXMUvc
When I did my previous lip I just used rubber trim and pushed it over the edge and it clamped on, same idea but I think the stick on version may look neater. If I were to do it, I would just add it to my the edge spolier lips as I think this would make a more interesting bottom line.
