[andrew_b]

Got a new aero lip, should be here in a few days. I've looked around, adn even found the official BMW installation instructions in a pdf.

couple questions, though. I think i'm going to use double-sided 3M tape instead of betalink so I can remove the lip if I want. If anyone knows of any specific challenges or tips for that, please chime in.

Also, specifically for those who have used tape on a lip or something similar, will it be better/easier to affix the tape to the lip first, and position it then press it so it sticks to the bumper? Or should I put it on the bumper and then press the lip into place on it? Doubt it makes a difference in terms of how well it sticks, but does anyone know from experience if it's easier to get positioned right one way or the other?

thanks,
a

[nekbreaker]

I used 3m Tape on my lip just put the tape on the lip or have a body shop put it on for you my lip still there and hold with no problem

[DLam]

i put 3m tape on the lip as well

[ChasVS]

Yeah, tape gos on the lip first. Be sure you get the lip all the way up in place before you make contact with the body. There's no adjusting the position once the tape makes contact! I did mine a couple years ago and it's still looking like new.

[1thirtyfizzo]

3M tape on the lip first and then the 5bolts from underneath. The holes shld be pre drilled.

[ChasVS]

Originally Posted by 3thirtyfizzo

3M tape on the lip first and then the 5bolts from underneath. The holes shld be pre drilled.

[andrew_b]

Thanks guys. Will go with the tape on the lip, and the holes are pre-drlled, so I'm good there.

ChasVS, thanks for the photo, looks great! And looks a lot like my car so now I'm even more psyched to get it and get it installed.

[FirstBMWLA]

Use painters tape to bind the lip into place for few hours while the tape really takes hold.

[andrew_b]

Originally Posted by FirstBMWLA

Use painters tape to bind the lip into place for few hours while the tape really takes hold.

Yeah, that was in the instructiosn from BMW (but they use the betalink). makes sense to do it with the tape as well.

[andrew_b]

Got it done. I thinkit looks pretty good - the critical fitment points (sides, ends, tops where it hits the upper part) all lined up very well.

[ChasVS]

Nicely done! Painter's tape really isn't necessary. If you check the adhesive performance of 3M automotive tape it achieves 75% holding strength in just a few minutes. It won't hurt to use it, but it's not really necessary if you press and hold each section for 30 seconds or so.

[andrew_b]

Originally Posted by ChasVS

Nicely done! Painter's tape really isn't necessary. If you check the adhesive performance of 3M automotive tape it achieves 75% holding strength in just a few minutes. It won't hurt to use it, but it's not really necessary if you press and hold each section for 30 seconds or so.

Yeah, I had it ready and ended up not using it. I did use one trick I found in another thread here, though:

Applied the 3M tape to the inside key points on the lip - top and side of ends, and around the top where it joins the upper part of bumper.

Then I peeled back about 1" of each of the pieces of 3M tape for each of the ends, and stuck a the end of the painters tape to it. pressed it back down gently, and ran the painters tape over the lip to the outside. Dd that for both ends. folded the painters tape in half lengthwise so it wasn't sticky. This gave me a way to pull the backing off the 3M tape with the lip in place.

Peeled all of the cover off the tape on the 2 spots where the lip joins the top of the bumper.

Raised the lip up, making sure it was all the way up and all the way back before seating the tape on the 2 center "posts". Worked it so that the seams were flush and the lip all the way back.

Inserted the 5 bolts, which required making sure the sides wer eall the way back and flush. Loosely tightened them.

Holding the edge of the lip slightly away from the car, pulled the painters tape to get the 3M tape cover peeled off. did each side individually, making sure to get the end flush with the wheel well and the curve part pressed firmly into place (this was the one place I was initially worried about after the dry fit).

Did the other end. Pushed hard to make sure it was all the way up and back, then tightened the 5 bolts.

I think the trick to pull the backing off the tape really helped, since it let me focus on the center parts first, without worryign that the ends were getting set into place.