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      10-27-2010, 08:55 PM   #1
curveball99
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the 2 black cloth covered "boxes"

the 2 black, cloth covered "boxes" that hang down behind both sides of the front spoiler....can those boxes be modified, removed or replaced to increase ground clearance for those of us with steep driveways?
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      10-28-2010, 07:27 AM   #2
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Yeah, just keep driving into your steep driveway. They will auto remove in time.
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      10-28-2010, 09:10 AM   #3
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i've smoothed many a kerb with those babies
my left side is gone
right side still hanging on

i think they are there to clean up the airflow
so if you get rid of them it might ruin your air flow, which might affect the handling
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      10-28-2010, 06:34 PM   #4
curveball99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leg View Post
Yeah, just keep driving into your steep driveway. They will auto remove in time.
....jinxed myself by bringing this up. I just put a half-inch hole in the corner of my passenger side "box" today
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      10-28-2010, 06:37 PM   #5
curveball99
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kmarei View Post
i've smoothed many a kerb with those babies
my left side is gone
right side still hanging on

i think they are there to clean up the airflow
so if you get rid of them it might ruin your air flow, which might affect the handling
"clean up the airflow"? U mean they're supposed to improve aerodynamics?? Hard to believe with their square shape and they way the front hangs down flat against airflow.

What are these boxes called? Anyone ever replaced one? Cost?
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      10-28-2010, 08:43 PM   #6
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Those 'boxes' is what gives the bumper lower structural rigidity, and also play an important aerodynamic role, especially at speed. The middle one directs airflow from the hot radiators below the car. They're not expensive, especially the side ones (about $24, I think), but the middle one is about $140, if I remember correctly. Ask Tischer.

As for not hitting them, you need to approach the driveway sideways. Also remember that's easier to hit those parts going down than up, so exiting your driveway backwards is another option. Good luck.
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      10-28-2010, 09:14 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elp_jc View Post
Those 'boxes' is what gives the bumper lower structural rigidity, and also play an important aerodynamic role, especially at speed. The middle one directs airflow from the hot radiators below the car. They're not expensive, especially the side ones (about $24, I think), but the middle one is about $140, if I remember correctly. Ask Tischer.

As for not hitting them, you need to approach the driveway sideways. Also remember that's easier to hit those parts going down than up, so exiting your driveway backwards is another option. Good luck.
not sure we're talking about the same "boxes". There isn't a "middle one" because there are only 2 that are covered in the black cloth. They're on the far outer edges behind the front spoiler. The boxes hang down about 3 inches lower than the bumper.

I have approached my driveway sideways - both backwards & forwards. Right now, I have about 1/2" clearance above the driveway surface, but I'd like to add an ARKYM Aerosport front lip.
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      10-28-2010, 09:21 PM   #8
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...here's my driveway
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      10-29-2010, 07:48 AM   #9
curveball99
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...the boxes I've been trying to describe
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      10-29-2010, 09:47 AM   #10
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They're aero parts...I've cracked my left one already.

A few things you can do:

1. set you EDC on sport when you go through your driveway
2. go in sideways
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      10-29-2010, 10:13 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by curveball99 View Post
not sure we're talking about the same "boxes".
Yep. The middle one extends to the vertical line on the side ones, so you can crack that one too. Forget about that lip man; the car is already low enough stock, but it's your money .
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      11-18-2010, 08:24 PM   #12
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yeah, the boxes ARE the front spoiler. The plastic splitter is for show, at least on the passenger side.
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      11-18-2010, 10:05 PM   #13
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So we alter the airflow drastically when we put those front spoilers on huh?
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      11-20-2010, 12:37 AM   #14
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Well, I may have mislabeled them a spoiler. To you question, you might notice that most of these lips are at the same height as the bottom edge of the stock bumper cover bottom, so the black boxes are still in the flow of air below the splitter.

My kindergarten understanding of the aerodynamics: A spoiler "spoils" air, disrupting its flow, slowing and redirecting it, cancelling lift in a preventative way. I guess it wouldn't be right to call it passive, but it is not generating downforce, just preventing upforce! A proper splitter is directly changing air pressure above and below the lip, raising it above to push down directly on the lip, and lowering it below by allowing the air to move faster under the car, causing atmospheric pressure from above to also push down on the whole top of the car. The diffuser in the back is supposed to allow for more rapid expansion of the air compressed under the car, also pulling air in under the splitter. The upward slope of the back end of the M already accounts for that. Seems like most of these decorative aftermarket diffusers are neutral at best, and most likely making airflow worse. Putting on a thick diffuser and then pushing out the exhaust tips is a double whammy, reducing the expansion path and eliminating any venturi effect of exhaust gases pushing out at high speed from the mouth of the diffuser.

Not that anyone with these products is really driving consistently fast enough for any of these aerodynamic effects to be realized.
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      12-30-2010, 08:28 PM   #15
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So does anyone have a part number for these? I need to replace them Thanks.
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      12-31-2010, 08:37 AM   #16
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I've had to replace the driver's side one already. It's a pretty quick fix.
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      12-31-2010, 08:39 AM   #17
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Can someone give a brief explanation as to why it helps to put the car in SPORT mode when going over speed bumps or going up a driveway?
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      12-31-2010, 10:26 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PKL View Post
Can someone give a brief explanation as to why it helps to put the car in SPORT mode when going over speed bumps or going up a driveway?
Sport mode makes the suspension stiffer, more rigid, for handling reasons, but also comes in handy for low driveways and bumps. With the suspension less soft, it doesn't have as much movement, thus minimizing your chances of scraping.
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      01-01-2011, 12:29 PM   #19
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gthberg, thanks for the info. I had looked on RealOem.com but somehow missed the part.
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      01-01-2011, 03:23 PM   #20
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Looks like the ice in the alley damaged the bottom of my passenger side one. It is split across the front edge and hanging down about an inch. I figure next time I hit 100+ it is going to come tearing off. I will go to the dealer and have it replaced Monday but this really puts me off on the front spoiler I have been wanting to get to help with the down force. Thanks for the info, I am much less upset about damaging the part now I know how cheap it is.

Last edited by Omerta; 01-01-2011 at 03:50 PM..
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