Bottoming out on driveways

Locksmythe · 11-16-2009, 07:46 PM

I have hit the bottom of my front end on a couple high speedbumps and steep driveways. I've looked and not noticed any damage before, but today when it happened again on a driveway that had a little ditch right in front of it, I inspected to discover that there was some broken plastic. I can't take a picture right now, but it is the first bit of black plastic running side to side behind the soft black spoiler just below the bumpercover. The cover itself does not appear to be damaged. It makes an awful racket when I have these little bumps, so I have to wonder is something getting busted up inside the car above these superficial scrapes.

Any idea what those parts are, and how important it is to repair them? Can it be done DIY?

What kills me is that I have been ridiculously careful about bottoming out, even getting out and measuring sometimes, but still get hit by bad entryways now and then. It's not lowered, and the tire pressure is good. I do have EDC in the comfort setting, and I know that is contributing. I will try to remember to engage the stiffer setting when I encounter a potential problem.

MrHarris · 11-16-2009, 08:08 PM

Whenever you feel you are going to scrape, it is crucial you switch the EDC setting to sport, it makes a huge difference.

FStop7 · 11-16-2009, 08:48 PM

Set EDC to sport and approach tall speedbumps and steep driveways at sideways angles.

I turn right out of my driveway every morning to go to work, but I have to hit it at such an angle it looks like I'm turning left. that's the price for lowering a car that's already low from the factory.

drey · 11-16-2009, 10:49 PM

It's easy as a result of one of these scraping episodes to break an inner front fender - this could account for any unidentified black pieces of plastic you may find. Not an expensive fix, if that's the case, only about $100 for the part I believe.

The lack of clearance definitely sucks - adds a whole new dimension (paranoia) to anything other than highway driving.

FruitCake · 11-16-2009, 10:51 PM

you guys know that black box on the bottom of the bumper
does that get scraped 1st or the bumper itself?
i am a bit worried about scraping with the E92 cuz im so tired of it from my slammed E46

TwoSaints · 11-16-2009, 11:00 PM

I've scraped. It sucks. It'll probably happen again no matter how careful I am. Nevertheless I plan on respraying the bumper one day soon. ugh!

Locksmythe · 11-17-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FruitCake

you guys know that black box on the bottom of the bumper
does that get scraped 1st or the bumper itself?
i am a bit worried about scraping with the E92 cuz im so tired of it from my slammed E46

well in my case the painted surface was unscathed but the plastic box that hangs slightly below the spoiler has cracked.

SlammedR8 · 11-17-2009, 09:28 AM

Unless your speeding over these bumps, I dont see how putting EDC in Sport will help AT ALL...sorry guys. Makes no sense...if you go slow enough the car shouldn't bounce when coming down or up a driveway.

King Tut · 11-17-2009, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FStop7

approach tall speedbumps and steep driveways at sideways angles.

This is the key. I am lowered and have yet to scrape. I ALWAYS approach all speedbumps and driveways slowly and at an angle.

graider · 11-17-2009, 11:40 AM

that's why you don't lower these cars. they are seriously low enough for the street. I cannot see how one can drive it without worry their heart out especially when you put out of parking lot in downtown. 1" lower is max i would go on these cars

my car is stock height and I don't get this problem.

MJC///M3 · 11-17-2009, 12:50 PM

My E92 is stock, and I usually rub on my driveway all the time pulling into the garage. Do note though that I have an abnormally steep driveway, I'd say probably a 20-30 degree decline down into a flat garage.

My solution, I just put down a piece of that artifical green turf everytime I pull in an out, works like a charm! The car just grazes it, (not the bumper, those two felt covered box-lookin structures on either side of the front) and is left unscathed.

eclipsisNA · 11-17-2009, 12:52 PM

I plan on attaching a piece of sheet metal to the center section of my front bumper so that it doesn't get trashed anymore. It's just a mass of scrapes now.

gtrokin330 · 11-17-2009, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eclipse Motors

I plan on attaching a piece of sheet metal to the center section of my front bumper so that it doesn't get trashed anymore. It's just a mass of scrapes now.

i DESTROYED my front lip because my driveway is so steep and im so low. I scraped at stock height on an angle...so you can imagine what its like lowered lol

max08e90 · 11-17-2009, 05:31 PM

Why is changing the EDC to sport relevant?

Echo M3 · 11-17-2009, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by max08e90

Why is changing the EDC to sport relevant?

I believe that by making the suspension more "firm" it keeps the curb height of your car even (and thus less likely to dip up or down and scratch on the pavement underneath)

JCtx · 11-17-2009, 07:05 PM

What first hits is one of 3 pieces of plastic joined together that have a felt-like surface, and hang down about 1 to 2 inches lower than the bumper cover. Those pieces break easily, but they're cheaper than a bumper cover. Check the damage carefully before replacing any parts. Good luck.

TOOMANYCARS · 11-17-2009, 07:33 PM

Can't lower mine, even at stock ride height, the front scrapes on numerous parking lot entrances in Queens, and I can't imagine what life will be like with lowered suspension on this daily driver.

John@BMW · 11-19-2009, 02:45 PM

you guys do NOT want see the underside of my front bumper LOL-

Heat00 · 11-19-2009, 06:09 PM

mine is all scratched!

I never really thought to switch it to sport, actually I think I have it set for sport all the time, still very low and tough to avoid scraping.

ooowowizstev · 11-20-2009, 04:43 AM

No matter how careful you are, the ground will get you one way or another! I just bought a lip so I could scrape that instead.

h1d · 11-20-2009, 01:39 PM

I've already put the car on a lift and there is definitely a hole on the driver's side of the black box. I scrape every time i leave my house... no matter the setting or how slow or the angle... the part of the car is just low. I have never scraped any other part in the front... just the black box.

Any companies willing to make a metal replacement part????

Time to chime in!

11-16-2009, 07:46 PM	#1
Locksmythe First Lieutenant 49 Rep 378 Posts Drives: 2009 e92 M3 AW/FR Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Bottoming out on driveways I have hit the bottom of my front end on a couple high speedbumps and steep driveways. I've looked and not noticed any damage before, but today when it happened again on a driveway that had a little ditch right in front of it, I inspected to discover that there was some broken plastic. I can't take a picture right now, but it is the first bit of black plastic running side to side behind the soft black spoiler just below the bumpercover. The cover itself does not appear to be damaged. It makes an awful racket when I have these little bumps, so I have to wonder is something getting busted up inside the car above these superficial scrapes. Any idea what those parts are, and how important it is to repair them? Can it be done DIY? What kills me is that I have been ridiculously careful about bottoming out, even getting out and measuring sometimes, but still get hit by bad entryways now and then. It's not lowered, and the tire pressure is good. I do have EDC in the comfort setting, and I know that is contributing. I will try to remember to engage the stiffer setting when I encounter a potential problem.
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11-16-2009, 08:08 PM	#2
MrHarris yodog 243 Rep 5,021 Posts Drives: '86 Corolla Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Diamond Bar, Ca iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 BMW [9.50]	Whenever you feel you are going to scrape, it is crucial you switch the EDC setting to sport, it makes a huge difference. __________________ 2009 E92 M3 \| Alpine White \| Black Extended \| Advan RS \| Turner Test Pipes \| Dinan Axle-Back \| OETuning \| Eibach Springs \| UUC SSK \| VRS Front Lip \| VRS Type I Diffuser \| Matte Black \| RPi Scoops \| MS Filter \| Yokohama AD08 \| F1 Pinnacle Special Thanks: Gintani \| OETuning \| eAs
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11-16-2009, 08:48 PM	#3
FStop7 I like cars 386 Rep 5,051 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	Set EDC to sport and approach tall speedbumps and steep driveways at sideways angles. I turn right out of my driveway every morning to go to work, but I have to hit it at such an angle it looks like I'm turning left. that's the price for lowering a car that's already low from the factory. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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11-16-2009, 10:49 PM	#4
drey Second Lieutenant 24 Rep 222 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 Sedan, JZB/BB Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Norcal iTrader: (0)	It's easy as a result of one of these scraping episodes to break an inner front fender - this could account for any unidentified black pieces of plastic you may find. Not an expensive fix, if that's the case, only about $100 for the part I believe. The lack of clearance definitely sucks - adds a whole new dimension (paranoia) to anything other than highway driving.
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11-16-2009, 10:51 PM	#5
FruitCake Banned 94 Rep 1,680 Posts Drives: '10 E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (19)	you guys know that black box on the bottom of the bumper does that get scraped 1st or the bumper itself? i am a bit worried about scraping with the E92 cuz im so tired of it from my slammed E46
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11-16-2009, 11:00 PM	#6
TwoSaints Second Lieutenant 9 Rep 227 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Beaumont, Texas iTrader: (0)	I've scraped. It sucks. It'll probably happen again no matter how careful I am. Nevertheless I plan on respraying the bumper one day soon. ugh!
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11-17-2009, 09:28 AM	#8
SlammedR8 Major General 583 Rep 5,481 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i/2020 R8 V10 Spyder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	Unless your speeding over these bumps, I dont see how putting EDC in Sport will help AT ALL...sorry guys. Makes no sense...if you go slow enough the car shouldn't bounce when coming down or up a driveway. __________________ Current: 2019 BMW X5 40i - Carbon Black/Tartufo Individual Leather 2020 Range Rover HSE - Black/Black 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder 6MT - Ascari Blue/Black
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11-17-2009, 11:40 AM	#10
graider Colonel 35 Rep 2,406 Posts Drives: py/kiwi e46 m3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	that's why you don't lower these cars. they are seriously low enough for the street. I cannot see how one can drive it without worry their heart out especially when you put out of parking lot in downtown. 1" lower is max i would go on these cars my car is stock height and I don't get this problem.
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11-17-2009, 12:50 PM	#11
MJC///M3 Colonel 97 Rep 2,323 Posts Drives: 09 SSII E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bronx, NYC iTrader: (0)	My E92 is stock, and I usually rub on my driveway all the time pulling into the garage. Do note though that I have an abnormally steep driveway, I'd say probably a 20-30 degree decline down into a flat garage. My solution, I just put down a piece of that artifical green turf everytime I pull in an out, works like a charm! The car just grazes it, (not the bumper, those two felt covered box-lookin structures on either side of the front) and is left unscathed. __________________ "You will get there, but it is up to you and you alone. It is what you are willing to do, and how you are willing to get there. You must be relentless, you must be tireless, you must pursue at all costs, so that you are ready, when the time is right." -Dad
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11-17-2009, 12:52 PM	#12
eclipsisNA Colonel 420 Rep 2,928 Posts Drives: 2013 Estoril 328i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beverly Hills, CA iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 BMW 428i [7.91]	I plan on attaching a piece of sheet metal to the center section of my front bumper so that it doesn't get trashed anymore. It's just a mass of scrapes now.
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11-17-2009, 05:31 PM	#14
max08e90 Second Lieutenant 37 Rep 211 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: LA iTrader: (2)	Why is changing the EDC to sport relevant?
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11-17-2009, 07:05 PM	#16
JCtx Major General 314 Rep 5,017 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	What first hits is one of 3 pieces of plastic joined together that have a felt-like surface, and hang down about 1 to 2 inches lower than the bumper cover. Those pieces break easily, but they're cheaper than a bumper cover. Check the damage carefully before replacing any parts. Good luck.
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11-17-2009, 07:33 PM	#17
TOOMANYCARS Second Lieutenant 2 Rep 221 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: V.O.W iTrader: (0)	Can't lower mine, even at stock ride height, the front scrapes on numerous parking lot entrances in Queens, and I can't imagine what life will be like with lowered suspension on this daily driver. __________________ Everything is work in progress.
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11-19-2009, 02:45 PM	#18
John@BMW I can't belive this car is a 4 door family sedan. 95 Rep 385 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 sedan, '96 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	you guys do NOT want see the underside of my front bumper LOL- __________________
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11-19-2009, 06:09 PM	#19
Heat00 Major 55 Rep 1,027 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Weston, Florida iTrader: (0)	mine is all scratched! I never really thought to switch it to sport, actually I think I have it set for sport all the time, still very low and tough to avoid scraping. __________________ 08 - M3 Sparkling Graphite/blk leather/tech/6 speed 08 - 335i Sport/Prem/Auto White/Terra - AA Exhaust 07 Acura MDX Tech, 07 G35S /Nav
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11-20-2009, 04:43 AM	#20
ooowowizstev Brigadier General 150 Rep 4,903 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Los Angeles, Irvine iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [10.00]	No matter how careful you are, the ground will get you one way or another! I just bought a lip so I could scrape that instead. __________________ '08 E92 ///M3 - AW/BLK/CF, M-DCT, 19's H&R, Vorsteiner, Eisenmann, BMC, BBS More to come...
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11-20-2009, 01:39 PM	#21
h1d Private First Class 36 Rep 150 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 - BSM Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	I've already put the car on a lift and there is definitely a hole on the driver's side of the black box. I scrape every time i leave my house... no matter the setting or how slow or the angle... the part of the car is just low. I have never scraped any other part in the front... just the black box. Any companies willing to make a metal replacement part???? Time to chime in!
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