My car came from the factory with lowers painted. The front lip is shot and needs to be replaced.

On the SunCoast site, it offers the "base" front lip for $192 or in primer for $790. Base:
http://www.suncoastparts.com/product...y_Code=997ttak

That seems like an awful lot of money for adding primer, and I think most body shops would prep and paint a lower lip (that is going to get scraped to all hell) for a lot less than that.

The "Aero" front lip is paintable and about the same price as the primered "regular" lip...

Can someone provide me some been there and done that advice?

Similarly, has anyone devised a method of protecting the bottom of the lip? Reinforcing with light grade metal that is superglued at the bottom edge???

thanks.

 

My car is black with the front painted lip. When it got so scrapped I couldn't stand it anymore I replaced with the base front lip which is black so it looks OK. I then took the painted lip to a very good paint guy, had it sanded, refinished, repainted for $200 and it's ready to replace the base one when I'm ready.

 

My lip is missing so much material is can't be repaired at this point.

 

I keep mine base black but I bet you can find a body shop to prep and paint that for less.

 

I'll share what I've done but it may not work for your situation/preference.

I'll start then by stating my turbo is not driven daily and I simply avoid steep drives and certain roads which are terrible, and there are plenty in Houston.

I purchased the aero front lip, GT2 side skirts and rear lower piece primered from SunCoast. Took them to a local body shop I trust to be painted and let them sit for 2 months. Then I had them installed and cleared with film. This wasn't cheap but worth the investment IMO. I also have Eibach springs, which lower the car alomst an inch.

For me I love the look and would do it all over again no questions asked.

If it were a daily driver and I simply wasn't interested in taking the time to watch where I go, park, etc...I wouldn't do it as it will certainly get scuffed up as you have experienced.

 

Next step after this is to have my driveway at my house altered. Its the worst driveway I EVER drive over...screwing up all of my cars.

 

I used this as alternative to modifying the driveway.
http://www.bridjit.com/

 

That is a great tip! Thanks! Ordered it!

 

Take the original new "Black finish" sand with 800/water. Wipe with PPG or 3M paint prep just to remove oils from hands. Wipe with cloth. prime with PPG K-36 two part primer. Sand again, prepare DBC of color choice, mix with 50% reducer. Paint sand again, finish with PPG 2021 mixed with PPG 2060 flex and flat clear cote. That is so the clear does not chip off. Paint and materials probably about $250.00 another $200.00 for paint job. It's expensive stuff but the finish is like factory.

 

I purchased several of the unpainted front lips from Suncoast and had them primed/painted by a good local body shop. I think they charged about $100 each and the quality is similar to OEM.

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you. That is what I needed to know.

 

No problem. I just re-read your original post and wanted to add that I go without any sort of protection on the front lip. The clear film looks like terrible when scuffed. I have never tried a metal plate but I am not sure it is worth the trouble.

I would just buy a two or three of the unprimed lips and have them all painted at the same time. When they get scraped you can just sand off the scuff marks and touch-up the lower part of the lip with a bottle of touch-up paint; it gets scraped underneath so nobody will notice you touched it up by hand. After a few touch-up cycles, you can just pull the lip off and replace it with a new one. The front lip is a consumable part.

 

I"m going to see how the "Bridgit" product works for my driveway. So far that is the only place that really gets me (ironic). If that does not work, I will take that advice and buy a couple next time so I can swap them out. Thanks also for the tip on the clear film.

 

Let me know how it works, I have often considered that that to be a great product idea. I never tried it because I doubt my HOA would allow it.