Front wing replacement using aftermarket product

[mgman18]

Hi all,

New to e30 ownership so apologies if this has been covered before or if it opens a huge can of worms.....

Just became proud owner of a 1992 316 touring in superb order but has a serious car park ding right next to headlight.Previous caring owner had purchased an aftermarket wing but not got around to fitting it.

So am I facing an easy or hard task not having done the job before,I'm assuming its bolt on and will a non BMW part add to the headache???

[bpowell555]

Has it been sprayed the right colour? People always say the pattern parts are cr@p. Considering the potential downside I resprayed a wing and a tailgate from a scrapper, though ideally you'd get a tidy part from a breaker in the same colour. Fitting a wing is reasonably easy so if the pattern part is sprayed ready to go I'd consider fitting it as it should look better than the ding. Then if it really is sh!te start looking for the part in the right colour on an ebay breaker. You could always sell on the pattern part to offset some of the cost. The right colour should turn up on ebay in a month or so. If the pattern turns out to be ok you're good

[mgman18]

Thanks for the advice.Pattern part hasn't been sprayed so might be worth looking out for one s/hand in same colour.Got to get it sorted quick,promised the cars previous caring owner I'd get it done.
Only trouble is that same old problem time....and the fact that I want to be driving the car.

[daimlerman]

I would try the pattern wing for fit before painting,if it needs 'adjustment' it will save painting twice....

[DavieP]

Hi all,

Just became proud owner of a 1992 316 touring in superb order but has a serious car park ding right next to headlight.

I had the same on my car. A really deep crease barely a centimetre from the headlamp surround. Spoke to my bodyshop guy and suggested getting a new wing, but he wouldn't hear of it and said he could fettle it out. I left him to work his magic and it's as though the ding had never happened. Might be worth hunting down someone who can work metal properly instead of having to bend a pattern part to fit.

[fuzzy]

some say the pattern parts are a nightmare ive never had any problems with using them personally. seems its the luck of the draw of the parts batch.