Fibreglass Bonnet - Fitting Advice?

[furbster]

Hi Guys (and Gals)

Does anybody have any tips for fitting these as mine is just a thin panel with no mounts or markings and i'm not really sure where to start.

I don't really want to go down the route of just using four pins and no hinges as that would make life a pain having to completely remove the bonnet just to check oil levels etc.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[TRACKM3]

Pins is the best way im afraid, on a single skin grp panel if you where to hinge it the flex when opening it on a hinge will over time damage the laminate.

[UweM3]

With a very thin one, you may even need to consider 5 pins to stop the front lifting in the middle

[Turbo-Brown]

Perhaps cut the metal skin off the original bonnet and bond the FG skin onto the skeleton that's left behind.

Don't save quite as much weight that way but means it can be opened and shut easily

[furbster]

Thanks for the advice guys.

What about just bonding some braces in an X shape corner to corner to give it rigidity and maybe bonding some hinge mounts at the back and using pins at the front?

Also, anybody know the best places to get the pins from?

Cheers

[M3BOB]

Perhaps cut the metal skin off the original bonnet and bond the FG skin onto the skeleton that's left behind.

Don't save quite as much weight that way but means it can be opened and shut easily

or i or track m3 could supply you with a double skin bonnet in f/g i have one and i think martin has a spare

[furbster]

what sort of money we talking bob?

[doggydoo2000]

if you are using the bonnet to make it lighter just use pins otherwise you are defeating the object. How often do you open the lid anyway?

[furbster]

Surely bracing with fibreglass and fitting rear hinges is still a huge weight saving over stock??

I open the lid enough times to make it a pain in the arse to remove.

Any idea how much the rear hinges weigh?

[furbster]

Just realised I have been talking out of my back side for most of this thread!

What I meant to say was use existing hinges at the FRONT and pins at the REAR!

[UweM3]

Just realised I have been talking out of my back side for most of this thread!

What I meant to say was use existing hinges at the FRONT and pins at the REAR!

I would suggest doing it the other way round. Use the top slider thingies and some pins at the front. (does this make sense to you??)
I don't tink it will make any sense to reinforce the thin bonnet to be able to take the front hinge without braking over time. I can recommend a double skin bonnet from TrackM3 if you want to use the stock hinge.

[furbster]

Thanks UWEM3.

Yes it does make sense and that's what I'm going to do (I think) as I alreay have the single skin bonnet and just need to get it painted. If I do get fed up with having to completely take the bonnet off then I will get a doubleskin bonnet from TrackM3 and flog mine.

Thanks for all your advice guys.

[paulg390]

With a very thin one, you may even need to consider 5 pins to stop the front lifting in the middle

Agreed, you need somthing to pin down the centre of the leading edge... without it a single skin will flap badly at over 60mph... or at least ours did

[turkey]

dibs on the single skin bonnet then...

[shane325i]

Has anybody done a guide to fitting bonnet pins?Im going to be using them at the front of the bonnet but ive not fitted them before.

Also, anybody know the best places to get the pins from?

Demon Tweeks do loads of styles,the basic ones,lockable ones the aero ones etc....... My local motorfactors do quite a few,i think a pair of basic pins is about £8 so dirt cheap really.

[oakey]

I think I have some omp pins somewhere, if you wana collect theyre yours for a pack of fags

[oze30]

What about just the top skin of a metal bonnet? Would you need the 5 pin trick?

[northloop]

For the 5th pin make a hole in the middle of the BMW badge and pin through there