Lightweight bonnet

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ed325i
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Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:43 pm

Can the inner skin be removed from the bonnet to save weight ?
Has anyone done this ?
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e30matt
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Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:53 am

contact track m3, he does grp bonnets that weight nothing
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northloop
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Mon Apr 16, 2007 2:21 pm

e30matt wrote:contact track m3, he does grp bonnets that weight nothing
Blimey thats good. Can he do me an engine which weighs nothing too :D :D :D
oguz327
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Mon Apr 16, 2007 7:30 pm

northloop wrote:
e30matt wrote:contact track m3, he does grp bonnets that weight nothing
Blimey thats good. Can he do me an engine which weighs nothing too :D :D :D
Does he have any that cost nothing? :D

Sorry, seriously, how much are they out of interest?
ed325i
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Mon Apr 16, 2007 8:23 pm

They are about £160 I think for double skin.
TRACKM3
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Tue Apr 17, 2007 2:36 pm

single skin £100 double skin £160, double skin will mount as per the std bonnet all sliders and hinge mounts are there.
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northloop
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Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:27 pm

Ordered mine today :cool:
ed325i
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Thu Apr 19, 2007 2:28 pm

northloop wrote:Ordered mine today :cool:
Which one did you go for ?
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northloop
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Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:09 pm

Single skin of course :wink:
oguz327
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 5:31 pm

I know this has been asked before but what is the weight saving on the single skin with bonnet pins and this hinges removed anyone?
TRACKM3
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:16 pm

my single skin bonnets are around 6kg so i would think a saving of 15kg
oguz327
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Mon Apr 23, 2007 7:00 pm

Thats a fair bit of weight, i may be interested in one of these in a few months.
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northloop
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 7:14 am

Heavy and high up at the front.......I would suggest it's a damned good mod especially on a 325i. But then I would say that having bought one :D :D

For info purposes I was going to get the boot lid too but decided that would just distribute the weight again so did without.

I couldnt resist the spoiler though 8)
ric325i
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 12:02 pm

so these bonnets....are they plastic / fibre glass or........?
are they in primer like a flat black?

more details please this is an exciting prospect.
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march109
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:34 pm

they are glass reinforced plastic, although I suspect just plain old glass fibre.

They arn't in primer they come completely unpainted - I have a grp boot needed some finishing before I could fit it.
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.

2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
ric325i
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 1:49 pm

I hoped they would come like the replacement wings you can buy as a mat black as that would look controversial on my granite grey e30.

Paint can be expensive and hard too match if you don't know people.

the glass fibre would be ok to cut through for venting too! Discrete and purposeful please dont confuse me for a car destroyer!

when i have cash this could be an option.
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oakey
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:14 pm

I definately advise getting a lightwight bonnet. I have a carbon skin bonded to the original framework. You can definately feel the difference when "turning in" and as i have manual steering it made that a bit lighter too.
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march109
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:29 pm

Oakey how did ou seperate the old skin from the framework?

I like this idea and I have some carbon/kevlar hybrid fibre I'd like to try out. Never used this stuff and its mucho cheaper then CF but almost as light and as strong! I'm very familiar with fibre glass tho so should be able to get a decent finish!
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e21Jason
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:45 pm

Hi I can source a load of grp panels for the e30 single skin light weight, most are moulded from used panels so the quality is not perfect (Track m3's have a better finish) but can be in grp of wet lay carbon.

Got bonnet, boot, 2-door doors, wings + wings with group 2 style well arch extensions.

Jason
Last edited by e21Jason on Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
TRACKM3
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:49 pm

ric325i wrote:so these bonnets....are they plastic / fibre glass or........?
are they in primer like a flat black?

more details please this is an exciting prospect.
they come in grey gel coat and it is all ICI approved.
TRACKM3
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:51 pm

march109 wrote:they are glass reinforced plastic, although I suspect just plain old glass fibre.

They arn't in primer they come completely unpainted - I have a grp boot needed some finishing before I could fit it.
They are GRP which is a fibre starnd reinforced witha plastic gel coat.
you may have a boot lid but not from me as we don't currently do one for a std e30 only M3.
they come in a grey gel coat and dont need much prep at all.
TRACKM3
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 4:53 pm

ric325i wrote:I hoped they would come like the replacement wings you can buy as a mat black as that would look controversial on my granite grey e30.

Paint can be expensive and hard too match if you don't know people.

the glass fibre would be ok to cut through for venting too! Discrete and purposeful please dont confuse me for a car destroyer!

when i have cash this could be an option.
i can do them with vents if you want, anything is possible, Jason thanks for the comments re quality.
ed325i
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Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:15 pm

Got bonnet, boot, 2-door doors, wings + wings with group 2 style well arch extensions.
How much for the wings and a boot lid ?
Lloydie38
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Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:59 pm

I want a lightweight Boot and bonnet

Plus The £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£Ã‚£ to pay for it!!!
The Isle of Man: No National Speed Limit, No Gatso's, No Nanny State, a disused airfield track 1.5 miles long, the best mountain road to drive on...Come and Play!
ed325i
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oguz327
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:36 am

Is there any way of having bonnet pins that somehow lock at the pin rather than on the existing bonnet mechanism, my car is kept on the street at night and i think id worry about people possibly getting in the engine bay.
Also, does any one know if bonnet pins are legal for the street and MOT?
e21Jason
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:49 am

Hi

Yes google for aerocatch

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Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:01 am

Or this this oz bit easyer to fit and cheaper
http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/General ... W_2501.asp
oguz327
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:20 am

Nice on fella's, that solves that little problem.

What the best way of mounting a single skin bonnet, lose the front hinge and sliding mech, then use 4 of those locking pins?
Or is it best to keep the rear sliding mech to keep the bonnet secure to the back and just use to pins at the front?
dips346
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:50 am

oguz327 wrote:Nice on fella's, that solves that little problem.

What the best way of mounting a single skin bonnet, lose the front hinge and sliding mech, then use 4 of those locking pins?
Or is it best to keep the rear sliding mech to keep the bonnet secure to the back and just use to pins at the front?
lose everything and 4 pins,you might even have to use 5 as the middle might lift a bit on speed
ed325i
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:53 am

I am going to use 4 of them locking pins.
oguz327
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 12:10 pm

TRACKM3 wrote:single skin £100 double skin £160, double skin will mount as per the std bonnet all sliders and hinge mounts are there.
Where about are you based fella?
Also what are the options on bonnet vents?
ed325i
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 5:36 pm

Well I de skinned my bonnet today.

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oguz327
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:39 pm

Good work Ed, what tools did you use to remove the inner skin, also did you get any distorting?
ed325i
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Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:00 pm

I used a hacksaw blade to cut through the glue/sealer and used a angle grinder to clean it all up.
I didnt get any distorting which suprised me. I will use this until I have the money for a gpr one.
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