Check your splitter install

[Tomster]

Yes, I was a victim too of dealer stupidity. I took the car out, and lets just say I drove really fast. The 4 screws that attach the splitter to the bumper were not there. The splitter was pulled down from out of the bumper and subsequently was lightly scraped. I took it to the dealer and they looked at it. They tried to talk me out of replacing the splitter, but my position was that it was scraped because it wasn't fastened right.

It was agreed that the splitter would be replaced. The service manager mentioned that he could probably sell the old splitter (because it wasn't a warranty replacement). I asked how much, I may be interested? I wound up paying $150 for it.

I have a new splitter in the box and my old splitter is still on the car, but properly secured now. I can live with the scrapes, but it is nice to know that if I ever sell the car, it will come with a brand new splitter.

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[Steve68]

Smart move to leave the old one on. There's really no avoiding scraping once in a while anyway.

 

[mattlqx]

Yes, I was a victim too of dealer stupidity. I took the car out, and lets just say I drove really fast. The 4 screws that attach the splitter to the bumper were not there. The splitter was pulled down from out of the bumper and subsequently was lightly scraped. I took it to the dealer and they looked at it. They tried to talk me out of replacing the splitter, but my position was that it was scraped because it wasn't fastened right.

It was agreed that the splitter would be replaced. The service manager mentioned that he could probably sell the old splitter (because it wasn't a warranty replacement). I asked how much, I may be interested? I wound up paying $150 for it.

I have a new splitter in the box and my old splitter is still on the car, but properly secured now. I can live with the scrapes, but it is nice to know that if I ever sell the car, it will come with a brand new splitter.

So can you tell me about the rivets or post a picture of the top side? Are they just there to protect it from rubbing?

 

[ThreeFiveO]

I think they are there to isolate the splitter from the road in case of slight impacts. I have scraped mine about three times. Once during a hasty left turn into a gas station. To my relief the studs protruding from the buttons were the only thing scuffed. I think they are good protection. That is if your splitter is installed correctlyaddle:

 

[Tomster]

So can you tell me about the rivets or post a picture of the top side? Are they just there to protect it from rubbing?

Matt,

The rivets are to attach two different parts together. They are not for scrape protection. The photos should show what I'm talking about.

 

[Darth Cobra]

Same thing happened to me on my drive home from the dealership. Problem was it was on the highway. Couldn't hear it or feel it until it shredded the lip and flew off as I was trying to pull over. Took all my excitement away of the purchase and the thrill of taking her home for the first time. I was freaking out.

 

[mattlqx]

Matt,

The rivets are to attach two different parts together. They are not for scrape protection. The photos should show what I'm talking about.

Thank you! This helps immensely.

 

[ThreeFiveO]

Heck I put mine on myself and didn't notice the two piece construction. Soooooo that's what the rivots are for. :headbonk:

 

[Tomster]

Same thing happened to me on my drive home from the dealership. Problem was it was on the highway. Couldn't hear it or feel it until it shredded the lip and flew off as I was trying to pull over. Took all my excitement away of the purchase and the thrill of taking her home for the first time. I was freaking out.

Any damage to the body (other than the splitter)?

And I'm sure they didn't give you any hassle about it

 

[Darth Cobra]

Any damage to the body (other than the splitter)?

And I'm sure they didn't give you any hassle about it

Got super lucky. A couple of small paint chips on the left fender from other road debris as I was pulling over. The side of the highway was like a garbage dump.

They fixed the bumper and the chips. They didn't ask anything, they told me not to worry they would take care of it all. They did not admit nor deny they did anything wrong. And they did not cause me any grief.

Someone scuffed the rear bumper while they had it in their shop. My sales guy said no one could have done it because they kept the car separated. I said it most likely happened when they were working on it. It wasn't there when they picked up the car because I detailed it the next day to look for damage.

Should buff out I hope. They did not have a body guy there when I picked it up so I have to bring it back. I have to anyway to fabric guard the interior. I forgot to ask them to do it while they had her.

Just sucks cuz they are two hours away. They sent someone to pick up the car the Monday after it happened since I could not personally return her as I had to travel for work. And they sent a driver to pick me and my wife up that Friday when it was all done.

So they've been doing me right and I'm trying to take the que cera cera high road.

 

[Spacebird]

I finally installed my R splitter by myself last night. It's no wonder the dealers get this wrong; there's lots of little things that can awry. The self-tapping screws can fall into nooks of the splitter, the machine screws can miss the J-clips, the factory J-clips can be tough to remove, the half-mood clips are difficult to install with big hands, etc., etc.

Anyone want to guess what percentage of dealers are actually torquing the fasteners to spec? 1.9N-m is probably way below the threshold of dealers' torque wrenches.

 

[Hack]

I'm bumping this thread up because after the second try by a dealer, my splitter STILL isn't installed properly.

 

[Steve68]

What'd they do wrong on the second attempt?

 

[Hack]

What'd they do wrong on the second attempt?

I don't know. I've decided to give up and install it myself. I can tell you that when I push down on the middle of the splitter the splitter sags and pulls away from the car's front fascia.

I think they aren't using sufficient force/effort to get the tab to engage into the slot. I'm going to go out and install it today, so maybe I'll know more after that.

 

[DrumReaper]

Did they use a mallet to insure it was placed right before inserting and tightens screws?

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