Thread: Wrapping Front S3 Splitter - Any Advice?

So, I'm thinking of wrapping the centre part of my front bumper, the grey part in the pic below:



to match the front grill, and fog surrounds. Has any one done this (pics would be good)? How difficult was it? I was going to get it painted but don't fancy that as I may want to go back to standard at some point.

Does the middle part come off separate from the bumper, or is it a bumper off job? Also how hard is it to use the wrap, looks like it might be tricky? Just looked on eBay and platy of wrap on there, which is the best type to go for?

Thanks for any help guys

The splitter is part of the bumper and cant be seperated. (atleast on my 2007 bumper)

Was thinking of doing mine gloss black (paint) or carbon wraping.

We had it done in carbon fibre wrap on the rs3....took the guy ages tbh

I'll see if I can get a picture for you

Originally Posted by Juicy Jen

We had it done in carbon fibre wrap on the rs3....took the guy ages tbh

I'll see if I can get a picture for you

Thanks!

I was going to get it done on my S3 when it comes back from the dealer as I think it looks much better

Whilst mine is int the body shop getting repaired they are gonna spray my splitter and fog grills gloss black to match the grill.

Thinking about doing the rear at some point too.

A friend of mine has a window tinting/car wrapping workshop, i've seen him wrap cars, parts etc.

Wrapping just that part would be very tricky...the problem with wrap is getting it around tight curves and corners without creases/tearing it/getting it to stretch and stick, is hard.

You could give it a go, the only tip I could give is to use a heat gun (or worst case a hairdryer lol) and a LOT of patience, and you would almost definately have to wrap the 3 'bars' (those plastic bits that go down between what you want to wrap and the bumper) seperately, or just leave them. And also apply it a bit at a time starting from one side working to the other, getting rid of any air bubbles along the way.

In actual fact, JUST PAINT IT!!! Trust me will be much easier. Hope that helps

have you thought about that plastic coat paint stuff?

Spray it on and when you're done and want to go back to standard, you just pull it off.
Like wrap.

The problem with paint is stone chips, and since that bit does not come off the bumper, masking it up....

Carbon Fibre Vinyl : 3M UK & Ireland - reading some good stuff about this. Anyone used it?

Originally Posted by Silky-S3

The problem with paint is stone chips, and since that bit does not come off the bumper, masking it up....

Carbon Fibre Vinyl : 3M UK & Ireland - reading some good stuff about this. Anyone used it?

I've used 3M gloss black on my door trims and its lovely stuff. Very easy to work with and once you get some heat on to it its so much more mouldible than the matt I used.

If don't don't want to paint and not very confident or much experience in wrapping, I would look in to the plastic coat stuff. It's only one solid colour but it looks to be really easy to apply to and take off.

Originally Posted by Silky-S3

The problem with paint is stone chips, and since that bit does not come off the bumper, masking it up....

Carbon Fibre Vinyl : 3M UK & Ireland - reading some good stuff about this. Anyone used it?

Does come off bud.

Bodyshop have taken mine off my old bumper and placed on the new one as it wasn't damaged. they are spraying whilst it's off. I understand your concerns about stone chips but it's only the same as if your bumper were to get hit.

Originally Posted by Silky-S3

The problem with paint is stone chips, and since that bit does not come off the bumper, masking it up....

Carbon Fibre Vinyl : 3M UK & Ireland - reading some good stuff about this. Anyone used it?

That part painted will be no more likely than the rest of the bumper to get a stonechip...

Wrapping just that bottom bit will be a headache, and your going to need to cut in the edges of the vinyl if that bottom part doesn't come off. I'd rather be masking edges than cutting them!

Two minute photoshop job, in case it helps at all

Looks great!!!
Make it happen Silky!

Hi

No problem - i wrapped it in silver, just loose the screws from the bottom and pull it out

Originally Posted by ScottB5

I've used 3M gloss black on my door trims and its lovely stuff. Very easy to work with and once you get some heat on to it its so much more mouldible than the matt I used.

If don't don't want to paint and not very confident or much experience in wrapping, I would look in to the plastic coat stuff. It's only one solid colour but it looks to be really easy to apply to and take off.

Cheers mate, thats good to know. I'll look into this plastic coat stuff...

Originally Posted by Cruiser89

Does come off bud.

Bodyshop have taken mine off my old bumper and placed on the new one as it wasn't damaged. they are spraying whilst it's off. I understand your concerns about stone chips but it's only the same as if your bumper were to get hit.

That sounds promising can you explain how it comes off? Do you need to take the full bumper off to get at it?

Thanks

Originally Posted by audigex

Two minute photoshop job, in case it helps at all

Cheers!!! Looks awesome. Humm, black or carbon...

This what your looking for?

Epic, thats a top job mate. Cant believe you did that with out removing it from the bumper!

Its all about the skill of the desk monkey!!

I've done my front splitter and rear diffuser with black plastidip - it sprays on like paint but forms a rubbery coating. Best of all, if you cock it up or change your mind, it peels off.

Plastic Coatings, Rubber Paintould post some pics up but she's a filthy S3 at the moment!

Originally Posted by essIII

I've done my front splitter and rear diffuser with black plastidip - it sprays on like paint but forms a rubbery coating. Best of all, if you cock it up or change your mind, it peels off.

Plastic Coatings, Rubber Paintould post some pics up but she's a filthy S3 at the moment!

Looks intresting mate, your pics would be good! Did you spray the front splitter while it was still on the bumper?

Have you tried peeling it off yet, does it come off easy?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Silky-S3

Looks intresting mate, your pics would be good! Did you spray the front splitter while it was still on the bumper?

Have you tried peeling it off yet, does it come off easy?

Thanks!

Yep, I had to peel it off the chrome grill surround once, and off my garage floor! And my jeans. Comes off remarkably well.

Sprayed the grill when off the car (was an accident damaged one, so needed some plastic weld too) and then the splitter and diffuser were sprayed while on the car, masked with lots of newspaper!

Pics attached - poor lighting in the underground car park at work!

If your wrapping the front insert you'll have to wrap each fin seperate then cut it into the corners then wrap the main area with a couple of mm overlap.

Plasticote is good stuff but better on internal apps. A good amout ofClearcote over the top should see of the stone chips but for how long who knows. As that area is low to the gravel.

You going gloss or matte ?? If not carbon. If going carbon you wanna be using 3m 1080 viny, if gloss / matte go for 3m ij380 cv3 for maximum durability

Originally Posted by damo.h

If your wrapping the front insert you'll have to wrap each fin seperate then cut it into the corners then wrap the main area with a couple of mm overlap.

Plasticote is good stuff but better on internal apps. A good amout ofClearcote over the top should see of the stone chips but for how long who knows. As that area is low to the gravel.

You going gloss or matte ?? If not carbon. If going carbon you wanna be using 3m 1080 viny, if gloss / matte go for 3m ij380 cv3 for maximum durability

Just FYI - Plasticote and Plastidip are two very different products.

Have you got a link to Plastidip pls?

Originally Posted by JamesS4cab

Have you got a link to Plastidip pls?

Yep - Plastic Coatings, Rubber Paint

Also worth looking at DYC Home - Plasti Dip For Your Car - Resources & More at DipYourCar.com NEW Glossifier for some examples - including a chap coating his entire b8 s4 in grey, then peeling it off and going for white.

Or search on youtube for people plasti dipping their rims.

Thanks all, lot to think about. I think I'm going towards carbon wrap but the plastic spay looks really good, along with much better ease of use I suspect!

Can anyone 100% confirm or not if the front splitter can be removed from the bumper, without removing the whole bumper? If so, anyone got a guide? Is it just a few clips/bolts underneath?

Thanks again

Originally Posted by essIII

Just FYI - Plasticote and Plastidip are two very different products.

Cheers for that, was going of what Scott posted and read it as plasticote lol

Originally Posted by ScottB5

I would look in to the plastic coat stuff.

What's the longevity of that stuff like ?

Originally Posted by damo.h

Cheers for that, was going of what Scott posted and read it as plasticote lol

What's the longevity of that stuff like ?

I got my bloody plastic wording all messed up. I mean plasti dip.
sorry all.

Just seen this mate. So its just a few screws and then pulls out?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by rodaz

Hi

No problem - i wrapped it in silver, just loose the screws from the bottom and pull it out

get it done mate looks so much better , i like it in gloss black

For starters the front splitter can definitely be separated on a MY12 car.

I had mine done in gloss black. Looks really nice against Suzuka and finishes the front end off IMO.

Removal is very simple - two Torx screws either side and then just clips off.

I bought a new part from Audi and had it painted.

Originally Posted by Virdee

For starters the front splitter can definitely be separated on a MY12 car.

I had mine done in gloss black. Looks really nice against Suzuka and finishes the front end off IMO.

Removal is very simple - two Torx screws either side and then just clips off.

I bought a new part from Audi and had it painted.

Nice one, this project is now a GO!

You got any pics of yours?

As mentioned, mine was removed.

Few torx 10 screws and the rest is just clips that hold it in place

Originally Posted by Virdee

For starters the front splitter can definitely be separated on a MY12 car.

I had mine done in gloss black. Looks really nice against Suzuka and finishes the front end off IMO.

Removal is very simple - two Torx screws either side and then just clips off.

I bought a new part from Audi and had it painted.

So it is

Does anyone know if the rear defuser also comes off relatively easy? May as well do both at the same time.

Originally Posted by essIII

Yep, I had to peel it off the chrome grill surround once, and off my garage floor! And my jeans. Comes off remarkably well.

Sprayed the grill when off the car (was an accident damaged one, so needed some plastic weld too) and then the splitter and diffuser were sprayed while on the car, masked with lots of newspaper!

Pics attached - poor lighting in the underground car park at work!

Just been talking to my panel beater friend about doing this. Looks awesome!!! Think i'm going to try Gloss black though. Shame that plastic coating rubber stuff doesn't come in Gloss black, would of been perfect!!

Originally Posted by DJ-S3

Just been talking to my panel beater friend about doing this. Looks awesome!!! Think i'm going to try Gloss black though. Shame that plastic coating rubber stuff doesn't come in Gloss black, would of been perfect!!

Interestingly enough, just after I did this they released what they call a "glossifier" and two "metalizers". Bit gutted as I'dve done my rings and chrome surround with the glossifier if it had been available.

The boys over at audizine have put together a gallery so you can see the effect of the glossifier and metalizers:
PlastiDip Color Catalogue (Shown on Wheels)

Just out of interest, what does it look like when this bar is simply removed ?

Wondered if it would look more agressive, or whether it would just look awfull ?

Also, I guess it depends whether this centre bar is integral to the structure of the whole lower front bumper and it would flap around like a whore's drawers without it ?

Gone for the new 3M 1080 series di-noc carbon wrap, this is glossy (so wet CF look) and made specifically for vehicles unlike the old type. This is gonna be my weekend job! Pics to follow!

Originally Posted by Silky-S3

Gone for the new 3M 1080 series di-noc carbon wrap, this is glossy (so wet CF look) and made specifically for vehicles unlike the old type. This is gonna be my weekend job! Pics to follow!

Stuff looks good bud. May get some to wrap my inlays.

I'll be finding out how hard the rear diffuser is when I put my RS3 one hopefully this weekend.

No pics of the front one as yet.

Originally Posted by Virdee

I'll be finding out how hard the rear diffuser is when I put my RS3 one hopefully this weekend.

No pics of the front one as yet.

OK mate. Take some pics and let us know how you get on

Good luck Silky, looking forward to the pics!

Been looking for the picture we took of the front spitter on the RS3 but can't find it anywhere, seeing as the car is no longer with us I cant take a new pic for you

I've just checked the TTRS and there are 4 screws underneath so should be an easy enough job on the S3 when it comes....oh I'm getting excited again!!!

Paint being checked today and if all's ok the car should be coming up tomorow sorry for the thread hijack lol

Originally Posted by Shadowman

Just out of interest, what does it look like when this bar is simply removed ?

Wondered if it would look more agressive, or whether it would just look awfull ?

Also, I guess it depends whether this centre bar is integral to the structure of the whole lower front bumper and it would flap around like a whore's drawers without it ?

Unfortunately it does look awful without the front lip fitted . It's just a bit the same shape as the front lip - but obviously thinner - the same colour as your front bumper and it looks like a skeletal part (if that makes sense) that you simply couldn't have exposed. Because my car's original front lip had a few stonechips on the right hand side, I wrapped mine in DiNoc carbon vinyl the week after I bought the car. It was a real PITA of a job!! I did the three little vertical posts first and then wrapped the lip actually on the car. I removed the lip to start with, but it was impossible to wrap off the car (I would have needed to be an octopus as my 2 hands weren't nearly enough!!), so I stuck it back on and wrapped it in situ. There are a lot of angles and curves on it, so it took a lot of heating and shaping, to get the visible top bit looking perfect. I couldn't get the underside of it perfect, but you couldn't see it anyway. It did look good, but due to my OCD I couldn't get over the fact that there were stone chips underneath the vinyl, so I ended up scrapping the old front lip altogether and buying a new one fom Stoke Audi. xx

Here's a piccy I found on Ebay of an S3 bumper with the lip removed. As you can see, it's not pretty. Don't know if you could remove the whole bottom middle section without compromising the integrity of the front bumper.



I'm really looking forward to seeing your new glossy carbon front lip, Silky! It's gonna look ace, just remember to get lots of heat into the vinyl as it will take a fair bit of moulding to shape it properly. I always end up burning my finger tips when doing this stuff, so be careful, lol! xx