Interior/Exterior Help with mod for lower radiator hose protection
#1
Help with mod for lower radiator hose protection
I found out the lip on my lower front spoiler is broken & wanted to do a simple mod. Removing/installing a spoiler($170+) is probably a pain.
I'm worried about the infamous lower radiator hose hanging problem. I did put 2 new clamps on it but it's still exposed(1st photo).
I saw this Home Depot front lip mod thread & was thinking of using this $8 Home Depot vinyl L-Shaped door bottom and drill it to the end of the spoiler & right in front of the radiator hose(yellow line 1st photo). It's hard plastic & same size & thickness as that MINI spoiler lip.
What do you guys think? Any other solutions to protect the radiator hose? I couldn't find a place to use tie-wraps for the middle part of it.
What's underneath that spoiler if I drill in to it?
What's best to use? metallic rivets, nylon/plastic rivets or screws with washers?
thanks
2011 R56 (non S)
I'm worried about the infamous lower radiator hose hanging problem. I did put 2 new clamps on it but it's still exposed(1st photo).
I saw this Home Depot front lip mod thread & was thinking of using this $8 Home Depot vinyl L-Shaped door bottom and drill it to the end of the spoiler & right in front of the radiator hose(yellow line 1st photo). It's hard plastic & same size & thickness as that MINI spoiler lip.
What do you guys think? Any other solutions to protect the radiator hose? I couldn't find a place to use tie-wraps for the middle part of it.
What's underneath that spoiler if I drill in to it?
What's best to use? metallic rivets, nylon/plastic rivets or screws with washers?
thanks
2011 R56 (non S)
Last edited by MINI8K; 07-16-2016 at 05:21 PM.
#2
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
Some thoughts-
-I like that this approach replaces your original front spoiler at a much lower cost.
-If you bottom out in a way that would damage the hose, would the Home Depot door bottom fold back and protect the hose?
-I wonder if a belly pan approach would also work. If you take a look at the GP belly pan, the hose would be extremely well protected. However, the cost of the belly pan is about $300 plus shipping, so that's not cost effective. However, a full or partial belly pan could be fabricated out of coroplast sheets pretty easily, and they're pretty cheap at Lowe's or Home Depot.
-Final thought - not everyone's hose hangs as low as yours. Mine hangs a little low, but not that bad. Why the difference? I don't know. I've replaced the little plastic clip that supports the hose a couple of times....it's in there and functional right now, but even without it, my hose doesn't hang as low as yours....
Just some thoughts....please keep us informed on your thinking and what you decide to do...
-I like that this approach replaces your original front spoiler at a much lower cost.
-If you bottom out in a way that would damage the hose, would the Home Depot door bottom fold back and protect the hose?
-I wonder if a belly pan approach would also work. If you take a look at the GP belly pan, the hose would be extremely well protected. However, the cost of the belly pan is about $300 plus shipping, so that's not cost effective. However, a full or partial belly pan could be fabricated out of coroplast sheets pretty easily, and they're pretty cheap at Lowe's or Home Depot.
-Final thought - not everyone's hose hangs as low as yours. Mine hangs a little low, but not that bad. Why the difference? I don't know. I've replaced the little plastic clip that supports the hose a couple of times....it's in there and functional right now, but even without it, my hose doesn't hang as low as yours....
Just some thoughts....please keep us informed on your thinking and what you decide to do...
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