metal underbody panels?

Seaneezy

Corporal
Mar 12, 2018
133
34
0
Ride
e90 LCI 335i
After 3 months of work, my car is back on the road after a diy transmission rebuild. Through this process (I did the project on jackstands), I removed most of the underbody panels for easy access and misplaced a few of them. A friend of mine owns a sheet metal shop, could I replace these panels with polished sheet metal? I don't want to pay the bmw tax for these plastic panels but I am worried about underbody temps.
 

NoQuarter

Major
Nov 24, 2017
1,662
1,066
0
Indiana, USA
Ride
Z4 35is, 535xi, X5 35i
there was a post here somewhere that someone was making metal panels.

I can't imagine, friend or not, that you can make metal panels that fit properly as a way to save some money. Do you have a template to make them from?

Besides all that... how does one "misplace" big a$$ plastic panels?
 

Seaneezy

Corporal
Mar 12, 2018
133
34
0
Ride
e90 LCI 335i
Sounds like a huge hassle that won't end up saving you anything in the end.

there was a post here somewhere that someone was making metal panels.

I can't imagine, friend or not, that you can make metal panels that fit properly as a way to save some money. Do you have a template to make them from?

Besides all that... how does one "misplace" big a$$ plastic panels?

I would not make them from template, and I am spending no money making these as my friend has a ton of extra sheet metal and all the tools I need to get this done in less than a day (his shop is also beachside which is always a plus!).

For fitment, I would drill out the screw holes for the 8mm's. I have removed the stock bellypan like 50 times so I'm confident in my ability to recreate this.

I have no idea where my belly pan went, I think my mom may have thrown it out thinking it's a cheap part :dizzy::dizzy:
 

KevinC39

Corporal
Jun 27, 2017
234
118
0
Ride
335i
Maybe you can find a wrecked car near by? Can't imagine someone else would be looking for these panels and already took them.

Besides all that... how does one "misplace" big a$$ plastic panels?

That's what I was wondering. A washer is one thing but this?
 

iminhell1

Sergeant
Jun 17, 2018
419
207
0
Discount Body Parts .com

It's not the same plastic as stock but it works for the money. For the rear ones, BMW OE is cheap enough.


I think metal would help dissipate all the underhood temp far better than plastic. At some point I'll make some for myself.
 

Seaneezy

Corporal
Mar 12, 2018
133
34
0
Ride
e90 LCI 335i
What? They aren't doing anything for temperature, they are mostly for aero.

Their main use for me is keeping rats away from my yummy o2 sensor wires :mask::mask:

Discount Body Parts .com

It's not the same plastic as stock but it works for the money. For the rear ones, BMW OE is cheap enough.


I think metal would help dissipate all the underhood temp far better than plastic. At some point I'll make some for myself.

Wow those are cheap prices. This project is not about money however, I wanted a fun little weekend project even though I just finished 3 months of work on this POS. If I follow through, I will update this thread with more info
 

Torgus

Brigadier General
Nov 6, 2016
2,671
2,194
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Boston
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ACF 6466 E92 + METH
I don't see any disadvantages other than it will add a tiny bit of weight depending on what you use. I would just use the stock stuff honestly. Should be cheap from a yard.

I know it's not about money but I doubt you are going to improve on anything.
 
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The Convert

Captain
Jun 4, 2017
1,487
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335
The front belly pan is for airflow/down force and for engine bay cooling. The air rushing under the car with no belly pan creates all sorts of turbulence and prohibits good airflow moving through the engine bay. With the belly pan, the air runs through the front bumper and then out through the back of the belly pan having passed around the engine. As for a metal belly pan being better...not for heat dissipation. The metal will reflect infrared radiation(heat) back into the engine bay, whereas a black plastic will not. The plastic belly pan is superior in every single way, except for wear and tear from repeatedly bottoming out the car.
 
  • Agree
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LessIsMore

Specialist
Aug 21, 2017
56
22
0
Ride
09 535i
Another thing, the metal underbody panels may let in more road noise or even create bad harmonics or more interior noise then the plastic ones would.
 
  • Agree
Reactions: The Convert