I know it's been discussed here before as part of a discussion about the replacement part, but I'm wondering how many of you have had success with keeping the low chin spoiler intact?

The reason I'm curious for a fresh response is that I'm about to have work done of the front end of my car, since someone apparently hit it while I was parked somewhere and damaged the lower panels that the chin spoiler attaches to. I'm debating whether or not to replace the spoiler while the shop is working on it.

I basically broke mine within the first couple weeks of ownership when I had no choice but to pull straight out of a parking lot that had a large dip before the street. I couldn't angle the car because of cars parked on either side of the parking lot exit, and despite going real slow, I still cracked the chin spoiler, which eventually gave way.

So, who has managed to keep the spoiler pristine, and if so, how difficult has it been?

 

My dealer threw in a spare one for me when I first picked the car up. He said, "you'll need it eventually".

 

It is not easy keeping it intact but I have managed...so far.

The few times I've scrapped it,I take a fine file to it and sandpaper it back to as-new condition.

 

So far, has a few scrapes, but not bad in the first 2000 miles.

 

One ever-so-minor scrape....not even noticeable. In 3,000+ miles...

 

Little bit of road rash on mine. Not too bad, but it's close to impossible to get out of certain junctions without a minor scrape. Big one is gas stations you've not used before where you find upon exiting that there's a big dip as you turn on to the road. I always angle the car on exit and usually avoid the minor rubs but I'd bet almost all of us have minor scuffs on the underside rubber trim.

 

I answered road rash, but's it's only on the flexible hard plastic portion at the lowest point. It's invisible unless you stick your head under the car.

 

Yes. That's the part I'm talking about. When I had to exit that parking lot, and couldn't angle the car at all due to the other parked cars, even the flexibility of that piece couldn't save it. Prior to that I had given it a bit of a rash, but the parking lot exit did it in for me. I'll probably have it replaced, and regret it.

 

Same here. Didn't even bother to sand it, since it's only visible from 1 feet away.

Nashville does however have good roads with few to no pot holes.

 

And, I suspect that most, if not all, of the poll answers are on cars at the OEM height. I can't imagine dealing with a lowered one as a daily-driver, which mine is.

 

Even in factory height, it's hard not to drag the lower rubber spoiler periodically.

Four or five times in 3000 miles, a little part of me dies inside each time.

 

I feel the same pain.

 

I Scrape that plastic piecce underneath at least ocnce per week, it is a bit rough and sanded if you look closely but nott broken

 

What's the result of the poll so far? I can't see the results until I vote, and I won't be in a position to vote for a few months.

 

 

I thought this was for the actual glossy chin spoiler, not the disposable feeler plastic bit underneath. That part is hit at least once a week. The actual front lip is pristine and I like to thank the other bit for that as it gives a good warning. I had a lowered SLK before and I had to replace the front bumper twice because of scrapes and cracks. Lowered cars and Los Angeles do not mix. Hell you scrape driving out of most dealerships.

 

OEM height & 2,200 miles, scrape about once a week on something. I figure when she goes in for her annual oil change I'll have it replaced if it's totally trashed. Material "shreds" easily, not too worried about it.

I though of notching it so I could fit the Altec Products retractable front license plate frame, my dealer said "don't bother -- you'll only scrape the Altec off. Home - Altec Products Inc.

 

Maybe we can start to talk about any tricks for keeping scaped looking better. Fine sanding? Wrap? Any ideas short of replacement every year?

 

Group buy?

 

By the day after buying the car my wife had already scraped the chin spoiler (well the plastic part beneath it at least) coming out of our driveway. :/

Unfortunately it is likely to be a common occurrence as my driveway has a steep decline before meeting the road, and the road itself is a bit worn on the sides, leaving the center raised a bit. Net effect is that you drive down into a bit of a depression and then come up and smack the tarmac as you transition from the edge of the road to the center (single lane road.) The only way to avoid this is to try and angle the exit in such a way to try to get one wheel up higher than the other, but it doesn't always work.

Luckily, pulling into the driveway isn't a problem if you angle it properly.

So, I expect to have to replace this piece every 6 months or so.