Is a OE front lip worth the it?
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Joined: Jun 2012
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OE comes painted and fits the best. However if your car is already getting some bodywork done they can probably paint a rep lip easily and make it fit well. Urethane is much more flexible and much less likely to crack than the OEM ABS however due to the amount it can flex the paint can flake off more easily. The OEM ABS is by no means weak and can take quite a lot of punishment before totally failing.
So its up to you. The OEM will fit and fit well and it comes painted so you just put it on and go. The rep is cheaper but needs to be painted and they can have spotty fitment. With the reps it is very important to pick one from a seller that puts it in a full size box and does not fold it up into a smaller box. Make sure to read the description for this because some sellers do it and it makes it fit like crap.
So its up to you. The OEM will fit and fit well and it comes painted so you just put it on and go. The rep is cheaper but needs to be painted and they can have spotty fitment. With the reps it is very important to pick one from a seller that puts it in a full size box and does not fold it up into a smaller box. Make sure to read the description for this because some sellers do it and it makes it fit like crap.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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You have to remember too it's really difficult to get the paint to stick to those rep lips because the surface is so slick. After spending the necessary money on labor to prep it, it's going to cost almost as much as an OEM one.
That being said, I would wager most don't have their replica lips properly painted and save money. It gets beat up anyways, so that's something to consider.
That being said, I would wager most don't have their replica lips properly painted and save money. It gets beat up anyways, so that's something to consider.
Is it possible to sand the shine of urethane?
Joined: Mar 2008
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after you factor in painting, the weather stripping (if you want it to look as oem as possible) and oem hardware . you might save 100, possibly more or less depending on the cost of the cost of the replica, but it might not fit as well. you have to ask yourself if saving the 100 is worth it
that being said the paint on my oem gpw lip did not match my bumper. it was a different shade of white, but I'm still glad I got oem
that being said the paint on my oem gpw lip did not match my bumper. it was a different shade of white, but I'm still glad I got oem
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Seattle WA
Was your bumper repainted maybe? Generally the OEM paint seems spot on for everything except the yellows which see to be difficult no matter if you go OEM or bodyshop. Talk to the body shop and tell them specifically what it is made from. Like I said the Reps have so much flex painting them and getting it to stick is a pain and yeah the urethane is naturally more oily (that how it feels anyways) so it is harder to paint. Hit up enjoy racing to get a qoute for the OEM. I am willing to bet the rep will not save you much over the OEM. Also look at getting a lip protector from Wasp composite or consider having the lip clear bra'd before installing it for added protection. Or both.
Joined: Jul 2011
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I bought a second hand replica lip and the guy I bought it from had the paint flaking off of it. Definitely need to sand the replica lips and take the shine off to have paint stick to it and not peel off in sheets.
With that said I sanded, primered and painted my replica and it has held up as good as I expected from daily driving. The front of our cars take a lot of rock chips/road debris and mine has been just fine. A shop should have no problem painting a urethane lip. I'm cheap and got the lip for 50 bucks and it cost about 50 more bucks for me to paint it myself and about 15 bucks for the weatherstrip.
As Manga mentioned I also have a lip protector on my car and that saves the bottom from getting scraped and destroyed.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
With that said I sanded, primered and painted my replica and it has held up as good as I expected from daily driving. The front of our cars take a lot of rock chips/road debris and mine has been just fine. A shop should have no problem painting a urethane lip. I'm cheap and got the lip for 50 bucks and it cost about 50 more bucks for me to paint it myself and about 15 bucks for the weatherstrip.
As Manga mentioned I also have a lip protector on my car and that saves the bottom from getting scraped and destroyed.
Good luck with whatever you decide!
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From: Minot ND
