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Terrible Downforce Fenders Customer Service
All,
Jist a word of warning with downforce fenders…ordered a pair of their wider front fenders and the drivers side fits great, super happy, but the passenger side was molded incorrectly and they refuse to do anything about it. There’s a tab on the underside of the fender for mounting the bumper that is meant to be installed in line with the front edge of the fender like this on the OEM: https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...fe6ba94eb.jpeg Here’s what it looks like on the drivers side of the downforce fender. Nice and flush with just a little bit of manipulation required to not interfere with the headlight: https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...347afa0d5.jpeg Here’s the top down view of the passenger side. The blue line shows the natural line of the fender and you can clearly see that the tab has been mounted at an angle and is very proud of the fender edge: https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...922f66b89.jpeg Downforce refuses to replace the fender and insists that “aftermarket products are not always a 100% direct fit and sometimes do need manipulation by a body shop in order to make them fit - whether that be shaving certain areas, adding fiberglass to other areas, or additional brackets / methods of fitting in order to make components fit.” While I totally understand and agree that some fitting is required, in order to make this fender work the shop would have to shave off half of the length of the tab and fabricate an extension for the bumper mounting point, or completely cut off the tab and then re-attach it to the fender in the correct location. Either way, it’s clear that their casting is not done correctly as it’s no where close to the driver side. The shop I’m using is a high quality shop in Houston and they’ve been great and patient, but downforce is completely dropping the ball and refusing to accommodate in any way. |
You've tried using verbiage like, "This fender was manufactured incorrectly?"
I believe you need them to understand that the fender has been put together wrong. But maybe you're conveying how much work needs to be done to fix it. So they are receiving a message of "its going to take a lot of work to make this fit" Just a thought. |
That’s a really good point and one that I’ve been very clear to communicate to Downforce via the vendor that I purchased the fender from.
Specifically stating that the drivers fender is manufactured correctly but that the passenger tab has been molded incorrectly, including providing the pictures I shared as well as a multitude of other pictures from varying angles all which clearly show a defect in their process. The fact that they’re suggesting that a customer or shop is expected to have to fabricate brackets for a part that is specifically created for the S2000 with the brackets an integrated component and costs $1400 per pair is ludicrous. I would get it if we were talking about a part like a hood lover or something that by nature has to be fabricated to the body, but a replacement fender panel designed for the S2000 being mounted to OE body panels should not require fabrication. At most it should require light sanding, mounting hole enlargement, etc to ensure body lines are gapped correctly. They just don’t want to eat the cost and do the right thing and it’s pissing me off. |
Originally Posted by trpltongue
(Post 25106227)
That’s a really good point and one that I’ve been very clear to communicate to Downforce via the vendor that I purchased the fender from.
Specifically stating that the drivers fender is manufactured correctly but that the passenger tab has been molded incorrectly, including providing the pictures I shared as well as a multitude of other pictures from varying angles all which clearly show a defect in their process. The fact that they’re suggesting that a customer or shop is expected to have to fabricate brackets for a part that is specifically created for the S2000 with the brackets an integrated component and costs $1400 per pair is ludicrous. I would get it if we were talking about a part like a hood lover or something that by nature has to be fabricated to the body, but a replacement fender panel designed for the S2000 being mounted to OE body panels should not require fabrication. At most it should require light sanding, mounting hole enlargement, etc to ensure body lines are gapped correctly. They just don’t want to eat the cost and do the right thing and it’s pissing me off. That's a shame. I can't imagine that remaking a fender costs more than bad publicity Hope your issue gets resolved |
Unfortunately no resolution...I paid the shop to rebuild the fender and Downforce left the chat, as did the vendor....it sucks because you can't buy direct from downforce so if anyone wants to buy downforce fenders, make sure you communicate with your vendor and are aligned in advance in terms of how they'll proceed if the fenders are not manufactured correctly. The vendors typically are just drop shipping from downforce and never inspect the product themselves.
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Sorry, but at least -- how does she look? Pics?
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In the end it came out great…it’s not terribly noticeable unless you know the car, but it gives me so much more room for wheels!
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...659c4f910.jpeg https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...828d8b503.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.s2k...b84efe150.jpeg |
Looks beautiful. That dude in the background is so happy for you lol.
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Hahahahah!!! I hadn’t even noticed that before lol
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