View Single Post
Old 10-22-2012, 04:57 AM   #77 (permalink)
AndrzejM
Master EcoModder
 
AndrzejM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Poland
Posts: 840

Berta - '97 BMW 318 tds Compact
90 day: 62.03 mpg (US)

Charlie - '07 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso Exclusive
90 day: 37.58 mpg (US)

Corsa - '05 Opel Corsa C
90 day: 53.22 mpg (US)

Mruczek - '03 Audi A2
90 day: 60.61 mpg (US)
Thanks: 185
Thanked 167 Times in 117 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Otto View Post
I also BMW E36, a '95 325is.

A few thoughts on grill block:

You could remove the chrome plastic surrounding the upper kidney-shaped holes, put black Coroplast between the existing black plastic grills and the metal, for a nearly flush fit. If the flutes in the black Coroplast are vertical, it looks more like a stock BMW.
Good idea, but it's very hard to get black coro here in Poland, I know I could paint any coro with a black spray though. I'll think of that.

Quote:
Black Coroplast also makes a good single piece cover for the lower grill opening. Use the existing black plastic grill to mount it to.
As above...

Quote:
Belly pan of 6mm Coroplast tucks under the bottom of the front bumper cover. Zip tie its trailing edge to the cross bar under the engine. Coroplast sheet could be heated and formed to include wheel spats in the belly pan. Or, make airfoil-shaped spats and wheel fairings out of plastic foam, spray paint black.
That's my plan for a belly pan, but first I want to modify the whole front of Berta to fit a bellypan.

Quote:
Some E36 guys use black plastic lawn or garden edging from Home Depot or other home improvement stores to make chin spoilers that look like stock. This lowers the bottom edge of the bumper cover by ~1.5". Rather than make a new air dam, maybe you could use a heat gun and heat the sides of the existing bumper cover and reshape them by pulling outward so they are as far out as the front tires. This, plus the 1.5" chin spoiler, would give you about the same aerodynamic improvement as a new air dam. Go on Bimmerforums.com in the E36 section for pictures of the plastic chin spoiler.
Thanks for the tip. I'll think of that.
__________________


Quote:
Gerhard Plattner: "The best attitude is to consider fuel saving a kind of sport. Everybody who has enough money for a strong car, can drive fast and hit the pedal. But saving fuel requires concentration, self-control and cleverness. It's a challenge with the nice effect of saving you money that you can use for other more important things."
  Reply With Quote