Failed at DIY Rear M Performance Install

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

My son Tim (17yrs old) and I watched a video, followed direction and installed the M Performance Carbon rear spoiler.
We got close but the 2 top corners were not sticking down, so we took it back off without cracking the carbon fiber and will try again tomorrow with real 3M tape.

I think the off brand 3M tape that came inside the BMW M Performance spoiler was not very good and the corners would not stick down.
Heading to home depot tomorrow to pick up some real 3M tape and give it a go again.

Do you think it would be OK to put some lubricant onto the 3M tape so the spoiler will slide into place, and when the lubricant drys the tape will stick to the Paint?
Any thoughts?

Or maybe I don't remove all the red adhesive tape and set the top of the spoiler first and then remove the bottom red tape cover.

Any thoughts to my 2nd attempt?
Thanks
ZoomZoomZEmmy.

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomZEmmy

My son Tim (17yrs old) and I watched a video, followed direction and installed the M Performance Carbon rear spoiler.
We got close but the 2 top corners were not sticking down, so we took it back off without cracking the carbon fiber and will try again tomorrow with real 3M tape.

I think the off brand 3M tape that came inside the BMW M Performance spoiler was not very good and the corners would not stick down.
Heading to home depot tomorrow to pick up some real 3M tape and give it a go again.

Do you think it would be OK to put some lubricant onto the 3M tape so the spoiler will slide into place, and when the lubricant drys the tape will stick to the Paint?
Any thoughts?

Or maybe I don't remove all the red adhesive tape and set the top of the spoiler first and then remove the bottom red tape cover.

Any thoughts to my 2nd attempt?
Thanks
ZoomZoomZEmmy.

Honestly 3M tape alone isn't enough for those.

I would strongly suggest the use of that betalink glue. It can be a disaster if that thing flies off.

My dealer did mine and used that beta link adhesive.

[jim996]

+1 I’m sure the dealer glued mine as well. Needs to stay on at 160mph

[turboadam]

I disagree. I used the dealer supplied tape after using the proper cleaner/surface prep and that thing aint coming off without a fight. Just make sure the trunk surface is at a decent temperature before you start. Its no good doing it if the surface temp is too low.

[drgmt]

Originally Posted by turboadam

I disagree. I used the dealer supplied tape after using the proper cleaner/surface prep and that thing aint coming off without a fight. Just make sure the trunk surface is at a decent temperature before you start. Its no good doing it if the surface temp is too low.

There are a heap of reports of these kinds of spoilers flying off cars if not secured properly.

I'd do it the way the dealer suggests. Maybe check with them.

[f80er]

I would heat that double sided tape up first with a hair dryer or heat gun. Get that epoxy nice and hot and it will stick like cement.

I would also put the tape on the spoiler first and then place it on the truck. Maybe outline it first without the tape to know exactly where to put it.

[espressoo]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomZEmmy

Or maybe I don't remove all the red adhesive tape and set the top of the spoiler first and then remove the bottom red tape cover.

Are you sure you watched the right installation video? A lot of the youtube installation videos are hack jobs unlike this one below.

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

I think the 3M tape will be fine as long as the corners stay stuck to the car.
Ill post an update when we try again tonight.

[allinon72]

The spoiler is light as a feather...and fine with 3m tape.

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomZEmmy

Or maybe I don't remove all the red adhesive tape and set the top of the spoiler first and then remove the bottom red tape cover.

Ensure you're using very high bond (VHB) tape. Not just any 3M tape. Prep the surface with a 50%-70% IPA (not the beer).

Then, only remove about an inch of the backing on each side. Once secured in the correct position have someone hold the spoiler in place while you pull the remaining backing.

[smithf80]

If you're using 3M VHB and you prepped the surface, as others have mentioned, you won't have an issue.

The edges should sit flat even without tape, if they aren't then I suspect you might have a bad spoiler. Certain replicas might have those issues, but an OEM, expensive, BMW spoiler shouldn't have that problem.

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

Its a new OEM BMW Rear spoiler that I picked up for $440. It is very light and since produces zero downforce, which producers zero drag, there should be no reason for it to fly off going 160+mph.
I think the trick to get it installed and fitted properly is to install it and then pull the red tape adhesive cover off while it is in the proper position.
Thanks for the videos and suggestions.
ZoomZoom

[whoop_ass]

the new Spoiler do not come with Doubles sided tape anymore.
it need betalink and it solid on there once installed with Betalink .

besides the adhesive properties you can get the betalink to seal all the gaps nicely.
that is how i did mine and worked great!

[EALm4]

Originally Posted by smithf80

If you're using 3M VHB and you prepped the surface, as others have mentioned, you won't have an issue.

The edges should sit flat even without tape, if they aren't then I suspect you might have a bad spoiler. Certain replicas might have those issues, but an OEM, expensive, BMW spoiler shouldn't have that problem.

OP, Key here is the 3M VHB tape which is more than enough to hold a spoiler on 150+ mph. Dont use anything else and prep the surface well and you'll be fine.

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

I went to PEPBoys and got the 3M 1/2inch tape (Product #03614) and my son and I prepped it perfectly this time. I cleaned off the old 3M 1/4inch tape that came installed from BMW, sanded the carbon, wiped clean with alcohol then we prepped the inside of the Spoiler with the new 3M 1/2inch Molding tape. Then we got out the heat gun (Wifes Hair dryer) and warmed up the trunk area so it was warm. Put the spoiler onto the car and with the red adhesive still on the sticky tape so we could move it around and make sure it was seated properly and centered on the trunk. We pealed back a few spots of the tape cover so we could peel off the red adhesive while the spoiler was in position on the car. We kept the red adhesive tape on and fit the spoiler into position. Once we were happy with the centering and fit we slowly removed the red adhesive tape cover and it slide right off the tape while the spoiler was in position. I have to say I was a bit worried that if the red adhesive tore or broke off while we were removing then we would have been screwed, but we were careful and took our time pulling off the red adhesive cover. Ill post a photo and video.
Thanks everyone for all your input.

[f80er]

FWIW if and when you want to take it off just heat it up before hand.

[tom @ eas]

3M (VHB) is perfectly fine for OEM trunk spoilers, as long as the surfaces are prepped properly. You do NOT need to use Betalink.

OEM BMW pieces fit pretty well, the overseas stuff coming in is another story as they are not perfectly flush with the trunk in most cases. .

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

Hope these links work.
Hope this DIY helps others who bought this same spoiler. Dealer wanted $350.

[VIMEO]https://vimeo.com/250875113]
[VIMEO]https://vimeo.com/250876145]





Cheers
ZoomZoom

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

Nope Video Links didn't work. Sorry

[ZoomZoomZEmmy]

Originally Posted by f80er

FWIW if and when you want to take it off just heat it up before hand.

When I put it on the first time and it wasn't right I had to take it off. It wasn't on long but it was stuck. I used Glide Dental Floss, Doubled it up and then just pulled and broke though the sticky. Then just had to do some clean up on the paint.
Im sure I may have to replace the tape holding the spoiler on the care in a few years. We will see.
Thanks

[FlyingLow78]

I installed my M3's rear spoiler this time last year. Although not ideal, it was only 40 degrees outside, but I used a combination of betalink and the double-sided tape. I followed some of the recommendations in the video that espressoo mentioned, especially with regards to using tape to seal around the edges of the spoiler to keep the betalink from seeping out and to serve as a visual reference to align it. I used strong fishing line to cut the tape holding the OEM lip spoiler, and prepared the surface with the solvent supplied with the betalink. Mine went on just fine and I kept it taped down for 24 hours afterwards just to be sure. It's not going anywhere, and I've gone ~164 MPH with no issues.

From looking at the condensation on the car in the evenings, after driving I can see that very little airflow actually gets to the spoiler, because the dew hadn't been disturbed anywhere except the extreme outer edges and the center (probably because the antenna is acting as a vortex generator to energize the airflow). I've kicked around the idea of getting some small vortex generators from Ebay to stick on the roof, but they look ridiculous and I don't think I could tolerate looking at them every day.