Cutting out the front bumper for FMIC - **Finished with Pictures**

[jamiebennett81]

Saw this Leon and was thinking of doing the same, to aid air flow, but so it's a bit more in your face type thing, to show my PA FMIC...a bit more bling (with it cleaned up and polished a bit too)

would I have to cut the bumper, or is there a way of removing the thin plastic slats on the prefacelift leon

 

[Willie]

Dunno Tony but its more likely to get fecked by a stone without any protection.
TBH doesn't look too great either

 

[brad1]

Or just get a cupra r bumper so you have the middle grill which will give better airflow

 

[D.K]

Get a LCR one, you know you want to

 

[John _Boy]

but thats always easier said than done.... intercoolers are harder things than most people think and would take a very solid hit from somthing to hole it

 

[adam cupra 20vt]

On that picture he must have cut the bumper as well as removing the grille as there is another piece of bumper that goes between the numberplate and bottom where intercooler sits

 

[jamiebennett81]

Dunno Tony but its more likely to get fecked by a stone without any protection.
TBH doesn't look too great either

I think he has cut too much away and fecked it a bit, so gotta make sure I do it right, I want some bling on show and I still think it could look OK

Or just get a cupra r bumper so you have the middle grill which will give better airflow

NO

Get a LCR one, you know you want to

AND........................NO

 

[Willie]

but thats always easier said than done.... intercoolers are harder things than most people think and would take a very solid hit from somthing to hole it

If your travelling at 100MPH and a stone is flicked up from another car at 100 MPH thats 200 MPH the stone is hitting your car.
Some sub sonic bullets don't travel as fast as that so yes extra protection is needed.
My mates MK2 cupra had a stone hit his at some point and JUST missed the intercooler and made a big bad dent

 

[jamiebennett81]

any ideas on this?

went to look at the centre panel on the bumper this morning, and looks like it might have to be a bumper off job to remove it

anyone know what is holding it in at all?

tempted just to rip it out and then smooth it off around the edges.....

 

[jamiebennett81]

well I managed to figure it out

stupid plastic grill was held in by some clips, took those off and with a bit of heave ho, pulled it out

then I cut the plastic black lip off and smoothed it off round the sides to smarten it up....looks pretty clean if I do say so myself

It wont be to everyones liking, but I like it. Got to tidy up a few of the surrounding clips, but just gave it a quick clean and it has come up pretty well

 

[lordgibbness]

Are they really stone chips on the front of your bonnet? Quite a few there if they are!

 

[jamiebennett81]

Are they really stone chips on the front of your bonnet? Quite a few there if they are!

ssshhhhh....yes they are (in for a respray before E38/September this year as it's awful)

and trust someone to comment on that and not the job itself

 

[Deleted member 20376]

looks like you do a good job.
loads of people have the fmic showing, the fiesta/escorts turbos had them showing a few scoobies too, but i think a decent size stone would dent the hell out of it.
still looks different though.

 

[jamiebennett81]

looks like you do a good job.
loads of people have the fmic showing, the fiesta/escorts turbos had them showing a few scoobies too, but i think a decent size stone would dent the hell out of it.
still looks different though.

yep, tis the chance you take really, and I am willing to take that chance

worst case scenario it will have to be replaced, but the piping and everything is already there, so if it does get damaged, then it will be a cheapy cooler off Ebay which I am sure will do the job

thanks for the comments though

next job will be to take out the top grills and clean it from the top (yes the intercooler goes all the way to the top of the grills!!!!)

 

[krisbutler02]

looks good to me mate

 

[lordgibbness]

ssshhhhh....yes they are (in for a respray before E38/September this year as it's awful)

and trust someone to comment on that and not the job itself

I'm surviving with touch-up paint and a fine paint brush for now!

 

[LEE69]

Nice job.

 

[wisejason]

nice to see someone doing something a little different - good job fella.

 

[jamiebennett81]

thanks for the comments guys, I have to say, it is definitely growing on me, and suits the "look" of the car i.e. with the black wheels etc

now I need a silly sticker to put somewhere on the front plastic lip or side of the FMIC i.e. a "cold" type sign