Customs Duty

[John Laidlaw]

Here was mine by the way

 

[rorywquin]

It's arrived!
Ordered 10 30pm Tuesday evening, email from DHL following morning, paid £17 80 tax and duty.
Yesterday, advised parcel was in Hong Kong awaiting shipment.
Today 11 45 am, DHL delivered the spoiler. I am very impressed with the whole transaction. from start to finish.

As for the spoiler, its very nice. Even weave and fits the car very nicely. Just waiting for Amazon to deliver the 19mm wide VHB tape and it will be secured. This was supplied with 10mm wide tape that I've been advised is not sufficient.

View attachment 57570 View attachment 57572

The tape on mine is about 6 to 8mm wide and only runs around the edges!

 

[AMGeed]

I've been advised to use StikaFlex sealant (£5 from Screwfix) instead of the VBH tape.
I must admit this would be my preferred method as it will allow a tiny amount of adjustment if necessary that I won't get with the tape. Hmmm, and Screwfix have a depot within walking distance.
And do I get black or translucent?
Decisions ,decisions

 

[LostKiwi]

Sikaflex is like TigerSeal. Great stuff but you'll never get it off and it's a pig to get rid of excess.

 

[A.J.]

I've been advised to use StikaFlex sealant (£5 from Screwfix) instead of the VBH tape.
I must admit this would be my preferred method as it will allow a tiny amount of adjustment if necessary that I won't get with the tape. Hmmm, and Screwfix have a depot within walking distance.
And do I get black or translucent?
Decisions ,decisions

Sikaflex is like TigerSeal. Great stuff but you'll never get it off and it's a pig to get rid of excess.

I would personally stay with the tape, no question. Should you change your mind at sometime in the future at least you can restore it to original with tape

 

[SmartAmg]

I would personally stay with the tape, no question. Should you change your mind at sometime in the future at least you can restore it to original with tape

I agree, Roger, stick to the tape, John Laidlaw put me on to the 3M VHB tape and IPA and it's great, no mess at all, Mark it out with masking tape first and you'll be OK.
P.S. no warp speeds until it's cured a bit.

 

[rorywquin]

I would personally stay with the tape, no question. Should you change your mind at sometime in the future at least you can restore it to original with tape

@AMGeed

Ditto what AJD said - if you get it wrong with tape, you can always pull it off (with dental floss). Also, you do not need to "hold it in place" while your glue sets.

I'm not invested in your using tape but I'd use it over any glue type product.

Get some IPA and make sure your paint is spotless (I actually used a 20% mix) - every time I walk past my car I give the spoiler a good tug..it is going nowhere.

Tape is what MB use.

 

[AMGeed]

OK, the majority win
I'll wait for the tape to arrive from Amazon ( and suggested by John) and use that. As said, if I b@lls it up I can at least get it off and redo it. And if it does lift in the sun, then I now know what to use to hold it down.

I have noticed on the inside of the spoiler there is an indentation, the same width as the supplied tape, that goes all the way round the inside so I assume using a wider tape I just keep to the outside edge all the way round.

When I fitted a carbon diffuser to my E55, I bolted it on and just used a fine line of sealant along the top to close any minor gaps.
I may get some black sealant afterwards if that is the case with the spoiler. You get around 10 minutes to clean off any over use before it cures.

 

[rorywquin]

I agree, Roger, stick to the tape, John Laidlaw put me on to the 3M VHB tape and IPA and it's great, no mess at all, Mark it out with masking tape first and you'll be OK.
P.S. no warp speeds until it's cured a bit.

@AMGeed

The 3m guidance is to position the item, once in place apply a good pressure and hold for a minute or so (pops the (microscopic) adhesive bubbles on the tape) and fully sets up in 78 hours (IIRC). However, 3M also says that good prep is essential.

 

[SmartAmg]

@AMGeed

The 3m guidance is to position the item, once in place apply a good pressure and hold for a minute or so (pops the (microscopic) adhesive bubbles on the tape) and fully sets up in 78 hours (IIRC). However, 3M also says that good prep is essential.

Yep, and no warp speeds, for a few days, to be on the safe side and obviously no direct jet washing until it's fully cured, and even then I never direct the jet wash straight at the spoiler.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Neither of mine were going anywhere after fitting using my method for sure...

 

[SmartAmg]

Neither of mine were going anywhere after fitting using my method for sure...

Nor mine, John.

 

[rorywquin]

Nor mine, John.

Car manufacturers wouldn't use tape if it was not a secure method.......

 

[AMGeed]

I should have taken Karl's advise.

The VHB 3M tape and iso-propyl alcohol wipe arrived from Amazon this morning so I got to work.

Washed the boot lid off, clayed it, rinsed off and sprayed with ipa and wiped down. Spotless boot.

I then positioned the spoiler and put masking tape as a guide line for fitting.

Then I got to work putting the tape on the back of the spoiler.

Time to fit it. With the help of Mrs AMGeed, the backing tape was removed and the spoiler positioned and pressed on. Pressure applied for around 30 seconds (the VHB tape instructions said 10 secs but............)

So this is how it looked after fitting. I liked it.

So I packed things away , put the car back in the shade and left it for a couple of hours. On next inspection, this is what I found.

See the gaps where its lifting?

And this is using the 19mm wide recommended tape. I am not a happy bunny to be honest. The VHB tape hasn't done the job so I've now got a tube of Sikaflex and will have to fill in the gap with black adhesive sealant.

Basically, the tape is not strong enough to hold down the slight upward shape of the underside of the spoiler.

I hold my hands up and say I didn't notice it when offering it up to test fit. But it is what it is now.

I'm annoyed but philosophical about it. I'll fill in the gap tomorrow and wait to see what it looks like.

I may even remove it throw the lot in the bin depending on how it goes

 

[LostKiwi]

Sikaflex will fill it and hold it but not bring it down.

 

[AMGeed]

Yep. If it looks bad its coming off.
There will be a raised piece in the middle which may look odd.

 

[LostKiwi]

Can you not remove it and sand down the high spots and try again,?

 

[AMGeed]

Can you not remove it and sand down the high spots and try again,?

It may come to that Alistair.
I'l see what it looks like with the Sikaflex in the gap.

 

[LostKiwi]

Just beware if it sets it's starting there forever....

 

[SmartAmg]

I presume you test fitted it first Roger, if it sat perfectly on your boot, then dont know why it's done that, unless it's a poor fitting spoiler, or is it you've got the tape to close to the edge of the spoiler so it's never gonna sit flush, I didn't put tape all round like that, I just put one length of tape in the middle which is slightly indented, perfectly flush fit, I know mines an E class coupe, but looks very similar to yours.