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Yes they can, although they’ll get beaten up by stones etc. Also want to review lots of photos to make sure you like the look. Tends to make the cat look a little chunkier.
I have both the side skirts and front lip painted to match exterior color (GR). The car was spec'd this way by the original owner but if I had the choice, I would leave them unpainted as they are much cheaper and less hassle to replace that way. And I think it looks good either way.
another option, which a RL'r pointed out, is to apply a clear bra on the painted side skirts ( aka rocker panel) for some protection. the front lip pry gets more chips than desired on a DD, but for a C & C car, then it stays pristine
I'm doing it right now. I'm having the front lip painted and installing GT2 side skirts (also painted). All will be covered by Suntek or Xpel film for protection.
I just replaced my painted front lip that got all mangled bottoming out during an autocross with an unpainted $100 ebay job. Was originally planning to get the new one painted eventually, but not I'm not sure. Doesn't look bad... (Or more precisely, it doesn't look like anything. Unless you're looking for it, it just disappears, so the front end looks slimmer, although not as low.) I think the painted version looks a bit better when it's new, but when it inevitably scrapes on something, maybe not so much.
I have been contemplating on doing the same thing but my car is a DD, although my office is ony 2 miles away it still scrapes sometimes on the driveway. So im thinking of getting it vinyl wrapped (front lip, side skirts, and the rear bumper diffuser). It will probably cost the same as getting it painted but at least its not permanent if you want to go back and replaceable.
I have been contemplating on doing the same thing but my car is a DD, although my office is ony 2 miles away it still scrapes sometimes on the driveway. So im thinking of getting it vinyl wrapped (front lip, side skirts, and the rear bumper diffuser). It will probably cost the same as getting it painted but at least its not permanent if you want to go back and replaceable.
Thing with vinyl wrap I would think is if it scrapes on rough pavement it could tear, which would look terrible. On the other hand, if you only scrape the under-side of a painted lip, normally you can't really tell. (Now, if you bottom out on a dip in a hairpin corner hard enough to fold the whole thing under, that's a bit more visible...)
If you get it painted and don't like it, you can get a new one for literally a hundred bucks on eBay, and install it yourself in five minutes.
As for the sides, there is a thin strip of gravel guard (basically a rough section) just above the side skirt piece. If you do paint the sides, IMO you should add gravel guard there too, so it matches. Did that on mine and it fits in nicely. Would look weird if it were still flat but painted (or wrapped) body color IMO.
I was thinking the same thing about the sides Nate. If you don't add aftermarket side skirts do people still paint it just flat? I would think it would not look right with the gravel guard strip in between two flat paints. How did you add gravel guard on your sides?
I was thinking the same thing about the sides Nate. If you don't add aftermarket side skirts do people still paint it just flat? I would think it would not look right with the gravel guard strip in between two flat paints. How did you add gravel guard on your sides?
Ha, my technique involved paying money to a body shop. Sounded like adding gravel guard is a pretty standard thing though. It blends in with the existing strip really well.
When I took delivery of my '09 Turbo Cab (Arctic) the sides, rear and front went right into our shop for matching lowers. But it's a bit tricky when done right - the tinting is different for lowers than for body panels. Took us 9 attempts to mix to the right tint, then perfection.
The rear and sides are still nearly flawless today. On the front, get two, and paint at same time, then swap as needed. Thought I don't thrash the hell out of the car, the front lip invariably has something go south once/year or so, and we just swap it out, repair and repaint, store for next time.
As others have mentioned, painted lips look GREAT until they don't... Stone chips and spiderweb cracks if you ever flex them at all on a speed bump or rain dip. Black looks GOOD and stays looking good until you really mangle them on something.
If your car has been lowered, don't bother spending money on the front lip other than buying a couple of the $100 replacements off eBay. I've had two 997 Turbos, one lowered and one not, and its just unavoidable with the lowered car. The other was beaten up a little, but not like the other. YMMV
11-20-2017, 12:10 PM
Front Lip/Side Skirt Painting
