Pulled out the plastic inserts in the rear bumper

[Papethova]

They looked kind of cheap so I replaced them with a mesh. Im gonna wait to see if I want to black out whats behind the openings.

[Rikx1M]

nice...yeah, what's behind there that we could paint flat black? Anything that can't get wet? Much sharper with real mesh!

[EINSER M]

old news but I still love it paps!

[Artemis]

The title of an Ellis Marsalis jazz album might apply here: "Some Kind of Cool".

[tv4184]

You can also use perforated sheet metal and paint it black. It'll look more professional than wire mesh. Just another idea.

[firechicken99]

did you use anything to get the mesh to seat and stick nice in there?

[Ky1M]

Looks like a nice spot for that tire smoke to exit out! :

[MDORPHN]

Does it simply pop out with a little outward pressure from inside the wheel well?

If not, please describe its removal and how you inserted the mesh.

Thanks.

Neil

[///M1]

Not bad. Not sure it is from the flash, but what is behind the mesh, looks like the top 1/2 part is blocked by something?

Crazy idea, but can you superimpose the mesh over the stock black trim piece? Not sure how it will look, but at least you won't see what's behind it and the mesh will still be noticeable.

[Papethova]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

did you use anything to get the mesh to seat and stick nice in there?

Originally Posted by MDORPHN

Does it simply pop out with a little outward pressure from inside the wheel well?

If not, please describe its removal and how you inserted the mesh.

Thanks.

Neil

The black inserts pop out. There are 4 tabs (2 on each side of each opening) that hold it in place. You can press from the outside of the bumper along the inside of the "vent" and it will push the two tabs towards the center of the car and press against the plastic piece to release it. Then from behind you pull the plastic piece laterally towards the center of the car and it will release the other side.

I cut the mesh precisely so it fits into that space and snaps in using the same 4 tabs. Once in I bend some of it to hug the bumper, in the pic one piece has a portion bent and the other is yet to be bent thats why they arent identical. Its held in place exactly as the OEM plastic inserts.

The tabs are painted body color so I had to black those out. I used a combination of vinyl and flat black enamel.

I do have some extra material and I can make a few extra sets if anyone wants them.

[Papethova]

Originally Posted by ///M1

Not bad. Not sure it is from the flash, but what is behind the mesh, looks like the top 1/2 part is blocked by something?

Crazy idea, but can you superimpose the mesh over the stock black trim piece? Not sure how it will look, but at least you won't see what's behind it and the mesh will still be noticeable.

You can superimpose but I dont know how you would hold the mesh in place. Im not sure the OEM piece will snap in with the mesh in place. Plus I want depth behind the mesh.

I plan to black out either the white thats showing or maybe set in a black plate an inch behind the mesh. Just waiting to really look at it and think about it before I decide what to do.

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by Papethova

The black inserts pop out. There are 4 tabs (2 on each side of each opening) that hold it in place. You can press from the outside of the bumper along the inside of the "vent" and it will push the two tabs towards the center of the car and press against the plastic piece to release it. Then from behind you pull the plastic piece laterally towards the center of the car and it will release the other side.

I cut the mesh precisely so it fits into that space and snaps in using the same 4 tabs. Once in I bend some of it to hug the bumper, in the pic one piece has a portion bent and the other is yet to be bent thats why they arent identical. Its held in place exactly as the OEM plastic inserts.

The tabs are painted body color so I had to black those out. I used a combination of vinyl and flat black enamel.

I do have some extra material and I can make a few extra sets if anyone wants them.

cool. Any idea what the white parts are back there? I'll take a look at mine this weekend. If you have some extra for a set that would be great (maybe I could throw a little something your way? )

[Papethova]

Originally Posted by Rikx1M

nice...yeah, what's behind there that we could paint flat black? Anything that can't get wet? Much sharper with real mesh!

It should easily be paintable

Originally Posted by tv4184

You can also use perforated sheet metal and paint it black. It'll look more professional than wire mesh. Just another idea.

I thought about that but most cars use a mesh on the openings and I remember one company making perf sheet for one of my other vehicles and the stuff was so gaudy and tacky. I wanted a higher percentage of open space versus metal space. My stuff is 75/25. I couldnt find anything I liked that had a closer to 50/50 ratio.

[Papethova]

Here is an idea of what options are available

(DISCLAIMER: I did NOT buy from them)

http://www.mcmaster.com/#wire-cloth/=g9fbaf

[Sales@AUTOcouture]

hmmm

[Moo]

Would it be easy to turn these into real vents? Any additional cutting/trimming required?

[burnsniper]

Originally Posted by Moo

Would it be easy to turn these into real vents? Any additional cutting/trimming required?

I thought these vents were functional (along with the ones on front) to serve as an air curtain around the wheels thus reducing drag and road noise. Fluid dynamics are very interesting and aerodynamic affects not always intuitive or obvious (sometimes small changes have big impacts and big changes have very little impact). An example of this would be the small retrofit wing on a 1st gen TT or deployable wing on a Boxster vs a large wing on DTM race car.

Replacing the plastic inserts with mesh may have actually increased the drag and destroyed the functionality of the vents as designed.

[///M1]

Originally Posted by burnsniper

I thought these vents were functional (along with the ones on front) to serve as an air curtain around the wheels thus reducing drag and road noise. Fluid dynamics are very interesting and aerodynamic affects not always intuitive or obvious (sometimes small changes have big impacts and big changes have very little impact). An example of this would be the small retrofit wing on a 1st gen TT or deployable wing on a Boxster vs a large wing on DTM race car.

Replacing the plastic inserts with mesh may have actually increased the drag and destroyed the functionality of the vents as designed.

I don't think they are real/functional vents. If they were, you would probably be seeing pebbles/rocks fly through, but don't think there is an actual opening

[Moo]

Doesn't look like it'd be easy to turn them into real vents:

[MDORPHN]

Originally Posted by Papethova

I do have some extra material and I can make a few extra sets if anyone wants them.

Just pm'd you!

Thanks.

Neil

[firechicken99]

Originally Posted by Moo

Doesn't look like it'd be easy to turn them into real vents:

[IMG]

Is this really a VO 1M that someone took and had repainted

Dont get me wrong, I am in love with that color, but wow take a brand new car and paint the whole thing..... SMH

[VO 1M]

I guess it is a foil