Scratching the bottom of the front spoiler F430

Can you guys give me some ideas re: preventing this from happening (again)? Also, please make me feel better regarding the fact that I already scraped the front left on what seemed to have the total elevation of a pebble.

 

There goes $10,000

Just kidding!

.... or am I?

 

In the ten days I've had my 430, I've scratched both the front and right underside of the bumper several times. I don't know how anyone avoids it. At least on the GT3, the front lip was sacrificial.

My plan is to keep touching it up so you don't see the white composite material when parked on a slope, and if I ever trade it in or sell it, just get it fixed at that time. It doesn't hurt the car, and you usually can't see it. Drive the car, don't worry about it, and enjoy!

That being said, one of the sponsors sells scrape shields that you bolt under the front bumper and they become sacrificial vs the bumper itself.

 

Welcome to the club..........I doubt you will find a single F430 without a scraped front bumper unless it's a garage queen ofcourse. You will scrape it again......so don't worry about it. What you can do to avoid scraping the bumper itself, is to fix skidplates to the bottom of your bumper..........most of us have. That way you will scrape the skidplates without damaging the bumper.


Some pictures of the skidplates mounted to my F430:




You will want to know where to buy them from.........it's Premier Motorsport, Culver City, CA - David Freed, (310) 559 1562
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

+1 - Premier skids installed as soon as possible!

 

+1

 

I had skid plates, like Tarek's, installed on my car while it was still at the dealer before my first ride home. I'm happy I did... on the 2nd ride out, driving through the mountain roads we have here in NorCal, I hit a kicker with the rear tires which made the chin of the car slap the pavement... at speed. Horrible sound, chill up my spine... pulled over as soon as I could and the skid plates took 100% of the absuse. Since then, I've had the same thing happen (in different locations) 3-4 times on the on the road. I've yet to scrape coming into/out of a driveway, go figure.

My car is stock ride height... I don't know how you guys with lowered cars can drive anywhere.

Frank

 

I'm at Euro height and although the roads in SoCA aren't necessarily great I haven't encountered many problems. Biggest obstacle's are speed bumps and driveways.

 

Tarek I love your posts, some of them funny as hell. I noticed that's a LA number - do you live in LA or in Cairo? Charles in LA

 

I've (knock on wood) have yet to have scrapped my prior 05 or new 07 front end.

 

What else to expect from a garage queen...........

 

Thanks Charles ...........I live in Cairo, that's David's number in Culver City where I bought my skidplates.

Regards,

Tarek

 

Guys..thanks very much for the posts. It makes me feel good that I'm not alone...amazes me that some of you don't scrape the spoiler...seems unavoidable. I am going to grab some of the guards mentioned on the post...thanks again!

 

Why is the underneath of your car so different than the rest? Have you removed the cover or something? Must be why it's on the lift, I guess. The underside of my 430's are completely flat and you cant see any of the suspension, engine etc... Im sure you just have parts removed and I am stupid for asking but... just in case

 

tarek, do you know if they make plates for the LP640 murcie?

 

The front tray is removed. I was mounting the skidplates and you need to remove it to access the inside of the bumper to hold the nuts.

 

Don't know............but I need to call him today anyway for my Scuderia skidplates, so I'll ask David and post his reply.

 

.........was only joking DJ.

 

thanks

 

I try and know the road geometrics. Over 7500 miles on the 360 and no scrapes. Now the Diablo was a different story! No shopping centers for sure. My new three pedal car is for sure a garage queen due to the great and long lasting winter we had in Indiana but I hope to change that status. Bottom line is that skid plates are a great idea.

 

I just posted this in the other thread about Skid Plates. www.ldpengineering.com

They're suppose to be releasing a set for the F430 within the next few weeks. Offering more protection than competitors at a more attractive price.

 

Scud...........spoke to Dave at Premier Motorsport a few minutes ago. Yes, they do make skidplates for the LP640. He will email me a picture this evening. I will post it here for you.

 

good work mate

 

...........

 

Here you are Roger...........Dave sent me some pictures of the LP640 skidplates:
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login