[stefan]

Installed the Turner Motorsport F87 M2 Competition skid plate. I won't be tracking the car, I just feel that ice chunks and road debris pose a sufficient enough hazard to warrant the replacement.

This part was on sale for just under $500USD. I paid $180USD for shipping to Canada. All at 75c exchange rate. Lovely.

Some commentary on this

• Fit and finish is good--maybe off by only a 1-2mm in places (just squeeze the bumper in the direction you need it to go
  
• You have to remove 1 rivet that sits between the two orange holes in the attached diagram. You will notice a cut out here on the stock skid plate. This cut out doesn't exist on the one to accommodate the back side of the rivet.
• Installation is very annoying. I found that just barely resting the front lip inside the front of the bumper is the best way to start then wedge the sides in.
• Unlike the F80/82 skid plate, this piece spans continuously from edge to edge--there are no "pork chops" on the M2C
• Unlike the F80/82, you will find structural bolts that are a 10mm e-torx head that also support the skid plate.
• The piece doesn't substantially modify the existing coverage of the underside of the bumper--it's basically the exact same shape with no additional deflection. The middle crossbars are slightly thicker, I suppose.
• I do wish there was a bit more coverage across the oil cooler itself similar to the Fall Line model.
• Love the gasketed enclosure for the cooler. Awesome detail there, fits well.

On the attached annotated image I've provided a cheatsheet for the bolts you will encounter under the car and which retaining clips you need to transfer over.

• green = 8mm bolts, no clips
• orange and blue = 8mm bolts, transfer the metal clips to the new skid plate
• purple = 10mm e-torx, bolt back up to snug plus one quarter turn*

* I don't know the actual torque spec but this bolt appears structural so the procedure I mentioned is usually good enough. Hand tighten this bolt first.

In the end, although the coverage itself isn't notably improved, you do get a substantial and immediately obvious increase in rigidity and deflection with the core of the skid plate being structurally mounted. This thing will definitely take a serious beating. Could a big rock catch a lucky bounce and smash the cooler? Yes, that is still a possibility. But, I would still recommend this part given the baffling vulnerability BMW left under this car particularly if you live where I do and the roads suck and ice chunks are a real possibility.

[marcw]

I just installed this on my car last Friday. Since this didn't come with any installation instructions I decided to install it the same way the OEM one is installed. Meaning inside the bumper not outside like you have done. Didn't putting the clips on the bumper scratch the hell out of the paint in those areas? I mean those clips are really tight and scratched my aluminum plate when I put them on. The only downside to installing this the same way the OEM one is installed is that the push rivet needs to come out as the new plate doesn't have a cut out like the OEM one.

I wish I would have known that I needed an e-torx bit before getting started. All the videos only talk about the F80 that uses a simple hex nut. Great that you call that out so others that want to install this can get the right tools

[stefan]

Yep they are sharp. For sure they are going to eat into the bumper a bit. That's interesting that you just pulled that rivet right out. What was it holding? My assumption, since there wasn't actually a cutout for it, is that you had to put it beneath the bumper. I also noticed that the stock skid plate has more displacement between the center points and the side mount points, and it fits really flush on the outside. Is yours pulling down the bumper at all?

[marcw]

Originally Posted by stefan

Yep they are sharp. For sure they are going to eat into the bumper a bit. That's interesting that you just pulled that rivet right out. What was it holding? My assumption, since there wasn't actually a cutout for it, is that you had to put it beneath the bumper. I also noticed that the stock skid plate has more displacement between the center points and the side mount points, and it fits really flush on the outside. Is yours pulling down the bumper at all?

I think that rivet might be holding the brakes air duct in place. #3 from the pic. See how there is a protrusion there by #6 where the rivet goes in? The OEM guard cut out allows the rivet to secure that part. Given the weight of the Turner plate it does pull on the bumper lip a bit. You can see that if you zoom in on my pics above.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by marcw

I think that rivet might be holding the brakes air duct in place. #3 from the pic. See how there is a protrusion there by #6 where the rivet goes in? The OEM guard cut out allows the rivet to secure that part. Given the weight of the Turner plate it does pull on the bumper lip a bit. You can see that if you zoom in on my pics above.

So you inspired me to retry the fitment. And you are right. This is definitely the way it goes with the entire piece inside the bumper. It's SO tight and awkward to maneuver but it definitely fits slightly better all around once in.

Yep I messed around with that part with the rivet as well. It is the brake duct. The duct has additional rivet closer to the wheel well but that may or not be a concern long term. The skid plate definitely doesn't fit with that rivet in place as it runs into the back side of the rivet. I fought with it quite a bit the first time and just gave up entirely, going outside, assuming there was no cutout there by design. It is not. Personally I can't really think of how to go about this without cutting back the Turner plate. I am thinking about taking a grinder bit to it or being lazy, leaving it on, and carefully drilling a hole. Did you ever address this? In the end the thought of removing it again is super unappealing. It's probably not a huge concern.

Updating original post. Thanks for chiming in! Most appreciated.

Oh and FWIW; yes those clips scratch the bumper, but you can't see the scratches once the 8mm bolts are reinstalled. So that's nice.

[ZL9M2]

I installed a stainless mesh on the Turner piece before figuring out that it didn't fit my M2CS, so I installed the protection on the stock plastic panel and reinstalled that for now.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

I installed a stainless mesh on the Turner piece before figuring out that it didn't fit my M2CS, so I installed the protection on the stock plastic panel and reinstalled that for now.

Not bad at all looks great. Did you tack it down with something? Also surprised it doesn't fit the CS.

[ZL9M2]

JB Weld

[ZL9M2]

The front flange that slides under the splitter needs to be about 3/4" longer for it to fit the CS. All of the other mounting points are exactly the same.

[Daytona_550]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

I installed a stainless mesh on the Turner piece before figuring out that it didn't fit my M2CS, so I installed the protection on the stock plastic panel and reinstalled that for now.

I like this idea of a mesh on the stock plastic trim piece. Thanks for posting it!

[ZL9M2]

Yes, I just think the risk of catching a rock on the unprotected cooler is much higher than running over something to the extent you might need the aluminum skid plate.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

Yes, I just think the risk of catching a rock on the unprotected cooler is much higher than running over something to the extent you might need the aluminum skid plate.

I think the idea is that a sharp rock could either substantially deflect or tear right through the stock skid plate. It's really the front of the plate, which deflects down from the bumper, that will take the vast majority of impacts. What wouldn't be covered is a rock that takes a very lucky bounce, misses the front shield, and bounces into the oil cooler, missing the 4 brackets.

[ZL9M2]

Yes, or maybe as usual we're all too worried about something that probably may never happen?!!!

[BAN_M2C]

Love it, I installed mine pinching my lip against my bumper, just needed longer bolts.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by BAN_M2C

Love it, I installed mine pinching my lip against my bumper, just needed longer bolts.

Hah. the debate continues! I have emailed Turner to get the low down.

[M Fifty]

If I ever get run over by a car equipped with one of these I will be sure to praise it's aesthetic qualities - if I survive...

[marcw]

Originally Posted by ZL9M2

Yes, or maybe as usual we're all too worried about something that probably may never happen?!!!

Roll of the dice. I'd rather invest $450 to be better protected than stock https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1550991

[marcw]

Originally Posted by stefan

Hah. the debate continues! I have emailed Turner to get the low down.

Please post their response if you get one. I'm super curious now how this thing Is supposed to be installed.

[ZL9M2]

Looking at the bottom pic of the M2C splitter above it is quite different than the CS.

[stefan]

Originally Posted by marcw

Please post their response if you get one. I'm super curious now how this thing Is supposed to be installed.

FWIW I never heard back. Sent 2 emails. ECS and Turner have brutal customer service.

The photo on the site looks like the plate sits on the bottom side of the bumper rather than tucked into it like the stock one. I admit that tucking it in definitely seems more flush but who knows.

[marcw]

Originally Posted by stefan

FWIW I never heard back. Sent 2 emails. ECS and Turner have brutal customer service.

The photo on the site looks like the plate sits on the bottom side of the bumper rather than tucked into it like the stock one. I admit that tucking it in definitely seems more flush but who knows.

Yeah pretty much par for the course for these guys. I just bought a front splitter so will be under the car again and take another look.

[stefan]

We have a response from Turner

It should be tucked and should work the best way that way!