Has anyone mounted this front lip splitter? If so, any scraping or over heating issues? Thanks

 

Depending on the splitter, you absolutely may have overheating issues, especially if you need to cut the air dam. Some have no problems, others have the temperatures rise to an unacceptable level immediately. I imagine it depends on the specific splitter, the installation, how clean your rad is, etc.

 

Thanks, makes me nervous especially since I believe I have to drill holes to mount. I really like the looks of this one though. Manufacturer states no over heating issues, but they won't pay for a new front bumper if I have to rip it off .

 

When I was looking for my splitter I looked for one that was open in the middle just for that very reason, I wanted to make sure the radiator got enough air to it. I have no experience with the one you picked out though so I can't comment on it. I live in Phoenix so I can't afford to restrict any air to the radiator if at all possible. I've had no issues with my ACI one other then just plain old damage and repairs/repaint. Depending on how low your car is will determine if it restricts the airflow also on that one you picked out. Hopefully someone has tried that one and will let you know how it works.

 

That style (ZR) was originally made for the C6, a nose-breather. The C5 is a bottom breather, so it needs air flow underneath the front fascia. Air is directed to the radiator via the center deflector (that spring-loaded thing that scrapes on everything). If you block that airflow, your temps will go up. The ZR style splitter will do just that. Pretty much everyone who installs this reports higher coolant temps. There are ways around this by opening up the "grills" and/or license plate area to allow more airflow to the radiator. You can also have your fans programmed to come on earlier, too. Band-aids to compensate for an ill-designed (for the C5) splitter. The best splitters for the C5 are the ACI and Vortex style (a shortened version of the ACI without the center post).

 

A friend of mine bought a car with an identical looking splitter. His car ran 230F on the highway in normal driving so I made him take it off. His temps dropped to 215 in the same conditions like a light switch. You don't want to be getting aluminum heads that hot. As mentioned there are splitters that are made for the airflow this car requires.

 

I've had this splitter on my car for about a year now, give or take. I personally saw little to no increase in temps, but many have reported temps spiking immediately. Some guys just cut a couple sections out to allow air to flow through, some remove it. I was hesitant to drill into the bumper too, but the holes are tiny and on the underside of the bumper. If you remove the splitter in the future, you won't be able to see the holes. Be sure ALL debris is cleaned out from your radiator, you might be surprised how much crud has found it's way up there. FWIW I had a mail order tune that made the fans come on sooner, that definitely helped keep temps in check. I'm now supercharged and temps have stayed in check the few times I've driven it, but I did add side Trackspec hood vents.

As far as scraping goes, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm lowered all the way on stock bolts and haven't had any issues. If it does scrape, it's very flexible. Off the car, the thing is all kinds of floppy aka it's not very rigid. I actually ripped out a couple screws pulling it on to a trailer a couple months ago. Screwed them right back in and it's been fine since. I'd say it can take a decent beating.

As others have said, it's not designed for the bottom breathing C5, but I personally couldn't justify spending 3-4X as much money for a "properly designed" splitter that can't take a beating. Let's be real, most people that get splitters are getting them for looks anyway. I don't recall ANY of the available splitters being track tested by the manufacturers and I've even seen a popular vendor say directly that there is no testing done. So in our case "properly designed" is usually limited to "allowing air through the center vs. not". If I had an $800 rigid carbon fiber splitter on the front of my car, I'd be too paranoid to drive it....if my car tolerates the $140 splitter and I accidentally damage it, it's not the end of the world.

 

Thanks to all again for the advice! I am going to wait a little more and see if anyone else responds who has installed this exact one. I run about 198 on the highway but it will get up to 230 and stay there at long stoplights. Most likely though, based on the last response, I will give it a shot and post the results. Glad to hear about small holes, bottom is scraped up anyhow.

 

I don't recall my car running that hot even before the mail order tune. I think I saw in the low 200s maybe, but definitely not 230 at idle. And I'm In Southern California. Hopefully you'll be good after just cleaning out the debris that's wedged up in the radiator shroud, but blowing out your radiator fins from the back is a good idea too. That's on my long list of to-do's as well.

 

I installed this exact one in May. Daily drove my car all summer long in 90+ degree days almost the entire time. Didn't see an increase in temps at all.

 

Thanks!! Did you remove the side spoilers/air dam?

 

no i kept them on

 

Good point, be sure to leave them on. Some people remove them because they're too lazy to take a second to make them all fit together. It's not that difficult.