DuraFlex Bumper Pictuers before Prep. Quality is "iffy" at best

[AtomicVette]

Received my Duraflex stuff today. I'm not impressed at all. I know aftermarket body parts are sometimes "rough" and require some prep to paint but this stuff looks like a 5 year old made it. I also received what appears to be a different model bumper from what I actually ordered. Working with customer support now to get it resolved. However these are very low quality, even lower than I expected for the price. Anyway, here are some pictures.

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/AMGRear.jpg

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/AMGRear2.jpg

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/AMGRear3.jpg

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/AMGRear4.jpg

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/CRSFront.jpg

http://www.BadImageGraphics.com/Mercedes/CRSFront2.jpg

[vixen_w202]

You're not alone. My experience with my C36 replica wasn't as bad, but it was still frustrating to get it installed.

FYI you can use parts of your old bumper to get this to work. PM me if you need help. These can with some moderate work look show quality like mine came out.

[Vetruck]

Those seams are very dissappointing. Looks like they made a mold out of Playdoh. Goona take alot of block sanding to get them straight. I bummed because I am ready to buy some of those CR-S sideskirts right now for my project. Could you give me a reveiw on them and post pics what they tlook like? I am curious if they look like the Duraflex ads or is it a generic pic of the AMG type skirts. I know you stated the front is different than the pic, how about the skirts?

[AtomicVette]

I'll take some pics of the skirts tomorrow. They're probably the best part of the kit. Not sure how I'm going to mount them yet, but they look okay

[Vetruck]

Do they look like the ad?

[yusuke280]

wow thats shitty... buy another brand?

[AtomicVette]

here are the side skirts.

http://www.badimagegraphics.com/mercedes/sideskirt.jpg

http://www.badimagegraphics.com/mercedes/sideskirt2.jpg

http://www.badimagegraphics.com/mercedes/sideskirt3.jpg

[Vetruck]

They look good. Certainly need just a little attention in gapping but that is minor. Thank you for postiung them, they look just like the ad. Makes me wonder still what the difference is between the "AMG look" and the "CR-S" versions. I am really startin to think they are one in the same.

Good luck with your project. ill be in the same boat real soon.

Also- It looks like they probably need the thinner under door moldings just like the Brabus one requires
http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?18229-Non-AMG-door-rubber-(between-door-and-skirt)-diff-from-C43-models

[Vetruck]

Atomic- I was looking at the other pics you have of the side skirts test fitted to your car and have decided it is definately the choice I want to purchase to go with my Brabus front and rear. I like the lines of the skirts since they flow nicely off the fender lips both front and rear.

Bodywork is not a strong point of mine- I really do not have alot of experience with panel adhesives and such, but am very experienced with fiberglass (I have done alot of fiberglass as well as metal repairs on racecars while I was on several minor league NASCAR teams) so I am very good at sanding and shaping, I just do not know anything about how to attach these best. I do not plan on using Dzus fastners...lol

Can you give me any advice on how you plan to secure them? adhesive? or are you using mechanical fastners? maybe both?
I assume the company did not include any of this in the purchase

Dean

[AtomicVette]

Lol, no, the company didn't include anything to attach them with. I just drilled holes in them where the existing holes were in the body for the factory door seals. I'm going to use plastic automotive pins to attach them.

[Vetruck]

Thanks, Ill talk to the guy Im going to have do the paint work on them and see what Mark recommends. The Brabus ones I have were glued on. I don't like the idea of plastic clips because if they are bumped in any way they can fall off at speed- ie hitting tire retread pieces at speed on the freeway etc- that stuff can fly right up behind the front tire and knock the sideskirts loose in a heartbeat if they are not secured- just food for thought for you. You may not have issues where you are at like we do here in busy So Calif, are freways are crowded and they is always unexpected debris int he center of the roads that suddenly appear from under the car in front of you as you are making a lane change etc, I lost a $400 splitter off the front of my truck recently that I just replaced from impacting a retread debris, and it was ABS with metal Longacre struts and metal fastners+ shattered it right off the nose in pieces. A sideskirt held on with plactic fastners would not last here.

[AtomicVette]

There are about 12 pins per side they are located between the door and the seal, there is no way anything is going to hit them. The side skirts are a tight fit, they are actually just holding themselves on right now. I'll most likely put a screw at the front and the back into the fender. (if there is a place for it) we'll see.

[Vetruck]

In your case I can see you main reason why that is a good idea for you because of your choice to wrap the car rather than paint it. You will need to somedat remove them to redo it where as painted surfaces could be re-shot on the car. You could re-wrap it on there, but it would be alot harder to tuck the wrap under the rocker panel and hold up to elements. Thank you for your imput, I appreciate it. It I was an expert on all this I would not have asked you for advice ;)

I really like how they look on your car and the comparison shots I can see you have with them as well as without really helped me decide on puchasing them. I am ordering some next week.