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MG MGF Technical - Front Spoiler

For some time now I've been aware of how high speeds and cross winds can affect the handling of my F. I've considered a "splitter" or even one of the trophy style front spoilers. However, I don't really like the look of them (my personal taste only). The other day when leaving my office car park I noticed a rubber spoiler on the front of a Peugeot 206 and thought if that was attached under the F's bumper it wouldn't be too noticeable. But, would it help the handling or even worse, would it adversely affect the handling of the car. By the way this particular rubber spoiler is priced at £11.87. Any thoughts on this matter would be appreciated.
David Clelland

David,

Not sure exactly what you are referring to (my knowledge of Peugeots is limited to "Don't much like the look of that car!" ;-) )

However, as standard the F has an underbody 'spoiler' under the front bumper and i have often thought that extending / replacing this with a bigger one would be a more subtle way of achieving the same effect.

SF
Scarlet Fever

David
You can also browse brown&gammons site they do a front spoiler
the english fantasy website also has a list of current options www.mgtf.be

What i am currently pondering is fitting both the trophy splitter and and the S&D splitter there is a pic on the site above wondering about ground clearance tho
HTH
Luis :)
Luis Pereira

The Peugeot's "bib" spoiler is probably about 2/3 the length of the F's front bumper. It is quite small in section and made out of rubber and I think that it could be placed far enough back that it wouldn't be too visible. What I'm not sure of is what affect it would have. However, as Louis points out various combinations of the splitter and trophy spoilers have been used in the past without any problems so I suppose for under £12 it might be worth trying. Does that mean that spoilers / splitters are designed more for their looks rather than their aerodynamic properties.
David Clelland

David Mc
In my case i am getting them more for the looks cause there isnt any where i can really test it out :-(
Luis
Luis Pereira

Andy,

Do me a favour, next time you see a 206 have a look and let me know what you think. Or, for that matter any other car with something that you think will work.
David Clelland

Techspeeds car used to have something very similar to what I think you are describing on their demo car - before they fitted the trophy splitter on it.

As you say, for £12 its worth a try.

Paul
P9 VLS
Paul

Some stuff from Rob's site...

>> http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/front_spoilers.htm <<
>> http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/mgf_aerodynamics.htm <<
>> http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/fitting_splitter.htm <<

Hope this helps.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Maybe the following, could change your mind:
http://www.mgtf.be/MO_EX_SP_main.html

IMO, the KH splitter do increase the look of the F. But off course, that's just my taste.
Erik

>For some time now I've been aware of how high speeds and cross winds can affect the handling of my F.

Excuse my ignorance, but why don't you just let the tracking done right ?

The chassis front mod looks almost nice though.
Dieter K.

Dieter,

Tracking was done a few weeks ago. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with the car. I'm just exploring an alternative to the Trophy Spoiler or KN Splitter.

David
David Clelland

David, if your car was handling like a Pug :-) should have said when you was down could have had a test blast;-)
Mike
mike (still a member)

Mike,

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with my car. Many people recommend splitters saying that they help on the motorway, but to be honest I'm not too keen on the the looks of them - I prefer the original looks of the F. I was only exploring the possibility of using something else that could be "hidden" under the bumper. You'll probably get a chance to drive my car next spring (after warrantly runs out) when I pay you a visit to have the suspension tweeked.

David
David Clelland

David, I think your idea of a subtle under bumper spoiler is a good one.

As SF indicated at the beginning of the thread, the F already has one of these, and I had thoughts of extending it - possibly using mudflaps! Yes, seriously - as this will be the lowest part of the car, and therefore prone to damage over speed humps... So you want something stiff enough to deflect air, yet with enough compliance to not snap off at the first 'traffic calming measure' you come across.

Unfortunately, I didn't follow this through, as I ended up buying the original prototype splitter from Krafthaus! LOL
Rob Bell

David,

Took the front bumper off of Scarlet last weekend and have posted pictures on the SOS website. 2 of these show the hidden air deflector i was talking about.

Surf to >> http://sfforever.co.uk << and click the 'Rebuild' link on the left.

Click the "15th March 2003 - GO!" link and then click the thumbnail one row down on the left and the very last one too as these show the panel the best.

It is basically a rubber flap that is bolted to the underside of the subframe and extends roughly 2/3s of the width of the car. I'm sure a larger flap would have beneficial effects and still wouldn't be very visible behind the bumper.

HTH

SF
Scarlet Fever

I measured up a Peugeot 206 "bib" spoiler yesterday but when I looked at the F's front bumber this morning I discovered that there wasn't a flat area to attach it onto. Also, it would be higher than the plastic strip attached to the F's front subframe so it probably wouldn't do any good anyway. All in all, the idea is a non-starter.
David Clelland

David, I have followed the path you describe on my F, The rubber sections I have fitted are attached to the flat section of the underside (about quater of the underside on each side), from the edge of the bumber at the wheel until it changes shape. This brings the outer edges down to an equal height to the central spoiler fitted as standard.
The rubber section fitted are moulded around a steel channel which with a little bit of work with a stanley knife to the edge of the bumper lip (removing the small return moulded on the edge), will push on and grip the back edge of the bumper.
They've been on the car like this for 4 years now, and the car does not seem to suffer any stability issues.
David

I seem to recall someone suggesting Mike's 'Whisper' spoilers, though I've had trouble locating these on his site.

These seemed to be understated, however their aerodynamic effects (which was the reason I was also looking at splitters) were unknown.

Must say I find my car light at the front when driving along the motorway, and would like it improved.

Leigh
Leigh

Thanks David I'll have another look.

I nearly bit the bullit today and ordered a splitter from B&G, but in the end I managed to talk mayself out of it
David Clelland

>>I seem to recall someone suggesting Mike's 'Whisper' spoilers, though I've had trouble locating these on his site.<<

Mike gets these made in batches Leigh - and I suspect that these are probably out of stock now. Drop him a line and sound him out to see whether he plans to have another batch of these whisker spoilers made.
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 14/03/2003 and 24/03/2003

MG MGF Technical index

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