[peelo801]

I wanted to offer my review of the M Performance front lip, or rather, the replica that I purchased.

Overall, I'm very happy with it for the enhanced yet subtle cosmetic upgrade it provides, which I believe is the appeal for most looking for a lip. When I first set out to buy this car, I knew I would eventually add a front lip because the front fascia seemed like it was purposely designed to accommodate one for the car enthusiasts, much like previous chassis.

I think this actually looks significantly better in person than photos can capture, which had me smiling cheek to cheek when I saw it for the first time installed; I also constantly find myself looking back at my car everytime I walk away from it after parking.

I initially wanted the AA Concepts front lip because from the photos, I thought it looked the best out of the several lips available for this model, esp the fact it did not have the little winglets on the side. I haven't seen it in person yet, but I'm certain it probably looks just as good, if not better in person. That said, I reviewed several photos and videos, and I could already tell it would compromise the practicality of daily driving this car due to how much it protruded with the car being lowered mildly, which I knew I would also be doing to the car. So encompassing getting out the moderately deep angle of my driveway, the many speed bumps in my area, as well as those dreaded parking blocks, I decided on the M lip. Given my experience adding aero/cosmetic mods to my previous cars--knowing full well I would lower the car too--as well as understanding the environment and the roads I would be driving in daily, I went with the M Performance because it offered the most subtle cosmetic mod to align with the OEM+ look I was going for; it also appeared to be the only one that protruded the least amongst all the aftermarket lips available, which in turn, allowed for the least compromise in practicality of my daily driver.

In terms of installation, I reviewed several videos, and even though this was an oem replica, it pretty much followed the same steps: attach the two side pieces to the main lip that attaches to the underside of the car using rivets; add 3m tape or liquid adhesive on the main grooves touching the underside of the fascia, and add self tapping screws on the main center portion. Conceptually, it seemed simple enough, but it ended up more tedious than I expected, which I know generally applies to a lot of DIY projects.

Now, for practicality, which was one of the main selling points for me as mentioned above, I'm mostly disappointed in how much ground clearance is reduced because of its thickness (see first photo below). This is very important when planning to lower the car, and one aspect I now realize I overlooked. I'm not sure if this is thicker because it's a replica, but I checked photos of the oem ones and they appear to be the same thickness, if not mostly similar.

The main thing I'm disappointed in is how much it reduces ground clearance, so this is important to account for if you know you'll be lowering your car or already have. For reference, I have height adjustable springs, so I was aiming to lower the car less than an inch knowing I would be adding a front lip that would also reduce the ground clearance. Previous lips I've had reduced it only by half an inch at most. I haven't measured this specifically, but this one appears to be at least an inch in thickness (see photo). So, combined with how much I lowered my car by, my front end is now sitting about 1.75" lower. Imagine if I had no front lip, I could hypothetically lower my car around that same amount. Fortunately, I can still drive normally over the long, short speed bumps, and only have to approach the tall, sharp ones at a slight angle. As for my driveway, I cannot park in nor drive out of it straight ahead without scraping the lip. But approaching or reversing out at a slight angle clears it. I posted a photo of my driveway clearance WITHOUT the lip for reference too (again, before I added the front lip).

All in all, I am much happier with how this lip turned out in person than I was anticipating. It's perfect for giving the car a subtle yet more aggressive look. I hope this is helpful for people to reference if you're in the market and considering adding the M Performance lip or front lips in general. I highly recommend this if you're not lowered more than an inch and aren't worried about scraping and clearing driveways and speed bumps without having to slow down significantly and/or approach at wider angles. But if I'm being honest, while I plan to keep this, if I come across another one that I like the design of AND offers a lower profile (thickness), then I may consider switching so I could lower the car slightly more to reduce that wheel gap.

[Archie03]

Thank you for the insightful review. Can I ask where you purchased the M Replica lip? I am actually in the demographic you wrote of, lowered 1” with good driveway clearance.

[peelo801]

Originally Posted by Archie03

Thank you for the insightful review. Can I ask where you purchased the M Replica lip? I am actually in the demographic you wrote of, lowered 1” with good driveway clearance.

I purchased from infinite Autowerks.

https://infiniteautowerks.com/shop/e...p-gloss-black/

[wallysboy]

Originally Posted by peelo801

I purchased from infinite Autowerks.

https://infiniteautowerks.com/shop/e...p-gloss-black/

All I can say is WOW looks great! And thanks for taking the time to give a thorough review. I am in the market for a gloss black front lip as well and feel the same as you about all the “winglet” styles-not for me. I really like the vsx style for that reason but I have only found it in CF which is much more costly. If I could find that one in gloss black I would seriously consider it. However, after seeing how great yours looks and fits, I’d be very happy with it.

Are you planning on keeping the cerium accents? I have those as well on portimao blue. Thinking about changing my grill with a gloss black frame and silver diamonds. Not sure I like the all black with my color.

[peelo801]

Originally Posted by wallysboy

Are you planning on keeping the cerium accents? I have those as well on portimao blue. Thinking about changing my grill with a gloss black frame and silver diamonds. Not sure I like the all black with my color.

I plan to change them out eventually to a black one or CF one. I may only change out the grill and the mirror caps and leave the bumper inserts after seeing how tricky they are to remove. 😅

[jaroG20]

Originally Posted by wallysboy

All I can say is WOW looks great! And thanks for taking the time to give a thorough review. I am in the market for a gloss black front lip as well and feel the same as you about all the “winglet” styles-not for me. I really like the vsx style for that reason but I have only found it in CF which is much more costly. If I could find that one in gloss black I would seriously consider it. However, after seeing how great yours looks and fits, I’d be very happy with it.

Are you planning on keeping the cerium accents? I have those as well on portimao blue. Thinking about changing my grill with a gloss black frame and silver diamonds. Not sure I like the all black with my color.

Hi! nice review peelo801 , i'm looking for m performance 'replica' kit too, lips, diffuser, side skirts... it's hard to decide. I have portimao blue too and i don't want to fail. I'm going to save this link for now.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by peelo801

I purchased from infinite Autowerks.

https://infiniteautowerks.com/shop/e...p-gloss-black/

That's a great price. I purchased the OEM from BMW and it was ~$600 without the hardware or adhesive included. It's definitely not worth $600 or $800 list price, but $245 I think it is. The OEM is very cheap and flexible plastic, probably made in the same Chinese factory as the replica.

[peelo801]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

That's a great price. I purchased the OEM from BMW and it was ~$600 without the hardware or adhesive included. It's definitely not worth $600 or $800 list price, but $245 I think it is. The OEM is very cheap and flexible plastic, probably made in the same Chinese factory as the replica.

I suspect the same. This one has excellent fitment and quality. I haven't compared OEM with the replica in person, but I'd be surprised if there were any significant differences other than minor imperfections here or there that wouldn't be visible once installed.

[chrisautobuyer]

Originally Posted by peelo801

I wanted to offer my review of the M Performance front lip, or rather, the replica that I purchased.

Overall, I'm very happy with it for the enhanced yet subtle cosmetic upgrade it provides, which I believe is the appeal for most looking for a lip. When I first set out to buy this car, I knew I would eventually add a front lip because the front fascia seemed like it was purposely designed to accommodate one for the car enthusiasts, much like previous chassis.

I think this actually looks significantly better in person than photos can capture, which had me smiling cheek to cheek when I saw it for the first time installed; I also constantly find myself looking back at my car everytime I walk away from it after parking.

I initially wanted the AA Concepts front lip because from the photos, I thought it looked the best out of the several lips available for this model, esp the fact it did not have the little winglets on the side. I haven't seen it in person yet, but I'm certain it probably looks just as good, if not better in person. That said, I reviewed several photos and videos, and I could already tell it would compromise the practicality of daily driving this car due to how much it protruded with the car being lowered mildly, which I knew I would also be doing to the car. So encompassing getting out the moderately deep angle of my driveway, the many speed bumps in my area, as well as those dreaded parking blocks, I decided on the M lip. Given my experience adding aero/cosmetic mods to my previous cars--knowing full well I would lower the car too--as well as understanding the environment and the roads I would be driving in daily, I went with the M Performance because it offered the most subtle cosmetic mod to align with the OEM+ look I was going for; it also appeared to be the only one that protruded the least amongst all the aftermarket lips available, which in turn, allowed for the least compromise in practicality of my daily driver.

In terms of installation, I reviewed several videos, and even though this was an oem replica, it pretty much followed the same steps: attach the two side pieces to the main lip that attaches to the underside of the car using rivets; add 3m tape or liquid adhesive on the main grooves touching the underside of the fascia, and add self tapping screws on the main center portion. Conceptually, it seemed simple enough, but it ended up more tedious than I expected, which I know generally applies to a lot of DIY projects.

Now, for practicality, which was one of the main selling points for me as mentioned above, I'm mostly disappointed in how much ground clearance is reduced because of its thickness (see first photo below). This is very important when planning to lower the car, and one aspect I now realize I overlooked. I'm not sure if this is thicker because it's a replica, but I checked photos of the oem ones and they appear to be the same thickness, if not mostly similar.

The main thing I'm disappointed in is how much it reduces ground clearance, so this is important to account for if you know you'll be lowering your car or already have. For reference, I have height adjustable springs, so I was aiming to lower the car less than an inch knowing I would be adding a front lip that would also reduce the ground clearance. Previous lips I've had reduced it only by half an inch at most. I haven't measured this specifically, but this one appears to be at least an inch in thickness (see photo). So, combined with how much I lowered my car by, my front end is now sitting about 1.75" lower. Imagine if I had no front lip, I could hypothetically lower my car around that same amount. Fortunately, I can still drive normally over the long, short speed bumps, and only have to approach the tall, sharp ones at a slight angle. As for my driveway, I cannot park in nor drive out of it straight ahead without scraping the lip. But approaching or reversing out at a slight angle clears it. I posted a photo of my driveway clearance WITHOUT the lip for reference too (again, before I added the front lip).

All in all, I am much happier with how this lip turned out in person than I was anticipating. It's perfect for giving the car a subtle yet more aggressive look. I hope this is helpful for people to reference if you're in the market and considering adding the M Performance lip or front lips in general. I highly recommend this if you're not lowered more than an inch and aren't worried about scraping and clearing driveways and speed bumps without having to slow down significantly and/or approach at wider angles. But if I'm being honest, while I plan to keep this, if I come across another one that I like the design of AND offers a lower profile (thickness), then I may consider switching so I could lower the car slightly more to reduce that wheel gap.

Are these photos of your cars lowered or at stock height? And if I have my car at stock height with your front lip installed, would I be able to clear speed bumps easily?

[rkrG20]

What was needed to install? As far screws, etc. I bought a lip a few months ago from them and no install kit was provided.