[hookah]

OP, Out of curiousity, I see you also have a E46. Just wondering what you initial impressions are of the E36 vs the E46?

[egebhardt]

I had 2 cars with spoilers.
The trunk metal cracks around the trunk latch because the spoiler slams the trunk lid down too hard.
The OEM spoiler weighs over 15lbs and is a wind-drag.

[white-hot]

^Yes, but they look SOOOOO good. There is a down side, however, as you point out.

[EmDeeAr]

Originally Posted by white-hot

^Yes, but they look SOOOOO good. There is a down side, however, as you point out.

I think it looks so much better without it. If they were functional, I would probably say they looked cooler I guess.

[EmDeeAr]

Originally Posted by hookah

Never thought of that....So did M3's with spoilers from the factory not have the third brake light in the rear window??

Here's how it works:

Factory installed rear wing (rare): Rear interior deck without brake light. Wing is shown on the original window sticker as an option.

Port of entry installed wing (common): Rear deck with "dead" brake light (because the car was wingless from the factory). However, the wing is still shown on window sticker as an option.

Dealer installed wing (common): Rear deck with "dead" brake light. Likely installed because the dealer conned the uninformed buyer into thinking it was a performance enhancement, swindling them out of hundreds of dollars. Wing is not shown on the window sticker.

-Mike

[hookah]

Originally Posted by EmDeeAr

Here's how it works:

Factory installed rear wing (rare): Rear interior deck without brake light. Wing is shown on the original window sticker as an option.

Port of entry installed wing (common): Rear deck with "dead" brake light (because the car was wingless from the factory). However, the wing is still shown on window sticker as an option.

Dealer installed wing (common): Rear deck with "dead" brake light. Likely installed because the dealer conned the uninformed buyer into thinking it was a performance enhancement, swindling them out of hundreds of dollars. Wing is not shown on the window sticker.

-Mike

Great info, thanks....That was how I thought it probably worked, I personally like the spoiler look, even if it serves no function. Maybe you could kill the 3rd brake light in the window and get a super dark tint in that area, it already has black around it, just a thought...

[white-hot]

Originally Posted by EmDeeAr

I think it looks so much better without it. If they were functional, I would probably say they looked cooler I guess.

Different strokes....

Originally Posted by hookah

Great info, thanks....That was how I thought it probably worked, I personally like the spoiler look, even if it serves no function. Maybe you could kill the 3rd brake light in the window and get a super dark tint in that area, it already has black around it, just a thought...

If you want to be thorough you would have to change out the rear deck with a non-brake light version AND change out the rear window as it has the lines that surround the brake light. If I were to put one on a car that didn't have one originally I would do this, because they look really, really silly with 4 brake lights. Yes, it would cost considerably more, but....

While I like the looks of the factory spoiler, I can live without it. My coupe does not have one and I am fine with that.

OP, super nice find! Gratz!

[Edgy]

Maybe you could kill the 3rd brake light in the window and get a super dark tint in that area, it already has black around it, just a thought...

If you have it installed by someone knowing what they are doing, that's what they do -- the spoiler brake light works, the window does not.

There's also a way to remove the red plastic from the window, but it's very involved and I've never been motivated to attempt.

[MMMGP]

Originally Posted by Edgy

If you have it installed by someone knowing what they are doing, that's what they do -- the spoiler brake light works, the window does not.

There's also a way to remove the red plastic from the window, but it's very involved and I've never been motivated to attempt.

Removing the brake light is no biggie... Replacing the rear window to a new rear window without the 3rd brake light frame, that's the real pain. I priced the window out already, about $250 without installation--heh, it's at the bottom of a long list.

[EmDeeAr]

Duuuuude just keep it wingless. Function before form.

Let me make you a pros and cons list:

Pros:
-Looks kind of cool

Cons:
-Obstructs rear view
-Adds weight
-Causes drag
-Will require holes drilled in trunk or a new trunk altogether ($$$)
-Damages trunk metal and opening/closing latch after a while ($$$)
-Will require a new rear window ($$$)
-Will require a new interior deck ($$$)
-May need super dark tint in the back to cover up flaws ($$$)

Lame.