Installing rear spoiler: dealer, independent shop, or DIY?

[White95Max]

I'm going to be ordering a painted rear spoiler for my car in a couple months, to be installed in the spring. I plan to order it as a Christmas present to myself. That way the paint can cure for 60+ days before it gets installed. I want to be able to detail the spoiler before it gets installed.

So if you were buying a rear spoiler, would you:

1) Take it to a dealership to get it installed?
2) Take it to an independent body shop to get it installed?
3) Do the installation yourself?

[PK1]

I'd go for #2

PK

[Corey Bit Spank]

I like your car without it

[Spilchy]

Originally Posted by Corey Bit Spank

I like your car without it

completely agree.

total cheese. although it would match well with the 17" wheels you considered don't forget a purple tint, chain link license plate and fart can exhaust

[White95Max]

Oh come on! How can you not like the OEM rear spoiler?

Spilch, I never considered 17s. I was debating 16" vs 15". I still think the 16s would have looked fine, but the 15s produce ZERO complaints from me. I just didn't like the idea of a 45-series tire on the crappy roads around here.

I have all winter to look at the rear of my car to decide whether to get a spoiler. But I've looked at plenty of times, and I've seen other silver Proteges with the spoiler, and I really think it would look better with the spoiler.

And don't worry, I've got black tint, and there are most definitely no chain link license plate frames or fart cans in my car's future!

[Setec Astronomy]

I would lean toward the do-it-yourself. Is the OEM spoiler a DIO (Dealer Installed Option)? If so it should come with instructions, or you should be able to get them from a dealer. If it's only factory installed, can you get enough info to install it properly? Will a dealer/bodyshop know any better than you how to install it on a car that didn't originally have it installed at the factory?

[White95Max]

Good point. I like to think the professionals know what they're doing, but we all know that isn't always the case.

I don't know if it was a dealer-installed option. I do know that many of the new spoilers on Ebay come with instructions and a "mounting strip template" for DIYers.

[TnM6i]

I installed the Mazda Factory lip spoiler on my Mazda6. It came with the template to mark the holes to drill and the factory wiring harness. It was a bit nerve wracking to drill 8 holes into a perfectly fine trunk lid, but it was fairly easy. Just make sure to center-punch all the holes and drill very slowly with a nice, sharp bit. One of my holes wasn't quite right and the spoiler has a small gap in the center. It doesn't leak or look bad, but I can tell it's not absolutely perfect. All in all, it was an easy job. You should have no problem with it if you are mechanically inclined. Good luck and post pics when you get it installed.

[White95Max]

Thank you for your input TnM6i. I know realize that your screen name refers to the Mazda6i that you drive!

I'm sure it will be tough to bring the drill bit down to my trunk lid, but I'm confident that I'll be very happy with the look afterwards.

You guys will see...I'll post pics of the car with the spoiler on, and you'll agree that it looks better with the spoiler.

[Pontman43]

Originally Posted by Spilchy

completely agree.

total cheese. although it would match well with the 17" wheels you considered don't forget a purple tint, chain link license plate and fart can exhaust

LMAO So a OEM spoiler and 17s is considered rice where you are? haha Try at least 18s or stock black steel wheels, cut springs, fart can, and an cheap body kit that is unpainted. lol Thats rice!! IMO 17s would have looked good and so will the wing. Still love the way the 15s look though.
Back to topic, I would go to a independent shop or body shop and have them do it for two reasons, cheaper than a dealer and you wont have to worry about messing up. And later down the road if it leaks then you can take it back to them and have them fix it.

[Petey]

Hey there,
I'm "evaluating" my brother's silver 2002 Mazda 323 Protege (1.8L) at the moment & I find I really love driving it. It's like a go-cart imo. Beautifully put together & in immaculate condition. (I detail it for him...) Am thinking of buying it as a second car. Very underrated car i reckon.

I too cannot decide whether to add a rear spoiler on it, if I do go ahead with the purchase! I have checked out a couple of web sites www.msprotege.com & an Aussie one www.ozmazdaclub.com with photo's & general info on this model & for inspiration.

There's one ozmazda member with an Avatar that looks killer... Its silver, been lowered, has a body kit, looks subtle but is exactly what I was thinking of for this car!

I don't think you could lose out with whatever choice you make! This car looks good with & without a spoiler.

Good luck with whatever you do, but get it done right when it comes to drilling holes in steel... Don't want water or rust to appear one day.

[Accumulator]

White95Max- Heh heh, if I had your car, and it had a rear spoiler, I'd consider having the holes welded shut and the lid repainted to get rid of said spoiler. But them I'm just *so* conservative about this stuff

Well, I do have a rear spoiler on the MPV so what can I say?

I had a bodyshop do the installation, but the MPV would've been trickier than your car. On your car, I'd still probably have Stoddard do it, but yeah, I think you can handle it yourself.

Other than getting the holes in the right spot the big trick is to *not* start a rust-out going and that can be harder than you'd think. You might try magnetizing your drill bit so you don't get so many metal chips everywhere (they'll turn to rust). Paint the bare metal from the holes with something like POR-15 and also put some kind of sealant/caulking/Locktite/goopy stuff in the hole and/or on the bolts to further seal things up. Maybe some kind of gasket or something between the spoiler and the lid too.