Does the mtech aero really do much?

[stephenkirsh]

Was wondering if anybody knows if the "aero" work on the zhp actually does anything worth while. I tried searching and didn't see many threads.

Brake cooling ducts
Splitter chin thingies right below the brake ducts
Rear bumper
Trunk spoiler

Anything else?

[BimmerWill]

That's a good question. It's possible but being such subtle changes I wouldnt think it would be a major change. My guess is they are more of an aesthetic purpose but I could be wrong.

sent from S4

[HokieZHP]

I would think if it made a difference at all it would be negligible. Especially for in town driving and some highway

[stephenkirsh]

Well I was thinking track/autocross use. Probably not autox since speeds are so low.

[Avetiso]

Nothing worth caring about. I could only imagine a different vs. the super flat E46 front bumper.

[derbo]

Only major difference I can see is the brake ducts for cooling the brakes. Beyond that, I dont think the side splitters affect the aero too much. Like Dario said, probably negligible.

[LivesNearCostco]

I think the brake ducts make a small difference on the track. If you connect the ducts to the rotor inlets with tubing inside the wheel well, it would be a huge difference. Derbo could test at the track by getting brake rotor paint and taping off his ducts.

I see track cars getting significant downforce from rear wings, front undertrays, and little curved front dive planes on either side of the front bumper. Plus some Porsches have those little pop up spoilers in back. Our little rear lip spoiler is probably 1/30th the area of the big wings not shaped like an airfoil, so if the wing can generated 200 lbs of downforce at 80mph, maybe our lip spoiler ads 5 lbs? Or maybe it is for looks alone. The side skirts--who knows, but I see many big tractor-trailers now have side skirts and even covers over their wheels' lug nut areas to improve fuel economy. So maybe the side skirts let you go 1 or 2 mph faster at a certain RPM in the 70-120 mph range?

[jsfbmw]

Agree with most comments. The "areo" doesn't do much until high (illegal) speeds are reached, and even then, don't think there is quantified evidence of the improvement. Yes to what Costco said - need ducting for real improvement.

However, I think the real answer to the title of this thread is that the areo is like an Armani suit, fits great, is subtle and elegant - turns into a looker without being outlandish.

[derbo]

The best part of the MTech II front bumper is that I do have a true brake duct piping connected to the factory duct. I don't think I want to see my rotors overheat with the ducts removed. :X

[BimmerWill]

Agree with most comments. The "areo" doesn't do much until high (illegal) speeds are reached, and even then, don't think there is quantified evidence of the improvement. Yes to what Costco said - need ducting for real improvement.

However, I think the real answer to the title of this thread is that the areo is like an Armani suit, fits great, is subtle and elegant - turns into a looker without being outlandish.

Love the way you put that

sent from S4

[wsmeyer]

I think they were born in the design studio but based on shapes that have been proven in wind tunnels and real world conditions.

Also, I think the only thing the brake ducts do is break the vaccum in the wheel well that would result from the lower front sending more air around the sides.

[brettbimmer]

+1 more for the functionality of the brake ducts for brake cooling. Otherwise I feel that everything else on the ZHP is purely for sex appeal...except maybe the M-Tech II front bumper works as a fantastic parking brake whenever a curb stop is involved. :shift :swiss

[stephenkirsh]

+1 more for the functionality of the brake ducts for brake cooling. Otherwise I feel that everything else on the ZHP is purely for sex appeal...except maybe the M-Tech II front bumper works as a fantastic parking brake whenever a curb stop is involved. :shift :swiss


Haha yea I already found one booboo on my freshly painted bumper :'(


Thanks for everyone's thoughts.