Bonnet Reshaping

Hey guys,

I really have no idea about body reshaping, so please assume total ignorance on my part when you're answering. Are there body shops that can reshape the bonnet to add a bulge? I always wanted grilles in the hood, but have come to the realisation that they can look tacky and that a more subtle bulge would be the best look. What techniques do people use to achieve this? Does anybody know of people in Sydney who do this, and how much these kind of things cost?

Cheers

Yes, at the requirement of stretching the metal. You'd be better off getting an M3 hood, either real or aftermarket .

Originally Posted by NOVAbimmer

Yes, at the requirement of stretching the metal. You'd be better off getting an M3 hood, either real or aftermarket .

I've looked at this before, and being a sedan, the incompatibility makes it impractical I think. The costs of aftermarket hoods seem extremely expensive in Australia, and somewhat unacquirable, that's why I was hoping to reshape what I've got. Is the structural integrity of the hood lost when you stretch the metal?

The steel is definitely weakened. The other issue will be getting around the hood structure. You could certainly talk to a shop and see what they say.

This is the kind of thing I have seen done. Is this feasible in Australia or only Thailand? http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showpos...97&postcount=3

There is a thread in the showroom section on adding a bulge to a standard bumper, 330i ZHPs thread for his wagon. It's a long thread as a heads up

Stretching ??? Wtf are you on about??

There are weld on bulges. :giggity:

Originally Posted by E46 Coupe

There are weld on bulges. :giggity:

Yeah, i've seen guys buy bulges and weld them on. I dare say it could even be cheaper to buy an M3 bonnet and far safer in terms of getting the right look. The last thing you want to do is get a bulge and then the shop not line it up right or the welds being obvious etc.

Originally Posted by E46 Coupe

There are weld on bulges. :giggity:

yes that ^^