I bought myself an E&G spoiler for my 300C, which I did not put on yet.
The instructions say to drill 5 holes in the trunk, and along with some silicone
adhesive, to attach the thing on.
There was no way I wanted to drill any holes in my trunk, as you know it would
start to rust in no time, no matter how much you think you have sealed the edges
of the metal around the holes.
That, and the fact that most spoilers are fiberglass, they expand and contract at
different rates than the metal trunk lids, so cracks were bound to happen in the
spoiler if its bolted on, and not allowed to move slightly with the changes in
temperature.
So, I wrote to 3M, to see if there was any adhesives, or tapes, that I could use to
attach the spoilt to my car, and to see what OEM car manufacturers use to attach
their spoilers, ground effects, and other non-metal body pieces.
Their response is very informative, and they said that it would be no
problem to attach the spoiler with tape, as long as I used the correct stuff, and
cleaned the contact areas VERY well. I thought I should share the info with everyone.
Here is their response:
James,
Thank you for contacting 3M Automotive Aftermarket.
You should be able to successfully attach a spoiler to your vehicle with 3M Automotive Acrylic Plus Attachment Tape. For most spoiler/body kit applications the use of #06397 Automotive Acrylic Plus Attachment Tape works very well.
It is important that the spoiler have a good fit to the vehicle and the surfaces that the tape will be applied to are smooth and clean. It is also important that the spoiler be designed so as to not put excessive force on the tape bond, i.e. high wing rear deck spoilers or similar.
I would suggest that the vehicle surface be cleaned with 3M Prep Solvent-70 or similar cleaner to remove all contamination including waxes and paint treatments in the areas the tape will be applied. The surface of the spoiler that will be taped should also be clean of all contaminates.
If the spoiler is made from a plastic or plastic like material, then you should use 3M 06396 Automotive Adhesion Promoter on the surface before applying the tape. Let the adhesion promoter dry then carefully align and apply the tape to the spoiler.
Use care to keep fingers or other items from contacting the adhesive surface. Use a small roller (like a wall paper roller) to firmly roll the tape and assure a good bond with the spoiler.
Give the vehicle surface a final cleaning wipe with rubbing alcohol to assure a clean surface. Align the spoiler and carefully apply it to the vehicle. Remove the tape liner as the part is applied with light pressure ( in case you need to pull it away to re-align it), do not touch the adhesive surface.. When satisfied with the application press or roll the spoiler firmly to assure good adhesion.
I would recommend letting the vehicle set for 4 hours before high speed driving.
The vehicle should have a minimum surface temperature of 60F before applying the spoiler. The tape temperature should be between 60F and 100F for installation. Warmer temperatures will help the tape to build adhesion faster.
Both the tape and adhesion promoter referenced above should be available from an distributor. Use the store locator at
http://www.3m.com/automotive for local by state, Where To Buy information.
Or if you have a problem finding a source, call 1-877-666-2277 and ask for a local source to obtain the #06397 Automotive Acrylic Plus Attachment Tape and #06396 Automotive Adhesion Promoter.
Brad
3M Automotive Aftermarket Division
www.3m.com/automotive
1-877-666-2277
