Self Mde wind deflector

ZheHbKa · 10-17-2011, 01:21 PM

guys

i figured give it a try with the wind deflector to see if its really necessary or not.
some passengers complained that it was too windy but to me it seems fine.

so one afternoon i took some measurements some plexiglass, tint tape and few Velcros and this is what i came up with:
obviously i read about designs and structures of some existing professional products before attempting this

*** Its a bit rough around the edges but think of it as a proof of concept

Results:

1. Wind is still present but at highway speeds is considerably reduced
2. Don't need to spend $300 on something that can be easily done yourself (i like to experiment and do things myself, not even for the money but just for engineering fun of it)
3. Sometime having free time pays off

comments/ideas are welcome

PS sorry for title typo

typing very fast

SHEEDI · 10-17-2011, 01:38 PM

nice, does it block your back mirror visibility?

ZheHbKa · 10-17-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soomro

nice, does it block your back mirror visibility?

a little bit, its a 5% tint tape so during the day its fine and with the top down. but top up i have to take it off since i have 5% tint on the rear window, with both cant see anything

samiti · 10-17-2011, 02:44 PM

I hope you made this just for testing... With all due respect I wouldnt put this on my car. Next time someone complains about the winds explain to him or her the essence of the roadster...

STOOF · 10-17-2011, 02:44 PM

it would be fine if you left it clear.

To try it out, you couldve removed the roll bar covers, revealing the screw holes for the oem windscreen and just screwed it in.

ZheHbKa · 10-17-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STOOF

it would be fine if you left it clear.

To try it out, you couldve removed the roll bar covers, revealing the screw holes for the oem windscreen and just screwed it in.

Ahhh problem solved!!! Thanks, I hate the strap look I'll do another one and leave it clear with some screw holes

haspi · 10-17-2011, 09:25 PM

it's a pity we don't have a built in one in the car. It's much needed..

RichardC · 10-17-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haspi

it's a pity we don't have a built in one in the car. It's much needed..

What do you mean? The car could have been ordered with the OEM wind deflector.

flpnout · 10-17-2011, 10:39 PM

Hmm...such a shame to pay so much money for a car but skimp on the wind deflector. Why not have the dealership include it as part of the due bill like I did for the OEM. The power to negotiate!

ZheHbKa · 10-18-2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flpnout

Hmm...such a shame to pay so much money for a car but skimp on the wind deflector. Why not have the dealership include it as part of the due bill like I did for the OEM. The power to negotiate!

it wasnt about the money, it was about DIY, 90% of the mods i do myself, not because i cant pay somebody to do it, i enjoy it.

how do u think new designs came about? not from going and buying existing products but by evaluating existing and improving on it

this is the difference between enthusiasts and other drivers

Auraraptor · 10-18-2011, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STOOF

it would be fine if you left it clear.

To try it out, you couldve removed the roll bar covers, revealing the screw holes for the oem windscreen and just screwed it in.

Any tricks/tips to removing the covers?

jparnes1 · 10-18-2011, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auraraptor

Any tricks/tips to removing the covers?

There are posts regarding this. Basically, get yourself a nylon pry par so you don't scratch anything, and work it in between the silver and black covers. Pop the silver cover off by prying starting at the bottom edge. There are 6 or 7 prongs that seat into rubber grommets. That is was needs to be released. Should take 2 minutes to do this.

flpnout · 10-18-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

it wasnt about the money, it was about DIY, 90% of the mods i do myself, not because i cant pay somebody to do it, i enjoy it.

how do u think new designs came about? not from going and buying existing products but by evaluating existing and improving on it

this is the difference between enthusiasts and other drivers

Your design is not bad at all. Just hide the straps or use something clear.

lux good · 10-18-2011, 11:15 AM

That really does look crap IMO!!!

ZheHbKa · 10-18-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flpnout

Your design is not bad at all. Just hide the straps or use something clear.

thats the second version

i have plenty of time till next summer

az34 · 10-18-2011, 02:20 PM

this is my second z4 and wind deflector is a must after lookin at yours i notice that you did not block the headrest.but anyway i dont know why you mess around instead of buying the real thing from bmw!

integraworks · 10-18-2011, 06:05 PM

The OEM is the way to go here.... and you don't have to pay full ask price for them. Search online, on ebay or just ask your CSR for a deal from the parts dept.

Z4@Phuket · 10-19-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

thats the second version

i have plenty of time till next summer

I also like hand made mod, just enjoy doing this. Some few advise for V2.0
Try to enlarge the plate to cover the whole roll bar. so you will have plenty of surface to attatch, get rid of the ugly straps.

Good luck

juhap · 10-21-2011, 12:47 PM

Well, since you asked for a comment....

The only thing I can think of that would look more hideous is granny panties stretched over the roll bars.

persian54 · 10-21-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZheHbKa

this is the difference between enthusiasts and other drivers

I disagree

I'm just lazy.

RichardC · 10-21-2011, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

I disagree

I'm just lazy.

Or some of us just don't want to drive around with something that looks hideous because we know we couldn't do a DIY and make it look good. At least, that would be the case for me. I'd make a DIY wind deflector look as bad as version 1 or even worse.

ZheHbKa · 10-22-2011, 10:49 PM

Flamesuit ON :-) thanks for the comments guys! Sunjective criticism is a necessary element of of a successful product

10-17-2011, 01:21 PM	#1
ZheHbKa Lieutenant Colonel 78 Rep 1,793 Posts Drives: the Wind Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335 Xi [10.00]	Self Mde wind deflector guys i figured give it a try with the wind deflector to see if its really necessary or not. some passengers complained that it was too windy but to me it seems fine. so one afternoon i took some measurements some plexiglass, tint tape and few Velcros and this is what i came up with: obviously i read about designs and structures of some existing professional products before attempting this * Its a bit rough around the edges but think of it as a proof of concept Results: 1. Wind is still present but at highway speeds is considerably reduced 2. Don't need to spend $300 on something that can be easily done yourself (i like to experiment and do things myself, not even for the money but just for engineering fun of it) 3. Sometime having free time pays off comments/ideas are welcome PS sorry for title typo typing very fast Attached Images __________________ 2014 F30 335 X-Drive \| 6-MT \| Alpine White/Coral Red \| ZMM ZDH ZDA** \|
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10-17-2011, 01:38 PM	#2
SHEEDI Banned 602 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	nice, does it block your back mirror visibility?
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10-17-2011, 02:44 PM	#4
samiti Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 E89 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Somewhere on the road iTrader: (0)	I hope you made this just for testing... With all due respect I wouldnt put this on my car. Next time someone complains about the winds explain to him or her the essence of the roadster...
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10-17-2011, 02:44 PM	#5
STOOF Sunburned 238 Rep 1,097 Posts Drives: '16 F83 M4 Convertible 6MT Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Staten Island, NY iTrader: (2) Garage List 2013 BMW 535i [0.00]	it would be fine if you left it clear. To try it out, you couldve removed the roll bar covers, revealing the screw holes for the oem windscreen and just screwed it in. __________________ 2016 M4 Convertible 6MT - SO/SO 2013 535i 6MT MSport - Retired 2011 Z4 SDrive35i 6MT- Retired
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10-17-2011, 09:25 PM	#7
haspi Private First Class 13 Rep 118 Posts Drives: SDrive35i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: . iTrader: (0)	it's a pity we don't have a built in one in the car. It's much needed..
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10-17-2011, 10:39 PM	#9
flpnout Major 82 Rep 1,264 Posts Drives: 2010 Dinan S3 Z4-35i Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (8) Garage List 2010 E89 Z4 [7.83]	Hmm...such a shame to pay so much money for a car but skimp on the wind deflector. Why not have the dealership include it as part of the due bill like I did for the OEM. The power to negotiate! __________________ 2015 BMW i3 REX
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10-18-2011, 11:15 AM	#14
lux good Banned 24 Rep 291 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 23i & Q5 2.0 TSFI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: England iTrader: (0)	That really does look crap IMO!!!
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10-18-2011, 02:20 PM	#16
az34 Major 54 Rep 1,014 Posts Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i Join Date: May 2011 Location: montréal iTrader: (0)	this is my second z4 and wind deflector is a must after lookin at yours i notice that you did not block the headrest.but anyway i dont know why you mess around instead of buying the real thing from bmw!
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10-18-2011, 06:05 PM	#17
integraworks Private 17 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	The OEM is the way to go here.... and you don't have to pay full ask price for them. Search online, on ebay or just ask your CSR for a deal from the parts dept.
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10-21-2011, 12:47 PM	#19
juhap Lieutenant 14 Rep 530 Posts Drives: sDrive35i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Finland iTrader: (0)	Well, since you asked for a comment.... The only thing I can think of that would look more hideous is granny panties stretched over the roll bars.
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10-22-2011, 10:49 PM	#22
ZheHbKa Lieutenant Colonel 78 Rep 1,793 Posts Drives: the Wind Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 335 Xi [10.00]	Flamesuit ON :-) thanks for the comments guys! Sunjective criticism is a necessary element of of a successful product __________________ 2014 F30 335 X-Drive \| 6-MT \| Alpine White/Coral Red \| ZMM ZDH ZDA \|
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