Aero kit question: WingsWest is OEM? or replica?
 

Quick question for the aero kit owners.

I wanted to get the aero kit from the factory accessory manual.. the sales guys leans over the desk and says "it's wingswest" ---- ahh..

based on the pictures.. it looks like it really is.. and wingswest is a big enough company that I figured they could be the supplier. So I ordered the front and rear pieces directly:
2007-2009 BMW X5 A TECH FRONT AIR DAM Wings West International Inc.

The X5 is at a shop ive been working with for years. They were going to mock it up today, fit it, and send it to paint for me. The shop owner called me up to explain that of all the kits they deal with... he'd rank the quality as midgrade, and there would be a lot more labor to get it fitted to their standards.

I told them to hold off for now... because I want to know if this is the same piece from the accessory catalog or not... if it is, I'll have them go ahead, but if it isn't I want to ditch it.

any experience with this would be helpful. thx

I don't know about the quality obviously but it should just be fiberglass/plastic pieces for aesthetics. It certainly looks exactly the same from what I can see... if you don't have to pay $900 for the parts, then all the better. Also, lots of people here have installed it themselves after it gets painted... do a search... you can save yourself a lot of money here, fine since it's all just for looks anyway.

Ok I went down there and checked it out in person.... and I have to side with them... it's for sure not OEM quality and it isnt a paint it and install it part. The tolerances are just not tight enough. I'm going to sleep on it before I pay them and the body shop to fit the pieces.

I would pass if its not OEM and its made out of fiberglass.

I saw an OEM set tonight that just got painted, and was going to get installed. It was made of a polyurethane material like plastic. Let me know if you decide not to install I may have some interest..

$$$$$ or truth?

ive confirmed this is the same exact part... (it's not fireberglass, it's polyurathane and the directions, fasteners, backer pieces, etc.. are all the same) -- that said.. i still may pass.