FIBER GLASS PANELS....VIEWS PLEASE..!..

[alexb]

Hi All.

Just wondering what people generally think of fiber glass panels ??

Wings, boot lids etc....

Do they de-value the car ?..

Ive seen a few cars advertised with fiber glass parts but never went to see them.

Any opinions would be great..

Thanks.
Alex

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I think it depends which parts you use. If needing replaced I always use fibre glass bumper valences as the original rust badly and the steel versions are so expensive. Ive also used fibre glass back wings on a traveller and on saloons and find them fine. Ive not had such good results with front wings though, but I have admit Ive never bought a new one and fitted it only second hand ones. The ones I have fittted on the front Ive found to end up with stress cracks quite quickly.

[kennatt]

Don't care how much effort you put into preping and priming and painting,I can always see that its a glass panel,they just don't look the same. But bumper valences are a better bet ,as above,steel ones are a poor copy these days. But if you're not bothered about the final look and cost is a factor in a rebuild then its down to personal choice.Just take a look down the side of any fibreglass cars,lotus .scimitar etc and you will see what I mean.more ripples than the north sea

[jagnut66]

Hi,
Steel wings every time for me, fibreglass are too fragile for one thing. I've just repaired some damage to my front wing, if it had been fibreglass I'd have had to buy a new one (since the dent was caused by some careless t***t backing into my car whilst I wasn't around and driving off, no note, nothing!! ).
As above, bumper valences are another matter, that is one place I'd fit fibreglass everytime, looks just as good (IMO) and doesn't rot.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[dp]

I haven't seen any ripples in the modern Lotus Elises. One thing with fibreglass, you can easily strengthen up something like a wing by adding more layers on the inside.

[orb596]

I really think that it depends on the quality of the panel and the quality of the preparation work when fitting and painting them. One of my friends has got fibreglass wings on his convertible and I can honestly say that you would never know the difference between them and steel wings.

[DaisyMayFozz]

My car has had fiberglass wings since 2000, the rears you would never know, one of the front ones fits perfectly but, as mentioned earlier, has got some stress cracking, the other is still good, but does not fit as good. The best thing is they don't rust!