Underbody Splash Shields?

[gtsingh91]

So last night, the North East got a little bit of snow/ice/sleet. On my way to work this morning with no plowed roads, I was worried about my Cupra Lip getting ripped off. When I got to work in the parking lot, I heard this noise and I thought it was my Cupra lip, but it was my underbody splash shield under the driver's seat dragging on the ground. Not the belly pan/skid plate. Ice chunks and snow had piled up and pretty much tore it off of the clips from the side of the car, but it was still held on in the middle. The car is now parked in my garage thawing out, but I'm just wondering..how necessary is that splash shield? Is it really keeping things under there out of harms way? I'm thinking about just ripping it off when all the snow melts from the shield but should I really get a new one? Keep in mind, I'm not extremely low, just lowered on H&R springs so I'm like 25.5" FTG. Thanks

[LordO]

They don't do much of anything. They won't stop your oil pan from getting messed up, but they might keep a bit of dirt, dust or mud front getting in your engine bay. I have never lost any sleep about not having it on my car, but if you do feel the urge there are some companies that make metal replacements that would serve the purpose of protecting your oil pan and other smashable bits.

[gtsingh91]

They don't do much of anything. They won't stop your oil pan from getting messed up, but they might keep a bit of dirt, dust or mud front getting in your engine bay. I have never lost any sleep about not having it on my car, but if you do feel the urge there are some companies that make metal replacements that would serve the purpose of protecting your oil pan and other smashable bits.

I think you're talking about the belly pan. I'm talking about the other plastic shields on the sides of the car. Like directly under the driver seat and the passenger seat (in my case, the driver's seat).

[customa4]

Obviously for many reasons it would be smarter to have the panels on the under side but I can tell you many people here are not running them, including myself. Like you, pretty much every year I've lost another panel due to the winter weather. I'm probably down to maybe my last two panels on the underside of the car. I would like to replace them but it will just happen again when the winter comes back around so it almost seems counterproductive. Here's some more info on the topic. Click

[LordO]

I think you're talking about the belly pan. I'm talking about the other plastic shields on the sides of the car. Like directly under the driver seat and the passenger seat (in my case, the driver's seat).

Shoot, you are right. Reading comprehension fail #1001. I still contend that they are non-essential and as such didn't think twice when I noticed one was missing on my last car.

[decoolieman]

Had mines also fall off on me today and im low on coilovers. Honestly i would love to leave it off since lynbrook audi told me it cost 214 plus tax. But my fear of something hitting a brake line or fuel line when i bottom out has the best of me. I ordered a new one off europa parts for 183 shipped and should be here in a day or 2. Note when i called the dealer they said alot of people have been calling in for those panels.

[gmudan]

That exact thing happened to me, i found out when going 100km/h and heard a flapping sound. I got rid of all the snow and mounted it back up there. I used some extra zip ties and bigger washers so it held more of the plastic up and this winter its been great.

[gtsingh91]

Hmm maybe I'll let it sit another day in the garage till everything melts and see if I can zip tie it back up

[Seerlah]

The design of them directs air into the engine bay, keeping it cooler. But really, you don't necessarily need it. I personally opted for an Evo Thor plate after dealing with sort of the same issue. Clips never broke off, but snow would pile in there from backing into it and basically scooping it up.

[gtsingh91]

The design of them directs air into the engine bay, keeping it cooler. But really, you don't necessarily need it. I personally opted for an Evo Thor plate after dealing with sort of the same issue. Clips never broke off, but snow would pile in there from backing into it and basically scooping it up.

Once again, I'm not talking about that plastic part. I'm talking about the plastic guards on the side of the underside of the car, not the belly pan.

[Timtheguru]

The rear passenger side of the cover is covering where the fuel filter is. It's really probably only there for aero dynamics, so without them you'll get some more drag, but who cares. :)

Personally, I like to keep all the underbelly pans (all of them!) so that I don't get that one sharp rock kicked up that will puncture something important.

[gmudan]

Here was mine last winter.

[Seerlah]

Once again, I'm not talking about that plastic part. I'm talking about the plastic guards on the side of the underside of the car, not the belly pan.

Pardon, should have read the thread first

[gtsingh91]

Here was mine last winter.

yeah that's pretty much how mine is right now on my driver's side, except instead of the part of the plastic towards the middle of the car sagging/dragging, it's the part of the plastic towards the outside of the car so it looks retarded. I'm just going to not drive the car until I get inspection on monday and have them put it up on the lift and either secure it or rip it off completely. The passenger side covers the fuel filter but the driver's side doesn't really cover anything at all except a few tiny lines that look like brake lines. But those lines are like recessed up, so I'm not too worried.

[Fast4esT]

This winter I broke my third panel on the passenger side, I hate these damn things but I like having them there. I zip tied it back together and it lasted almost a month. Now there's half a panel left. Stupid things are expensive and also kind of hard to find on parts cars

[EinSchnellAudi]

Mine were gone when I purchased my car back in '10. I never realized that there was supposed to be something there until I noticed the jagged edges of torn plastic. There really isn't much behind it that it seems to be protecting. If anything I would assume it is there for aesthetic purposes and maybe to reduce drag from the under body.

[gtsingh91]

I ended up pulling it off today after my inspection and it really wasn't covering anything except bare metal so i think it's pretty safe. The passenger side one is fine so I'll leave that one.

[vjborelli]

I'm here in Boston, same thing happened to me Wednesday morning on the way to work in the storm. Picked up a used one from a local part out.

[n7plus1]

same happened to me over the past few days on the passenger side only. i got half of it out after work today, the other half is still stuck in there. I think i can manage to plastic weld the seam back up. its just split along the outer edge at the moment

if anyone can find or has a spare for the passenger side, lmk. i have a contact in nyc if anyone there can get on and they can bring it home to me over the weekend.