Do you ABSOLUTELY need hood pins for a CF hood for "normal" street driving?

[hotsaucewizard]

Let me preface this by saying I've got a set of aerocatch pins sitting on a shelf in my kitchen but I've been staring at this hood for a week and kinda just want to throw it on and go show it off. Additionally - despite doing almost everything DIY on my e30 including multiple engine/trans swaps - I don't think I'm confident enough in my abilities to cut a couple of clean and precise holes in this bad boy so I'd have to drive it out to a shop somewhere and well.. all three of my vehicles are tiny and I don't really wanna rent a home depot truck.

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[hotsaucewizard]

To clarify - my speed alert chime is set at 100mph. I'm too old to risk getting my car impounded lol

 

[PearlSup]

To clarify - my speed alert chime is set at 100mph. I'm too old to risk getting my car impounded lol

You’ll probably get a slough of answers ranging from “I’ve never had an issue” to “My friend died driving without hood pins”.

I personally think you might as well get it done right, but it should be fine if you’re just going to show it off for the day…

 

[Thraxbert]

100% yes. Highway speeds are enough to turn the hood into an aerofoil and tear it out of the hood latch.

 

[dzeleski]

If the hood comes with metal latches for the factory location its not required, but its highly recommended to have hood pins. One because CF will flex and depending on the hood over time you may get cracks in the CF which can eventually cause failure. Two if the latch does fail you are in for a very large repair bill as it slams into the window, A pillar, roof, etc.

 

[hotsaucewizard]

If the hood comes with metal latches for the factory location its not required, but its highly recommended to have hood pins. One because CF will flex and depending on the hood over time you may get cracks in the CF which can eventually cause failure. Two if the latch does fail you are in for a very large repair bill as it slams into the window, A pillar, roof, etc.

it does seem to have studs placed in the same locations as the factory latches

called the only recommended shop i can find in the area and they're slammed for TX2K and can't get to it until the 22nd :/

 

[Msoupe]

I had a Seibon carbon hood that had OE style latches. I drove the car at normal street speeds for a few months until I eventually installed Aerocatch pins. If you are worried about whether or not you'll make it to the shop, I think you'll be fine. I just wouldn't drive at excessively high speeds.

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