AW painted diffuser

comtrang · 04-02-2015, 01:56 PM

Anyone have pictures of this on their AW vehicle?

I've got an iCarbon 3 fin CF diffuser and the clear coat began to peal pretty bad along the top of it. I was considering having the cc redone but I'm kind of curious how it would look just painted. I know a lot of people aren't a fan of painted cf but that doesn't really bother me. I'm not crazy about having it painted black - the argument there is that it adds contrast but it's honestly way too much contrast for me especially as an automotive photographer, visually it's just too strong.

I've been looking on the internet and have seen it painted black and painted blue but am hoping someone has photos of it in white, either a stock diffuser or aftermarket. Any help greatly appreciated!

Apologize in advance for any typos, I'm at the airport and just posted from my phone

derekL · 04-02-2015, 09:23 PM

Sorry it's a bit big and close up. it's a pretty old pic

comtrang · 04-03-2015, 09:02 AM

No, you're fine that helps either way. How do you personally feel about it? Do you like how it looks in person? I'm almost considering having both the stock piece and the iCarbon painted just for the hell of it

Gray_Panther · 04-03-2015, 05:04 PM

That looks awesome!

derekL · 04-04-2015, 04:06 AM

Personally, I don't like it at all. The only reason I have this photo is because the body shop painted it AW instead of gloss black, like I had asked for. But definitely each to their own.

e36addict · 04-04-2015, 08:01 AM

Funny, I was going to say that it just looks like a bad body shop got ahold of it, and painted it because they didn't know any better.. but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings..

comtrang · 04-04-2015, 09:05 AM

Do you have any plans to get it painted black? That definitely would be the cheaper/easier route than getting ahold of AW paint to have it done

derekL · 04-04-2015, 05:37 PM

OP, this happened probably 2 years ago. I told them I said black in the first place, so they took it back and re-painted free of charge. If it were me and I wanted to keep some of that CF look, I would paint the diffuser black and ask to keep the CF showing on the fins.

comtrang · 04-04-2015, 05:53 PM

I think I saw someone post a picture of that somewhere, definitely looked good-aggressive. Thanks for all your input, the FINs are actually the only place that really aren't flaking clearcoat so that is an option

derekL · 04-07-2015, 03:00 AM

np, you can thank me by posting a photo of your car after you get the diffuser painted

04-02-2015, 01:56 PM	#1
comtrang Workin' hard 17 Rep 162 Posts Drives: '08 135i in AW/Terracotta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (1)	AW painted diffuser Anyone have pictures of this on their AW vehicle? I've got an iCarbon 3 fin CF diffuser and the clear coat began to peal pretty bad along the top of it. I was considering having the cc redone but I'm kind of curious how it would look just painted. I know a lot of people aren't a fan of painted cf but that doesn't really bother me. I'm not crazy about having it painted black - the argument there is that it adds contrast but it's honestly way too much contrast for me especially as an automotive photographer, visually it's just too strong. I've been looking on the internet and have seen it painted black and painted blue but am hoping someone has photos of it in white, either a stock diffuser or aftermarket. Any help greatly appreciated! Apologize in advance for any typos, I'm at the airport and just posted from my phone
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04-02-2015, 09:23 PM	#2
derekL Captain 58 Rep 694 Posts Drives: BMDUBS Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 128i [6.96]	Sorry it's a bit big and close up. it's a pretty old pic __________________ \|Shadowline Grills\|Hotchkis Front Sway Bar\|DIY CF Black Fabric Trim\|Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler\|Black O.Z Ultraleggeras\|BMW Performance Exhaust\|M-Sport Bumpers w/ Fogs\|Shadowline Diffuser\|CSR Eyelids\|BMW Performance Shifter/Boot and Handbrake\|AFE stage 2 intake\|Koni FSD + Eibach Pro-kit\|///M mirrors\|Blackline LCI\|
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04-03-2015, 09:02 AM	#3
comtrang Workin' hard 17 Rep 162 Posts Drives: '08 135i in AW/Terracotta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (1)	No, you're fine that helps either way. How do you personally feel about it? Do you like how it looks in person? I'm almost considering having both the stock piece and the iCarbon painted just for the hell of it
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04-03-2015, 05:04 PM	#4
Gray_Panther Brigadier General 1555 Rep 3,234 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	That looks awesome! __________________ 2012 BMW 128i 6MT Deep Sea Blue Metallic
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04-04-2015, 04:06 AM	#5
derekL Captain 58 Rep 694 Posts Drives: BMDUBS Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 128i [6.96]	Personally, I don't like it at all. The only reason I have this photo is because the body shop painted it AW instead of gloss black, like I had asked for. But definitely each to their own. __________________ \|Shadowline Grills\|Hotchkis Front Sway Bar\|DIY CF Black Fabric Trim\|Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler\|Black O.Z Ultraleggeras\|BMW Performance Exhaust\|M-Sport Bumpers w/ Fogs\|Shadowline Diffuser\|CSR Eyelids\|BMW Performance Shifter/Boot and Handbrake\|AFE stage 2 intake\|Koni FSD + Eibach Pro-kit\|///M mirrors\|Blackline LCI\|
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04-04-2015, 08:01 AM	#6
e36addict Captain 137 Rep 952 Posts Drives: 2013 X1 35iX Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tim @ BMW of Dallas iTrader: (5)	Funny, I was going to say that it just looks like a bad body shop got ahold of it, and painted it because they didn't know any better.. but I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.. __________________ 13 X1 35iX, 98 Z3 2.8, 01 M Coupe, 96 Z3 1.9 DASC, 95 318ti, 13 smart fortwo
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04-04-2015, 09:05 AM	#7
comtrang Workin' hard 17 Rep 162 Posts Drives: '08 135i in AW/Terracotta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (1)	Do you have any plans to get it painted black? That definitely would be the cheaper/easier route than getting ahold of AW paint to have it done
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04-04-2015, 05:37 PM	#8
derekL Captain 58 Rep 694 Posts Drives: BMDUBS Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 128i [6.96]	OP, this happened probably 2 years ago. I told them I said black in the first place, so they took it back and re-painted free of charge. If it were me and I wanted to keep some of that CF look, I would paint the diffuser black and ask to keep the CF showing on the fins. __________________ \|Shadowline Grills\|Hotchkis Front Sway Bar\|DIY CF Black Fabric Trim\|Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler\|Black O.Z Ultraleggeras\|BMW Performance Exhaust\|M-Sport Bumpers w/ Fogs\|Shadowline Diffuser\|CSR Eyelids\|BMW Performance Shifter/Boot and Handbrake\|AFE stage 2 intake\|Koni FSD + Eibach Pro-kit\|///M mirrors\|Blackline LCI\|
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04-04-2015, 05:53 PM	#9
comtrang Workin' hard 17 Rep 162 Posts Drives: '08 135i in AW/Terracotta Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas City, MO iTrader: (1)	I think I saw someone post a picture of that somewhere, definitely looked good-aggressive. Thanks for all your input, the FINs are actually the only place that really aren't flaking clearcoat so that is an option
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04-07-2015, 03:00 AM	#10
derekL Captain 58 Rep 694 Posts Drives: BMDUBS Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 [0.00] 2009 128i [6.96]	np, you can thank me by posting a photo of your car after you get the diffuser painted __________________ \|Shadowline Grills\|Hotchkis Front Sway Bar\|DIY CF Black Fabric Trim\|Carbon Fiber Trunk Spoiler\|Black O.Z Ultraleggeras\|BMW Performance Exhaust\|M-Sport Bumpers w/ Fogs\|Shadowline Diffuser\|CSR Eyelids\|BMW Performance Shifter/Boot and Handbrake\|AFE stage 2 intake\|Koni FSD + Eibach Pro-kit\|///M mirrors\|Blackline LCI\|
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