BMW Performance *DRY* Carbon Mirror Housings (the way they shoulda been)

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

BMW Performance *DRY* Carbon Fiber Mirror Housings

I HATE high gloss Carbon Fibre products, especially when they are DRY...

I am NOW working on the BMW PERFORMANCE *DRY* Carbon Fibre Rear Diffuser. If i start now, i might be done by tomorrow...

BEFORE:

AFTER:

[Lionel Hutz]

I don't think I get it. Did you just sand the coating on the cabon to make it matte? Dry carbon and wet carbon are two entirely different manufacturing processes.

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

No kiddin! BMW Performance parts are made with Pre-Preg Carbon Fibre aka DRY Carbon. They clear coat them when they are finished.

[Lionel Hutz]

So you just sanded the clearcoat off?

[SoQuick]

man....... what an improvement....

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

Yea, i've been practicing on other carbon fiber parts. Wet Carbon comes out really well too. Trick is using multiple types of sandpaper, but if you go too deep, your fukced.

Here is an EVO X Gauge pod i did. This part was probably the WORST QUALITY i have ever seen:

BEFORE:












AFTER:

[driftdriven]

Sorry but I thought the "wet" and "dry" carbon was how they make the carbon fibre parts???

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

"WET" is short for Wet-Lay Up which is when carbon fibre fabric is layed down and epoxy resis is spread throughout, over each layer of carbon. "DRY" carbon is made from pre-impregnated aka Pre-Preg , which is carbon fibre fabric which already contains the resin. Dry carbon usually comes out looking DRY or NON-GLOSSY. It is a preference of the part manufacture on if they would like to spray a clear/gel coat for a glossy finish. Some people will spray a MATTE finish, just for some protection.

My PERSONAL Preference is the DRY or MATTE look. BMW PERFORMANCE CARBON FIBRE IS MADE in the DRY process with Pre-Preg Carbon fibre and BMW choses to clear coat their parts.

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

Originally Posted by Zed 2.0

So you just sanded the clearcoat off?

No, not completely OFF.just sanded it down. If you sand it off, youll hit fabric and then your either painting the part or throwing it away...

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

Next, i'll be taking a little risk and gonna do my Vorsteiner hood when it gets here

[e82vette]

i like the after one.... for sure
good work!

[ichiban]

Originally Posted by ALLMuRdErEdOut

Next, i'll be taking a little risk and gonna do my Vorsteiner hood when it gets here

realllly. Why not just paint it? and leave the vents cf.

[driftdriven]

Originally Posted by ALLMuRdErEdOut

"WET" is short for Wet-Lay Up which is when carbon fibre fabric is layed down and epoxy resis is spread throughout, over each layer of carbon. "DRY" carbon is made from pre-impregnated aka Pre-Preg , which is carbon fibre fabric which already contains the resin. Dry carbon usually comes out looking DRY or NON-GLOSSY. It is a preference of the part manufacture on if they would like to spray a clear/gel coat for a glossy finish. Some people will spray a MATTE finish, just for some protection.

My PERSONAL Preference is the DRY or MATTE look. BMW PERFORMANCE CARBON FIBRE IS MADE in the DRY process with Pre-Preg Carbon fibre and BMW choses to clear coat their parts.

Oh! I agree with you. The "dry" looks is better

[Andrew@Aspec]

Now i guess we are just missing pictures of it on the actual car

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

Originally Posted by e82vette

i like the after one.... for sure
good work!

Thanks! Just involves LOTS of PATIENTS, Something i usually do have. But when your finished and see the results (if done properly) it pays off WELL.

Originally Posted by ichiban

realllly. Why not just paint it? and leave the vents cf.

PAINT carbon Fibre? Ewwwww

Originally Posted by Andrew@Aspec

Now i guess we are just missing pictures of it on the actual car

Once everything is done my son, patients

[ichiban]

definite. I love the subtlety of painted cf with just some bare. Tons of ppl do it on their hoods and csl trunks, you can do a fade stripe, or paint it along a body line etc. Just go check it out on e90post, or check out Nick from Jlevi's hood.

[imoz]

Aren't you eliminating the UV protection by doing this? Are you concerned about the longevity of the parts? You might want to use a paint meter to gauge how much clear coat is actually left on the part after sanding, there may not be sufficient material to provide any protective qualities.

[ALLMuRdErEdOut]

Again, i am not completely sanding off all the clear coat. If i did, i would be hitting the fabric and you ruin the part. Carbon Fibre test parts i have been working on not only for sanding, but also to test the UV protection. I am testing several different MATTE Clear coats, as well as NO Clear Coat. I have been searching for a polyurathane Matte Clear in a arisal can for months and finally found it this week.

Once i am finished the parts, and finished testing different grids of sandpaper as well as the different types of clears i will be doing a DETAILED DIY, front start to finish. This will also include my testing results...

[Bruck]

love it!

[SPEZNAS92]

Originally Posted by ALLMuRdErEdOut

Again, i am not completely sanding off all the clear coat. If i did, i would be hitting the fabric and you ruin the part. Carbon Fibre test parts i have been working on not only for sanding, but also to test the UV protection. I am testing several different MATTE Clear coats, as well as NO Clear Coat. I have been searching for a polyurathane Matte Clear in a arisal can for months and finally found it this week.

Once i am finished the parts, and finished testing different grids of sandpaper as well as the different types of clears i will be doing a DETAILED DIY, front start to finish. This will also include my testing results...

cant wait

[raypeter]

instead of sanding it, try using cut and polish paste, the cutting compound kind, it will give u the matte look with out touching/damageing the clear coat