Real Carbon Fiber Interior Trim!

Nfifty5

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Dec 26, 2017
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Just ordered and installed these right before the holidays! Tried to get some decent pictures with my iPhone.. but it was tough with the glare.

The OEM pieces were used so they fit perfect. The original finish was removed and carbon fiber laid over. And they offer a core exchange program for these.

Let me know what you think!

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YouAreMyWorld

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Thank you! They really do look great in person and go well with the red interior.

May I ask what ballpark we're talking about to do this? I assume it would be a bit more for E92 trim as some of the pieces would be a bit larger.
 
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doublespaces

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Very nice! Maybe I'll get bored and do this to my trim also. I love piano black but it just can't stay clean or avoid scratches well enough.
 

Nfifty5

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May I ask what ballpark we're talking about to do this? I assume it would be a bit more for E92 trim as some of the pieces would be a bit larger.

Normally the BMW Performance CF trim for the 1 series is $1,300+. But the company that made these was about $900, so I think it's a pretty good deal. But yeah the E92 pieces do look bigger so it might be more.
 
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YouAreMyWorld

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Normally the BMW Performance CF trim for the 1 series is $1,300+. But the company that made these was about $900, so I think it's a pretty good deal. But yeah the E92 pieces do look bigger so it might be more.

Interesting, thank you for the information. Makes me wonder what our resident Carbon Fiber guru could whip up. @Snelson3003
 

Snelson3003

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Looks pretty nice! I'd say it came out great!

This looks like a wet layup and I'm not here to bash since that how most companies or people do it. Super duper time consuming Yeesh!

However, our cost point at NRW is going to be around $675 for a full trim refresh and that's for an E92 (which is like 9 pieced of trim) and E82 coming in around $475 (since it's only 3 pieces) so while I'm sure this is nice, there was a premium paid for a wet layup.

We use a vacuum infusions which yields a better overall surface and requires alot more materials/equipment/knowledge, but saves time on hand based labor. I'd rather spend more on making a part than losing 3-4 additional days in post finishing.

But after reading the price point here, maybe I should up our rates.
 

Nfifty5

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Looks pretty nice! I'd say it came out great!

This looks like a wet layup and I'm not here to bash since that how most companies or people do it. Super duper time consuming Yeesh!

However, our cost point at NRW is going to be around $675 for a full trim refresh and that's for an E92 (which is like 9 pieced of trim) and E82 coming in around $475 (since it's only 3 pieces) so while I'm sure this is nice, there was a premium paid for a wet layup.

We use a vacuum infusions which yields a better overall surface and requires alot more materials/equipment/knowledge, but saves time on hand based labor. I'd rather spend more on making a part than losing 3-4 additional days in post finishing.

But after reading the price point here, maybe I should up our rates.

Hey thanks for the feedback! Does the wet layup produce a different look than vacuum infusions? Or do they end up looking the same? For the E82 it was 5 pieces if that makes any difference.
Your prices are with using the OEM trim and removing the finish then over laying the carbon? Sorry I'm very curious on how yours would be now haha.
 
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Snelson3003

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Wet layups use more resin, require alot more hand labor, and tend to chip overtime due to the over saturation of fibers since the usual ratio is 27% resin to fiber based upon the weight and density. Now does that matter for trim, likely not. Ive seen the OEM CF trim with large cracks down the middle which is interesting to see from BMW however its fixable with an experience shop. Ive fixed a few myself and its not very hard but i deal with fiber daily.

Vacuum infusion is the most costly but less work overall. It requires several layers of materials to properly infuse the part with resin but removes all voids and excess via vacuum then remains under vacuum for 6-9 hours depending on the temp that day. How clean the edges are complex corners are on the rear of a part tell how skilled the shop was with wet layups. I have seen too many trim parts that look great on the front but the rear shows alot of skipped steps and uneven seams/weaves/edges that arent flush. But from the front half its not a issue. Im just a stickler for details though.

As an example of VI process; we have a few 2 stage vacuum pumps that run about $1500 and over 150ft of materials used to aide the process. Start up costs for VI arent cheap which is why most go the cheaper route for hand layups.

Longevity and clarity of the resin process is key, so wet lays tend to be clear but have small layer builds that reflect light differently at each layer height. Whereas infusion is controlled and singular in process which has a more glass/water like appearance under direct light. Its almost trippy to see. But the wow factor is there every time.
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Nfifty5

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Wet layups use more resin, require alot more hand labor, and tend to chip overtime due to the over saturation of fibers since the usual ratio is 27% resin to fiber based upon the weight and density. Now does that matter for trim, likely not. Ive seen the OEM CF trim with large cracks down the middle which is interesting to see from BMW however its fixable with an experience shop. Ive fixed a few myself and its not very hard but i deal with fiber daily.

Vacuum infusion is the most costly but less work overall. It requires several layers of materials to properly infuse the part with resin but removes all voids and excess via vacuum then remains under vacuum for 6-9 hours depending on the temp that day. How clean the edges are complex corners are on the rear of a part tell how skilled the shop was with wet layups. I have seen too many trim parts that look great on the front but the rear shows alot of skipped steps and uneven seams/weaves/edges that arent flush. But from the front half its not a issue. Im just a stickler for details though.

As an example of VI process; we have a few 2 stage vacuum pumps that run about $1500 and over 150ft of materials used to aide the process. Start up costs for VI arent cheap which is why most go the cheaper route for hand layups.

Longevity and clarity of the resin process is key, so wet lays tend to be clear but have small layer builds that reflect light differently at each layer height. Whereas infusion is controlled and singular in process which has a more glass/water like appearance under direct light. Its almost trippy to see. But the wow factor is there every time. View attachment 7831

Thank you for a very detailed response! That actually helps a lot. And I do see the difference in the clear, it’s definitely more glass like. That’s interesting.
Well so far I love mine, but good to know there’s more options available for us.
 
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Snelson3003

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You got $900 worth of labor in your parts, so id be absolutely proud of it! Plus we havent offically launched our service publicly yet, just some rather intense people online who wont take no as a response tend to win me over haha.

When we do launch and you are interested in something we make - let me know. Pricing for 5 piece E82 trim would remain at $475 + shipping since the other parts arent very large. :)
 
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Nfifty5

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You got $900 worth of labor in your parts, so id be absolutely proud of it! Plus we havent offically launched our service publicly yet, just some rather intense people online who wont take no as a response tend to win me over haha.

When we do launch and you are interested in something we make - let me know. Pricing for 5 piece E82 trim would remain at $475 + shipping since the other parts arent very large. :)

Yeah true, thanks! It looks great.

Alright that's good to know. I will keep that in mind!
 

TwinTurboWAWD

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I've been looking into doing something about the "wood" trim with my e90. Thanks for posting this it made my mind up lol.
 
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Andy

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You got $900 worth of labor in your parts, so id be absolutely proud of it! Plus we havent offically launched our service publicly yet, just some rather intense people online who wont take no as a response tend to win me over haha.

When we do launch and you are interested in something we make - let me know. Pricing for 5 piece E82 trim would remain at $475 + shipping since the other parts arent very large. :)

What is the pricing for E90 CF trim? Any set release dates as well?
 

Snelson3003

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E90 CF trim will come in at $675 + shipping and depending on the fiber, aramids, or added options like alcantara overlays and hybrids cost will increase accordingly. However you'd still pay much less for NRW work and also have a superior process just by our equipment capabilities alone. We are one of the few companies in the country to be setup for multiple fiber options on a single piece. For example, using a 2x2 twill that transitions into a 1x1 bilateral with the proper weave matching.

5.82oz 2x2 AAA Grade Twill E90/92 trim comes in at the $675 plus shipping. And yes, there are grades to fiber which most arent aware of. Adding thickness and density to our weaves allows for greater longevity just by resin saturation levels alone plus a theoretical stronger part. Not that interior trim will ever see impact but its just a nice to know type of thing. :)
 

TwinTurboWAWD

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E90 CF trim will come in at $675 + shipping and depending on the fiber, aramids, or added options like alcantara overlays and hybrids cost will increase accordingly. However you'd still pay much less for NRW work and also have a superior process just by our equipment capabilities alone. We are one of the few companies in the country to be setup for multiple fiber options on a single piece. For example, using a 2x2 twill that transitions into a 1x1 bilateral with the proper weave matching.

5.82oz 2x2 AAA Grade Twill E90/92 trim comes in at the $675 plus shipping. And yes, there are grades to fiber which most arent aware of. Adding thickness and density to our weaves allows for greater longevity just by resin saturation levels alone plus a theoretical stronger part. Not that interior trim will ever see impact but its just a nice to know type of thing. :)
Thank you for the follow up. I plan on purchasing several of your products in the future. I'll have to add this to my list haha
 

Snelson3003

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Absolutely, and just wait till we finish our N54 Engine Cover. It'll be showcasing our muscle with a unique build and very very labor intensive method. Ideally I'll make one for Bimmerlife only and offer it as a specific service for those seeking a show piece under the hood. Like, show stopping.

But my singular goal is an engine cover that suit both ST or OEM setups while being reasonable in cost (for simple twill) and likely be one of the most complex pieces in market across most all platforms.

But that will get a dedicated thread once we finish the initial process. Think a Twill Cover, with reverse weave matching half, accented with aluminized graphite and red Kevlar. Also some neat raised lettering with different fibers too.

But you'll see NRW slowly bleed new fibers into market across Audi, Nissan and BMW.