Carbon Splitters Refurb

karbonkid · 24-06-2009, 11:56 PM

May be useful for some as an option to consider when the time comes (if you have the patients). Save those pennies! 22,000 each to be exact!
Thought it was time to give the front end a make over as I had a few hours to spare. Giving the front bumper a paint correction inc touch up & lacquer to stone s/chips. The CF splitters were deeply scared and needed some TLC without buying new ones at stealers prices.
I prepped them before epoxy top coating. Sanded using 120 grit down to the 1200, then wet sanding in the same way using all sand grades.

Few pics showing the way...

Before:

Using 120 dry/wet grade, rubbing down the OEM top coats down to the CF weave

using 240/400/800 & finally 1200 grades

Both sanded & prepped. Top one wiped with acetone to get rid of contamination

First top coat applied waiting to cure then ready to wet sand & apply more layers

To be continued...

bryce · 25-06-2009, 12:38 AM

Nice one kk, looking good so far. Im tempted to have a shot of that too! What do you use to apply the laquer?

**Mark CSL** · 25-06-2009, 12:47 AM

A small tip the lacquer in a tin does not have hardener in it so wont last long
you need a spay gun and some lacquer with hardener

NZ_M3 · 25-06-2009, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark csl

A small tip the lacquer in a tin does not have hardener in it so wont last long
you need a spay gun and some lacquer with hardener

CORRECT!!

Doing it the way you are doing the lacquer you've put on will PEEL straight off the monent it is put onto the bumper (The first time I did this it was also with a lacquer without a hardener mix in it and it peeled straight off the moment it went on the bumper due to flexing of the splitters to fit). You need a hardener mix in the lacquer for it to stick properly.

ALSO

I wouldn't have rubbed it down to bare carbon fiber - the carbon fiber from the factory has a coating on it to stop the lacquer from soaking through it because carbon fiber is porous and you'll end up just laying coats and coats of it onto the splitters and you'll still not get that flat finish (you'll get a weaved look to the finish)

The factory splitters have a maximum of 2 coats on it only - it's very very thin - and this is only achievable with the stop coating on it.

**Andyk** · 25-06-2009, 06:43 AM

Looks good NZ M3 and some good advice as usual...

karbonkid · 25-06-2009, 11:35 AM

Its not lacquer that is applied. Its professional epoxy top coat mixed with hardener to the ratio 2/1. The lacquer is optional to do when you have applied the 2 layers. This way is the way its done by BMW.

digi · 02-07-2009, 12:32 PM

amazing!!!!

Could you outline all the necessary steps to achieve your results.

Outstanding. Great Job!

0836whimper · 25-05-2012, 06:37 PM

Hi all,

In this month's Evo, Harry reports on finding using T-cut colorfast ultimate black effective in getting the carbon splitters on his Zonda back to a point where stone chips look almost invisible.

Anyone tried this or any other similar product on the carbon splitters on a CSL ?

ta,

Mark

24-06-2009, 11:56 PM	#1
karbonkid S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sussex Posts: 1,912 Casino cash: $10231	Carbon Splitters Refurb UPDATE. May be useful for some as an option to consider when the time comes (if you have the patients). Save those pennies! 22,000 each to be exact! Thought it was time to give the front end a make over as I had a few hours to spare. Giving the front bumper a paint correction inc touch up & lacquer to stone s/chips. The CF splitters were deeply scared and needed some TLC without buying new ones at stealers prices. I prepped them before epoxy top coating. Sanded using 120 grit down to the 1200, then wet sanding in the same way using all sand grades. Few pics showing the way... Before: Using 120 dry/wet grade, rubbing down the OEM top coats down to the CF weave using 240/400/800 & finally 1200 grades Both sanded & prepped. Top one wiped with acetone to get rid of contamination First top coat applied waiting to cure then ready to wet sand & apply more layers To be continued... Last edited by karbonkid; 30-06-2009 at 01:52 PM.

25-06-2009, 12:47 AM	#3
Mark CSL CSL Register Uber-poster! Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 8,777 Casino cash: $42229	A small tip the lacquer in a tin does not have hardener in it so wont last long you need a spay gun and some lacquer with hardener __________________ www.procarkits.co.uk

25-06-2009, 06:43 AM	#5
Andyk Driving it like I nicked it Space Invaders Champion! Join Date: May 2008 Location: Chepstow Posts: 2,506 Casino cash: $3997	Looks good NZ M3 and some good advice as usual... __________________

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25-06-2009, 12:38 AM	#2
bryce S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland (sw) Posts: 1,369 Casino cash: $2512	Nice one kk, looking good so far. Im tempted to have a shot of that too! What do you use to apply the laquer?

25-06-2009, 11:35 AM	#6
karbonkid S6, Sport On, Traction Off Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sussex Posts: 1,912 Casino cash: $10231	Its not lacquer that is applied. Its professional epoxy top coat mixed with hardener to the ratio 2/1. The lacquer is optional to do when you have applied the 2 layers. This way is the way its done by BMW.

02-07-2009, 12:32 PM	#7
digi S5 - Full Throttle Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 486 Casino cash: $4438	amazing!!!! Could you outline all the necessary steps to achieve your results. Outstanding. Great Job!

25-05-2012, 06:37 PM	#8
0836whimper S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Nottingham Posts: 516 Casino cash: $7379	Hi all, In this month's Evo, Harry reports on finding using T-cut colorfast ultimate black effective in getting the carbon splitters on his Zonda back to a point where stone chips look almost invisible. Anyone tried this or any other similar product on the carbon splitters on a CSL ? ta, Mark