I have always loved real carbon fiber. So a few years ago I learned how to work with CF and I did the interior of my BMW e90 and some other members of the e90post.com community. I picked up an 06 Mini R50 a few months ago for my wife...she has always wanted one. I knew right off, I was going to (as my wife puts it) "carbon fiber up" the mini.

I started last week with 2 small pieces...the center vent rings. I am clear coating them today/tomorrow and thought I would go ahead and start a thread and show all the pieces I am going to do.

My plans are to do the 3 main dash pieces along with the 2center vent trim (done), speedo trim, and tach trim. I am also going to do the door trim pieces along with the console pillars, gear shift surround bezel, and the steering wheel trim including the ring around the airbag.

On the exterior, I am going to do the mirror covers and the rear plug where the rear fog light would be if I had the light.

I will get pictures of the rings after I clear coat them and then installed ics as well...then going forward, will add pics as I go.

Should be fun to make the mini unique.

Here is an example of the mirror covers I did for my BMW a few years ago to whet you appetite.

 

Finished the first 2 pieces...vent trim...

 

Looks really nice! I wish I had that talent!

 

Nice!

 

Thanks...it is a talent that takes time to learn...I really enjoy working with carbon fiber though. I have used vinyl and even hydrodipping, but nothing compares to real carbon fiber.

Anyone know how to take the speedometer bezel off?? I tried turning/twisting like the vent trim, but doesn't seem to come off the same way...any help would be appreciated.

 

Are your pieces "overlays" on top of the existing silver rings or complete new pieces? From the pictures they appear to be an overlay of sorts.

 

They are skinned, overlays, wrapped, whatever your word choice is...It is very difficult to make interior parts that aren't overlays. In fact, BMW overlays their interior trim as does JCW...The clips and attachment points of interior trim is too difficult to duplicate...plus there really is no point in reinventing the wheel.

 

Finally had some time to work on some parts again....I am bagging the "pillars" near the console tonight. I think they are going to look amazing and on complex parts like this, the only way to do it is to vacuum bag them. I love how the parts look when they are in the bag with all the air gone...

 

Very nice, great work.

 

Thanks, i appreciate it. I am also doing a BMW gear shift **** right now for the Mini. Will try to get some pics of it tonight. I got an adapter from Doug at Whalen Machine, in IL to make the BMW **** work for the Mini. Great guy and he makes all kinds of adapters for our Mini's...I got his name from a search on the board a few weeks ago.

 

Nice work ! Keep us posted with your projects .


Carbon fiber good

 

Thanks! Love your pic...I noticed the seats before the speaker surround! I am planning on doing my seat backs as well...I am doing the 3 piece dash after I finish the pillars and gear shift. Since this is primarily my wifes car, I am doing something different on the dash...still real carbon fiber, but in orange and textured like what is used on the new BMW's (Non M cars). I have seen it in person and I still like traditional better, but orange CF (kevlar) basically turns red with resin on it and this way it will stay orange. The top of the gear **** will be orange as well...I have done that. I will post up a pic later today.

 

Nice work, makes me wonder how difficult/expensive it would be to cover the dull black trim around the bottom edge of the car and also encase the wheels in real carbon fiber. From what I understand that plastic trim isn't the greatest for vinyls to adhere to, but why go vinyl when you can do the real deal? I have worked with fiberglass cloth in the past, and looks to be a fairly similar process... And coating a skeleton is definitely a LOT easier than making something from scratch.

My only worry is the prep work on the plastic would probably require lots of priming/sanding, and not be reversible by any means... and make my car look like a salvaged part together during the whole adventure.
But the cloth is a tad bit more expensive, and probably very costly for that large of a job :( Nonetheless... I think you have bit me with the carbon bug, might have to start with interior pieces until I work up the budget/courage to do the rest.

 

Subscribed!! Awesome work!

 

please revive this thread!