From time to time, a material comes along that both captures the imagination due to its looks and aesthetics, and also provides tangible benefits in performance and functionality. Carbon fiber is once such material. It has that space age, advanced technology look that is extremely elegant. Yet, it is also stronger than plastic and lighter than steel. BMW and BMW Mini enthusiasts around the globe appreciate carbon fiber parts and cannot get enough of them.
What exactly is carbon fiber (or carbon fibre, as the British say)? It all started with the extremely thin graphite fiber whose carbon molecules form crystals that are in line with the fiber. That orientation makes the fiber extremely strong. Individual fibers are then combined into yarn, and the yarn is used to weave the carbon fiber fabric that gives carbon fiber parts their characteristic look and texture. The fabric is then combined with plastic resins to create composite parts that weigh very little but are very strong. This, plus their trademark good looks, make them perfect for automotive parts such as body kits, hoods, spoilers, side mirrors and so on.
Why use carbon fiber parts in your BMW or Mini? For the same reason that automobile enthusiasts all over the world customize and modify their cars. We like to make a statement and personalize our vehicles. If cool, elegant looks also contribute to performance, like lowered weight and better aerodynamics, that's even better. Carbon fiber delivers in every respect. And, in addition to greater strength, carbon fiber has another huge advantage over fiberglass: there is no need to paint it. Carbon fiber has its own look and texture, so there is no additional expense of painting and matching color.
What can carbon fiber be used for in your BMW or Mini? Almost everything. Some people think carbon fiber is primarily for hoods or body kits and it certainly is a great material for those, but it doesn't end there. You can also get carbon fiber door sills, headlamp trim, grilles, door handles, kick panels, intake covers, mirror covers, side mirrors, front splitters, handbrake levers, steering wheel trim, arm rests, and just about anything else you can think of. And most of those parts are available for the whole lineup of the older and current BMW and Mini platforms, including the 3-Series E36, E46, E90; the E60 and E61 5-Series and E63/64 6-Series, as well as the high performance M3, M5 and M6 cars, and the AC Schnitzer models. On the MINI side, a wealth of carbon fiber parts are available for the first gen R53 and the current R56 Cooper and Cooper S platforms.
What if a part is not available or someone is interested in starting his or her own carbon fiber distribution business? Well, there are manufacturers specializing in automotive carbon fiber parts and they can create just about anything in carbon fiber, sometimes even in different color fiber (red carbon fiber can look VERY attractive). So if you can't find a special carbon part for your BMW or BMW MINI anywhere, perhaps it can be made for you.
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Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon
International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2009 (Sat Nov 22 2008)
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