Carbon Fiber Vinyl Mirrors

[Hawk77FT]

Originally Posted by shishand

wait, thats a real carbon fiber, but also wrap? i was talking about full carbon fiber.. enlighten me

You lay real CF over a part and add resin. sand it and clear coat. It looks like the real thing, but the backing is the original part.

What these guys dont realise is that the so called CF parts sometimes are made off fiberglass covered with a cosmetic layer of CF to give it the thickness. You cant tell whether is done like that or not unless you know what to look for.

Anyway, I really appreciate people wanting to make their car look cool, but please dont make it look silly. And someone said something about the effort the guy put into it. Well, sorry bud...but the vinyl wrap is not labour intensive AT ALL. Is not hard work at all. My grand ma can do it...is like cutting corners. Each to their own.

[jshadeck]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

No, wrong again. A REAL carbon fiber overlay will never be more fake than vinyl. WhY? Because is the overlay is done with the REAL thing not FAKE (vinyl). Wrong logic right there.
CF overlay is like silicon fake tits (sorry couldnt find a better comparison). They are still tits, the base is still the tit, but they are silicone over the real thing. A good boob job can be done right and you wont be able to tell the difference when the bra is off. However, vinyl is like the bra. From a distance looks nice, up close you can tell they are not real. And when the bra is off...well...you know is not true.

As for the bra/tits thing u seem stuck on, thats incorrect. The overlay and the vinyl, neither one is actually improving ANYTHING except the appearance. Where as a bra would be appearance but the implants would be similar to a real lighter cf replacement part.

Apparently youre not following the logic here. The reason for using cf (if not for looks) is to save weight. By doing a cf overlay there are only two outcomes. Looks, and adding weight. Doing vinyl adds the looks (with out actually trying to make people think uve actually replaced your panels with actual weight saving carbon pieces) with out adding the weight (as small as it may be) and without spending 90% of the money to do so, as well as being much easier to undo later on.

Doing a real carbon overlay is spending hundreds of dollars because u want people to think u "haz racecar" doing vinyl is because u like the look of it, i dont know anyone who thinks vinyl passes as real cf, nor tries to pass vinyl as real cf.

Carbon overlays are like women buying fake name brand name purses. Again, sorry if u cant quite follow along. Continue spending ur $ on whatever u want, its always good to see $ pissed into our economy

[Pacific Auto]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

And someone said something about the effort the guy put into it. Well, sorry bud...but the vinyl wrap is not labour intensive AT ALL. Is not hard work at all. My grand ma can do it...is like cutting corners. Each to their own.

lol thanks for making my day

I enjoy it and yes to do it right, it takes time and skill.

[Hawk77FT]

Originally Posted by jshadeck

The reason for using cf (if not for looks) is to save weight.
AGREED!!!

By doing a cf overlay there are only two outcomes. Looks, and adding weight.
AGREED!!! - insignificant weight though!

Doing vinyl adds the (FAKE) looks (with out actually trying to make people think uve actually replaced your panels with actual weight saving carbon pieces) with out adding the weight (as small as it may be) and without spending 90% of the money to do so, as well as being much easier to undo later on. = RICE

Doing a real carbon overlay is spending hundreds of dollars because u want people to think u "haz racecar" doing vinyl is because u like the look of it, i dont know anyone who thinks vinyl passes as real cf, nor tries to pass vinyl as real cf.

It makes me wonder whether you like the look of the REAL cf or the look of Real vinyl (that imitates CF)?!???

And to answer your question about WHY I do overlays. I do the overlays because:
1. It looks good, much better than the fake vinyl - simple as that
2. It is real CF that is used in the cosmetic process
3. If I want to get real CF parts done , I can make them...tomorrow. How much weight (since you're obsessed with it) I save? About 1000gm =1 kg - depending on which parts i do. To get you to understand this the weight you will be adding is the weight of the real CF part without the additional pins/etc. Which again is in the vicinity of few hundred grams.
Here, lets' say:
1. Plastic part weight (100 gr) + real CF lay up (10-15 gr) = 115gr + the real deal look (if it is done by a professional)
2. Real CF part = 30-35 gr + real deal look
3. Plastic part + vinyl = 102 grms + the fake look

Now you tell mewhich one looks more rice?
You save about 12 grm per part ...yahoooo (and since you don't track the car it does not matter) but you add the fake looks with the vinyl.
Imagine this: someone that knows a thing or two about CF (and everybody knows these days) gets into your car. They see my part and say: WOW dude, are they real? I will say no, they are not but they look really good. It gives the interior a nice look.
They get inside and see the parts wrapped in vinyl. They will know straight away is not CF. But they will probably still say it looks ok but it makes the interior look cheap. As cheap as the vinyl that has been applied on the dash panels from the factory.


Carbon overlays are like women buying fake name brand name purses. - to some extent yes, I agree...but I might add that some are still are made out of leather, still have some quality to it, but you're not paying for the brand super name. While vinyl CF is the fake brand name that gives you the leather looking vinyl purse. It is a no brainer!

Again, sorry if u cant quite follow along. Continue spending ur $ on whatever u want, its always good to see $ pissed into our economy
Not pissing the money into your economy buddy! I make CF parts because i love working with composites.

mate, we can argue till the cows come home and still not get anywhere...one thing is clear: real cf overlays look more real than fake vinyl overlay. No need to insult or anything like that.
Just because you like the look of fake vinyl and put some effort into it, does not mean others should or even get butt hurt when someone else says that they don't like the looks.
two last question:
1. Why did you post this? think about it...Was it to get only positive answers or to hear other people opinions whether they are positive or negative? Feedback , good or bad is the one that help us to better ourselves. If you like it, so be it buddy! Dont get offended when others say they dont!
2. Would you provide me the SAME reasoning behind the real cf overlay vs vinyl if you would've got the money to do it? Let's say if I say to you that I would do it FOR FREE (not that I would but hypothetically - so money wont be an issue) would you still do it in vinyl?

Take care.
:happy0180:

[Hawk77FT]

Originally Posted by jshadeck

As for the bra/tits thing u seem stuck on, thats incorrect. The overlay and the vinyl, neither one is actually improving ANYTHING except the appearance. Where as a bra would be appearance but the implants would be similar to a real lighter cf replacement part.

Apparently youre not following the logic here. The reason for using cf (if not for looks) is to save weight. By doing a cf overlay there are only two outcomes. Looks, and adding weight. Doing vinyl adds the looks (with out actually trying to make people think uve actually replaced your panels with actual weight saving carbon pieces) with out adding the weight (as small as it may be) and without spending 90% of the money to do so, as well as being much easier to undo later on.

Doing a real carbon overlay is spending hundreds of dollars because u want people to think u "haz racecar" doing vinyl is because u like the look of it, i dont know anyone who thinks vinyl passes as real cf, nor tries to pass vinyl as real cf.

Carbon overlays are like women buying fake name brand name purses. Again, sorry if u cant quite follow along. Continue spending ur $ on whatever u want, its always good to see $ pissed into our economy

Originally Posted by Pacific Auto Films

lol thanks for making my day

I enjoy it and yes to do it right, it takes time and skill.

Mate, I appreciate your work and everything but if you tell me that the amount of work, knowledge of the materials used and involvement required to perform CF or composite work compared to vinyl application is the same or even close enough to be comparable...with all due respect you kid your self.
yes it does take time and effort, no one denies it. But you dont need a degree to work with vinyl while it takes one to work with composites and design. Just saying.!

[Pacific Auto]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

Mate, I appreciate your work and everything but if you tell me that the amount of work, knowledge of the materials used and involvement required to perform CF or composite work compared to vinyl application is the same or even close enough to be comparable...with all due respect you kid your self.
yes it does take time and effort, no one denies it. But you dont need a degree to work with vinyl while it takes one to work with composites and design. Just saying.!

When did I say that? Your a funny dude, we should drink together

[jshadeck]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

mate, we can argue till the cows come home and still not get anywhere...one thing is clear: real cf overlays look more real than fake vinyl overlay. No need to insult or anything like that.
Just because you like the look of fake vinyl and put some effort into it, does not mean others should or even get butt hurt when someone else says that they don't like the looks.
two last question:
1. Why did you post this? think about it...Was it to get only positive answers or to hear other people opinions whether they are positive or negative? Feedback , good or bad is the one that help us to better ourselves. If you like it, so be it buddy! Dont get offended when others say they dont!
2. Would you provide me the SAME reasoning behind the real cf overlay vs vinyl if you would've got the money to do it? Let's say if I say to you that I would do it FOR FREE (not that I would but hypothetically - so money wont be an issue) would you still do it in vinyl?

Take care.
:happy0180:

1) the way u say that makes it sound like u think im the OP here...
I never got offended, but it appears u are mixing people up^. And the point was u did a little more than "say u didnt like it" lol. U started bashing vinyl as if it (and maybe this is the issue here) cut into ur personal income or something.

2) i do have the money, i also know how to do it myself, and guess whats on my roof? Vinyl. Its not about "affording it". Its about the fact that i like the look of the vinyl on the roof (also considered flat black) and i think its stupid to buy a car that has been engineered to be a certain weight, and then add weight for looks alone. For example, a turbo kit will add weight, but, will also double+ the hp. Where as, carbon overlay just makes people think u spent a lot of $ to make u car lighter, when u really only spent enough to cover your metal/plastic car with a fancy trim piece. I know not everyone cares if they add weight to a car or not, but when a car is engineered weight specific, whats the point of buying it and screwing with that to be "baller"? Buy a tC and overlay the whole in/outside of the car for the same total cost as the frs.

Just because u "work w cf alot" doesnt mean u need to defend it against vinyl. I would never argue that real cf is "bad". Its great when used for its "intended" purpose (ie making pieces or panels that are lighter and or stronger than the pieces they replace) cf vinyl is the same as brushed aluminum vinyl or chrome vinyl. Its a texture/color that changes the looks of the car for a minimal cost and can be changed or undone easily later on. Again, i have never claimed that the vinyl looks like real carbon, and im glad. When people see my car they know its vinyl, if it was cf overlay, and someone asked "whoa did the car come like that or did u replace the roof?!?" I would feel (rightly) like a douche replying "neither... I just laid real cf on top"

[HotLeopardMama]

Originally Posted by Hawk77FT

You kid yourself if you think they look the same. I would do a real CF wrap if I was you. Vinyl is for ricers...or at least that is what they say! Don't take offense if somebody else has different opinion mate! Below you can see two pics with the difference between them two. Bear in mind that you can bring CF to a really nice smooth finish too. BUT carbon fiber is labour intensive and a lot of attention to details involved. Is not for everyone that is for sure.
Vinyl is easy to work with but is vinyl...not the real thing. Is not even like silicone tits on chicks...is more like a push up bra.

3M Di Noc


Real carbon fiber

I prefer the look of the vinyl on the headlights. The CF wrap is too shiny.

I think the OP's mirrors look good. Might do it to my car later, we'll see. For now, just going to CF vinyl wrap the roof and beat-sonic roof spoiler. If it doesn't look good with the CF-look beat-sonic fin antenna, I might have them wrap the antenna, too. Glossy CF vinyl looks less shiny to me than the real CF wrap, so vinyl it is for me. I do have a real CF lip kit, but I needed that to be durable against potential scraping in the future (hopefully not much, though). I've seen a CF roof cap and wasn't really a fan of its look.

But--to each they're own. It's like tryna tell someone to un-spend the money they used to super-stance-ify their car. Not gonna happen--they consider their money well spent. The vinyl's already paid for and applied to their car--like you giving your offended 2 cents is gonna convince them to remove something adhered to their car that makes them perfectly happy.

...just wait till I decide which Hello Kitty decals I plan to affix to my car--my Hello Kitty's are gonna say so much about the other 20,000+ BRZ/FRS owners. I already have a dangling Hello Kitty head from my rearview, Hello Kitty license plate frames, and a Hello Kitty antenna head. LOL

[Tansey86]

Originally Posted by dem00n

Because carbon fiber vinyl is extremely cheesy.

It's really say "Hey, i don't have a race car but let me try to say i have weight saving parts, eh".

I'm trying to save you guys.

I refuse to let this car become a cheese ball like the Civic.

Do some damage control in the suspension section to the people stancing these cars too please. And the wheel/tire section for people putting 235's on 9.5" wheels.

[Minovsky]

Originally Posted by Tansey86

Do some damage control in the suspension section to the people stancing these cars too please. And the wheel/tire section for people putting 235's on 9.5" wheels.

god damn i hate it when people have super lowered cars and have their wheels at an angle.. it looks reallyy... just bad .. sigh dont get how it looks nice..

[jshadeck]

Originally Posted by Tansey86

Do some damage control in the suspension section to the people stancing these cars too please. And the wheel/tire section for people putting 235's on 9.5" wheels.

My 9.5s came w 235s im running till theyre dead and changing up to a 255. But a 235/9.5 isnt as stretched as u make them sound...