Carbon fiber bumpers

[Onesto]

Well i have been looking at a car for sale on here with significant carbon fiber body work. I had questions regarding damage that can be sustained to it in minor fender benders. I was hoping that a little bump would not be cause immense damage to the bumpers. Any with experience or knowledge of this kind of stuff care to enlighten me?

Thanks

[Ritz S14]

Depends on the quality of the bumper. If they actually put effort into making a nice CF bumper with no air bubles behind the CF, then you'd have a good bumper.

But CF in generally is pretty strong, and will/should resist your basic parking lot dings.. But I'd doubt it'll be able to withstand a 5mph crash.

If you're involved in a fender bender, you can't really repair carbon fiber and expect it to look like new. It'll have to be patch(if it's even worth it), or replaced.

[S14DB]

Also depends on the quality of the resin used. If it was layed up dry, then baked and clear coated. It should hold up to alot of abuse. But that is expensive.

More then likely it was done wet in a mold with one layer of CF and then backed with fiberglass. Prolly not bagged ether so there is a bunch of bubles and extra resin between the layers. Having the two different materials and not being baged or baked will make it more flexable. Also they will use cheap resin that will crack easly when flexed. After a bump it will start to spider in the clear.

Also, the wet method lay up prolly weighs more that a baged glass or urathane bumper. This is prolly more a show piece than funtional.

Can you find out who made it?

[North240]

I would advise to stay away or resell unless you plan on owning a show car. It would be a damn shame to destory most of it from just hitting a curb.....