Carbon fibre engine cover

[ArthouseCompany]

Hello. I recently sent this ugly cheap Lotus plastic engine cover to Carboworx, Germany, and it was laminated with real carbon fibre and clear painted. Costs around 160,- € and really looks amazing. So if you want a nicer V6 look for a nearby shop that offers this service: 

 

[French Frie]

It looks great ! And it's cheaper than CF replacement covers, as made by HK fever, and sold by Komotec (400€)... Not the same thing I know, but a good idea !

BTW, are yours sticky (stock ones)  ? 

PS : did you had the lower cover made as well ? 400€ is for both parts

Edited October 30, 2015 by French Frie

[Bibs]

Very nice  

[ArthouseCompany]

I don't have this smaller second cover near the trunk. I asked my Lotus dealer and he told me that 2015 Exiges don't have this anymore, only 2013 and 2014 Exige. 

The first Exige without this second cover was the LF1. So it made no sense to me to purchase 2 covers for pricey 419,- € from KomoTec. And beside that they were sold out a week ago. So this is an inexpensive and elegant solution. The original plastic also captures dirt and with it's rough surface it is very hard to clean.

 

Edited October 30, 2015 by ArthouseCompany

[C8RKH]

That looks ace. Anyone know if anyone in the UK can do this too?

[French Frie]

1 hour ago, ArthouseCompany said:

I don't have this smaller second cover near the trunk. I asked my Lotus dealer and he told me that 2015 Exiges don't have this anymore, only 2013 and 2014 Exige. 

Hum! You gave me the answer that I was expecting  for a  long time  !

my very recent Exige came without this lower cover, and my dealer couldn't figure out where the cover was lost ... Ahahah !

nonetheless, I do think this delete part leaves a not-so-tidy area, and I assume it was better looking with it ... Do we know why it was deleted, and are the fixings still in place ?

[Bibs]

JMG deleted the whole engine cover from the Evora, he likes to be able to see the engine so I'd imagine it was his decision! 

[ArthouseCompany]

...and it saves money (for Lotus), saves weight and isn't needed. But the larger one seems to be needed, maybe because of splashing water ?

There are also no fixings on my 2015 Exige for the lower cover. I recently called my Lotus dealer in Munich because I also thought it was lost. As he's one of the largest lotus dealers worldwide he knows what he's talking about, he called Hethel when the LF1 came out and asked for the missing lower cover     

 

Edited October 30, 2015 by ArthouseCompany

[geartox]

hydro dipping examples

 

[ArthouseCompany]

Nice video. Yes, water transfer printing is another solution, certainly it's not a real carbon and doesn't even look close to a real carbon, but you can have any kind of cool or funny design you want. 

Edited October 30, 2015 by ArthouseCompany

[C8RKH]

1 hour ago, Bibs said:

JMG deleted the whole engine cover from the Evora, he likes to be able to see the engine so I'd imagine it was his decision! 

Shame the engine in Evora 1 looks like it does. The Esprit engines looked much better. Evora 400 slightly better

[Bibs]

It's not a pretty engine, is it... 

[ramjet]

I would have thought water transfer would have been a cheaper, lighter option. Maybe not exactly the right look, but still not bad.

[ArthouseCompany]

I don't think so. As you usually also have to color paint it before and clear paint it after and need a lot of equipment it won't be much cheaper or lighter than a real carbon. But it's easier to do for more complicated parts of a car or if you want other designs than carbon. 

[ramjet]

Didn't know about the prework/afterwork with water transferring. You never see that bit on youtube.

[ArthouseCompany]

Yes. I've found this here, so I think it can't be much cheaper than a layer of real carbon: 

"The process requires good preparation and the item to be decorated is firstly coated with a primer. After the primer dries, a base coat paint is applied to match with the pattern. So, for example, woodgrain prints often utilise a brown base coat and many camouflage patterns use specific base colour.

After the base colour is applied, the item is ready for the water transfer printing process. As previously mentioned, the activator HGA-EM014 is used to activate the film. Now, the item can be immersed into the water and the ink wraps around it. It is then washed and protected with a clear topcoat."

[redspeed]

Does anyone have any idea where I could get this done in the UK, preferably in the South East?

[dixie v6]

Here is mine,all in watertransfer carbon and I think it looks great,costed me 250 euro for everything...

[The Pits]

Real carbon or real plastic for me. Fake carbon? Just say no kids! ;)

[ArthouseCompany]

2 hours ago, dixie v6 said:

Here is mine,all in watertransfer carbon and I think it looks great,costed me 250 euro for everything...

I like it. looking good, at least much better than black plastic and a great price for everything.

[ramjet]

I really doubt the layman would be able to tell at a glance unless they really get critical.

[Arun_D]

Liking the carbonworx part, Peter. 

 

[theelanman]

just a quick internet search brought up this....

http://www.hydro-graffix.co.uk/

never heard of them....no affiliation....just a google result 

[French Frie]

On 30/10/2015 21:23:49, ArthouseCompany said:

There are also no fixings on my 2015 Exige for the lower cover. I recently called my Lotus dealer in Munich because I also thought it was lost. As he's one of the largest lotus dealers worldwide he knows what he's talking about, he called Hethel when the LF1 came out and asked for the missing lower cover     

just for info, the other deleted part in '15 Exiges is the divider in the convenience pack  ... Mine was missing, and I asked for it to my dealer. he finally found out that it was also missing on other cars, but it seems that customers are moaning about that, and it may come back ! my dealer has ordered one for me for free, anyway...

back to the original subject, water transfer looks good, but I second Pits about going for the real thing or leave it as it is ... covering original part with carbon is a good alternative, though (weight saving apart) ! I think I'll go the Komo-tec parts, and try to fit the lower part as it looks really better to me !

[theelanman]

there seem to be loads....

http://www.aquakustoms.co.uk/

hydrographics.......search