[cmyk]

I am certain this has been discussed before. I searched and found a few short threads, but nothing that really answered my questions.

I am getting ready to order a new hood and I need to know the actual pros/cons of FRP vs CF. From my understanding the CF hoods are just FRP with a layer of CF on top, which would make this mostly for "show" am I right? My plans are to paint the hood either way.

I spoke to my body shop and they mentioned FRP having issues with cracking under stress, and CF being more difficult to paint. In fact, the hood I have now is painted CF and the reason I'm getting rid of it is because the paint job was botched so badly that you can see the CF weave through the paint. My shop could not guarantee that this wouldn't happen again with another CF hood. Not sure I quite believe that, but I'll take them at their word.

I'm just trying to make an informed decision, and pick the material that's the best fit for what I need. By the way, the hood I am most likely getting is this one: http://www.jgmods.com/index.php/bmw/...d-bmw-e90.html if that helps. If the extra $250 is really just for the "look" of cf, then it's a no-brainer that I would go with FRP since it will be painted over, but if there are any actual benefits of the CF version that I don't know about, I have no problem spending the money for a better product. I just don't know what the real differences are.

Can someone explain the actual differences and benefits of one vs the other? I feel like I'm missing something.

[JYohay]

Just curious, why don't you just strip the paint off the current one and have it reprinted?
Carbon fiber is lighted
FRP though will stil be lighter then OEM metal
With a hood you don't really have to worry about the structural integrity of FRP.
If you are going to paint the whole thing anyway then go for FRP.
But again, I have a buddy who stripped the paint of his m3 front lip back t carbon with no problem, and just re-clear coats it and it looks good as new.
Y should just have yours stripped and repainted unless I am missing something

[cmyk]

Originally Posted by JYohay

Just curious, why don't you just strip the paint off the current one and have it reprinted?
Carbon fiber is lighted
FRP though will stil be lighter then OEM metal
With a hood you don't really have to worry about the structural integrity of FRP.
If you are going to paint the whole thing anyway then go for FRP.
But again, I have a buddy who stripped the paint of his m3 front lip back t carbon with no problem, and just re-clear coats it and it looks good as new.
Y should just have yours stripped and repainted unless I am missing something

Thanks -- as far as stripping and repainting, that is unfortunately not an option in this case. The body shop sanded down all of the gel coating and attempted to paint the cf directly (don't ask me why, I have no clue what they were thinking). When the paint soaked into the weave pattern, they tried to put filler on top of it. It was then sanded down and repainted a second time, and then a third time, but the paint now has a weave texture that you can see from 10 feet away. They basically ruined the hood, and are reimbursing me for the price I paid for the original hood so that I can buy another one. Just wanted to make sure this didn't happen again.

[cmyk]

sorry for the duplicate posts, stupid Android app

[Manny_World]

I'll go with the FRP for sure. I'm planning on getting the V style hood from them hopefully before Bimmer Fest. As mentioned, since the hood is going to be fully painted, I'm saving $250.

SN: If the shop covering the full price, I would get the carbon fiber and leave some exposed. I'm sure they won't sand it down this time. I'll be waiting for a new photoshoot!

[JGMODS]

Feel free to shoot me a PM, I'd be more than happy to answer any/all questions you have pertaining to the E92 Vented hood that we carry.

[x-ception]

Originally Posted by cmyk

I am certain this has been discussed before. I searched and found a few short threads, but nothing that really answered my questions.

I am getting ready to order a new hood and I need to know the actual pros/cons of FRP vs CF. From my understanding the CF hoods are just FRP with a layer of CF on top, which would make this mostly for "show" am I right? My plans are to paint the hood either way.

I spoke to my body shop and they mentioned FRP having issues with cracking under stress, and CF being more difficult to paint. In fact, the hood I have now is painted CF and the reason I'm getting rid of it is because the paint job was botched so badly that you can see the CF weave through the paint. My shop could not guarantee that this wouldn't happen again with another CF hood. Not sure I quite believe that, but I'll take them at their word.

I'm just trying to make an informed decision, and pick the material that's the best fit for what I need. By the way, the hood I am most likely getting is this one: http://www.jgmods.com/index.php/bmw/...d-bmw-e90.html if that helps. If the extra $250 is really just for the "look" of cf, then it's a no-brainer that I would go with FRP since it will be painted over, but if there are any actual benefits of the CF version that I don't know about, I have no problem spending the money for a better product. I just don't know what the real differences are.

Can someone explain the actual differences and benefits of one vs the other? I feel like I'm missing something.

Originally Posted by Manny_World

I'll go with the FRP for sure. I'm planning on getting the V style hood from them hopefully before Bimmer Fest. As mentioned, since the hood is going to be fully painted, I'm saving $250.

SN: If the shop covering the full price, I would get the carbon fiber and leave some exposed. I'm sure they won't sand it down this time. I'll be waiting for a new photoshoot!

Stay away from FRP I had a cf hood before and FRP now and even though you will save money buying it, the cost of prepping and painting FRP is a lot more then CF and is just not worth it, and the CF felt much stronger then the FRP for some reason and much easier to paint then FRP.

[cmyk]

Originally Posted by x-ception

Stay away from FRP I had a cf hood before and FRP now and even though you will save money buying it, the cost of prepping and painting FRP is a lot more then CF and is just not worth it, and the CF felt much stronger then the FRP for some reason and much easier to paint then FRP.

Thanks, appreciate the input The body shop basically told me the opposite of this -- that FRP was easier to paint than CF. Given the quality of work on my current hood, I am inclined to believe you over them, lol. I think they were just trying to blame my hood for their inability to paint something properly.

What I really want is Vorsteiner, but it's discontinued

[x-ception]

Originally Posted by cmyk

Thanks, appreciate the input The body shop basically told me the opposite of this -- that FRP was easier to paint than CF. Given the quality of work on my current hood, I am inclined to believe you over them, lol. I think they were just trying to blame my hood for their inability to paint something properly.

What I really want is Vorsteiner, but it's discontinued

I currently have the Duke Dynamics FRP hood and it was such a pain to paint that I regret not getting a CF and honestly you can rock the Cf look for a while and when you are bored you can paint it, you might think it looks ricey (i thought the same) but on black cars it doesn't look too bad. Also if FRP is not prepped properly it will come out very cheap and bloated looking.