covance

I have seen lots of people on here putting on CF parts like spoilers, grills, and the like as well as applying carbon-fiber looking film onto diff parts of car for the aesthetics.

Obviously the film doesn't improve performance, but I am curious if anyone knows or has experienced real performance upgrade by replacing any actual parts with the lighter CF version? I can see this happening if you were to get a CF hood for example but is there any difference for small things like grill/spoilers/etc, or is that just for show/personalization?

killerg

it will only give you performance gains because of the weight loss, and it would only be very very minimal. Slightly improved handling and acceleration. Most likely overshadowed by the placebo effect. Its just for show/personalization for the most part. That being said, real CF does have gains that will trickle in if you add a full cf trunk/hood/whatever else you can but that would be so expensive and not a wise investment in the least bit.

You could save a few pounds by hitting the gym too i guess haha

covance

ZeroSeVen

The answer to your question is No.

Replacing external components like front grilles and diffusers with light plastic or even with 100% carbon fiber won't have any effect on the car's performance.

You are right... most of these aftermarket parts whether carbon fiber or fiber reinforced plastic are just for external enhancements to improve the car's aesthetics depending of course on the owner's own personal taste and style.

In relation to performance... It would take a lot more than just changing the hood to carbon fiber to have a substantial gain in performance. Most drag cars use a one piece body made of carbon fiber material to provide an aerodynamic shell which creates downforce to give the car better traction and stability at high speeds.

Samieee

Improves fuel economy too!

blue00r6

I added a carbon fiber spoiler on mine and I'm pretty sure it is faster now. I think I read online that it can give you 5 horsepower when you're going over 60mph due to the dow-force and increased drag coefficient.

encoder

I'm fairly certain this is humor.

Am i right?

Acapulco Bill

@encoder, well if not HUMOR perhaps IGNORANCE?

Although as killerg said, shedding some driver pounds WILL help the W204 accelerate faster. That is absolutely true.

covance

but down-force and decreased drag would be from any spoiler, i dont think necessarily CF one

Acapulco Bill

@covance: Only from a properly engineered and tested spoiler. In a wind tunnel. With computer analysis. There is no reason to believe, for instance, that the C63 spoiler actually works properly. Nor its imitations.

And probably not at speeds less than 100 MPH. Nor will a spoiler provide, as one post claims, "5 horsepower when you're going over 60 MPH" although it IS TRUE as the same post says, cause "increased drag coefficient", meaning you will be going SLOWER.

But what we all want is DECREASED drag coefficient. And as any engineer will tell you, increased down force and decreased drag coefficient are MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. Increasing the down force automatically increases the drag coefficient. (Aerodynamics 101, guys).

covance

lol good catch Acapulco I guess I read the original post too fast first time around

blue00r6

Haha sorry for the confusion guys.. my sense of humor can be a little dry some times..

But hey, my CF spoiler looks cool! Thats the only benefit here

covance

pics ?

Acapulco Bill

The W204 has a drag coefficient of 0.29, which is fantastic in a small sedan. My exotic V12 has a drag coefficient 0.28.

The new CLS has a drag coefficient of 0.25. And hopefully all will appreciate that in addition to having no spoiler, the rear trunk lip looks surprisingly like the stock W204. Doesn't that say something? Check out the photo, thanks.

Blazeitup123

@bill

please tell us more about the exotic v12 you have. i encourage pics as well :p

not tryin' to hi-jack or anything.

covance

+ 1

and blue00r6 would love to see pics of your spoiler as well