DIY Carbon Fiber Diffuser Install


Since I do Paint Corrections and the two pieces are coated with clear coat, I put a polisher on them to make them as glossy as possible. I first used my Griots Garage 3" with a light cutting polishing white pad using Menzerna SF4000 using normal pressure and made numerous passes due to these small pieces. I then switched over to a black non cutting polishing pad and used Rupes Diamond micro polish and used no pressure at all and made numerous passes to slightly increase the gloss. Then I used GTechniq Panel Wipe to remove all oils to prep the surface for Glass Coating. I applied 22ple pro glass coating to all surfaces, let sit for 4min and then removed. The coating takes 24hrs to initially cure, then 4-5 days to fully cure. Here are the pictures after the coatings.



I fully removed the bumper in order to re-spray it, so took that opportunity to do the install when the bumper was off the car. The bumper took about 1 hr to fully remove. (what a pain it was). There is a DIY https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...r-removal.html that works very similar on a E63 so I did use this to figure it out. I had to remove all brackets on the right rear inside of the trunk and also maneuver around all the electronics on the left. Those two bolts left and right were the biggest pain. Use two people to remove it or you will damage the quarter panels.
I used this opportunity to polish the exhaust tips. I used Blue Magic metal polish and 0000 steel wool. After polishing them to the highest shine possible, I then glass coated them with 22ple Wheel and Metal coating. This was to help prevent the black scum from accumulating on the tips from now on.


After painting, I installed the diffuser using 9 SS self taping screws with washers. I had a helper lay the diffuser along the crease above the plastic lower part of the bumper and started in the middle and tapped the screw about 1.5" below the top of the diffuser. (I First applied numerous strips of 3m double sided tape along the plastic part of the bumper so the lower part of the diffuser would be secure) I used the screws every 6" or so along the top with one on each side of the exhaust portal and then one at or near the tips of the diffuser. (one member drilled a hole in the tip and used a zip tie to the exhaust hanger) I did not want to rig mine this way. I fully pushed the lower part against the bumper and pushed the bumper at the same time to fully seat the 3m tape. The next day I installed the bumper with just about a perfect fit.
My only hang up about this was the diffuser didnt fit totally along the plastic part crease at the edges near the exhaust. It ran over the edge and along the bumper. Maybe I got the wrong one, who knows but I worked through that and got it installed. There are slight gaps where the tips curve down. The gaps do not go all the way under, just the edge of the diffuser sticks out different. This is due to the diffuser being wider than the curvature of the crease. It has to bridge the crease above the exhaust portal. Pictures all show this and how it fits. In the end I am pleased and it looks great. Somehow the in process pictures of the install got lost, but here is the final ones at all angles.







Last edited by Chomanche; Jan 16, 2015 at 12:26 AM.
Trending Topics
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Also I am installing the LIP tomorrow and taking a bunch of good pictures. Front bumper was painted tonight. I am planning on using 1" 5/16 bolts with large washers top and bottom. The bottom ones will be painted black and holes drilled through both LIP and bumper. 12 bolts in all. I laid it up against the bumper tonight, and the only thing that bothered me was when in place the tips on the ends when in place stuck out into the wheel well area about 1.5". Thought that was weird slightly. Is that correct?



