Carbon-Effects: BMW E46 Carbon Fiber Valve Cover and Fuel Rail Cover

[kayger12]

Last month, I decided to take the plunge on some CF valve and rail covers from Carbon Effects.

They were delivered today. The fuel rail cover might be going back. Bill had an issue with the finish on the original one he was working on for me, so he offered up one he already had on hand so I wouldn't have top wait. Only issue was the CF weave is opposite of the Valve cover. The finish also looks a little different. You can see it in the second picture below. He offered to redo a new fuel rail cover if I wasn't satisfied, which of course is appreciated by this customer!

Other issue with the fuel rail cover is that the recesses for the mounting bolt are so thick that the stock rear bolt threads won't bite. So for now, I only have it secured with the front bolt.

Also have some linear scratches in the finish of the valve cover. I'll be shooting Bill an email to see if there's an easy fix.

I'll keep everyone in the loop.

In the meantime, here's some pics!

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-01_590.jpg

Notice the difference in the appearance of the cf between the two
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-20_637.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-59_304.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-41-34_643.jpg

And you can see the linear scratches below the green arrows below
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-41-59_465.jpg

[Johnmadd]

It looks good. The only thing that would bother me is the color of the fuel rail seems to match the bmw performance stuff more than the valve cover does imo. Hope it all works out smooth for ya keith.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

OK. I see the potential here. Even though there are some issues that need to be worked out, damn, that stuff looks good. The fuel rail matches the BMW Performance stuff very well. If Bill can make all of it look like the BMW Performance stuff, I am onboard with this. I may have to place an order.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

By the way, I am moving this to the product review forum.

[danewilson77]

Lookin good Keith......

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[kayger12]

It looks good. The only thing that would bother me is the color of the fuel rail seems to match the bmw performance stuff more than the valve cover does imo. Hope it all works out smooth for ya keith.

Thanks John. As long as the valve cover and fuel rail match, I'll be good.

It's tough to tell from the pics, but in person the valve cover actually matches up better to the BMW perf stuff.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[kayger12]

OK. I see the potential here. Even though there are some issues that need to be worked out, damn, that stuff looks good. The fuel rail matches the BMW Performance stuff very well. If Bill can make all of it look like the BMW Performance stuff, I am onboard with this. I may have to place an order.

Absolutely. When it's all squared away, it'll look awesome.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[kayger12]

Lookin good Keith......

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

Thanks my friend.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[Hornung418]

That's tight! The weave matches the direction of the Strut Bar so smoothly!
Something you may have noticed when driving with out the Fuel Rail Cover (which is actually listed as a Muffler) is that your engine is a lot louder!

**The more you know :biggrin

[kayger12]

Ha! That's good info, Horney. I got sick of the insulating material coming from where I cut it for the strut brace, so I removed it from the underside of the hood today. Guessing I'm getting more engine noise from that even though the fuel rail is back on.

[kayger12]

Ok-- I stand corrected. When not in direct sunlight, the fuel rail definitely matched the BMW Perf parts better than the valve cover.

[danewilson77]

Ok-- I stand corrected. When not in direct sunlight, the fuel rail definitely matched the BMW Perf parts better than the valve cover.

What's the wifey's unbiased opinion. That's all that matters....

[Marcus-SanDiego]

What's the wifey's unbiased opinion. That's all that matters....

She rolled her eyes. Is that about right, KG? :biggrin

[kayger12]

Believe it or not, no eye rolls. She inspected. She immediately identified the scratches, the difference in the finish of the two parts, and some other imperfections that she wasn't impressed with.

Firing off an email to Bil now. I'm confident he'll make things right.

[Johnmadd]

Ha! That's good info, Horney. I got sick of the insulating material coming from where I cut it for the strut brace, so I removed it from the underside of the hood today. Guessing I'm getting more engine noise from that even though the fuel rail is back on.

Other than sound insulation that also protects the outer side of the hoods paint from getting too hot. Just what I've heard.

[kayger12]

Hmmmm. Maybe worth re-installing then. Good info, John.

[Johnmadd]

No problem, although someone will probably say its not necessary lol.

[danewilson77]

I have had mine off for 20k miles now....no issues.

[Johnmadd]

I wouldn't chance it, not worth losing your paint finish earlier than it should. 20k is just a fraction of time for this to happen but why not have it to help?

[danewilson77]

I wouldn't chance it, not worth losing your paint finish earlier than it should. 20k is just a fraction of time for this to happen but why not have it to help?

Now John.....how am I supposed to condone a CF hood if I put the insulation back on?

You are right though...

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I don't believe it's necessary. My E92 335 came from the factory with no hood insulation. It is used for sound dampening only. If BMW thought there was another purpose for it, my guess is that they would have put that hood insulation on all of the 2009 335 that they shipped without it.

I really think that it's for hood insulation only.

[Johnmadd]

Here's some info.
http://www.partsgeek.com/parts/hood_pad.html
:threadjack sorry.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Feel free to start a thread, JM. Could prove to be a useful thread.

[johnrando]

Keith, I'm way late to this thread, but I like the look! I'm anxious to see the final results after the minor corrections. Interestingly enough, I never really picked up on/paid attention to the fact that the CF patterns were different on the Perf Intake vs. the Strut Bar. John

[kayger12]

Thanks, John.

I've been in touch with Bill. He's got some personal stuff going on right now, so it will be a little bit before I get things squared away with him.

[lilcdkey]

Wow that looks sick. How much did you pay?

[kayger12]

$300 with me shipping him my valve and fuel rail covers.

I know his prices were going up, though. Believe the new pricing was going to be over $400 for this.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[johnrando]

What's the latest on this Keith? Did you ever get your touch ups? Also, is the wrapping kind of "glossy" like the CF on the strut bar, or is it more "matte"? Bill, sent you a PM separately.

[kayger12]

Bill is just starting to get caught back up on things after his wife passed.

Traded emails with him today. He should have the new parts done for me in the next couple of weeks.

Definitely looking forward to seeing them.

The finish is glossy just like the CF strut bar. Hopefully have some pics to post up for you in the near future.

[johnrando]

Thanks. He responded to my PM that he (understandably) is starting to get back into things and catching up. I potentially have a small project.

[quikryptonite]

Last month, I decided to take the plunge on some CF valve and rail covers from Carbon Effects.


http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-01_590.jpg

Notice the difference in the appearance of the cf between the two
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-20_637.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-40-59_304.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-41-34_643.jpg

And you can see the linear scratches below the green arrows below
http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/2011-04-30_16-41-59_465.jpg

Wow, that looks phenomenal. I wish I could get me some of dat for my ride.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Looking forward to the new and improved parts.

[Hermes]

Any chance we could get true cf pieces made (not just wrap)? An example of what I'm asking is say the plastic cover where it says BMW, can that be molded/fabricated for us in just CF and resin with the lines and name?