Csl roof no longer available!!!!!!

[0-60Motorsports]

Alu? As in... not steel?

Isn't the roof aluminum? I thought it was. Maybe it's steel.

[Obioban]

It had been checked and verified by one of the members here and it showed the panel to be Alu now and not CF. Oh well I guess it was worth a shot! EVOLVE's CF roof will be just as good.

Alu? As in... not steel?

[0-60Motorsports]

And... Failure.

It had been checked and verified by one of the members here and it showed the panel to be Alu now and not CF. Oh well I guess it was worth a shot! EVOLVE's CF roof will be just as good.

[Obioban]

And... Failure.

BIG APOLOGY FOR GETTING PEOPLES HOPES UP

We have just recieved our test order "carbon" csl roof panel from BMW.

Im regretably having to inform you it is NOT carbon fibre (Even tho Bmw list it as a carbon panel)

They have replaced the carbon csl roof panel with this metal panel.

Im so glad we have caught this before we have taken money from customers as i have at least 20 orders for the "carbon" roof which i now cannot supply.

Again im sorry for this

[0836whimper]

I'm no carbon finish expert, but for the roof I'd think it'd need a protective finish. They get hammered with water, strong UV rays, frost, bird-crap, stone chips, car shampoo etc.

[k00k]

I've been thinking, does the raw carbon roof need to be lacquered at all?? Basically it sounds like the roof will come in a raw carbon fibre satin finish. I think I've seen a few supercars getting around sporting that look on certain parts of the bodywork. Maybe there's no need for lacquering, unless you want that gloss look? The resin is already injected into the carbon fibre mold when its vacuum processed, that's probably enough waterproofing right there. As long as its UV safe that's enough? I found this local site, might explain what I'm on about...

http://www.topstage.com/composite-fabrication/

[0836whimper]

Unlacquered means a raw carbon finish. The diffusers and flippers seem to arrive like that now, not sure about the roof.

Personally I'd get a pro to lacquer/clear coat anything, I have never done it before. Wouldn't fancy doing a whole roof either...

[0-60Motorsports]

If its un lacquered I'm not interested in the headache of clear coating it etc

[Obioban]

I don't think it's like that for BMW parts. I think some more niche parts (like CSL bits) show up as NLA in the system when they run out but it doesn't mean they won't be made again. Just depends on demand.

Flippers were supposedly NLA, but then got some first time of asking.
The roof is available again, albeit unlacquered, like the flippers. (That's alot of lacquering required for the roof !)
And I am pretty sure plaques are still being produced.

So my advice would be not to assume that once stocks deplete that's it.

What does being unlacquered mean, exactly? And... how would one lacquer it?

[portlandgrey]

If anyones in need, it looks like CA have managed to get hold of some:

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1067518#post1067518

£500 seems a bit cheap?

They also had a load of CSL bootlids for sale:

http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=74772

So much for needing a chassis number to get hold of the parts.

[0836whimper]

Need to pin down a BMW suit whilst we are in Munchen and make them clarify policy. Or we won't move our cars off the drive :snakeman:

[0836whimper]

I don't think it's like that for BMW parts. I think some more niche parts (like CSL bits) show up as NLA in the system when they run out but it doesn't mean they won't be made again. Just depends on demand.

Flippers were supposedly NLA, but then got some first time of asking.
The roof is available again, albeit unlacquered, like the flippers. (That's alot of lacquering required for the roof !)
And I am pretty sure plaques are still being produced.

So my advice would be not to assume that once stocks deplete that's it.

[Mike R]

Sadly in the UK it is only a requirement to retain spares for 7 years after a model has ceased production. Ford are particularly bad at this and in recent years have discontinued manufacturing parts on small volume models almost immediately that the 7 years is up .

[Loaded]

My brother was telling me yesterday that BMW (and others in EU) has a legal obligation to supply parts for 40 years from the production date of the car.
I will have a definitive answer in a few days, but again, I would be very surprised if you cannot have the roof even if it means to wait for 3,6,8 months.

As a side note, you can order pretty much anything for the E12 and E21.
Why not all parts for a special and quite expensive E46 ?

You catch me! I have a friend that he recently ordered a full Sport Evo body work for his M3 E30 (bigger front wings, real flap, front splitter, red seat belts etc) all OEM and of course for a lot of money BUT there are still available.!! Parts which were produced 21 years ago..!!!

[Obioban]

In what sense ?

Well, they just changed the OE CSL rear diffuser situation. They now come unpainted and are cheaper than before.

Gave me some slight optimism that maybe the roof wasn't discontinued so much as being moved to a different style of production.