Karbonius CF M3 E46 Strut Brace!

[timmo]

Wow, 100% complete design rip off of BMW's own bar from their BMW PERFORMANCE line. To use the words "create" and "design" in this copy is taking a bit of liberties with those words.
It's a very good copy in photos, but presenting it like it's you own design is kind of textbook definition of plagiarism.

*Since BMW no longer carries this it may be the reason it's able to be made? Otherwise BMW is well know for legal department taking action.

Yeah, it's a nice bar but there's no way they could've replicated the BMWP design that closely without employing the use of 3D scanning of the OG bar.

Edit: Speaking of which, someone should start getting BMW Performance vinyl decals printed. Then whoever buys this bar can put the decal on, and no one would ever know!

[Obioban]

I mean… why get mad about this but not the CSL airbox?
(which Bmw does still sell)

[heinzboehmer]

Wow, 100% complete design rip off of BMW's own bar from their BMW PERFORMANCE line. To use the words "create" and "design" in this copy is taking a bit of liberties with those words.
It's a very good copy in photos, but presenting it like it's you own design is kind of textbook definition of plagiarism.

*Since BMW no longer carries this it may be the reason it's able to be made? Otherwise BMW is well know for legal department taking action.

Karbonius is a Spanish company. If you read the spanish version of the site, it sounds a lot less like they're trying to pass it off as their own design. More like they're saying they used the BMW performance bar as a starting point to design and create their own version/copy/whatever you want to call it. I'm sure this is more of a translational hiccup than them trying to pass off the product as an original creation.

[WOLFN8TR]

Wow, 100% complete design rip off of BMW's own bar from their BMW PERFORMANCE line. To use the words "create" and "design" in this copy is taking a bit of liberties with those words.

It's a very good copy in photos, but presenting it like it's you own design is kind of textbook definition of plagiarism.

*Since BMW no longer carries this it may be the reason it's able to be made? Otherwise BMW is well know for legal department taking action.

I agree with Sina: "It's super sweet that a company with a proven eye for quality is still developing things for the platform".

Yeah, it's a nice bar but there's no way they could've replicated the BMWP design that closely without employing the use of 3D scanning of the OG bar.

BINGO! 👍

[jet_dogg]

Karbonius is a Spanish company. If you read the spanish version of the site, it sounds a lot less like they're trying to pass it off as their own design. More like they're saying they used the BMW performance bar as a starting point to design and create their own version/copy/whatever you want to call it. I'm sure this is more of a translational hiccup than them trying to pass off the product as an original creation.

That's exactly what it is, lost in translation.

Funny oldfanatic is getting upset at the bar and no mention of any other csl parts LOL!

[old///MFanatic]

Yeah, it's a nice bar but there's no way they could've replicated the BMWP design that closely without employing the use of 3D scanning of the OG bar.

Exactly my point. There was no "designing" here.

Maybe the wording didn't translate well, it should say “replicate“ instead of “create”.

[Toby22]

Looks great! I for one is just happy a company is still producing quality parts for our cars.

[usdmej]

Otherwise BMW is well know for legal department taking action.

automakers don't care if you copy their parts, only if you put their name on it

if this bar had a "bmw performance" decal on it there would be problems from the motherland

[Str8Six]

i'm liking that matte brace with the matte airbox, i'll have to add it to the list

[bjz!]

stock bar is the same 🤷🏻♂️

No, stock bar has more contact area than the m performance one, lol.

[NZ_M3]

So I got this in for a friend of mine and I happened to own the original also so thought I’d take some side by side photos and one mounted (after he said it was ok to do for photos)

it is slightly heavier compared to the genuine article but otherwise really well made to be honest.

I do believe the alloy part is going to be redone in a better finish in subsequent productions and the holes made better (currently they are slightly too small)

[WOLFN8TR]

Nice pictures Tom! 😎
Any chance you could weigh the two bars? Curious what the difference is between the two. Thanks….👍

[maupineda]

Does anyone in the Bay Area has one of this beautiful Karb braces that would let me do a test fit? I am almost certain it will fit but want to make sure before dropping 1K and then find a problem.