Slonik (Slon) Carbon Fiber CSL Trunk Review

[bmwfnatic]

Can anyone that has a OEM CSL, Karbonious or Slonik trunk post pictures of body line near the back glass?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here is my OE CSL, perfect fitment, can snap some other angles later, if needed.

[pawa_k2001]

Thank you guys. If I can't have that fitment with a carbon trunk of whichever company, I don't want a carbon trunk. Does anyone have anymore pictures from their personal car of a Karbonious trunk?

[Slonik]

wow, 3 pages.
not a very pleasant situation, i know.
after first pics from Pavel, and his messages about fitment issues, from my side, i had an idea to make some guide for him. and when we started our "tryings" in our workshop to make some guide (video), how to adjust it with the best results...
easier to say, that than the further we moved with this doings of the guide, than more clear i saw that i have no chances to change this situation. cause our carbon guy could fit the trunk like oem in 5 minutes in front of my eyes, and any other guys without such experience, if they have some issues and need to solve it have no chance to get even close even in 3 hours (i saw how it make it - its like playing on piano for him). cause too much things works really "wrong" for usual understanding, like you think that moving trunk backward gives you right result, and in reality it gives you absolutely opposite result etc.
and please, all "web experts", drop off all this bullshit about damaged mold. all trunks, each of OUR TRUNKS were test fitted on chassis in our workshop and they've shipped only if they fitted perfectly (and gap near glass also checked always!). trunk, which was made before this two, and trunk which was made after, were fitted fine on chassis, with correct gap on the glass. we know how long and how far our pieces usually ship, so much easier to make test fitment before packing the piece.

why oem csl trunk with the same shape could gives more easily achievable results - it has higher rigidity. i think its quite obviously, that an item which has x3 weight more, has more rigidity. not a 3 times more, but enough, to give that difference for ease of installation.

so even under different vector loads from hinges, lock etc (back force from the chassis, when it closed), it stays with the same shape. our trunks in this situation more gentle, if its correct to say in english, so they require more gentle setup - for example tuning of lock is quite important, and it gives the difference on the gap in the middle of the glass. far enough location point, but it works like that.

and of course, when they will arrive to us we will fit them again, and i'm ready to show the pics, or even better - to put the camera near chassis and record 5-10 minutes video of installation and final result, with showing gaps (i admit an option, that they were "damaged" during transportation, but i think chances quite low for that).

so, for the customer (Pavel) question closed already - he has on hands 2 trunks from us right now, and we are making money refund with shipping both them back.


ps btw, minimum two of our CSL trunks were sold to US, both guys had no questions about fitment/gaps and they were happy with result. who exactly did installation work - i don't know. but idea of that 80% of our trunks were sold with remote installation, not in our workshop and happy customers at the end, gives a thoughts, that installation is not so unreal, and that its possible not only by us.

[Slonik]

Short version: Don't buy a Slonik carbon trunk, fitment is completely off and communication is lacking.


I would like to preface, this is not my first transaction with Slonik, I bought his carbon E46 M3 strengthening wall. Even though I have yet to install the wall, quality looks good and during mockup it looks ok.

I had a decision to make between Karbonious and Slonik trunk and I went with Slonik just because of the 4lbs weight savings. I spoke with Slonik about fitment and was guaranteed perfect fitment (his quote)"our trunk fits fully the same as OEM CSL. we are crazy on gaps, smoothing surfacing etc". The order for the trunk was placed on Black Friday 2021, shipped 01-14-2022 and arrived 01-27-2022(I knew it would take time to produce the trunk so no issues).

When the trunk came in, I knew there would be an issue even before I opened the box, I could hear the trunk rattle around in the box. When I opened the box, I found a trunk that was wrapped in gift wrap style paper, it would easily move 6-8" from one side of the box to the other. I found a chipped corner and later after more inspection found that the chipped corner actually had a crack on the other side so carbon was broken. I contacted Slonik and we came to a decision that he would produce and ship a 2nd trunk which was shipped 04-01-2022 and arrived 05-12-2022, 2nd trunk came very well packaged.

And the problems begin..

I packaged the first trunk since Slonik wanted it back but before it was picked up, I test fitted the 2nd trunk and found that the fitment was complete garbage. The trunk would not follow the body line of the glass(it actually touched the glass in the middle) and also did not follow the body line at the bottom(near bumper). It seemed like both sides were flat and just did not have enough curve to them. I contacted Slonik and his response what, "Fucking stretch film", basically the stretch film used to package the trunk must have deformed it during shipping.(his words that stretch film did the damage, I don't buy it, 1st trunk didn't have stretch film)

Slonik asked me to unpackage the 1st trunk and test fit it, I did so and found that it had the same problem. Now I received a message stating that I didn't know how to adjust the trunk properly and that he would send me pictures or video to show me how to do, instructions never showed up. Just to be clear, I know perfectly well how to adjust the trunk and its 4 screws properly, I tried using the bumpstops(2 rubber grommets at the bottom) to help with adjustment but it is impossible to adjust a body line that does not fit. I sent pictures of a real OEM CSL trunk that is on my brother's car and showed him how perfect the body lines are on it, I am the one that installed that trunk. I reinstalled my OEM trunk and sent him body line pictures of that, also perfect.

I am becoming very frustrated, I spent over $2k on a CSL trunk that promised to fit perfectly, I had a OEM CSL trunk to compare it to and it was nowhere near perfect. On 06-20-2022 I received a message from Slonik that again he will send me instructions how to adjust the trunk, I waited until 07-06-2022, no instructions or communication. I sent him a message on 07-06-2022 telling him that I have yet to receive any messages and I was fed up with this transaction, I wanted a refund and he could have his trunks back. And again, no reply, so on 07-14-2022 I called my credit card company and opened a chargeback. After I opened the chargeback(my brother also sent him an Instagram message that day), I received a reply(on 07-14-2022). Slonik wanted both trunks back and when they arrived in Russia without any damage, he would refund me my money, I completely disagreed since I will not be stuck without a trunk and no money, nor am I liable for shipping damage. I told Slonik I can package both trunks to the best of my ability and he can provide me with a label.

On 07-25-2022 Slonik sent me a message stating that the credit card company has done a chargeback on his account and he wants his trunks back, I sent him a message with pictures of packaged trunks, dimensions and weight.

This case is still not resolved, my credit card company is waiting for his reply.

Slonik Carbon CSL trunk fitment issues.









OEM CSL trunk fitment.




OEM trunk fitment.

just to clarify - long delay answers in most cases were due to my rare visit to this forum (we are messaging in private message here), and not to ignore you, or not to throw you with two trunks, when you paid for one only . sometimes answers from you were also with some delay in a week or so, so i dont see in this situation any issues. and like you correctly noticed - right after your brother wrote me in insta DM, i've checked your message on the forum and gives an answer.
most of our customers contacts via DM of insta last months, and here on the forum i had private messaging with you only, for the last few months.

another one moment, which i think grown due to your misunderstandings - all my worries about both trunks condition & refund, weren't about damaging due to transportation back (and your responsibility for it), but from their condition BEFORE you pack them. like we both know, you had this two expensive pieces (and for me they are also expensive = cause we spent a lot of work on them) for a long time in your garage and i could only guess how you store them during all this time.
so why my second option was to ask you detailed pics before packing of both trunks from the all sides, to see that they are still in the same shape, like you received them. same about packaging - i could only guess how correctly you will do this moment, so why pics of packaging close all questions.

our transportation guys from NY will deliver them gently to moscow, its not a problem, cause we have a contact with them. and of course i have no questions to you for possible issues during delivery.
and please, answer to my assistant about delivery pick up, he had no answers from you (via text messages).

[old///MFanatic]

not a very pleasant situation, i know.
i had an idea to make some guide for him. and when we started our "tryings" in our workshop to make some guide (video), how to adjust it with the best results...
easier to say, that than the further we moved with this doings of the guide, than more clear i saw that i have no chances to change this situation.

I have a Genuine CSL trunk so don’t have a horse in this race. But reading your post this is what I see as mistakes in this situation.
You agree he was expecting a guide You promised and you just gave up never gave him as he waited. That’s bad customer service.

we know how long and how far our pieces usually ship, so much easier to make test fitment before packing the piece.

You say this and yet you packaged the first one like a $20 eBay sale from China with damaged goods arriving. That’s bad business practice. He had to wait for a whole new one to be delivered months later cheaply shipped, not even expedited? That’s bad customer service.

why oem csl trunk with the same shape could gives more easily achievable results - it has higher rigidity. i think its quite obviously, that an item which has x3 weight more, has more rigidity. not a 3 times more, but enough, to give that difference for ease of installation. so even under different vector loads from hinges, lock etc (back force from the chassis, when it closed), it stays with the same shape. our trunks in this situation more gentle, so they require more gentle setup.

So you admit that in your quest to make it lighter (than other companies) you have sacrificed structural integrity.
That’s a design issue. And thus a product issue.
And no, you know just because something is heavier does not mean it’ll be stronger or have a higher structural rigidity. That’s not a customers assumption of risk. Comparing to OE CSL they are two different materials. And speaking (only for myself) if these are suppose to look and fit as close to Genuine BMW CSL then expectation is not to have flexing when installed/used. Especially when many will want to paint like Genuine CSL and not incur stress fractures. Seen plenty of that with cheap China made CF trunks coming through the shop.
Just my humble (maybe even incorrect) observations being on the outside reading this thread.

[Tbonem3]

it being made of a different material and thus needing more gentle adjustment is not a product development issue. It's the nature of the beast.

I'm not passing judgment on anything else with this post. I know how hard it is to adjust a lightweight rep and oe csl boot well.

[Slonik]

I have a Genuine CSL trunk so don’t have a horse in this race. But reading your post this is what I see as mistakes in this situation.
You agree he was expecting a guide You promised and you just gave up never gave him as he waited. That’s bad customer service.

You say this and yet you packaged the first one like a $20 eBay sale from China with damaged goods arriving. That’s bad business practice. He had to wait for a whole new one to be delivered months later cheaply shipped, not even expedited? That’s bad customer service.

So you admit that in your quest to make it lighter (than other companies) you have sacrificed structural integrity.
That’s a design issue. And thus a product issue.
And no, you know just because something is heavier does not mean it’ll be stronger or have a higher structural rigidity. That’s not a customers assumption of risk. Comparing to OE CSL they are two different materials. And speaking (only for myself) if these are suppose to look and fit as close to Genuine BMW CSL then expectation is not to have flexing when installed/used. Especially when many will want to paint like Genuine CSL and not incur stress fractures. Seen plenty of that with cheap China made CF trunks coming through the shop.
Just my humble (maybe even incorrect) observations being on the outside reading this thread.

i see only one way to continue our conversation - stop posting prejudiced.
We have started to make carbon fiber items ourself not with idea "lets to earn money", but with idea that we have NO options to buy quality carbon fiber pieces for ANY money. cause on the market really no quality options.
quality level - very subjective thing. and for me as a reference we can use oem bmw quality (i'm about carbon fiber pieces).

quality for me - which you can fit correctly with good gaps, with perfect flatness surfaces, with a tens of others carbon fiber specified factors, like absence of epoxy lenses, spot holes etc.

lets back to the case - we've worked on the guide for 2 working days in sum (in calendar - 2+ weeks). we stopped doing it when customer asked for refund option. its a stupid situation to continue tries when the customer has TWO trunks on hands and both "didnt fit".
for me it looks like best way to exit from this situation, for both sides when we have two trunks built, two shipments via half of the world and back, than continue to lean like a bull, proving that it can be fitted right, and finally get the same result (with shipping back), but after all of that.
customer unhappy and he doesn't want to continue, and i understand him from a customer position, so why i offered him a refund first time when he received first one with broken edge.

You say this and yet you packaged the first one like a $20 eBay sale from China with damaged goods arriving.

pack for the trunk takes almost a DAY of work (one person).
was it made with mistake or not, it was a DAY. Packaging was not done poorly in order to save time / money, but with mistake of my assistant. second trunk was packed by our mechanic.
its a second thing, you need to understand, when you trying to attacking us. we are a small team (10 people) and we are doing wide range of work - building cars from the empty chassis with deep mods, cnc mill custom parts production, carbon fiber parts production.
so we have no separate guy for packaging, we have no expensive equipment, which reduce package cost in a times, and makes shipping easier and safer which is logical and makes sense when you ship those pieces of tens every month. we have no such flow, we are working on every piece separately (so why i'm sure about each).
and even in this situation, i've started to think about purchasing those expensive equipment, to get best quality in package also.

That’s bad business practice. He had to wait for a whole new one to be delivered months later cheaply shipped, not even expedited

i really love people, who spread the bullshit which they dont know anything, but they are sure that its true.
we are using EMS shipping method, its the different name of USPS Priority in US. We have no other methods to ship from russia.
half year ago we had options (theoretically) for a smaller pieces, like our carbon fiber walls or basic brakes kits. why are they theoretically only? cause for the wall (10 pounds) ups/tnt/dhl offered 800$ shipping cost, and for the box with 2 front calipers (15x15 inches and 24 pounds weight) - 1400$. and they said that they will ship with only full cost and mandatory payment of customs duties.
do i need to explain, that it doesn't a way?
and finally, after 24 of february they all gone away, except EMS.
btw, all last shipments during last 2 months went to US for 7-14 days, with no difference of size.

So you admit that in your quest to make it lighter (than other companies) you have sacrificed structural integrity.
That’s a design issue. And thus a product issue.

very interesting, where in my comparison with OEM csl trunk you saw other companies. our trunk more rigid than karbonius, which people add to this topic previously, and than almost any other aftermarket, even with double weight. my comparison was with OEM csl trunk only, which is STEEL inside.

check pics of our trunks fitment in insta. they are ALL were installed with oem available adjustments, no other cheats.
i only trying to say, that factory csl trunk could needed less adjustments usage, than our, due to a higher rigidity, so why you have more chances for lucky install, if you are not expert.
same time, if its possible to fit our trunk with using oem adjustments possibilities, why its bad?

[pawa_k2001]

1: not to throw you with two trunks, when you paid for one only .

2: which i think grown due to your misunderstandings - all my worries about both trunks condition & refund, weren't about damaging due to transportation back (and your responsibility for it), but from their condition BEFORE you pack them.

3: our transportation guys from NY will deliver them gently to moscow, its not a problem, cause we have a contact with them. and of course i have no questions to you for possible issues during delivery.
and please, answer to my assistant about delivery pick up, he had no answers from you (via text messages).

4: (from post #37): we've worked on the guide for 2 working days in sum (in calendar - 2+ weeks). we stopped doing it when customer asked for refund option.

1: You didn't give me 2 trunks, you ship a replacement for a damaged trunk and you wanted me to use the packaging of the 2nd trunk to return the 1st. I packaged the 1st trunk and there is proof in our messages on this forum, you asked me to unpackage it to test it after the replacement didn't fit. You said replacement didn't fit because stretch film flattened the trunk. This all is from our messages that I can screenshot and post.

2: Also from our messages, you stated, "right after we get them, i'm ready to make full refund without any shipping/delivery costs from you. i expect to receive them in a view, like you got them from us - one with broken edge and one in fine new condition". I took that as, "you are responsible for making sure they don't get damaged, it wasn't my miscommunication. Also in the messages between myself and you are pictures of each trunk and multiple hours of work that I put in to package the trunks securely in "ying-yang" as you requested.

3: I can send you screenshot of my phone and screenshots of this forum messanger, nobody every contacted me regarding details and return label of returning the trunks. I sent you pictures of them packaged on 07/27/2022 and I have not heard back from you nor anyone you work with since. Last time that someone contacted me about a return label is when I packaged the first trunk on 05-16-2022 and you then asked me to unpackage it so I can test fit it.

4: You told me on 06-11-2022 that you would have your guys make a video of how to adjust the trunk. You told me again on 06-20-2022 that you will have your guys make a video. I waited until 07-06-2022, there was no answer, no messages, nothing. I sent a message on 07-06-2022 stating, "I am looking to either get a full refund or a trunk that fits correctly." I preferred a refund since I lost confidence that 3rd trunk would fit. Between your 1st message about providing me with adjustment video/info, almost 4 weeks past until I sent you a message on 07-06-2022. If you would have sent me a message, I would have tried everything and if the trunk would fit, I would never start this thread.

Edit: This is the first and last time this "Alex" contacted me about return label. And on the next day,(06-07-2022) you sent me a message asking me to unpackage the trunk and test fit the damaged trunk. I can screenshot that from messanger.

Edit: Per Sloniks request, Alex's phone number has been deleted.

[usdmej]

our trunk more rigid than karbonius, which people add to this topic previously, and than almost any other aftermarket, even with double weight. my comparison was with OEM csl trunk only, which is STEEL inside.

a little OT but interesting if true, the CSL trunk was always advertised as made from sheet molding compound, are you saying it's steel reinforced?

[Slonik]

1: You didn't give me 2 trunks, you ship a replacement for a damaged trunk and you wanted me to use the packaging of the 2nd trunk to return the 1st. I packaged the 1st trunk and there is proof in our messages on this forum, you asked me to unpackage it to test it after the replacement didn't fit. You said replacement didn't fit because stretch film flattened the trunk. This all is from our messages that I can screenshot and post.

you dont have two trunks right now on hands?
stretch film was one of the version of your issue. when you installed first one and got almost the same results - I got doubts about possible damage. easier to leave this moment till we get them back. for sure we will check both of them.

Edit: This is the first and last time this "Alex" contacted me about return label. And on the next day,(06-07-2022) you sent me a message asking me to unpackage the trunk and test fit the damaged trunk. I can screenshot that from messanger.

no answer from you to his message. so when i've asked him again to contact with you, he said that he didnt get an answer from you yet.

man, first of all, i think its not a great idea to post phone number of a third person in web.
second thing, i've asked third person to help with organizing delivery from you to NY address, cause you said that you can not make it ("due to new law and taxes for payment" from me to compensate shipping cost?).

okay, i've found third person, who was ready to organize courier pick up from you. he wrote you and you didnt answer.

and even today, you've writing here on forum, but still didn't contact with him.

he is not a "slon-workshop guy", he is simply ready to help me to solve some doings on US territory. and this is not my idea to ask third person about organizing pick up - you said that you couldnt make shipping, even if i pay for it.

please, contact with him, as i ask earlier already, and i hope we will move from the dead point in this case.

[pawa_k2001]

you dont have two trunks right now on hands?
stretch film was one of the version of your issue. when you installed first one and got almost the same results - I got doubts about possible damage. easier to leave this moment till we get them back. for sure we will check both of them.


no answer from you to his message. so when i've asked him again to contact with you, he said that he didnt get an answer from you yet.

man, first of all, i think its not a great idea to post phone number of a third person in web.
second thing, i've asked third person to help with organizing delivery from you to NY address, cause you said that you can not make it ("due to new law and taxes for payment" from me to compensate shipping cost?).

okay, i've found third person, who was ready to organize courier pick up from you. he wrote you and you didnt answer.

and even today, you've writing here on forum, but still didn't contact with him.

he is not a "slon-workshop guy", he is simply ready to help me to solve some doings on US territory. and this is not my idea to ask third person about organizing pick up - you said that you couldnt make shipping, even if i pay for it.

please, contact with him, as i ask earlier already, and i hope we will move from the dead point in this case.

I have 2 trunks because you asked me to open the 2nd trunk that I already packaged just so I can test fit it. You and I both know I was never keeping the 2nd trunk, it was going back to you so stop trying to sell it as, "you got 1 trunk for the price of 2" it's a load of horseshit.

I didn't answer Alex since the next day you asked me to open the trunk that was supposed to be shipped back to you. What was the point of responding when I no longer needed a label since you wanted me to unpackage the trunk that I spent hours packaging. And even today, nobody contacted me to provide a label, I received a message from you to contact Alex. Alex has my phone number if he wants to contact me, you have my address since I previously sent it to you, you have package dimensions, package weight and pictures of each trunk plus how there were packaged. You think other customers would spend so much time trying to package trunks properly even when the vendor doesn't know how to do business and when customer has to spend hours starting a credit card charge back claim?

And yes, there is a law in USA that if you receive payments over $600 for the whole year via PayPal or other cash app, you will receive a 1099 which carrier tax liabilities.

[lvm3sm46]

Slonik maybe offer the good condition trunk for sale to someone in the states to avoid the shipping costs back to Russia.

[0-60motorsports]

I have 2 trunks because you asked me to open the 2nd trunk that I already packaged just so I can test fit it. You and I both know I was never keeping the 2nd trunk, it was going back to you so stop trying to sell it as, "you got 1 trunk for the price of 2" it's a load of horseshit.

I didn't answer Alex since the next day you asked me to open the trunk that was supposed to be shipped back to you. What was the point of responding when I no longer needed a label since you wanted me to unpackage the trunk that I spent hours packaging. And even today, nobody contacted me to provide a label, I received a message from you to contact Alex. Alex has my phone number if he wants to contact me, you have my address since I previously sent it to you, you have package dimensions, package weight and pictures of each trunk plus how there were packaged. You think other customers would spend so much time trying to package trunks properly even when the vendor doesn't know how to do business and when customer has to spend hours starting a credit card charge back claim?

And yes, there is a law in USA that if you receive payments over $600 for the whole year via PayPal or other cash app, you will receive a 1099 which carrier tax liabilities.

Bro just contact that shipping guy. It will cost you nothing to text him. Get these trunks out of your life. Simple.

[bigjae46]

wow, 3 pages.
not a very pleasant situation, i know.
after first pics from Pavel, and his messages about fitment issues, from my side, i had an idea to make some guide for him. and when we started our "tryings" in our workshop to make some guide (video), how to adjust it with the best results...
easier to say, that than the further we moved with this doings of the guide, than more clear i saw that i have no chances to change this situation. cause our carbon guy could fit the trunk like oem in 5 minutes in front of my eyes, and any other guys without such experience, if they have some issues and need to solve it have no chance to get even close even in 3 hours (i saw how it make it - its like playing on piano for him). cause too much things works really "wrong" for usual understanding, like you think that moving trunk backward gives you right result, and in reality it gives you absolutely opposite result etc.
and please, all "web experts", drop off all this bullshit about damaged mold. all trunks, each of OUR TRUNKS were test fitted on chassis in our workshop and they've shipped only if they fitted perfectly (and gap near glass also checked always!). trunk, which was made before this two, and trunk which was made after, were fitted fine on chassis, with correct gap on the glass. we know how long and how far our pieces usually ship, so much easier to make test fitment before packing the piece.

why oem csl trunk with the same shape could gives more easily achievable results - it has higher rigidity. i think its quite obviously, that an item which has x3 weight more, has more rigidity. not a 3 times more, but enough, to give that difference for ease of installation.

so even under different vector loads from hinges, lock etc (back force from the chassis, when it closed), it stays with the same shape. our trunks in this situation more gentle, if its correct to say in english, so they require more gentle setup - for example tuning of lock is quite important, and it gives the difference on the gap in the middle of the glass. far enough location point, but it works like that.

and of course, when they will arrive to us we will fit them again, and i'm ready to show the pics, or even better - to put the camera near chassis and record 5-10 minutes video of installation and final result, with showing gaps (i admit an option, that they were "damaged" during transportation, but i think chances quite low for that).

so, for the customer (Pavel) question closed already - he has on hands 2 trunks from us right now, and we are making money refund with shipping both them back.


ps btw, minimum two of our CSL trunks were sold to US, both guys had no questions about fitment/gaps and they were happy with result. who exactly did installation work - i don't know. but idea of that 80% of our trunks were sold with remote installation, not in our workshop and happy customers at the end, gives a thoughts, that installation is not so unreal, and that its possible not only by us.

But yes, molds are a tool and they wear. It is possible for a long flat span to shrink or sag as usage increases in composite molds. So before oyu get your panties in a bunch, just pointing that out as a possibility.

Just a thought...before you kick in the door with the flame thrower, I'd make sure you have the situation rectified so you can back up this statement. Looks to me so far the trunk still doesn't fit well and you says he got 2 for 1 and he says he got 1 for 1.

As with any aftermarket part (incl carbon) they can be a pain to make fitment 100% and maybe impossible. So the buyer may want to enlist the services of a pro.

[9kracing]

Carbon Fiber parts are always sketchy on fitment. I've seen guys spend thousands on "top of the line" parts and had them fit the same as Seibon. Sometimes you get lucky and fitment is spot on first try, sometimes you need to massage them to get fitment correct.

I'm amazed that this thread was created.

Do you honestly believe these guys are just selling parts without test fitting them on a car first?

Perhaps your M3 isn't as straight as you think it is.