Slonik (Slon) Carbon Fiber CSL Trunk Review

[pawa_k2001]

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.

If it was made clear to me at the beginning that fitment is not guaranteed, I would have never bought the trunk. I told Slonik specifically, I am looking for perfect fitment and I have access to OEM CSL trunk to compare to.

This is a direct quote from Sloniks responds to me via messanger when I was ordering the trunk, "our trunk fits fully the same as OEM CSL. we are crazy on gaps".

Btw, when the issue with fitment arose, I asked Slonik if maybe they had an old mold that went bad, he said that was impossible.

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.

Mindboggling.. Maybe the never-changed rear OEM glass is a different shape than every other M3 out there, custom. /sarcasm "Aftermarket part doesn't fit, maybe your M3 is bent." lol

I ordered a Karbonious carbon trunk and will update with fitment when it comes in.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received a return label, package was dropped off at UPS.

[jet_dogg]

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.

What top of the line parts are you talking about?

I have a feeling this thread will end like many amazon reviews, "got y product, way better than x, don't buy x".

[9kracing]

What top of the line parts are you talking about?

Spoon Sports comes to mind

J's racing

Vorsteiner

You know, the companies that get copied by china factories for half the cost

[jet_dogg]

Spoon Sports comes to mind

J's racing

Vorsteiner

You know, the companies that get copied by china factories for half the cost

Spoon is definitely a massive ripoff I'd never buy anything from. Vorsteiner is like the skechers of carbon fiber.

[tlow98]

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.

completely agree. All bets are off with any body panels that aren’t OE.

[usdmej]

Spoon Sports comes to mind

J's racing

Vorsteiner

Spoon products that were made by leveraging their manufacturing relationships with Honda are how they built their reputation, they're not really known for perfect fitting body parts and im pretty sure those their aero is China sourced. same for J's racing and Vorsteiner, unique designs yea, but the expectation is good enough fitment.


there's a factory in Japan that a lot of the ultra high end tuners contract for aero parts though. I believe ASM and Mugen source their aero production from them and they consistently produce reference grade parts.

[01SG]

Regardless of any inherent problems with carbon fiber, the manufacturer promised a perfect fit.

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.

[Tbonem3]

It's actually not out of the realm of possibility that your car isn't that straight at this point in time. Try fitting rogue engineering rear strut brace that was designed on a very young car now, 20 years later, & you'll find it's a bear to install on our cars.

I have a similar, though slightly better, opinion of this situation than the streamline one about 4 years ago on m3forum - you guys are buying aftermarket body parts from east europe/russia and then getting upset with language barrier, shipping times/costs, not-perfect fitment? Streamline's customer service was even worse, but you have to understand this is not some big company here in America that buys plastic junk from China and can send you another free of charge if you complain so as to placate you, and it barely costs them anything.

The old advice is still the best, buy OE if you have these standards.

[Tbonem3]

Regardless of any inherent problems with carbon fiber, the manufacturer promised a perfect fit.

No offense, but it's a ridiculous claim and ridiculous to believe it. Newer OE boots aren't even perfect like the original equipment on true CSLs.

[pawa_k2001]

It's actually not out of the realm of possibility that your car isn't that straight at this point in time. Try fitting rogue engineering rear strut brace that was designed on a very young car now, 20 years later, & you'll find it's a bear to install on our cars.

I have a similar, though slightly better, opinion of this situation than the streamline one about 4 years ago on m3forum - you guys are buying aftermarket body parts from east europe/russia and then getting upset with language barrier, shipping times/costs, not-perfect fitment? Streamline's customer service was even worse, but you have to understand this is not some big company here in America that buys plastic junk from China and can send you another free of charge if you complain so as to placate you, and it barely costs them anything.

The old advice is still the best, buy OE if you have these standards.

I didn't have problems with shipping cost nor shipping time. I actually supported Slonik by buying 2 carbon walls from him, I thought a new quality company entered the E46 M3 market which is why I spent the $2k for their carbon trunk, not Karbonious even though Karbonious is known as the top dog in our market for carbon parts. I also like Karbonious and their CSL box looks amazing under my hood.

I reached out to Slonik after my carbon wall order and asked specifically if their carbon trunk is on par with OEM CSL trunk, I do have a OEM CSL trunk to compare to. I was sold on his words of how detailed they are and how they are perfectionists, if someone promises you perfection but then tells you, "what do you expect, its a carbon part", it is not right. Btw, I don't have a language barrier with Slonik, half the reason I bought their parts was also their conversation on Instagram with my brother and their promise of how perfect everything they do is.

I waited almost 4 weeks for instructions to help me with install if they thought I didn't know what I was doing. I have plenty things I rather do, like drink, mountain bike, drive my car, travel, etc, I wasn't looking forward to spending hours packaging, hours dealing with my bank, hours typing. I rather install my trunk and head out to enjoy a weekend.

If it makes any difference, my M3 isn't some ragged out example, its a 2002 slicktop with 63k miles. What I don't understand is when Streamline and others tried to build carbon bumpers and panel gap wasn't just right everyone exploded, now it seems like people are willing to pay decent money and close their eyes to imperfections.

[usdmej]

if someone promises you perfection but then tells you, "what do you expect, its a carbon part", it is not right.

that right there is the crux of this issue

the trunk(s) they sent are not even "good enough" fitment

i personally want Slon to be in the right here, because they are one of the few companies developing new and innovative parts for our platform, and i personally want to buy product from them, but that is really gonna be decided by the outcome of this situation

[pawa_k2001]

that right there is the crux of this issue

the trunk(s) they sent are not even "good enough" fitment

i personally want Slon to be in the right here, because they are one of the few companies developing new and innovative parts for our platform, and i personally want to buy product from them, but that is really gonna be decided by the outcome of this situation

I have no doubt that it will fit perfectly in their shop, this is the same reason I now take the Karbonious supplied pictures of panel gaps with a grain of salt. I want to see customer pictures since they are much more accurate representation of the fitment. So far 2 people posted OEM CSL trunk fitment, both look great, my brother has a OEM CSL trunk, it fits great. 1 Karbonious trunk was posted, fitment is good, not perfect but the person said his glass may have been installed improperly.

[old///MFanatic]

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?

Thread stated at the beginning it’s about “fitment is completely off and communication is lacking”
By going by what was posted communication by seller was also lacking at major crossroads.

I didn’t respond to owner of co in rebuttal as I could see it was not going to help. Excuses given were of a poor business model. Over two weeks for a tutorial that never was finished on how to adjust trunk. Excuse it was packaged poorly because he doesn’t have shipping equipment or trained a dedicated shipping staff. That’s 100% on company that admittedly ships delicate parts internationally.

Regardless, if I (as manufacturer of product) under impression it was correct. I would have told the buyer to get a cpl of quotes from body shops who know E46s for a “test fitment”. Agree on one and both sides work with it to see if it can professionally be fitted to standards without issues. If it can (buyer pays that bill). Only the trunk broken goes back. Now if the shop agrees it’s flawed and fits poorly then seller pays that bill and second undamaged one also goes back. That’s what I would have suggested prior to this loss in confidence in Slon by buyer.

But seeing what buyer has been put through that window seems closed and limit of frustration exceeded. Think we’ve all been through that so no judgment there.

[Slonik]

I didn’t respond to owner of co in rebuttal as I could see it was not going to help. Excuses given were of a poor business model. Over two weeks for a tutorial that never was finished on how to adjust trunk. Excuse it was packaged poorly because he doesn’t have shipping equipment or trained a dedicated shipping staff. That’s 100% on company that admittedly ships delicate parts internationally.

all in one trash.
we have made over 500 shipments all over the world. 100+ of them - quite large carbon fiber items.
this is the first time, when piece arrived damaged. for me its a quite good math, but even after this first time i was drew conclusions and we've removed those person from packaging.
but you trying to describe this in absolutely different way.

Regardless, if I (as manufacturer of product) under impression it was correct. I would have told the buyer to get a cpl of quotes from body shops who know E46s for a “test fitment”. Agree on one and both sides work with it to see if it can professionally be fitted to standards without issues. If it can (buyer pays that bill). Only the trunk broken goes back. Now if the shop agrees it’s flawed and fits poorly then seller pays that bill and second undamaged one also goes back. That’s what I would have suggested prior to this loss in confidence in Slon by buyer.

i don't like and don't prefer to prove something to someone, especially if i see that i have very low chances.
do i really need to discuss/rate of customer knowledge in body parts installation in conversation? i dont think, that its correct. do i really need to create ?teaching video? of installation tricks?

for me good argument would be to take a camera, press record and ask our guy to remove oem trunk from the chassis and fit one of those from the box, which would arrive back from US. if he get oem fitment in 5-10 minutes with oem available adjustments, i could rate it as a good item.
and that's all. customer without trunk at the end and unhappy? really sad situation. shit happens. good, that not often. did i planned/assume this? even on 0.001% no. did i made all possible, not to get it, in technical part of the work? - 100% for sure.
teachers, how to make business - i'm glad, that you all know how to make best carbon trunks and respond to the customers 24/7.

i don't know ANY of US body shops, to recommend even one of them, sorry.
but, the fact, that other customers have fitted our trunks in workshops and they are happy, gave a thoughts.

to be 100% sure we need to get trunks back. if we get them and see, that they are not fit as previously (when we tested them before shipping), so they are really were deformed during delivery. i will post info in both ways.


and finally, i really love how many examples of perfect customer's support people made here.

but, i'm a customer too, quite often, and for the years of different cars upgrades have quite huge experience.

can i ask, where to find out company with this perfect service, which you all describe? not those idealistic company from your imaginations, but in the real world.

where you get 24/7 answers on any forum, where all this issues solved like you said?
cause i have some absolutely opposite experience in 99% cases.

[pawa_k2001]

Slonik, you should get your trunks back in the condition you shipped to me. Each trunk is lightly shrinkwrapped in the length ways since you said shrink wrapping them the other way flattens the curve by glass. At the bottom there is materials protecting the first trunk, also I tried to pad the corners. Alot of your shipping peanuts were put into the box between the 1st and 2nd trunk so they don't hit each other. Since the box is meant for just 1 trunk(like you shipped it), it was a tight fit to get both trunk in "ying-yang" like you asked. The box is made from 1" foam(which you used to ship the trunk to me) so hopefully it protects everything inside, nothing inside moves and I shrank wrapped the box so it doesn't fall apart.