[Dav3]

Frowned upon by most and more miss than hit, but it’s cheap and for what really just boils down to cosmetic stuff that often doesn’t last (splitters), it definitely has an appeal, more so with their build quality improving over the years

So who has taken the risk and what are the results? Any pictures? Fitment issues?

[JABCAT]

I've purchased several interior pieces for my wife's X3MC & they were excellent quality & fitment. If I wanted cf exterior parts, I'd most likely try Aliexpress

[kudos]

You can generally tell which Chinese sellers are the ones producing for the typical resellers. I think these days it's worth just buying off AliExpress unless it's something custom you aren't going to find from a Chinese seller.

[M_Power Rob]

You wouldn't catch me dead shopping there...

[motorknut]

Originally Posted by Dav3

Frowned upon by most and more miss than hit, but it’s cheap and for what really just boils down to cosmetic stuff that often doesn’t last (splitters), it definitely has an appeal, more so with their build quality improving over the years

So who has taken the risk and what are the results? Any pictures? Fitment issues?

I have bought CF mirror covers for my last car - the fitment wasn’t good, and the clear coat quality was pretty bad. Weave started to warp after 2 years and my car is usually parked indoors.

The part was just an ABS shell with carbon weave overlay, and cost like 90 USD. Maybe some of the better suppliers could deliver good quality.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

You wouldn't catch me dead shopping there...

The funny part is, if you buy from any of the popular vendors here, it's the same product they're selling you. Where do you think IND gets their items? They just mark them up 400%.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

The funny part is, if you buy from any of the popular vendors here, it's the same product they're selling you. Where do you think IND gets their items? They just mark them up 400%.

You can’t be certain it’s the same product.

In a country with 1.4 billion people and 129 million businesses, the carbon fiber parts in question are all manufactured by one company?

It’s nothing but speculation.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by Carefree

You can’t be certain it’s the same product.

In a country with 1.4 billion people and 129 million businesses, the carbon fiber parts in question are all manufactured by one company?

It’s nothing but speculation.

Nothing anyone can say will change it. People can keep buying items that don't last and/or don't fit and claim but I only paid $3.78 plus shipping. Duh...

[kudos]

Let us say that the items are actually different from vendors and Chinese sellers. The price difference is so large that you're better off buying the cheaper CF parts, having them warp over time, and replacing them for the price you're getting. You'll still be ahead in $. Bonus is that over time they will only get cheaper as well.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by kudos

Let us say that the items are actually different from vendors and Chinese sellers. The price difference is so large that you're better off buying the cheaper CF parts, having them warp over time, and replacing them for the price you're getting. You'll still be ahead in $. Bonus is that over time they will only get cheaper as well.

Perhaps but unlikely.

I purchased carbon fiber mirror caps for my wife’s new 2019 M240i from what you might deem a “higher” price vendor. To this minute the finish is untarnished, without warping, and the fitment was at OEM tolerance from the onset and still perfect. We needn’t worry about replacing and have enjoyed the superior quality for 5 years running.

More often than not “you get what you pay for”.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Carefree

Perhaps but unlikely.

I purchased carbon fiber mirror caps for my wife’s new 2019 M240i from what you might deem a “higher” price vendor. To this minute the finish is untarnished, without warping, and the fitment was at OEM tolerance from the onset and still perfect. We needn’t worry about replacing and have enjoyed the superior quality for 5 years running.

More often than not “you get what you pay for”.

But have you purchased the same part from a non-higher price vendor or are you just speculating that it's worse. None of these vendors manufacture these parts, they're all re-sellers. It's no different than buying an official NFL jersey from Alibaba or buying it from NFL.com, except you pay 10x the price on NFL.com. But whatever makes you think like you got a superior product.

Fwiw - the BMW M Performance front splitter for my 3-series I purchased from BMW for almost $700 didn't fit properly. Yet the $120 Chinese front splitter fit perfectly - go figure.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

But have you purchased the same part from a non-higher price vendor or are you just speculating that it's worse. None of these vendors manufacture these parts, they're all re-sellers. It's no different than buying an official NFL jersey from Alibaba or buying it from NFL.com, except you pay 10x the price on NFL.com. But whatever makes you think like you got a superior product.
Fwiw - the BMW M Performance front splitter for my 3-series I purchased from BMW for almost $700 didn't fit properly. Yet the $120 Chinese front splitter fit perfectly - go figure.

Yawn…….
Your “same manufacturer of carbon parts” shtick is wearing thin.
We don’t agree, leave it there.

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Carefree

Yawn…….
Your “same manufacturer of carbon parts” shtick is wearing thin.
We don’t agree, leave it there.

Prove it otherwise... Your "I pay more for the same stuff so I don't have to believe it's from China" shtick is pretty tired too. Just as much as your "I have zero experience with the less expensive parts but I know they're garbage" constantly.

The OP is asking specifically about parts from these two sites. You have no experience with them, so your opinion is irrelevant

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

Prove it otherwise... Your "I pay more for the same stuff so I don't have to believe it's from China" shtick is pretty tired too. Just as much as your "I have zero experience with the less expensive parts but I know they're garbage" constantly.

The OP is asking specifically about parts from these two sites. You have no experience with them, so your opinion is irrelevant

Actually the proof lies with you.
It’s your assertion in multiple discussions all the parts are from the same factory time and time again.
Did you read my post about the billions of people and millions of businesses? Apparently not. What are the chances more than one carbon fiber manufacturer exists? Think about that from Dallas to Austin. Do the math.
Yet you stick with the one source theory.
You can lead a horse to water………..
LOL
I’m out.
Good luck to you.

[Dav3]

Lot of replies!

I’ve bought a fair share from alibaba/AliExpress and while there typically are more than one producer for a specific item they’re not that many, going for the cheapest (for a reasonable amount) still gets you a good quality product.

It’s hit and miss on the very cheap stuff and it’s not always an absolutely oem perfect fit on the more expensive stuff, but the value proposition is there. China isn’t some backwards third world country anymore, they have plenty of test cars with the appropriate 3D scanning and autocad software/hardware.

What the Chinese typically skimp on is material quality, I’ve seen some cheap oem looking steering wheels snap. But on stuff like carbon fiber bits, which let’s be honest, is just extremely simple cosmetic items, imho it’s definitely worth to gamble on.

Unfortunately I don’t think a lot of people have actually tried it, so I guess I’ll be the test subject and order some carbon bits.

Just for reference, the M performance carbon wing is like 3500$, the alibaba one is under 500$ shipped. I genuinely can’t fathom how anyone would pay BMW prices
I might be wrong but I’m confident the alibaba clone is 98% as good

[NewToM]

Originally Posted by Dav3

Lot of replies!

I’ve bought a fair share from alibaba/AliExpress and while there typically are more than one producer for a specific item they’re not that many, going for the cheapest (for a reasonable amount) still gets you a good quality product.

It’s hit and miss on the very cheap stuff and it’s not always an absolutely oem perfect fit on the more expensive stuff, but the value proposition is there. China isn’t some backwards third world country anymore, they have plenty of test cars with the appropriate 3D scanning and autocad software/hardware.

What the Chinese typically skimp on is material quality, I’ve seen some cheap oem looking steering wheels snap. But on stuff like carbon fiber bits, which let’s be honest, is just extremely simple cosmetic items, imho it’s definitely worth to gamble on.

Unfortunately I don’t think a lot of people have actually tried it, so I guess I’ll be the test subject and order some carbon bits.

Just for reference, the M performance carbon wing is like 3500$, the alibaba one is under 500$ shipped. I genuinely can’t fathom how anyone would pay BMW prices
I might be wrong but I’m confident the alibaba clone is 98% as good

Interested in mirror caps and CSL grills. If you get either of those let me know quality. M Performance is extremely overpriced even compared to most aftermarket from my experience. They want nearly Alpha-N prices for hideous shit.

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by NewToM

Interested in mirror caps and CSL grills. If you get either of those let me know quality. M Performance is extremely overpriced even compared to most aftermarket from my experience. They want nearly Alpha-N prices for hideous shit.

Include RW Carbon in your search. I have their mirror caps and splitter on my G87 and mirror caps on one of our M240i.

Extremely pleased with price and quality.

Good luck.

Footnote- I ordered the ZC9 carbon fiber spoiler on my G87 build for $775. Price very reasonable for an M Performance part IMO. As you said, some of the prices are bat shit crazy. Well, I said that not you.

[Dav3]

Originally Posted by NewToM

Interested in mirror caps and CSL grills. If you get either of those let me know quality. M Performance is extremely overpriced even compared to most aftermarket from my experience. They want nearly Alpha-N prices for hideous shit.

I’m very confident any Chinese carbon mirror cap will be good fitment and good finish, recently bought and installed a set for an F21 and it felt oem, I think it’s one of the easier things to copy

Sure, it’s cheaper because it’s technically a molded piece of FRP with a layer of carbon fiber and epoxy.. but it looked and felt identical to the real stuff

[MADBMWX5MC]

Originally Posted by M_Power Rob

You wouldn't catch me dead shopping there...

My sentiments exactly.

[x622]

All it requires is that you do proper due diligence on your order. Have them take videos and prove fitment with a timestamp and your name on a piece of paper. Worried that that sick wing might not fit? Make them prove fitment with a timestamped video.

I've ordered countless things from China, ranging from CF parts, exhaust, wheels, all the way up to transmission voltage transformers, switchgear, fan motors, fan assemblies etc.

Just depends how far you're willing to go. Most companies in the US just find a vendor in China who doesn't make garbage, slap their label on it and mark it up 3-400%. Look at IND. Look at BC Forged etc etc etc etc.

That being said, lots of garbage out there, so DO YOUR OWN DUE DILIGENCE

[jessejericho]

Originally Posted by Carefree

Include RW Carbon in your search. I have their mirror caps and splitter on my G87 and mirror caps on one of our M240i.

Extremely pleased with price and quality.

Do you think this product is a re-labeled RW Carbon piece, a replica of the RW Carbon piece, or... RW Carbon buys from these guys and sells them as their own?

It looks identical down to the weave pattern. I suppose it could be a replica but it is much more likely that this is RW's source. Nothing wrong with that, but it is highly likely that at least half of the carbon fiber stuff we buy comes from a very small number of carbon fiber factories in China (much like forged wheels, electronic parts, etc).

[Carefree]

Originally Posted by jessejericho

Do you think this product is a re-labeled RW Carbon piece, a replica of the RW Carbon piece, or... RW Carbon buys from these guys and sells them as their own?

It looks identical down to the weave pattern. I suppose it could be a replica but it is much more likely that this is RW's source. Nothing wrong with that, but it is highly likely that at least half of the carbon fiber stuff we buy comes from a very small number of carbon fiber factories in China (much like forged wheels, electronic parts, etc).

I don’t know.

Neither do you.
Your “highly likely” and “much more likely” comments are pure supposition. Nothing more.

But I wouldn’t buy paper clips from that outfit. My position, as with many other owners here, is quite clear.

Good luck to you.