To Carbon or not to Carbon

[raptorduck]

So my R8 came with no carbon fiber bits. My side blade is body matching. I am leaning towards putting OEM carbon bits in the engine (5 pieces from what I can tell) and perhaps carbon side blades and door handles.

What do folks think of the carbon elements in R8's, particular folks who have them or added them?

[mngolfer]

I love my carbon fiber bits. engine, interior, side blades, spoiler.

[B-Fin]

I love the CF on the R8. I have the OEM CF sideblade, interior, and engine compartment. In my opinion, the CF sideblade has the most impact out of all things carbon on the car. Then it's a tie for me between the engine compartment and interior.

[NVRL8R8]

When looking for an R8, it was very important for me to get one with c.f. options from the factory. They are WAAAYYY to costly to add after the fact i.m.o.

Mine came with:
~C.f. interior inlays
~C.f. engine compartment
~C.f. side blades
~C.f door sills
~C.f. exterior mirrors

[KfabR8]

Once you start, be prepared to not be able to stop.

[ianerrid]

I second that, I have:
The usual stuff Plus
Engine Cover Air vents
Seat base surrounds
Cabin air vents
windows switches
radio surround
steering column and wheel
centre console
handbrake
ash tray
Mirrors
full boot surround (front)
and the roof...

[KfabR8]

By the way - if you're half way handy with tools, you can do all the mods yourself.

Here's a write up on how to do the engine bay and the interior door handles. I never got around to doing a write up on anything else.

The only piece on the inside that I don't recommend tackling yourself is the monoposto ring that runs around the dash board. That's a MAJOR undertaking.

The center console is pretty straight forward - just make sure that when as you pull out the screws that you set them on a nice flat surface in the same orientation to each other that they came out. Most of the screws are the same, but there are a couple that are specialized to a particular location.

The radio surround is pretty easy, you just can't have a weak stomach pulling it out. It will fight you all the way and requires a lot of yanking and swearing.

The a/c vents also require similar action.

Handbrake handle has a special spot that you have to push a small screwdriver into - it's through the stitching in the leather on the underside. That releases a small clip and then the handle will slip right off.

I can't say about the blades or the mirrors, though. I've not had those apart on my car.

[harrison]

A monoposto must be harder than a radio surround.WITH THE PROPER TOOLKIT... maybe this Monkey could pull off a surround removal myself ???

[R8SAUDI]

What I did on MY R8

[harrison]

Thanks for pointing that out to me,R8SAUDI...you have the leather covered radio surround. VERY exclusive indeed. You have a much nicer than average R8 !! \"/