M5POST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   M5POST - BMW M5 Forum > F10 M5 Forum > BMW M5 (F10) General Forum

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-07-2012, 01:49 PM   #1
Nate@IND
Nate@IND's Avatar
2863
Rep
11,374
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (19)

Challenge F10 M5 Carbon Fiber Roof

One of our favorite additions to the M car was the use of a carbon fiber roof, first introduced on the E63 M6. BMW had of course already used advanced composites in the construction of their M cars for many years, but the use of a bare carbon fiber roof made a unique statement that set the M brand apart forever.

Over the years IND has helped E90 M3 and 1M car owners make the same statement by developing our own carbon fiber roof panels for the cars not given this privilege from the factory.

This week IND introduces the brand new carbon fiber roof panel for the F10 M5, designed in collaboration with and manufactured by Challenge Engineering. This roof panel is available in a variety of weave styles to match OE carbon fiber or to deviate from the factory look instead. The Challenge roof panel weighs in at a featherweight 11.5lbs, removing a tremendous amount of weight from the most critical area of the car.

IND will be installing this roof panel on our own F10 M5 project car in the very near future and will update this thread with installation photos.





__________________
IND DISTRIBUTION | 866-963-4520 • FACEBOOKINSTAGRAMFLICKR
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 01:52 PM   #2
raymeechen
Private
United_States
1
Rep
87
Posts

Drives: E84 sDrive, F10 M5...expecting
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manhattan; Taiwan-South

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW X1  [9.00]
Wow!!! I need photos I am in!
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 02:00 PM   #3
Aboody99
Private
Qatar
5
Rep
70
Posts

Drives: F10 M5
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Qatar

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by raymeechen View Post
Wow!!! I need photos I am in!
What he said!
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 03:44 PM   #4
mwlmd
Lieutenant Colonel
mwlmd's Avatar
United_States
187
Rep
1,548
Posts

Drives: Porsche 991 TTS
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Portland, OR

iTrader: (0)

How much per pound are you going to charge?
__________________
CURRENT:
His: Porsche 991 Turbo S
Carrera white/Black
Hers: BMW X3MC
BSM/Black
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 06:10 PM   #5
whiteM5
Private First Class
23
Rep
128
Posts

Drives: 2013 M5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale

iTrader: (0)

what's the weight of the OE panel being replaced?
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 07:41 PM   #6
zzade46m3
Private First Class
United_States
11
Rep
157
Posts

Drives: add now!
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: the Real OC

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
wait a minute, do you actually replace the steel roof with this panel? then bolt in and put the windshield back in, etc??
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 08:07 PM   #7
RPiM5
Major General
RPiM5's Avatar
2856
Rep
7,883
Posts

Drives: Mexico Blue F10 M5(Mika)
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego

iTrader: (0)

Yes how does this work with the sunroof? Does installing this delete the sunroof? Also like another member posted, can u please show how much the stock roof weighs so we can have a comparison.
__________________


Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 08:12 PM   #8
Rob@StrasseWheels
Rob@StrasseWheels's Avatar
456
Rep
2,586
Posts

Drives: 2023 BMW G80 M3 Comp
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: South Florida

iTrader: (1)

Wow guys, can't wait to see this done!
__________________

@Strasse_Robert | (786)701-3649 | Robert@StrasseWheels.com | www.StrasseWheels.com
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 08:43 PM   #9
Retina
Private
6
Rep
63
Posts

Drives: 328i
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LA, CA

iTrader: (0)

Like everyone else...details please!
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 08:45 PM   #10
nybimmerfan
Lieutenant
nybimmerfan's Avatar
United_States
35
Rep
430
Posts

Drives: 6-Spd Manual MCB M5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by RPiM5 View Post
Yes how does this work with the sunroof? Does installing this delete the sunroof? Also like another member posted, can u please show how much the stock roof weighs so we can have a comparison.
Having carbon fiber roof will result in the elimination of the sunroof/moonroof as having it will structurally weaken the roof. Remember, carbon fiber is made of of several layers of almost paper-thin carbon fiber sheets glued together. The current 2012/2013 M5 roof with the sunroof/moonroof is made of aluminum.
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 10:03 PM   #11
Mahzari
Captain
Iran
57
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: poorly
Join Date: May 2010
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nybimmerfan View Post
Having carbon fiber roof will result in the elimination of the sunroof/moonroof as having it will structurally weaken the roof. Remember, carbon fiber is made of of several layers of almost paper-thin carbon fiber sheets glued together. The current 2012/2013 M5 roof with the sunroof/moonroof is made of aluminum.
While I agree with what you've said, the roof has very, very, very little structural importance. The weight of the car in a roll over is held by the A-pillar entirely. The roof is just a thin layer of steel, aluminum, or carbon fiber to cover the passenger cell.

Typically, a roof + sunroof weighs about 50lbs, a roof alone is about 30lbs, and a carbon roof is under 15lbs.
Appreciate 0
      08-07-2012, 11:48 PM   #12
Tourbillon
Second Lieutenant
Tourbillon's Avatar
United_States
24
Rep
232
Posts

Drives: '14 S550, '13 4S, '11 E550
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

This won't affect the structural integrity of the car? What about body flex?
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 09:25 AM   #13
matthewEW
Private
United_States
0
Rep
68
Posts

Drives: Audi TT RS
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by nybimmerfan View Post
Having carbon fiber roof will result in the elimination of the sunroof/moonroof as having it will structurally weaken the roof. Remember, carbon fiber is made of of several layers of almost paper-thin carbon fiber sheets glued together. The current 2012/2013 M5 roof with the sunroof/moonroof is made of aluminum.
I totally agree with you. People here who talk as if they know regarding structural integrity of carbon fiber roofs with sunroof or moonroof don't know a damn thing. Tell me one car model that has a carbon fiber roof that has a sunroof or moonroof. Models with options for carbon fiber roof immediately eliminate the choice of having a moonoof or sunroof.
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 09:31 AM   #14
NlckyBlack
Captain
NlckyBlack's Avatar
Greece
69
Rep
785
Posts

Drives: Too many cars
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bergen County, NJ

iTrader: (0)

I would totally trade a sunroof that i never open for the carbon fiber for it's looks and some weight savings. Whats the ballpark cost on a job like this?
__________________
15 E63s
15 991tt
17 GC SRT
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 10:31 AM   #15
IND-Distribution
BMW obsessed
IND-Distribution's Avatar
United_States
9546
Rep
10,844
Posts

Drives: G80 M3 / G82 M4
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (3)

Quote:
Originally Posted by mwlmd View Post
How much per pound are you going to charge?
The roof panel sells for $1,795, making the cost a relatively affordable $160/lb of carbon roof. More importantly, assuming a 50lb weight savings (a reasonable number when considering the addition of the sunroof mechanism), you pay about $36 for every lb saved.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zzade46m3 View Post
wait a minute, do you actually replace the steel roof with this panel? then bolt in and put the windshield back in, etc??
Correct, you remove the OE aluminum roof panel completely and attach the carbon fiber roof panel using a specialized BMW panel adhesive. Here are some photos of the process performed on an E90 M3:












And some examples of finished products, again E90 M3 cars:









Quote:
Originally Posted by RPiM5 View Post
Yes how does this work with the sunroof? Does installing this delete the sunroof? Also like another member posted, can u please show how much the stock roof weighs so we can have a comparison.
This roof panel will remove the sunroof mechanism completely. Unfortunately We cannot obtain a weight of the OE sunroof equipped roof panel or sunroof mechanism itself until we perform the very first carbon roof install on our own F10 M5 project car.

As an example, a non sunroof aluminum roof panel for an E90 M3 weighs 24lbs, while our carbon roof panel for the same car weighs 9.8lbs. The sunroof mechanism itself should account for an additional ~40lbs weight savings on an F10 M5.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tourbillon View Post
This won't affect the structural integrity of the car? What about body flex?
The E63 M6 and E92 M3 both came with carbon roofs from the factory, and are not weaker than the equivalent aluminum roof paneled cars.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NlckyBlack View Post
I would totally trade a sunroof that i never open for the carbon fiber for it's looks and some weight savings. Whats the ballpark cost on a job like this?
We're using our own car as a guinea pig, and will have pricing finalized once we've completed the conversion on our own F10 M5.



Ultimately, properly constructed carbon fiber panels can be stronger than the equivalent aluminum panel. Our carbon roof panel is constructed with several layers of multi-directional carbon and a honeycomb core material specifically designed to be compatible with our vacuum infusion process. The vacuum infusion process ensures an ideal resin to fiber ratio and no air voids, further maximizing strength. By using an adhesive specifically designed for the purpose of bonding carbon roof panels to BMW chassis we ensure a perfect bond, and no compromise in the strength of the car.
__________________
IND DISTRIBUTION | 866-963-4520 • INSTAGRAMYOUTUBEFACEBOOKFLICKR
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 10:40 AM   #16
whiteM5
Private First Class
23
Rep
128
Posts

Drives: 2013 M5
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Scottsdale

iTrader: (0)

great answers, looks like a nice product, please keep me updated!
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 11:11 AM   #17
RPiM5
Major General
RPiM5's Avatar
2856
Rep
7,883
Posts

Drives: Mexico Blue F10 M5(Mika)
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by whiteM5 View Post
great answers, looks like a nice product, please keep me updated!
Indeed good answers. So the only question that customers will need to ask themselves is if they want to sacrafice having a sunroof in order to save weight in the most important place to save weight on a car in order to increase performance.

For me personally that's a hard question to answer, because I like having a sunroof. I've never been crazy about the look of carbon fiber itself on sedans either. I'm guessing with installation done at your local reputable motorsports shops total cost for the roof and installation will be a bit above $3,000.
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 11:53 AM   #18
IND-Distribution
BMW obsessed
IND-Distribution's Avatar
United_States
9546
Rep
10,844
Posts

Drives: G80 M3 / G82 M4
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (3)

No problem. We'll keep updating the thread as things progress.
__________________
IND DISTRIBUTION | 866-963-4520 • INSTAGRAMYOUTUBEFACEBOOKFLICKR
Appreciate 0
      08-08-2012, 02:17 PM   #19
NlckyBlack
Captain
NlckyBlack's Avatar
Greece
69
Rep
785
Posts

Drives: Too many cars
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bergen County, NJ

iTrader: (0)

awesome stuff and looks like very high quality product and install on what can turn into a butcher job with an inexperenced installer.
__________________
15 E63s
15 991tt
17 GC SRT
Appreciate 0
      08-09-2012, 11:45 AM   #20
JC919
Lieutenant Colonel
United_States
72
Rep
1,804
Posts

Drives: CSL
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland

iTrader: (0)

Do you replace the interior headliner to account for the lack of a sunroof?
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
2007 GT3 Clubsport w/CGT buckets in Scotland
2003 CSL, SG, Alcon BBK SOLD
2002 M5, SSII/Blk and bone stock. In storage back home in TX
2008 M3, AW/Blk 6MT, lots of track stuff SOLD
Appreciate 0
      08-09-2012, 12:00 PM   #21
Nate@IND
Nate@IND's Avatar
2863
Rep
11,374
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Chicago

iTrader: (19)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JC919 View Post
Do you replace the interior headliner to account for the lack of a sunroof?
We have an OEM BMW alcantara non-sunroof headliner coming from Germany
__________________
IND DISTRIBUTION | 866-963-4520 • FACEBOOKINSTAGRAMFLICKR
Appreciate 0
      08-09-2012, 12:10 PM   #22
PatrickC23
Colonel
PatrickC23's Avatar
United_States
183
Rep
2,245
Posts

Drives: '16 991.1 911 GTS, '16 F85 X5M
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NNJ

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW ///M5  [0.00]
What wheels are these??

__________________
2016 991.1 911 Carrera GTS
2016 F85 X5M - Carbon Black/Mugello Red
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:27 AM.




m5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST