Best solution for sticky interior of 348/ 355

Do you supply carbon fiber parts in your 355 kits. That include sticking carbon fiber faces on to the speedo clocks, with double sided sticky tape?? Are these pieces included in the kit along with other parts that are NOT stuck on with double sided tape? If so this my friend is called a "mixture" of the two types. It is what it is.
No one has questioned the quality of your product so don't panic Although from all the photos i cant see how anyone of them looks better than the next. They all look the same, and thats what its about. The look of carbon fiber.

 

Start prying very carefully---I think it is attached with glue of some sort..

 

When I first rcvd my 355 back in August every switch and button was sticky and gooey - my first move was to check the various sources on here for replacement panels and switches etc. but after reading one members thread I decided to try the '' oven-off or goop '' method.

It worked beautifully - it took a long time to do it really well and getting in to the crevices was tricky but it certainly was a better alternative than all the $$$$ needed for the replacement panels and switches. Now everything is still original and virtually indistinguishable from new.I would highly recommend trying it this way first- although I would certainly try the alcohol method first just to prevent the fumes.

If members want the carbon alternatives then that's their option of course.I will post some pictures next week so members can see my results.

 

No, we do not make a kit per se. We have a product line composed of individual products. Within that product line we currently make one product that "covers up" an existing piece. Some people do not want to use a cover-up piece, and so they only order the full replacement pieces. I am not trying to define what constitutes a mixture, but from a value standpoint, I've always insisted on clearly differentiating between full replacements and cover-ups. That way, customers know they're comparing apples to oranges in many cases when shopping for carbon fiber.

As for these parts all looking the same, most of the people taking the time and money to install these parts in their Ferrari will notice the difference right away.

 

Thanks for that, a good response there my friend A true sign of a professional

 

Right on - glad to see that someone out there in the ether is paying attention to these things!

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173804

Looks nice----My question is "carbon fiber look material"? Is this how all aftermarket pieces of CF is or is it real CF? Valence? Powerspeed? What is yours?

 

90% of the products on the market are fake carbon fiber. We tried to glue real carbon fiber to the part but it would not stick. This is a liquid sticker that the part is dipped into. Its the same process used by most auto manufactures to make wood, marble, and carbon trim. It is then clear coated with automotive clear coat.

 

Very interesting---Thanks for your input Harmony..Anyone else care to comment on their respective parts of "CF" they sell??

 

All "real" carbon fiber. Not backed by fiberglass. Autoclave (yes we have a big one) cured prepreg or press molded.

 

Is the "oven off" better than alcohol do you know? I can't wait to see the pics of your results.

 

I used Lacquer Thinner--cheap and takes it right off..

 

Good info--Thanks Valence!!!

 

So we have Harmony with a "liquid sticker" looks like Carbon Fiber
Valence with "real" carbon fiber
My next question is -----Do buyers want "real" carbon fiber for $$$$? Or do buyers want "the look" of carbon fiber for $$?
Question-----If one door handle costs $$$$ and it holds up well and looks great, another costs $$, holds up well and looks great----Which do you choose???? -What are your thoughts guys?????
I would guess for the steering cover Harmony sells for $300---If it were real carbon fiber the cost would be double for such large piece----Is the extra money worth the REAL carbon fiber??? As long as the look is great and the product is real nice...


Maybe a POLL is in order!!!! MODS!!!!

 

I used the PowerSpeed Carbon parts to replace my sills..
It was easy enough to do and the look is absolutely fantastic.
Very very impressed.
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I also used the PowerSpeed Carbon parts to do the interior of the car. In my opinion the finished look is superb and better than the original look (I guess I would say that tho). The parts can be described as a c/f laminate which are fitted with double sided tape. In my opinion that is a fairly cumbersome description since, when they are actually fitted in place, I think they are unrecognisable as a laminate. In any event I suppose the radio panel, clock/fuel/oil temp panel and the main dash panel would have to be laminate. Hope the pics are ok.... and yes... even tho I changed the wheel from the Big Airbag wheel to a Momo Race wheel, it is still on the 'wrong' side!!

Jim
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I have a question that i was thinking about. Its about the heater/Aircon control. Its all one unit that includes the electrical gummings on a 355 i beleve. What exactly do you make for that section? Do you make the whole box of tricks in carbon fiber and the customer transfers all the electrical components into it? Or do you make just the top section?

Oh and Renmure that looks very nice by the way. Whats the quality like? Is it actual Carbon fiber like it looks? You clearly are happy with it Looks great.

 

But they cheated by illegally using the trademark Ferrari name and script. Hey Powerspeed, you don't sell these sills in the USA do you? It's a blatant trademark infringement! You better take these off your site before Ferrari's legal unit catches up with you.

 

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Thats interesting. Though i wonder were that would leave the company's in the USA that sell the replica wing badges, and replica fitted ferrari cars covers with the Prancing horse on? Interesting. Have they gone for such company's that use the Ferrari logo before? Is the name another issue being that the name Ferrari is a common name in Italy. Also bearing in mind that the word "Ferrari" on a set of after market carbon sills are not an infringement of Ferrari copyright, due to the fact that Ferrari dont make Carbon sills that use the word Ferrari on them. Can anyone shed any light on this?

 

Thanks. I have no vested interest in this whatsoever and just wanted to share my experience of the product. It is as good as it looks and fits like a dream. The quality was 1st class and the sales and service, bearing in mind I am in Scotland and the parts are made in Japan, was fantastic. Best recomendation I can give it that I would not hesitate to do it again.

I guess you do have a vested interest however, I have to confess it wasn't the "Ferrari" script that sold it to me, just the fact that it looked good and wouldn't rust and crumble like the real thing.

 

Just a quick glimpse at both the Valence site and the Powerspeed site and here is what I saw--
355 rear diffuser--Valence $1100----Powerspeed $1180---very comparable pricing
355 rear engine lateral supports--Valence $675----Powerspeed $488---big difference
Mirror trim triangle--Valence $275---Powerspeed $278---almost identical
F1 Paddles--Valence average $800----Powerspeed $490---huge difference

My question is why the HUGE difference in the pricing of certain items? Are Valence products superior to command the extra $$ on some items? Never ordered from either company, just asking questions as a potential buyer of CF parts for my 355. Valence why as a consumer should I order your paddles for $850, when I can get them from Powerspeed for half the price?

Signed, Curious

 

As a brief aside, prompted by my partner who is a IP Attorney, and partially in response to a point raised above... Ferrari will have a similar level of intellectual property rights reserved in respect of the design rights and patents, encompasing protection in respect of the manufacture and fuction of the undertray diffuser of the F355 as they have with their "Ferrari" Trademarks. Obviously "prancing horses" and "Ferrari scripts" are more easily identified, however a replica of an IP protected product is still a replica of an IP protected product. I think her summary was something to do with folk in glasshouses not throwing stones

 

Well, no - Ferrari has no specific design patents on the parts that we manufacture. The do protect some "signature" design elements as well as the overall design of the car - that's why replica car makers are prosecuted. A simple design patent search (as opposed to utility patent) shows what Ferrari does and does not protect (at least here in the USA).

Aftermarket automobile parts are not only legal here in the US but an essential component of the free market automobile industry. Unless they represent a unique design element, and are specifically protected by a design patent, it's generally OK to make aftermarket versions.

Regarding the Ferrari name and script - these are specifically protected under trademark law - different from patent law. Yes, even that font with the long F is trademarked, if I'm not mistaken. We've had very direct conversations with Ferrari's American legal council on the subject.

I do not live in a glass house.