Spoilers, splitters, diffusers, mirror covers and grills mostly come in three finishes: real carbon fibre, gloss black and carbon-look. In photos they can look alike. On the car they're quite different things, and they cost different amounts. Here's how to tell them apart, how to look after each one, and how to choose.
The short answer
Swipe the table sideways to see all three finishes.
| Real carbon fibre | Gloss black | Carbon-look | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Woven carbon fibre set in resin, finished with a clear lacquer | Usually moulded plastic, most often ABS, with a gloss black finish | Plastic with a carbon pattern printed, dipped or wrapped on |
| The look | A real weave with depth that shifts as the light moves | Deep, shiny black, like the trim on a top-spec model | A carbon pattern on the surface, flat up close |
| Cost | The most expensive of the three | Usually less than carbon fibre | Usually the cheapest |
| Care | Hand wash; a wax or sealant helps protect the finish | Hand wash gently; shows swirl marks more easily | Hand wash gently; don't scrub or polish hard |
Real carbon fibre
Carbon fibre parts are made from woven carbon fibre cloth set in resin, then finished with a clear lacquer, either gloss or matte. The pattern you see is the material itself, not a picture of it, so it has depth and changes as the light moves across it.
You'll often see two more terms in listings:
- Pre-preg means the carbon cloth comes already soaked with resin, and the part is shaped and cured under heat and pressure.
- Dry carbon is the name many sellers use for pre-preg parts.
Our listings only say pre-preg or dry carbon where the part's maker says so. Everything we list as carbon fibre is real carbon fibre: if a part has a printed or wrapped carbon pattern instead, we call it carbon-look in its title.
Carbon fibre suits cars that already have carbon details, such as the carbon roofs and mirror caps on many high-performance models, and it's the finish to choose if you want the real weave. It costs more than gloss black because the material and the work that goes into each part cost more.
Gloss black
Gloss black parts are usually moulded plastic, most often ABS, finished in a deep gloss black. The Specifications tab on each product page says what that part is made from.
Gloss black gives your car the blacked-out look of a top-spec model. It suits dark and light paint alike, goes well with black wheels and badges, and usually costs less than carbon fibre. Grills and mirror covers are a simple way to start, and spoilers, splitters and diffusers carry the look around the rest of the car.
Carbon-look
Carbon-look (sometimes called carbon-effect) parts are plastic with a carbon pattern added to the surface. The pattern is printed on, applied by dipping the part in a patterned film (hydro dipping), or wrapped on as a carbon-pattern vinyl. From a few metres away they can pass for carbon fibre. Up close the pattern is flat, and it can stretch or repeat around tight curves and edges.
Carbon-look parts are usually the cheapest of the three. If you want the real thing, check that the listing says carbon fibre, not carbon-look or carbon-effect.
How to tell them apart
- Read the title and the Specifications tab. Between them they say what the part is made from.
- Look at the weave. Real carbon fibre has depth, and the pattern shifts as you move your head. A print or a wrap looks flat.
- Look at the edges. On a dipped or wrapped part, the pattern often stretches or stops at the edges and in tight curves.
- Ask us. Send us the link on WhatsApp (07540 331557) and we'll tell you what it's made from.
Looking after each finish
Carbon fibre
Wash by hand with a pH-neutral car shampoo and dry with a clean microfibre cloth. Avoid strong solvents, and don't aim a pressure washer at the edges of fitted parts. A wax or sealant helps protect the finish.
Gloss black
Gloss black shows swirl marks more than lighter finishes, so wash by hand with a soft microfibre mitt and dry with a clean microfibre towel. Avoid automatic brush car washes and harsh chemicals.
Carbon-look
Hand wash gently, as you would the rest of the car. Printed and wrapped finishes can wear if they're scrubbed or polished hard.
Whatever the finish, if a part was fitted with adhesive tape, don't wash the car for about 24 hours while the tape cures.
Which should you choose?
- Real carbon fibre if you want the real weave, or your car already has carbon details you want to match.
- Gloss black for the blacked-out look at a lower price, or to match black wheels, badges and window trims.
- Carbon-look if the look matters more to you than the material and the budget is tight.
You can mix finishes too, for example gloss black grills with a carbon fibre spoiler and mirror covers. Keeping each area of the car to one finish usually looks more deliberate than mixing them on the same panel.
Shop by finish
Real carbon fibre parts Gloss black parts
Know your car? Parts for popular cars: BMW M4 G82, BMW M3 G80, BMW 3 Series G20, BMW X3 M F97, VW Golf Mk8 and Audi A3 8Y.
Every part is listed by the car it fits, usually with its chassis code. Not sure which one your car is? Pick your car, read our BMW chassis code guide, or send us your reg on WhatsApp and we'll check the fit before you order.
Want it fitted? See how styling parts are fitted, or ask for a free fitting quote at our Southend-on-Sea, Essex workshop.