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Author Topic: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics  (Read 2821 times)

Offline Autos_Editor

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Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« on: November 21, 2012, 06:06:28 am »


Mike Schlee gets an up-close look at Uma Thurman, and BMW's future carbon fibre technology.

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Offline tpl

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2012, 06:57:01 am »
Works for me. Uma T is a carbon based life form and probably eats a high fibre breakfast cereal.
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Offline Snowman

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2012, 07:46:00 am »
Uma  :love:
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Offline DrMaustus

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2012, 09:23:24 am »
Seems a bit contradictory to be trumpeting the environmental advantages to producing the carbon fiber in the US plant, and then they ship the stuff all the way to Germany. Why can't they build the cars at the US plant or build a production plant there? Without the shipping costs factored in it'd be cheaper that way too. I guess the capital investment of building a plant there would be huge. However, if they're that sure that cf is the future, they should build one there anyway.
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Offline redman

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2012, 09:41:39 am »
...."Once the strands of fiber arrive in Wackersdorf, Germany,...."

Ok is it me ? I just could not read much beyond the statement above. "Wackersdorf"...I couldn't make up a place that funny if I tried.....man some days I guess I just got to grow up, but in the mean time.. :rofl:

On a serious note I think lighter stronger cars need to be the new focus. Some recent new cars have just become out-ragingly heavy. Hope they don't pull a 180 like VW did with magnesium with their body shells and castings.
« Last Edit: November 21, 2012, 09:46:49 am by redman »
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Past New (8yrs) Car Dealer for : BMW, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota<br />Past Used Vehicle Dealer: All Makes and Models. Seen a lot of it. Drove a lot of it. <br />Four-stroke Otto Engine 1876. Modern timer, pop-up toaster 1919 keep convincing yourself that you have the "latest appliance".

Offline opg210

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2012, 10:16:01 am »
Uma was there? Wow. Now I think it's a great project. I wouldn't have been interested with some no-name model ;D.

Great to see stuff like this, a manufacturer with the balls to push in a new direction. In the old days you might have seen Honda leading this charge too, let's hope they can get into the act too.

The article mentions the good crash characteristics, but I thought this would be a flaw in a road car in one sense - if carbon fibre components suffer even the slightest bit of damage, their integrity can be sapped so they are normally discarded. Part of the high cost is the inspection process that is required to make sure there are absolutely no flaws in the pieces. If you crashed one of these and it gets a crack in the central frame, is it toast?
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Offline nlm

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2012, 12:49:23 pm »
Quote from: opg210 on November 21, 2012, 10:16:01 am
If you crashed one of these and it gets a crack in the central frame, is it toast?

Wouldn't that hold true with a steel or aluminum frame?

Another question: it wasn't clear (to me) whether carbon fibre would be used in just the frame or other body panels. If the latter, if one gets into an accident can the carbon fibre be repaired like current body panels or is a replacement always necessary, which of course leads to cost, which leads to higher insurance premiums with a carbon fibre car?
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Offline Mike

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Re: Auto Tech: BMW and Carbon Fiber Plastics
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2012, 01:03:33 pm »
Quote from: nlm on November 21, 2012, 12:49:23 pm
Quote from: opg210 on November 21, 2012, 10:16:01 am
If you crashed one of these and it gets a crack in the central frame, is it toast?

Wouldn't that hold true with a steel or aluminum frame?

Another question: it wasn't clear (to me) whether carbon fibre would be used in just the frame or other body panels. If the latter, if one gets into an accident can the carbon fibre be repaired like current body panels or is a replacement always necessary, which of course leads to cost, which leads to higher insurance premiums with a carbon fibre car?

These cars are going to be all Carbon fiber; panels included
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