C/F hood: Painted or Cleared?

[Insomniac]

So I'm looking to buy a carbon fiber hood soon. OEM style, not sure of the make yet... Going to look at it sometime this week.
Question: Should I paint the hood black or keep it clear coated weave

Car is '01 Brilliant Black, stock grille, soon to be shaved bumper, e-codes.
Pics for reference (not my car):

[boostedup]

paint sides black, then clear the whole thing.........

my 2cents

[Toyotatech]

Vorsteiner

[A4Rob]

Why not just do what you want?

[Insomniac]

Why not just do what you want?

Cause I don't know what I want yet...
But I do know I'm NOT doing half painted half cleared.

[Coyote USP]

Yeah man, do the sides black up to the top of the crease, then do the middle clear/weave

Edit: Nevermind, I'm slow

[Coyote USP]

Either/or I say keep the weave and show that shit off

[djwimbo]

I like mine unpainted, but I'm rockin the silver sedan.

I have a bit of clearance issues with the grille though, easily fixed though, other than that mine fits pretty damn good.

[CruzS4]

since your car is black, definitely just clearcoat it. it'll look sick

[njm23]

I would say if it's possible to spray it black but light enough where you can still see the weave of the CF, is that possible? lol thats what I'd do.. it looks to green on a black car imho

[generik777]

paint sides black, then clear the whole thing.........

my 2cents

Just what I was gonna say. I think it would look pretty good.

[akielb]

What would be the purpose of getting a CF hood and not showing it off a little? With paint the sides or clear the whole thing

[D.C. Designs]

too much carbon of black doesn't look that good :( paint the sides and lightly paint the middle so it not a whole contrast but enough to see the weave and clear coat the entire hood my .02 cents :)

[JaVa]

like mentioned tint the clear with a little black :)

[Insomniac]

anybody have a picture of said "ghost" weave look?

[kingtr]

As the owner of the car pictured by the OP, I think I would prefer mine black... I would honestly prefer a more discrete look.

I originally was trying to trade my CF one for a black stock one (that or paint it and get aerocatch hood pins --> GF getting me the hood pins for christmas) then a small spot in the clearcoat got a bit screwed up when I was out of town. Kinda glad I didnt swap, though still living w/ cf clearcoat. Hopefully I can paint it sometime in the near future..

Not sure where you grabbed that pic from either, I think I have others that may be better (although maybe not here or AW).

[v1nyd]

they have tinted clear coat you can use to have your color hood with the weaves instead of a gray looking hood. also something to think about is, do you want to be sleeper status or you're looking for the modified style look

[Insomniac]

Not sure where you grabbed that pic from either, I think I have others that may be better (although maybe not here or AW).

search c/f club in a4 forums. I can take down the picture if you'd like.
I was sort of leaning towards leaving the weave, but I'm interested in a tinted clear coat now. I'll need to ask the body shop if it would be the same price as paint.

[kingtr]

search c/f club in a4 forums. I can take down the picture if you'd like.
I was sort of leaning towards leaving the weave, but I'm interested in a tinted clear coat now. I'll need to ask the body shop if it would be the same price as paint.

No its not a problem at all. All I was saying is I may have a better shot of it for your example. :)

Although its end of day shot, its pretty accurate of what it looks like in most light from afar.


Flash accentuating cf lines.

[Insomniac]

looks good. Who made it? And what % are your windows?

[speedydragon]

x3941870 on painted sides and clear coat

[Insomniac]

x3941870 on painted sides and clear coat

haha, not doing it. I think it looks good, but it's not the direction I want to go with this car.

[le91688]

dont paint it... whats the point of a CF hood if noone knows... plus painting aint cheap.

[kingtr]

looks good. Who made it? And what % are your windows?

Thanks, it is Seibon. I've been rather impressed with it, but have heard others complain about fitment. I think fitment can result from number of things (on my car the front bumper and headlights have been moved a lot (bottoming out in alleys etc.. :( )) I think they are down to like 5-600 bucks now.

Windows are 22%, I had 22% on my last car too. I think its perfect, although I do usually roll down back windows when maneuvering at night..

[Insomniac]

dont paint it... whats the point of a CF hood if noone knows... plus painting aint cheap.

more sleeper. I think i'm learning towards a tinted clear coat or black now.

[anmagro]

Paint the sides black and have the raised part of the hood that flows with the grill stay carbon fiber. i think that has always looked. it makes it look more like it belongs, an idiot passing by may actually think its like a replacment hood if they dont know what their lookin at. just my 2 cents.

[01audia4]

Paint it. IMO Carbon fiber looks like shit, unless its actually serving a purpose.

[Siena]

I'd paint it.

Not really keen on raw CF on a road car.
Sure, it saves weight, but as far as visuals go, I'd rather it was body colored.

[njm23]

dont paint it... whats the point of a CF hood if noone knows... plus painting aint cheap.

to save weight?

[le91688]

to save weight?

It saves weight either way....


I love the CF look, especially on black b5s... but hey i guess im the only one.

[ahaters46]

I would say if it's possible to spray it black but light enough where you can still see the weave of the CF, is that possible? lol thats what I'd do.. it looks to green on a black car imho

paint it black def looks greenish

[boostedup]

i think the painted sides make it look more like it "came" with the car instead of something that was just slapped on there..... and it's the best way to incorporate the hood to the car and still showing off the weave.

[kingtr]

paint it black def looks greenish

Yeah - it does look green in a lot of light... Again, why I personally support painting it (yet havent... :( )