• IND shows off the Challenge E92 M3 Carbon Fiber Hood - ~10 pounds lighter than stock

                    
      		   
      Published on 09-03-2011 08:12 AM
      16 Comments Comments
      While searching for places to shed weight on the M3, most start with the obvious panels made of steel. When the factory gives you composite or aluminum panels already as a starting point the quest to shave the pounds of a performance car can become more difficult. As usual, Challenge is here to re-write the book on composites for the M3 using only the best in materials and manufacturing techniques to offer some of the lightest weight and well made body panels available.

      The lightweight BWM M3 aluminum hood is a great part from the factory that no doubt saves tons of weight compared to its mainstream steel 3 series counterparts. Because aluminum is very soft, it requires a full backbone structure to support it so it doesn’t dent or deform easily. When using carbon fiber, Challenge is able to rework the factory underside skeleton as well as use a foam hex cell core in the panel’s inner construction to produce a lightweight yet rigid structure. This formula yields a strong yet light hood with a 40% weight savings that’s as home on the street as it is on the road circuit.

      OEM Aluminum hood: 22.8 lbs.
      Challenge OEM style Carbon Hood: 13.6 lbs








      Test fit-






      Prep-



      All painted and ready to ship






      This article was originally published in forum thread: IND shows off the Challenge E92 M3 Carbon Fiber Hood - ~10 pounds lighter than stock started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 15 Comments
      1. LostMarine's Avatar
        LostMarine - 09-03-2011, 11:04 AM
        thats a lot of weight saving from a hood. what does the hood on a regular 3 series weight? i know its gotta be around 10# more than the m3 hood.

        and whats the hood cost?
      1. dOpEdUpM3's Avatar
        dOpEdUpM3 - 09-03-2011, 02:52 PM
        Click here to enlarge Wow- I don't like blue but this pops! You guys did a fade on the power dome? Great work as usual!
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 09-03-2011, 03:35 PM
        wow that paintwork is amazing, and so does that carbon fiber work
      1. KB's Avatar
        KB - 09-03-2011, 04:23 PM
        Do they make a hood for the 1 series/ 1M? How's the fitment?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2011, 06:23 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by dOpEdUpM3 Click here to enlarge
        Click here to enlarge Wow- I don't like blue but this pops! You guys did a fade on the power dome? Great work as usual!
        Looks phenomenal.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-03-2011, 06:24 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by KB Click here to enlarge
        Do they make a hood for the 1 series/ 1M? How's the fitment?
        Haven't heard anyone complain about the fitment.

        Do not know of a 1 series hood by them, hopefuly @Nate@IND will chime in.
      1. DBFIU's Avatar
        DBFIU - 09-03-2011, 11:37 PM
        Looks sick
      1. bobS's Avatar
        bobS - 09-06-2011, 07:03 PM
        Looks sick! With a hood that light, are you using the stock hood latches? That's what it looks like by the pictures.....
      1. stega's Avatar
        stega - 09-14-2011, 02:00 PM
        FYI this is for my car... E93 M with a cage and buckets Click here to enlarge Don't have it on the car yet so I cant comment on fitment but should have it on by the weekend. We are using stock latches yes. As far as making a 1M hood, Challenge can make whatever you want if they think there is a market for it and you spend enough talk to Nate.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 09-14-2011, 04:20 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by stega Click here to enlarge
        FYI this is for my car... E93 M with a cage and buckets Click here to enlarge Don't have it on the car yet so I cant comment on fitment but should have it on by the weekend. We are using stock latches yes. As far as making a 1M hood, Challenge can make whatever you want if they think there is a market for it and you spend enough talk to Nate.
        First of all, congrats, hot hood.

        Please do a photoshoot when you get it on and let us know about the fitment.
      1. tunachris's Avatar
        tunachris - 10-13-2011, 08:06 AM
        Will it work on an E92/N54, cost?
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-13-2011, 10:42 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by tunachris Click here to enlarge
        Will it work on an E92/N54, cost?
        I do not see why it would not.

        paging @Nate@IND
      1. KB's Avatar
        KB - 10-13-2011, 11:17 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by stega Click here to enlarge
        FYI this is for my car... E93 M with a cage and buckets Click here to enlarge Don't have it on the car yet so I cant comment on fitment but should have it on by the weekend. We are using stock latches yes. As far as making a 1M hood, Challenge can make whatever you want if they think there is a market for it and you spend enough talk to Nate.
        The 1M isn't a big market but the 1 series would be. They share the same hood.
      1. KB's Avatar
        KB - 10-13-2011, 11:20 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        I do not see why it would not.

        paging @Nate@IND
        I don't think they are the same.

        On a side note, I hope IND responds because I would like the black side markers for the 1m and I refuse to contact them through bimmerpost. They don't deserve the credit for the sale.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-13-2011, 11:29 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by KB Click here to enlarge
        On a side note, I hope IND responds because I would like the black side markers for the 1m and I refuse to contact them through bimmerpost. They don't deserve the credit for the sale.
        Just PM Nate: http://www.bimmerboost.com/member.php?489-Nate-IND