ACS style Mtec Rear Add-on groupbuy

[Hung@Fiber-D]

We need 10 buyers to get the Group-buy price for each version.

Fiber-glass version = $300.00, 15+ would be 275.
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Black Carbon-Fiber version = 450, 15+ would be 425
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any question. Please post or Email or PM me.
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/42280CIMG0992.JPG
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/42280CIMG0990.JPG

[petey]

i think there would be more interest for a front addon

[Hung@Fiber-D]

i think there would be more interest for a front addon

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=251258

[Skeeter]

Fiber-glass version = $300.00, 15+ would be 275.
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Black Carbon-Fiber version = 450, 15+ would be 425
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[DarXide]

Please post more pics of the CF one. The pic looks pretty bad IMHO.

Thanks

[BoostedBoogie]

hung, any pics of a finished cf piece? also any pics mounted on the mtech rear?

[jdr]

Fiber-glass version = $300.00, 15+ would be 275.
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Black Carbon-Fiber version = 450, 15+ would be 425
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[Hung@Fiber-D]

Please post more pics of the CF one. The pic looks pretty bad IMHO.

Thanks


Heres the finish version guys.

The 1st pics was just the middle stage.

Enjoy.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

heres another one.

[BoostedBoogie]

fiberdesign never ceases to impress. i think i will have to buy one of these once i get my mtechII rear.

hung please post pics when you guys get them mounted on someone's car! you plan to keep the molds for this part for future sales?

[Hung@Fiber-D]

fiberdesign never ceases to impress. i think i will have to buy one of these once i get my mtechII rear.

hung please post pics when you guys get them mounted on someone's car! you plan to keep the molds for this part for future sales?

Yeh, I need the actual piece. Since a mold can only last so long.

[DarXide]

very nice.. I dont think I'll make it out. This is 3rd on my list.
I just order a Rogue DMS $689, im gonna order springs another $250 or so a new amp $650. Damnn im going broke.... :bawling:

Whats the price gonna be after the GB?

[Hung@Fiber-D]

very nice.. I dont think I'll make it out. This is 3rd on my list.
I just order a Rogue DMS $689, im gonna order springs another $250 or so a new amp $650. Damnn im going broke.... :bawling:

Whats the price gonna be after the GB?

FG = 325
Bcf= 475
Scf= 515

[faithmassive]

I'm doing this once I round up some cash.

[JCz04Bimmer]

tempting... very very tempting... just wish that black cf price was just a biiiiit lower.

[crispee00]

When would you be collecting the money for this? I may be in on this one in about 2 weeks.

Also are the sedans ever gonna get a power bulge hood in cf? If so I wanna start saving. I would love to have that hood with everything painted except for the bulge :drool:

[tylor]

tempting... very very tempting... just wish that black cf price was just a biiiiit lower.

cf is expensive bro -- suck it up, you wont be upset :thumbup:

[Hung@Fiber-D]

When would you be collecting the money for this? I may be in on this one in about 2 weeks.

Also are the sedans ever gonna get a power bulge hood in cf? If so I wanna start saving. I would love to have that hood with everything painted except for the bulge :drool:


There's already a company that makes the M3 hood for the sedan.

But its for the facelift instead. Still works with the preface throught.

[TeKNiC3]

There's already a company that makes the M3 hood for the sedan.

But its for the facelift instead. Still works with the preface throught.

Which company?

[rdsesq]

Is it even worth pointing out that it appears you are violating ACS' rights by making a direct copy of their product.

Now if you want to take an orig ACS m-tech insert and wrap it in CF, that is one thing. But, IMO, this is straight out theft of somebody elses design as it is a direct copy.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Is it even worth pointing out that it appears you are violating ACS' rights by making a direct copy of their product.

Now if you want to take an orig ACS m-tech insert and wrap it in CF, that is one thing. But, IMO, this is straight out theft of somebody elses design as it is a direct copy.


Whats with the Hate?

[m3er]

Is it even worth pointing out that it appears you are violating ACS' rights by making a direct copy of their product.

Now if you want to take an orig ACS m-tech insert and wrap it in CF, that is one thing. But, IMO, this is straight out theft of somebody elses design as it is a direct copy.

Not to Hi-jack Hung's thread. But you got a problem. Keep it to yourself and stop hating on them.

So basically Jlevi does the same. Why don't you call him out also.

http://jlevistreetwerks.com/OSCOMMERCE/product_info.php?cPath=30_33_58&products_id=199&osCsid=4ce42be71f1b98a49c182903ac99b9e6

Arqray Style Mtech II Front Lip (Carbon Fiber)

"This FULL CARBON FIBER Arqray style front lip will make your OEM Mtech bumper look unique and agressive.
With it's superior fitment and finish, this replica surpasses even the authentic Japanese Lip!

For all Coupes and Sedans with Mtech II OEM Front Bumpers."

Isn't thats just like violating Arqray Japan also? And the fact that he also diss them with the comment he made.

Tiff

[rdsesq]

I was not familar with the Arqray product. If Jlevistreetwerks is selling an exact replica of the Arqray product then they are just as guilty, and IMO, just as in the wrong. They are violating Arqray's rights just as much as Fiber-D is violating ACS' rights.

Creating a direct replica part and selling that part is violation of copyright and the theft of intelectual property. I hope that in both cases the people who are mfg these parts are prosucted to the fullest extent of the law.


Not to Hi-jack Hung's thread. But you got a problem. Keep it to yourself and stop hating on them.

So basically Jlevi does the same. Why don't you call him out also.

http://jlevistreetwerks.com/OSCOMMERCE/product_info.php?cPath=30_33_58&products_id=199&osCsid=4ce42be71f1b98a49c182903ac99b9e6

Arqray Style Mtech II Front Lip (Carbon Fiber)

"This FULL CARBON FIBER Arqray style front lip will make your OEM Mtech bumper look unique and agressive.
With it's superior fitment and finish, this replica surpasses even the authentic Japanese Lip!

For all Coupes and Sedans with Mtech II OEM Front Bumpers."

Isn't thats just like violating Arqray Japan also? And the fact that he also diss them with the comment he made.

Tiff

[rdsesq]

Whats with the Hate?

Whats with the theft?

Fiber-D is stealing ACS' design work and attempting to sell it and make money off of it.

If anybody here is hating its Fiber-D as they are hating on ACS by stealing their designs.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Whats with the theft?

Fiber-D is stealing ACS' design work and attempting to sell it and make money off of it.

If anybody here is hating its Fiber-D as they are hating on ACS by stealing their designs.


Hey guess what? I've talked to CEC. They're fine with it. As long as I don't pass certain boundaries.

You wouldn't be saying these things if you even had the ability to make replicas yourself.

[rdsesq]

Hey guess what? I've talked to CEC. They're fine with it. As long as I don't pass certain boundaries.

You wouldn't be saying these things if you even had the ability to make replicas yourself.

I don't run or buy replica parts. I believe in the protection of intellectual property. And I have the ability to make parts, replica or original in fiberglass.

I am not saying your parts are of bad quality or any knock against the parts themselves. It is the theft of the design work that I object to. Be that from you or anybody else.

And guess what, if CEC is fine with it is not the issue, the issue is whether ACS is fine with it. After all, ACS owns the design, and the associated copyright laws that are applicable in the EU also apply in the US.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Thanks for the bump.

Some already recieved theres.. So pics are coming soon.

[///ToPaZiaN_E46]

Fiber-glass version = $300.00, 15+ would be 275.
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Black Carbon-Fiber version = 450, 15+ would be 425
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[Hung@Fiber-D]

fixed

Fiber-glass version = $300.00, 15+ would be 275.
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Black Carbon-Fiber version = 450, 15+ would be 425
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[crispee00]

Wow talk about a straight p e n i s. Why dont you get a life you f a g. Oh and yes I am being immature, and yes there is no reason for name calling, but in your case youre just a d i c k. You have been on this board for how long, and now you start with this? Why dont you go practice some politics you prick? Or better yet go on ebay and bother some one there seems like you have alot of time on your hands :azzhole:

I am in no way associated with any of these companies, so if you feel you have some type of point to prove, take it out on me

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Wow talk about a straight p e n i s. Why dont you get a life you f a g. Oh and yes I am being immature, and yes there is no reason for name calling, but in your case youre just a d i c k. You have been on this board for how long, and now you start with this? Why dont you go practice some politics you prick? Or better yet go on ebay and bother some one there seems like you have alot of time on your hands :azzhole:

I am in no way associated with any of these companies, so if you feel you have some type of point to prove, take it out on me


uhh,.. soooo anywho.

back to topic.

LOL

[crispee00]

haha sorry but for some reason I just got really mad. Just venting

[BMWintoxication]

every one used to HATE replicas on this forum. like.. anyone who ever posted replica stuff, they'd get "why are u getting replica stuff when u are driving a BMW?" "replics suck" "what a poser.." etc etc....but ever since the sponsors of the site are selling replicas.. things changed.. ... "wow, thaz cool." "amazing product!" "****! i want one.."(even when they are not buying one..).... bleh..



crispee00... ur commets are just....

*sigh* nvm...

[derek80]

looking good.
So does this price include shipping ?

Thanks.

[vaio76109]

Wow talk about a straight p e n i s. Why dont you get a life you f a g. Oh and yes I am being immature, and yes there is no reason for name calling, but in your case youre just a d i c k. You have been on this board for how long, and now you start with this? Why dont you go practice some politics you prick? Or better yet go on ebay and bother some one there seems like you have alot of time on your hands :azzhole:

I am in no way associated with any of these companies, so if you feel you have some type of point to prove, take it out on me
I just typed a long reply but deleted it all because I can say it best in 3 words: You're an idiot.

I don't run or buy replica parts. I believe in the protection of intellectual property. And I have the ability to make parts, replica or original in fiberglass.

I am not saying your parts are of bad quality or any knock against the parts themselves. It is the theft of the design work that I object to. Be that from you or anybody else.

And guess what, if CEC is fine with it is not the issue, the issue is whether ACS is fine with it. After all, ACS owns the design, and the associated copyright laws that are applicable in the EU also apply in the US.
:werd: This is no different from someone stealing something and selling it on the black market(aka e46fanatics).

[rdsesq]

Wow talk about a straight p e n i s. Why dont you get a life you f a g. Oh and yes I am being immature, and yes there is no reason for name calling, but in your case youre just a d i c k. You have been on this board for how long, and now you start with this? Why dont you go practice some politics you prick? Or better yet go on ebay and bother some one there seems like you have alot of time on your hands :azzhole:

I am in no way associated with any of these companies, so if you feel you have some type of point to prove, take it out on me

Go f*ck yourself and your mother, you :azzhole:.

I have been on this board for year longer then you have you moron.

If you would bother to use the search function, you would see that I have posted several times on anti-replica side of this argument. IMO, they are theft and in the long term view bad for the aftermarket industry and bad for modding in general. And my ire has been against several board sponsors.

And one other thing Crispe00 :flipoff:

[tylor]

best group buy thread evar.

[ACS3 A.R.T]

Go f*ck yourself and your mother, you :azzhole:.

I have been on this board for year longer then you have you moron.

If you would bother to use the search function, you would see that I have posted several times on anti-replica side of this argument. IMO, they are theft and in the long term view bad for the aftermarket industry and bad for modding in general. And my ire has been against several board sponsors.

And one other thing Crispe00 :flipoff:

You are seriously by far the biggest pe nis shi t starter E46 Fagmatic ever. :thumbsup:

[JimBOT]

Damn those look nice man!

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Go f*ck yourself and your mother, you :azzhole:.

I have been on this board for year longer then you have you moron.

If you would bother to use the search function, you would see that I have posted several times on anti-replica side of this argument. IMO, they are theft and in the long term view bad for the aftermarket industry and bad for modding in general. And my ire has been against several board sponsors.

And one other thing Crispe00 :flipoff:

Rob right?

I've seen you at meets and what not. Seen you car up close acouple of times. Very nice indeed. I'm not really into meets anymore. I grew out of it. I've seen you around since I had my car.. for almost 3 years now? And I always thought you were a cool guy. Didn't really get to talk you then. Just cuz I don't approach.

Iono why you even have to do this. How about I'll just create another thread. Where you can just bash on me whatever you want. And say whatever you feel like, delicated to you. But lets just keep this thread clean please.

Hung-

[Jackboot]

<cut>I have posted several times on anti-replica side of this argument. IMO, they are theft and in the long term view bad for the aftermarket industry and bad for modding in general<cut>

Just curious - would you please explain your reasons for stating that replicas are bad for the aftermarket industry and modding in general?

[sheefo2k]

this thread needs tim... and lets get hung out of this, he's a CLASS A guy

[AssassinGT]

hahaha, rdsesq's panties are all in a bunch. :rofl: "Oh no, replica's!? how could you do such a terrible thing!!!!" I'm sorry, but you failed to grab anyones point of interest with your pointless argument. :P

Nice Rear Add-on FD!

[JCz04Bimmer]

While in the off-topic area I typically agree with rd's views, this is just retarded. Yes this may be copyright infringement but understand that even the slightest variation in the design will throw your entire gripe out the window. Did you see Reiger get sued by BMW when they produced their M3 replica front end. Looks pretty darn close! Hey they're even in the same country! But no lawsuit and no moaning from BMW. Why? Because they likely investigated the part to find out that there were subtle differences thus throwing out any claims of copyright infringement. And you know what, BMW wasn't hurt by it. Nor was any aftermarket company. Same rule applies here. There is no harm to AC Schnitzer because a part has been produced that mimics its designs. The impact on the aftermarket and modding community is null and, in fact, relpicas get people involved in the community faster than authentics do and ultimately create more demand for ALL products (authentic included) when people's financial situations permit.

[RVakharia]

Is it even worth pointing out that it appears you are violating ACS' rights by making a direct copy of their product.

Now if you want to take an orig ACS m-tech insert and wrap it in CF, that is one thing. But, IMO, this is straight out theft of somebody elses design as it is a direct copy.

God, you are such a little whiny b!tch, it's not even funny... :)

[q0192837465]

lol, i remember him doing another replica-is-bad thing a few months ago

[Born Again]

lol, i remember him doing another replica-is-bad thing a few months ago
hmm replicas are good for america!

U S A~!

U S A !

[rdsesq]

Rob right?

I've seen you at meets and what not. Seen you car up close acouple of times. Very nice indeed. I'm not really into meets anymore. I grew out of it. I've seen you around since I had my car.. for almost 3 years now? And I always thought you were a cool guy. Didn't really get to talk you then. Just cuz I don't approach.

Iono why you even have to do this. How about I'll just create another thread. Where you can just bash on me whatever you want. And say whatever you feel like, delicated to you. But lets just keep this thread clean please.

Hung-

Hung,
I am not "hating" on you. I don't know why you think I am. I am just pointing out that if what you are offering is an exact replica of the ACS part, you are violating their copyright.

Given that you have resources and talent in this area, it is disappointing that you won't go and take it that next step and make your parts from your own designs. You might have more sucess then you have now. For example, take the ACS replica you are offering. One of the biggest problem with it is that it is designed for ACS' exhaust, which is on the small side. Now if you widened the exhaust area, that is not a violation of ACS' copyright, and you are giving your customer more exhaust options. It is a small change, but, it does not make the product an exact replica (which is the issue in question) and add additional value to your customer by giving them more exhaust options at a lower price point. That is real value.

And as I have stated, it is not just you. You have b!tched about this with plenty of vendors on this forum about making replica parts. If you think its "hating", I am sorry you feel that way.

rob

[rdsesq]

Just curious - would you please explain your reasons for stating that replicas are bad for the aftermarket industry and modding in general?

If you take a very short term view of the modding market replicas are good. However, having been in the car modding scene for 20 years, I strongly believe that replicas are not in the best interest of the industry or the community.

Let's leave the potential ethics out of it. Let's pretend that there is no such thing as copyright law. Let's just look at this from a pure business point of view.

Any vendor that makes an original product has certain costs, and often these are not cheap. It costs a lot build a product from scratch. Do the design and enginerring to make sure that the product is useful, safe, easy to install, etc. That work is not cheap. ACS, Hamman, Roush, Lorinser, etc spend a lot of money on things like R&D, prototyping, testing, and for many of the German mfgs, TUV quals (for many products). Lets say that costs 100K to do all that work. Not uncommon or unlikely. Now the there is cost in actually mfg-ing the part. Lets take the ACS rear insert in question. It is not unlikely that ACS cost to mfg that part is $100 (you have to take into account materials & labor. And not just the labor to mfg the part, but, to stock it, ship it, market it, the cost of the rent on the place where it is made.) They wholesale that part for $300. This means that they are making $200 per part that they sell wholesale.

This means that have to sell 500 of those inserts just to recoup thier investment in even making that part. Now you need to add about 50% more to that to cover things like taxes, depreciation, and don't for get a bit of profit for the company. Sa ACS has to sell (wholesale) 750 of those inserts for the idea to even be a valid business decision. Now that is assuming that ACS is making 200% profit on that part. If the cost of mfg is $150 and they sell for $300 (a 100% profit) they need to sell 1000 of those inserts just to have be a viable business decision.

Now, somebody comes along and undercuts that price. Lets pretend that Hung sells 50 of these inserts. (you could argue that probably half of those sales wouldn;t have been made to ACS in the first place) So lets say that Hung's product takes away 25 sales from ACS. That is 5K out of ACS's pocket, and it means that they don't hit the sales mark for that insert in terms of it being a good business decision. So do they decide to make a similar insert for the e90. Probably not. Why? Because the last one was not profitable enough, so why take the business risk, this time around. That means few parts for the e90. That probably means fewer choices for modders. If you don't think this can happen, go and look at some of the aftermarket companies that founded SEMA back in the late 70's and early 80's. The original Crager wheel company went bankrupt, becuase people where copying there exact design and under cutting them. There are plenty of other examples of this in the aftermarket world.
It is one of the reasons why the automotive aftermarket nearly dried up and died in the early 80's. People having a good product and somebody coming along and making a direct copy of it and those comapnies that did all the original design work were never able to recoup their R&D costs. So they either got out of that market or went under.

If you don't think that this violation of copyright is a big deal, ask Hamman, who took action against an LA comopany that was replicating their parts.

Also, there are issues of quality. (I am sure that Hung's products will be of excellent quality so I don't put him into this area) There have been companies that have made replica parts that do not have the quality standards of the original. Combine that with vondors that sometimes will sell replica parts as the original, and this can give a bad (and possibly underserved) rep to the original mfg. I had an example of this with my Kerscher parts. My body shop had done two other Kerscher kits before. One had great fit, and the other had AWFUL fit. So they were reluctant to want to do the work, because of a bad experience. I have had people contact me when I was considering Kerscher, and I got the same results. Some people had great fitment, others had BAD problems. When I dud a bit deeper, I realized that the people that had bad fitment problems, didn't probably get original Kerscher parts. (They didn't get serial numbers or authenticity certificates in the boxes with the parts) I almost did not get a Kerscher kit becuase I had concerns about these fitment issues. If I had not researched it a bit more thoroughly, I would not have bought Kerscher kit. So there is other damage that can be done becuase of some replicas.

SO those are some of the reasons why I have a strong belief that replica parts are bad for the industry and for the community.

[rdsesq]

While in the off-topic area I typically agree with rd's views, this is just retarded. Yes this may be copyright infringement but understand that even the slightest variation in the design will throw your entire gripe out the window. Did you see Reiger get sued by BMW when they produced their M3 replica front end. Looks pretty darn close! Hey they're even in the same country! But no lawsuit and no moaning from BMW. Why? Because they likely investigated the part to find out that there were subtle differences thus throwing out any claims of copyright infringement. And you know what, BMW wasn't hurt by it. Nor was any aftermarket company. Same rule applies here. There is no harm to AC Schnitzer because a part has been produced that mimics its designs. The impact on the aftermarket and modding community is null and, in fact, relpicas get people involved in the community faster than authentics do and ultimately create more demand for ALL products (authentic included) when people's financial situations permit.
I agree that small differences are enough through the copyright argument out the window. I even pointed out that the ACS insert has a few limitations that Hung's product could address, and would make it a superior product to the ACS offering. However, I disagree that no harm is caused by replicas. See above. There are cases where replicas have put the original companies out of business. Besides, if replicas caused no harm to the ACS or Hamman (for example) then why would they have persued actions in the past to stop replicas of certian parts? If ACS, Hamman, Saleen, and other mfgs really could be shown that replicas cause no harm, why not license there designs to these replica makers for $1? And these replica mfgs can go to town and not have to worry about copyright. After all, other industries are equally not affected by such "piracy" and its good for their markets as well. Companies in the media and SW businesses, for example. ;)

The same arguements against SW, Music, and Video piracy work for replica parts as well.

[tylor]

no way am i reading all that ^^^

[ACS3 A.R.T]

There will ALWAYS be a market in the white, ALWAYS be a market in the grey and ALWAYS be a market in the black no matter what product it is. End of discussion, thank you for your input and blah blah blah....have a nice day.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Thanks for the essay. Didn't bother to read it all. But the difuser is not an exact copy. On one of the ends. We have it cut off. Can't see on pics. But i will take it tomorrow. So b4 anything.. have one in your hand 1st b4 accusing me.

[vaio76109]

Thanks for the essay. Didn't bother to read it... but thanks for the bump again.

:rolleyes: :thumbdwn:
-Im outie

[Jackboot]

Although I still disagree that replica parts are bad for the industry and community, I appreciate that you at least have some reasoning.


Let's leave the potential ethics out of it. Let's pretend that there is no such thing as copyright law. Let's just look at this from a pure business point of view.

Any vendor that makes an original product has certain costs, and often these are not cheap. It costs a lot build a product from scratch. Do the design and enginerring to make sure that the product is useful, safe, easy to install, etc. That work is not cheap. ACS, Hamman, Roush, Lorinser, etc spend a lot of money on things like R&D, prototyping, testing, and for many of the German mfgs, TUV quals (for many products). Lets say that costs 100K to do all that work. Not uncommon or unlikely. Now the there is cost in actually mfg-ing the part. Lets take the ACS rear insert in question. It is not unlikely that ACS cost to mfg that part is $100 (you have to take into account materials & labor. And not just the labor to mfg the part, but, to stock it, ship it, market it, the cost of the rent on the place where it is made.) They wholesale that part for $300. This means that they are making $200 per part that they sell wholesale.

This means that have to sell 500 of those inserts just to recoup thier investment in even making that part. Now you need to add about 50% more to that to cover things like taxes, depreciation, and don't for get a bit of profit for the company. Sa ACS has to sell (wholesale) 750 of those inserts for the idea to even be a valid business decision. Now that is assuming that ACS is making 200% profit on that part. If the cost of mfg is $150 and they sell for $300 (a 100% profit) they need to sell 1000 of those inserts just to have be a viable business decision.

I see what you are saying, but this could only possibly hold true for certain products. Most replica parts seem to be easily replicated asthetic parts, not technology intensive parts. You don't see exhaust systems etc being replicated because it is simply too complicated to reverse engineer and produce. My point is that tailights, spoilers, lips, inserts, etc are not ones that require extensive R&D etc in the first place. A replica company has the same expenses to produce a part otherwise: materials, labour, stocking, shipping, marketing, rent, etc are all expenses that apply to BOTH the authentic and replica companies. So are taxes, depreciation, and profit margin. Really, the only expense that does NOT apply to both companies is the R&D, and I think you are over-emphasising the significance of R&D in regards to asthetic mods.

Your argument works well for software, music, and video companies, but not for replica parts. Software, music, and videos can be reproduced and sold as EXACT REPLICAS of the original with NONE of the extremely high R&D, and production costs. These exceptionally high R&D costs cannot be compared to the cost of developing a car styling part.

Now, somebody comes along and undercuts that price. Lets pretend that Hung sells 50 of these inserts. (you could argue that probably half of those sales wouldn;t have been made to ACS in the first place) So lets say that Hung's product takes away 25 sales from ACS. That is 5K out of ACS's pocket, and it means that they don't hit the sales mark for that insert in terms of it being a good business decision. So do they decide to make a similar insert for the e90. Probably not. Why? Because the last one was not profitable enough, so why take the business risk, this time around. That means few parts for the e90. That probably means fewer choices for modders. If you don't think this can happen, go and look at some of the aftermarket companies that founded SEMA back in the late 70's and early 80's. The original Crager wheel company went bankrupt, becuase people where copying there exact design and under cutting them. There are plenty of other examples of this in the aftermarket world.

It is one of the reasons why the automotive aftermarket nearly dried up and died in the early 80's. People having a good product and somebody coming along and making a direct copy of it and those comapnies that did all the original design work were never able to recoup their R&D costs. So they either got out of that market or went under.

I think there are a couple of falacies here. First, you could just as easily argue that Crager and other companies did a shite job in marketing and efficiency rather than flatly say that replica companies caused them to go out of business. Second, I think your argument that parts for a subsequent model of car (e90) will not be made "at all" defies economics. So long as there are e90fanatics, there will be a supply of e90 parts.


If you don't think that this violation of copyright is a big deal, ask Hamman, who took action against an LA comopany that was replicating their parts.


But we decided up top (in bold) that we were NOT arguing this :)


Also, there are issues of quality. (I am sure that Hung's products will be of excellent quality so I don't put him into this area) There have been companies that have made replica parts that do not have the quality standards of the original.

You have a point here, but one that most everyone on the entire board will agree with. In fact, it is probably a rare exception where the replica company is able to produce a product that exceeds the original's quality. It is safe to say that people buying replica parts fully realise that it is not likely to have the same quality as the original - a tradeoff they are willing to make based on the decreased price.

Combine that with vondors that sometimes will sell replica parts as the original, and this can give a bad (and possibly underserved) rep to the original mfg. I had an example of this with my Kerscher parts. My body shop had done two other Kerscher kits before. One had great fit, and the other had AWFUL fit. So they were reluctant to want to do the work, because of a bad experience. I have had people contact me when I was considering Kerscher, and I got the same results. Some people had great fitment, others had BAD problems. When I dud a bit deeper, I realized that the people that had bad fitment problems, didn't probably get original Kerscher parts. (They didn't get serial numbers or authenticity certificates in the boxes with the parts) I almost did not get a Kerscher kit becuase I had concerns about these fitment issues. If I had not researched it a bit more thoroughly, I would not have bought Kerscher kit. So there is other damage that can be done becuase of some replicas.

This is a good point, but one that has to do with shady resellers and bad business rather than whether or not replicas are bad for the industry and community. Really, this has nothing to do with replica parts since one can argue just as many issues with resellers' shady sales tactics occur with 100% authentic products - resellers of ACS, iForged, DPE, lots of CF parts, etc - there are tonnes of examples on the board of this.

In my opinion, there is only one valid argument against replica parts - and that is highlighted in bold at the top. It is 100% an ethics issue and nothing else.

[BoostedBoogie]

if we didn't have replicas, where would all the kias/hyundai's be?

[tylor]

hung, could you respond to my last few pms? thanks

[Wilson]

Damn maybe I'm in the wrong forum. Last I checked I thought I was in the GB sub forum. :werd:

[vaio76109]

Damn maybe I'm in the wrong forum. Last I checked I thought I was in the GB sub forum. :werd:
:werd: does not mean weird, lol.

[Wilson]

:lmao:

[1badzhp]

:lmao: :lmao:

[Skeeter]

when can we pay?

[Silver8884]

U shipped to UK. If so how much is the shipping?

[jdr]

Groupbuy or not are you still offering this item.

[monkeyjuice5150]

Yes they are still offering them ...

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Yes we are offering these off the group buy also.

PPL have been buying them without the wait.

[eddiee46]

whatever you say dude....i am still buying.....

Hung, sorry for the delay....

payment will be on the way....

:thumbsup: for fiber design

[bigjae1976]

Still want a picture of the silver CF version. I will buy sometime shortly...pics or not. But pics would be really great :)

[Hung@Fiber-D]

Still want a picture of the silver CF version. I will buy sometime shortly...pics or not. But pics would be really great :)

will have a silver one shortly after this week.
heres the black one.

[jeffreywai]

how does it look like on the car??

[TitanSilber ZHP]

how does it look like on the car??


:werd: the carbon version!!

[Hung@Fiber-D]

:werd: the carbon version!!


All the CF version are all sold or reserved.

We are making more.

I think im going to throw one on Carlos Car later today just for the heck of it.

[TitanSilber ZHP]

All the CF version are all sold or reserved.

We are making more.

I think im going to throw one on Carlos Car later today just for the heck of it.


please post pics!!!!! :D

[r6er]

if i had an mtech bumper id get it in a heart beat

[Hung@Fiber-D]

please post pics!!!!! :D

Here's the unfinish pics version of the silver difuser.

[bigjae1976]

Here's the unfinish pics version of the silver difuser.

Okay, now put the friggin' thing on a blue car, then take a pic!!! :D

[TitanSilber ZHP]

Okay, now put the friggin' thing on a blue car, then take a pic!!! :D


I think he said that he would have pics tomorrow, hopefully of the black cf one.

[DarXide]

Hung,

Are you planning on doing another add-on for M-Tech to make it lower?

Thanks

[jacobo]

Here's the unfinish pics version of the silver difuser.

Silver carbon fiber looks amazing. That's sick.

[Hung@Fiber-D]

here it is.. mounted.

[bluecougar]

wow that looks soo siiiick! :D

[Hung@Fiber-D]

wow that looks soo siiiick! :D

Looks sort of like the CSL doesn't it?

Anywho heres the silver one which got done last night.
:omg:

[TitanSilber ZHP]

HOLY SH*T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :omg: That looks SO FVCKING HOT!!!! :smokin:

[Fiber-Design]

here it is.. mounted.
holysshat.... I didnt even know I had one on my car.... lol :clap: :evil:

[E46325Ci]

gawd damn.

fiber design is taking over sh!t

[still]

just saw them today.. they really do look good!

[Myster]

Looks sort of like the CSL doesn't it?

Anywho heres the silver one which got done last night.
:omg:


Making it difficult to decide either black or silver cf trim on silver grey!! :bow: :bow:

[jb330m54]

GB pricing still available?

[Hung@Fiber-D]

GB pricing still available?

Yup,

or just buy out of the group by price

[Mteknic330ci]

I want the black cf, looks real hot!!!
Props to Hung... :thumbsup:

[exmike]

hung, how easy is this to mount?

[monkeyjuice5150]

hung, how easy is this to mount?

Pretty easy to mount.. just some minor cutting to the bumper diffuser mounts.

[pimpn04coupe]

where are the pics you said you would get last week?

[Hung@Fiber-D]

where are the pics you said you would get last week?


I posted them in the show room.

[pimpn04coupe]

hmm cant find them :confused:

[Hung@Fiber-D]

hmm cant find them :confused:

Wait, what pics are you looking for?

[pimpn04coupe]

the black rear cf valence installed

[Hung@Fiber-D]

the black rear cf valence installed


go back a page.

I posted pics on carlos car.

[Born Again]

hung- whats the difference between the acs and the regular mtech defuser?

[Hung@Fiber-D]

hung- whats the difference between the acs and the regular mtech defuser?

ACS
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/42240CIMG0032.JPG

Mtec
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/502/44055xIMG_0531.JPG

[exmike]

is your csl trunk oem?

[bmw3series]

put me 2 the list for fiberglass

and everyone else ****...

[vaio76109]

Apparently you didn't notice this thread is 10 months old :confused:

[guest1017]

put me 2 the list for fiberglass

and everyone else ****...

:eek: they r not even a sponsor, but even when tehy were.. they didnt sell this anymore.