CLK55 W209 diffuser

[SteveX]

Hi Guys,

I've looked at these before and done a ton of searching so I am not expecting many more options here, but just thought I would ask the question if anyone knows of any alternative rear diffusers other than the one from CKS for what I consider to be a silly for a piece of plastic with a thin layer of carbon ontop @ £600.

To me they aren't worth any more than £350, and with our friends in the US getting them from VIS and other shops for aroun 350-400 USD I refuse to pay any more (especially as CKS likely have a bulk buy discount and get them from the states for 200-300 USD + shipping).

I have contemplated getting one myself from one of the VIS resellers (for some reason they seem to sell them cheaper) but wanted to know if there were any other options anyone had discovered that I am not aware of?

It's frustrating that the C class of the same era has carbon diffusers readily available for a couple of hundred pounds, seems like people didn't like making many available to the UK market for the CLK.

 

[Lit91]

I've had the same problem finding a splitter (here in the UK) and have also refused to pay £500-600 for a piece of plastic, you can probably get a bumper cheaper...

I've given up looking, as it seems there's nothing around (unfortunately), I think there's more stuff available for the new C Class Coupe models than there ever was for the CLK & the demand for the CLK toys seems to be low...

 

[SteveX]

I've had the same problem finding a splitter (here in the UK) and have also refused to pay £500-600 for a piece of plastic, you can probably get a bumper cheaper...

I've given up looking, as it seems there's nothing around (unfortunately), I think there's more stuff available for the new C Class Coupe models than there ever was for the CLK & the demand for the CLK toys seems to be low...

That's the thing, you can actually get a whole bumper cheaper although they will be after market fiberglass stuff and I want to keep the OEM quality bumper.

The carbon fiber used on the splitter is probably a £20 sheet, granted there are other materials but I've never seen the inside of one shown, probably because it doesn't get seen so they don't use a second sheet I doubt after the core. In any case, I'd pay £300 for one but not £600.

I did toy with the idea of buying an after market bumper with the diffuser already on it as part of the mold they used, then trim and remove that part and create a mold from it to do my own. Then I'd still be looking at taking a mold from a pattern that was from a mold, and with the aftermarket bumper at say 300, I would be looking at another 150 in supplies to make the mold and get the materials to make the product.

A lot of hassle and or expense either way.

 

[Lit91]

The funny thing is, same as the cheap fiberglass bumpers - these carbon or carbon lookalike parts don't offer perfect fitment... It's a real shame that triple R aren't doing anything for MB.

 

[SteveX]

The funny thing is, same as the cheap fiberglass bumpers - these carbon or carbon lookalike parts don't offer perfect fitment... It's a real shame that triple R aren't doing anything for MB.

I noticed that too, I saw a fitting guide somewhere for the CKS one that requires 3m tape or epoxy to bond, then holes drilled and cable ties putting in the edges underneath to pull it in :/

Interestingly when I was looking for supplies a while ago to create a mold for another project, I came across EasyComposites, for anyone who digs this up and is interested in how to make a mold and or do your own carbon stuff they have posted a very good 1hr tutorial on it:

Video Tutorial - How to Make a Carbon Fibre Car Bonnet/Hood - Easy Composites