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      02-17-2014, 02:26 PM   #7
fravel
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Drives: Monaco Blue '06 330i
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhietter View Post
I have asked the people at BMW i this very same question. Apparently they can just remove damaged sections of the frame and attach new ones. Can't quite remember how they will do though, my guess is that they will train a team at each dealership to handle the types of repairs these new cars will need.

Bottom line, they have thought this through and have a solution.
If I had to guess I would assume they will make use of film adhesives much the way the aerospace industry does. Honda has a passenger jet where the entire fuselage is molded carbon fiber in 2 separate halves then glued together... that's it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by S3RI35 View Post
valid question - wonder if insurance rates will follow suit.

Hopefully the volume approach will bring down the price of the material.
I wouldn't bet on it. Sure carbon fiber is expensive to produce, but the raw materials are scarce and in high demand. Even if manufacturing costs go down the cost of raw material won't.
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