Fitment & installation
Fitment & Installation
The question every shop asks first is whether the kit will go on without a week of grinding and filler. CMST answers it at the tooling stage rather than in an apology afterwards: a 3D-printed master is bolted to an actual car before any mold is cut, and the mold is only made once that fit is right.
Development
Where the fit is actually decided
Eight stages from drawing to packed kit. Stage four is the expensive habit that makes the difference — it is also the easiest stage to skip, because at that point the tooling has not been paid for and there is nothing to protect.
- 01
3D DESIGN
The part is built in CAD against the vehicle's own body surface, not sketched to a silhouette.
- 02
DRAWING SIGN-OFF
Shape, part split and mounting are confirmed with the buyer before anything is printed.
- 03
PRINTED MASTER
A full-size master is 3D printed from the approved model.
- 04
TRIAL FIT ON THE CAR
The master is assembled on an actual vehicle. Panel gaps, mounting points and the line across the joins are checked on the car, not on a screen.
- 05
MASTER FINALISED
Corrections from the trial fit go back into the master before anything is tooled.
- 06
MOLD CUT
The tooling is cut only now — from a master that has already proven its fit on a car.
- 07
PRODUCTION SAMPLE
The first parts off the mold are checked against the written surface standard.
- 08
SAMPLE FIT CHECK
A sample is shipped for a fit check before the batch runs.
It's a sequencing decision, not a slogan: the mold is only cut once a master has already sat on a car. A correction before that point costs nothing; a correction after it means paying to redo the tooling.
What ships with it
What arrives with the kit
Fitting work is done by the shop; everything the shop needs to do it ships with the kit.
- 01
Hardware and instructions
Hardware and fitting instructions are supplied with every kit rather than sold as an extra.
- 02
Installation video
Installation videos are available for most vehicles — useful when the fitter has done the vehicle once and the detail is in the order of assembly.
- 03
Packed and labeled
CMST-branded export packaging with a product label and a parts pack, so a shortage is evident before it's opened in front of a customer.
- 04
Engineering on the other end
If something does not sit right during fitting, send photographs. Liability on a quality issue is confirmed within one working day.
What each grade needs in the bay
| Grade | Arrives | Shop work before fitting |
|---|---|---|
| DRY CARBON | Finished twill or forged weave | None — fit as delivered |
| VACUUM CARBON | Gloss clear coat | None — fit as delivered |
| FRP | Primed, paint-ready | Paint to body color, plus booth and drying time |
| ABS | Gloss or matte black, molded in | None — fit as delivered |
| PP | Gloss or matte black, molded in | None — fit as delivered |
Mixed kits are common — an FRP bumper shell with dry carbon detail parts still needs booth time for part of the order. Book the bay against the FRP content, not the carbon. Grade detail is on the material guide.
Material guideConfirm the vehicle before you order
The most common cause of a part that will not fit is not the part. Model years, facelifts and trim levels differ between the Chinese market and export markets, and a car that carries the same model name can have a different bumper, different mounting points or a different light unit.
So: if there is any doubt that the vehicle in front of you matches the listing, send photographs of the actual car — front and rear three-quarter, plus a close view of the bumper and the light units. Sales engineers read them and confirm the fitment before anything is quoted. It costs a day. Ordering the wrong panel costs a return, and a return costs freight in both directions.
Standard lead time is 7–20 days; forged wheels are 15–35 days depending on construction. Lead time is confirmed against the production schedule at the point the order is confirmed, and peak-season extensions are flagged before you confirm — never after.
Questions fitters ask
Does the kit need modification to fit?+
It is tooled not to. The master is trial-fitted on an actual car before the mold is cut, and a sample is fit-checked before the batch runs. What still varies is the individual car — accident history and previous repairs move panel gaps around, and no supplier can tool for that.
Who installs it?+
A professional installer. CMST supplies shops and distributors; hardware and instructions come with the kit and installation videos cover most vehicles.
Does FRP arrive painted?+
No — primed and paint-ready. Carbon parts arrive finished; ABS and PP arrive in molded black. Plan the booth time against the FRP content of the order.
Do wide-arch kits need different wheels?+
Yes. A widebody conversion changes the track, so wider wheels and the matching offsets are part of the job. Fitment data is supplied with the kit, and CMST Forged wheels can be quoted on the same order.
What if a part is damaged when the package is opened?+
Photograph the packaging and the part as received and send them with the order reference. Transit damage is a freight matter rather than a warranty one, and responsibility is confirmed within one working day of the report.
How long is the warranty on a fitted part?+
Carbon fiber parts are covered for three months from the date they are fitted, forged wheels for five years. Confirmed quality issues are replaced with the same part or compensated at equivalent value; freight is not covered, and non-quality damage can be repaired on a chargeable basis. Full terms are on the warranty page.
Send photos of the car, get the fitment confirmed
Vehicle, year and trim — with photographs if the year or facelift is uncertain. The check happens before the quote, not after the kit lands.