After arriving in the United States at the age of 17, Harry used his passion for cars to realize his dream of opening an auto shop. In 1974, he leased a small shed at the intersection of La Brea and Olympic, a short distance from landmarks like the Miracle Mile and the L.A. County Museum of Art.
This location is now the top-of-the-line Harry’s Auto Collision repair center. The 90,000 sq. ft. flagship facility has become a premier car collision repair center in the Los Angeles Area. In 2014, Harry’s Auto expanded into Thousand Oaks, opening a second location at the Auto Mall, the town’s automotive retail center.
We hold the prestigious Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and I-CAR Gold certifications. Our technicians are I-CAR Platinum certified, showcasing our professionalism, commitment to safety, and repair service quality.
We are also an official collision center for over 10 automakers and our team continuously receives updated manufacturer training. These certifications allow us to work on the latest models and provide your car with specialized services, such as carbon fiber hood repairs or trim piece restorations.
Luxury cars, performance models, and top-trim cars from automakers like Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati, McLaren, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche regularly incorporate carbon fiber elements. This durable material is lightweight, 5 to 10 times stronger, and twice as stiff as steel and is used in numerous other industries, such as carbon fiber foundation repairs in homes. In cars, it is a perfect choice for body panels, side skirts, spoilers, mirrors, doors, trunk lids, hoods, and aerodynamic parts.
If your car is involved in a collision, many of these carbon fiber elements and trim pieces can end up broken or damaged. Repairing these elements requires specialized skills and equipment. Harry’s Auto is a certified carbon fiber shop capable of providing a full range of repair, maintenance, and reconditioning services. We follow each manufacturer’s processes and recommendations, restoring your car’s carbon fiber parts to like-new condition.
- Inspection and assessment. Most carbon fiber repairs are categorized into two groups: cosmetic and structural. The type and extent of the repairs depend on which category your damaged carbon fiber part falls into. A carbon fiber repair task is considered cosmetic when the part’s actual carbon fiber material isn’t broken or compromised. If it is, then the repair task is considered structural.
For example, a scratched carbon fiber body panel is typically considered a cosmetic repair, whereas a hole or a tear would be considered a structural repair. Harry’s Auto Collision technicians can inspect and catalog every damaged carbon fiber element, ensuring it receives the correct repair service.
- Cosmetic repairs. If the damage to your part or body panel hasn’t broken or torn the carbon fiber material, the technicians at Harry’s Auto can use less invasive repair techniques. We can perform various cosmetic repairs to fix imperfections, such as sanding, polishing, repainting, resin injections for pitting, gel coat repairs, and clear coat reapplications.
- Structural repairs. If your carbon fiber elements have been damaged to the point of tearing, bending, or forming holes, we have the equipment and techniques to repair them and restore their strength. Specialized carbon fiber repair techniques include carbon fiber patching and curing, vacuum bagging, resin infusions, and lamination of extra carbon fiber layers. They are designed to restore the part’s original strength or enhance it even further.
Do you live in the Los Angeles or Thousand Oaks areas and need carbon fiber repairs near you? Consider booking an appointment with Harry’s Auto Collision. We have over 50 years of experience providing auto body services to our communities. Our team has developed a comprehensive carbon fiber repair process. With us, you can expect the following:
- Damage evaluation. We will inspect and document every carbon fiber part damaged in a collision. Our team will evaluate whether your carbon parts need cosmetic or structural repairs and provide an accurate cost estimate.
- Cleaning and initial preparation. After booking your repair service and leaving your car with us, we will clean all damaged carbon fiber parts to prepare the surface for repairs and treatments. If needed, we may disassemble or remove the pieces from your vehicle.
- Surface preparation. After cleaning, we will sand the carbon fiber’s surface around the damaged area to roughen it and remove residual coatings, preparing it for our repair materials.
- Resin injections. Once the carbon fiber surface is prepped, our technicians will use resin or epoxy filler materials to fill in small cracks, pits, and other non-structural damage.
- Structural repairs. If your carbon fiber parts are severely damaged, we may apply a combination of epoxy resin layering and fresh patches of carbon fiber to the affected part. Our technicians will vacuum bag the damaged spot and cure it until the carbon part regains or exceeds its original strength.
- Sanding and reshaping. After the resin has finished curing, we will sand the surface of the repaired areas until they regain the shapes and contours of the original factory pieces. Our team can access original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and factory specifications to use as a model, ensuring it matches your car’s original specifications.
- Polishing and re-coating. When your repaired carbon fiber parts have been reshaped to their original specifications, we polish them to restore their glossy look. We then apply a fresh layer of clear coat to protect the surface from the elements.
- Quality control. Our repair process includes a quality control (QC) procedure, where each repaired part receives a thorough inspection. We will ensure they meet OEM structural and aesthetic specifications and verify fit and alignment. We only consider the repair service complete once 100% of the repaired parts pass our QC tests.
How long do carbon fiber repairs typically take?
It depends on the number of damaged parts and whether they need cosmetic or structural repairs. A single part can require between a few hours for minor cosmetic repairs and a few days for large structural repair jobs with patching and curing.
Can all carbon fiber parts be repaired?
Typically, yes. Most carbon fiber elements can be repaired, and our team will use their expertise to prioritize repairs as much as possible. If the damage is too extensive for structural repairs, we will order a factory brand-new replacement from the manufacturer and have it fitted on your vehicle.
Will repaired carbon fiber parts look as good as new?
Yes. Our carbon fiber specialists can restore, reshape, and fit a repaired carbon fiber part to ensure it matches all factory original specifications.
Do repaired carbon fiber parts affect my car’s performance?
No. Properly conducted carbon fiber repairs performed by our experienced professionals will restore the part’s original strength and integrity.
