Porsche Panamera CMST Carbon Aero Kit Install Guide
Fitting the CMST carbon-fibre aero kit to a 2024 Porsche Panamera (971.2 facelift) is a bolt-on and bonded installation that pairs 3M tape and polyurethane adhesive with self-tapping screws — no factory panels are cut. The kit comprises a front lip, front air-vent trims, carbon side skirts, and a rear lip that re-uses the car's original parking-radar and pedestrian sensors. The rear lip is the involved part because the factory rear bumper comes off and the sensors transfer across; the rest is straightforward surface-prep and alignment. Allow four to six hours with two people.
- Vehicle: Porsche Panamera (971.2 facelift, 2024 model year)
- Fitment years: 2024-onward (24 model)
- Material: Dry carbon fibre (prepreg autoclave), gloss or matte clear-coat
- Key pieces: Front lip, front air-vent trims (pair), side skirts, rear lip
- Fixing method: Sanded bonding faces + 3M tape + glass adhesive + self-tapping screws
- Difficulty: Intermediate — rear lip involves sensor transfer; allow 4–6 hours
Tools and materials
Most of this job is preparation and patience rather than mechanical work. Lay everything out first so adhesive does not skin over while you search for a part.
- Cordless drill/driver with a Phillips bit and a small twist drill for locating holes
- Fine sandpaper (around 240–320 grit) to key the carbon bonding faces
- Adhesion promoter, panel wipe, and lint-free cloths
- Polyurethane "glass glue" bead adhesive and AB two-part epoxy (for the radar sensor bases)
- Aluminium-foil adhesive tape (to re-mount the pedestrian/kick sensor)
- A marker pen for dry-fit positioning, masking tape, and a trim-removal tool
- A vehicle hoist or ramps, and a heat gun for cold-weather tape activation
Preparation: dry-fit, mark, and clean
Wash the car and move it into a workshop above about 18 °C. The 3M acrylic tape on each piece only reaches full strength as it warms, so fitting in the cold or in the rain is the main reason edges lift later. Dry-fit every carbon piece against its panel before removing any tape backing, mark the position with the pen, then wipe each bonding face with panel wipe followed by adhesion promoter and let it flash off.
Step 1 — Front lip
Lightly sand the inner upper edge of the front lip where it will meet the bumper, then clean it. Run 3M tape along that sanded edge and add a few dabs of glass adhesive beside the tape. Wipe the bumper's mating face with adhesion promoter. Peel one end of the tape, offer the lip up to your marks, and have a second person confirm the gaps left and right before peeling the rest. Press firmly along the whole length, then drive self-tapping screws through the recessed groove on the underside of the lip to lock it to the bumper. The screws carry the structural load; the tape and adhesive seal the join.
Step 2 — Front air-vent trims
Fit the vent trims to the lower corners of the front bumper. Offer each trim up first, confirm the position, and mark it with the pen so you can re-locate it precisely. Sand the perimeter of the trim's bonding face, clean it, then apply 3M tape and a few points of glass adhesive. Wipe the bumper with adhesion promoter, peel one end of the tape, align to your marks, and press firmly until it grabs. Repeat on the opposite side with the same method.
Step 3 — Side skirts
Start with a test-fit. Offer each skirt up to the sill and check whether the top edge inserts fully into the factory sill lip. If it does not seat all the way, grind back the inner top corner of the skirt slightly until it locates cleanly — forcing it will leave a gap. Once it fits, sand the inner upper edge, clean it, and run 3M tape along that edge with glass-adhesive dabs alongside. Open both doors, wipe the sill with adhesion promoter, peel one end of the tape, and with one person holding the skirt level and on its marks, confirm the front and rear alignment before committing the rest. Press the length down hard, then fix the bottom edge with self-tapping screws into the skirt's groove. Repeat on the other side.
Step 4 — Rear lip with sensor transfer
This is the most detailed step, so work methodically. Remove the factory rear bumper and original lip together, then separate the original lip from the bumper. The CMST rear lip needs the car's existing sensors moved across to it.
- Offer the CMST rear lip's wrap-around corners to the bumper, mark and drill the locating holes, add glass adhesive, and fix the corners with self-tapping screws so the alignment is set.
- Transfer the two factory parking-radar sensors and the rear pedestrian (kick) sensor from the original lip to the CMST piece. Mount the kick sensor with aluminium-foil adhesive tape, and bond the two radar sensor bases with AB two-part epoxy so they sit at the correct depth.
- Fix the CMST lip back to the rear bumper with self-tapping screws, pressing the join tight so there are no gaps or cracks along the seam.
- Refit the assembled bumper and lip to the car using the original bumper screws, then self-drill and screw the locating holes along the rear-lip groove to finish.
Radar caution: the parking sensors must sit at their original angle and depth in the new lip. If the radar bases are bonded too far forward or back, the Panamera's parking system can throw false readings. Dry-fit the sensors and check the system before final assembly.
Fitment tips and cautions
- Sand, then prime, then bond. CMST specifies sanding the inner bonding faces on the Panamera pieces. Keying the surface plus adhesion promoter is what stops aftermarket lips peeling at the corners.
- Warm the work. Below roughly 15 °C the 3M tape will not key. Heat the panel and the room, or use a heat gun on a low setting.
- Two people for every panel. The skirts and rear lip are long; once tape touches paint it does not lift cleanly. A helper holding alignment prevents a ruined panel.
- Respect the sensors. The rear lip integrates the factory radar and pedestrian sensors. Transfer them carefully and verify the parking system works before you button everything up.
- Paint-matching. The kit ships clear-coated. For a colour-matched look, paint the pieces off the car before fitting rather than masking them on the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CMST Panamera kit need the bumpers cut?
No. The front lip, vent trims and side skirts bond and screw onto the factory panels, and the rear lip mounts to the original rear bumper. Nothing is cut. The only drilling is for self-tapping screws and the rear-lip locating holes, which sit hidden behind the carbon.
What happens to the parking sensors on the rear lip?
The car's two factory parking-radar sensors and the rear pedestrian sensor are transferred from the original lip into the CMST rear lip. The kick sensor is re-mounted with aluminium-foil adhesive and the radar bases are set with two-part epoxy. Fitted correctly, the parking system works exactly as standard.
How long does the Panamera installation take?
A workshop familiar with body kits usually needs four to six hours. The rear lip takes the most time because the bumper comes off and the sensors transfer across. A first-time DIY fitter should set aside a full day and a hoist.
Can I fit the Panamera body kit at home?
The front lip, vent trims and skirts are within reach of a confident DIY fitter with two people. The rear lip's sensor transfer is the part most owners prefer to leave to a workshop, because a misplaced radar sensor affects the parking system. If in doubt, have a professional handle the rear.
Is this dry carbon or wet-layup carbon?
CMST supplies the Panamera pieces in dry carbon fibre — prepreg material cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave. Dry carbon is lighter and keeps a crisper weave than hand-laid wet-layup carbon, so the finish stays sharp beneath the clear coat.
Get your Panamera kit fitted in Australia
Prefer to have it done by experienced hands? AME Motorsport supplies the full CMST Panamera aero kit and can arrange professional fitment. Explore the CMST body kit range for Porsche, view matching carbon side skirts, or see the complete CMST carbon fibre body kit collection. Contact us to book fitment and arrange shipping across Australia.