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Fitting the CMST McLaren 720S carbon kit is an advanced installation that touches the front lip, carbon fenders, carbon bonnet, side skirts, rear bumper and the active rear wing — work that involves the 720S's washer jets, parking radar, tail-light wiring and the wing's hydraulic strut and angle sensor. Because several pieces interact with electronics and active aero, this is a job for an experienced workshop, not a driveway. The guide below sets out the tools, the sequence and the critical cautions so each panel fits with even gaps and every system still works afterwards.

• Vehicle: McLaren 720S
• Kit pieces: front lip, carbon front fenders, carbon bonnet, side skirts, rear bumper, active rear wing, rear lip
• Fitment type: bolt-on and bonded, with electrical and active-aero connections
• Difficulty: advanced — professional fitment strongly recommended
• Target panel gaps: around 2–4 mm between fenders, bonnet and doors

Before you start: tools and preparation

This kit goes well beyond tape-and-screws. You will need a full trim and fastener tool set, torque drivers, panel-bonding and windscreen-grade adhesive with primer, automotive double-sided tape, isopropyl alcohol or wax-and-grease remover, a heat gun, masking tape, feeler gauges for setting gaps, and electrical tools for reconnecting lights, the parking radar and the rear-wing sensor. A hoist and a second pair of hands are essential — the 720S's clamshell panels are awkward and expensive to handle alone. Work in a clean, dry, temperature-controlled bay so adhesives cure properly and there is no risk of grit under a panel.

Dry-fit every piece before any adhesive is mixed. The 720S relies on tight, even shut-lines, so confirm each panel sits with consistent gaps to its neighbours first. Wash and fully dry the car, then clean each mating surface with isopropyl alcohol immediately before bonding. Keep all original fasteners, clips and brackets organised — many are reused, and the rear bumper in particular relies on relocating factory hardware.

Step 1: Front lip

Begin at the nose. Separate the factory front bumper from its lower section by removing the connecting hardware, then offer up the CMST front lip and check it follows the bumper line evenly side to side. Where the lip meets the bumper, key the bonding area, wipe it clean, apply primer, then add double-sided tape and a few beads of panel adhesive. Press the lip home from the centre outward, refit the bumper to the car and secure the lower edge with the original screws plus the supplied self-tapping fixings at the corners. Set it at a height that respects the 720S's very low nose.

Step 2: Carbon front fenders

The carbon fenders are an alignment-critical swap. Remove the front clamshell area as required — typically the front bumper, lights, wheels and the original fenders — then transfer the factory clips and brackets onto the CMST fenders. Offer each fender up and use its built-in adjustment to set the gap to the bonnet and door to roughly 2–4 mm, checking both sides match before tightening. Fit all fixings, then reinstall the bumper, lights, washer components and wheels. Take your time here: uneven fender gaps are the most visible sign of a rushed 720S install.

Step 3: Carbon bonnet

With the fenders set, fit the carbon bonnet. Disconnect the washer-jet hose and detach the original bonnet by removing the two side bolts and any lock and strut hardware. Transfer the factory washer nozzles, locks and gas strut to the carbon bonnet. Offer it up with two people and do not fully tighten at first — adjust its position so the shut-lines to the fenders are even (again around 2–4 mm), then torque the side bolts once aligned. Reconnect and test the washer jets, and confirm the bonnet latches and releases correctly before moving on.

Step 4: Side skirts

Work one side at a time. Pre-drill or locate the marked fixing points, key and clean the bonding line, apply primer and tape, and position the door-side skirt section first with two people holding it aligned. Once the gap to the door is correct, press it home and secure the lower edge with self-tapping screws. Fit the body-side section the same way, matching height and gap to the first side. Because the 720S sits low, set the skirts so they tuck cleanly without hanging proud.

Step 5: Rear bumper and rear lip

The rear bumper is the most involved single piece. Raise the rear wing for access, remove the rear under-tray, the engine-bay heat shroud where required and the original rear bumper, taking care with the tail-light wiring. Transfer the parking radar and the CMST heat shroud to the new bumper and bond the tail lights in place with the specified adhesive. Offer the bumper up, mark the original screw positions, drill where needed and secure it, then reconnect and test the radar and lights. Fit the rear lip to the bumper's lower edge with tape and adhesive, refitting the original screws to lock it. Restore the under-tray and heat shroud.

Step 6: Active rear wing

The 720S's rear wing is active, so this step needs care. Remove the original wing and its under-tray, then disconnect the angle-sensor wiring and separate the hydraulic strut and connector — the factory uses locating pins that must come out cleanly. Mount the CMST wing using the original pins, reconnect the strut, the angle sensor and its wiring, and tidy the loom back into place. Refit the under-tray, then cycle the wing through its travel and confirm the hydraulics raise and lower it normally. If the wing does not move correctly, stop and recheck the sensor and strut connections before driving.

Critical cautions

Three things matter most on this car. First, the electronics: the radar, tail lights, washer jets and the wing's angle sensor must all be reconnected and tested — never bond a panel over an untested connection. Second, the gaps: the 720S lives on tight, even shut-lines, so use feeler gauges and adjust before tightening rather than after. Third, ground clearance: the front lip and skirts sit very low, so set realistic heights and use the car's nose-lift system on driveways and speed humps. Let all adhesive cure fully before washing or wet driving.

Professional fitment in Australia

Given the active aero, the carbon clamshell panels and the multiple electrical connections, this is a kit we strongly recommend fitting professionally. An experienced workshop will set the fender and bonnet gaps correctly, handle the radar and wing wiring, and pressure-test that every system works before signing the car off. Our team can help arrange fitment and advise on protecting the carbon afterwards.

Explore options for the car in our McLaren Body Kit collection, look at rear aero under McLaren wing options, tidy the sills with McLaren side skirts, and read about the brand's carbon process on the CMST page.

FAQ

Can I fit the CMST 720S kit at home?

We do not recommend it. The kit involves carbon clamshell panels, the parking radar, tail-light wiring, washer jets and the active rear wing's hydraulic strut and angle sensor. Those systems must be reconnected and tested correctly, which is workshop territory.

What panel gaps should the carbon fenders and bonnet have?

Aim for roughly 2–4 mm between the fenders, bonnet and doors, matched evenly on both sides. The CMST fenders and bonnet include adjustment for this, so set the gaps with feeler gauges before final tightening.

Does fitting the kit affect the active rear wing?

The CMST wing reuses the factory locating pins, hydraulic strut and angle sensor, so once reconnected it should raise and lower normally. After fitting, cycle the wing through its full travel to confirm the hydraulics and sensor work before driving.

Will the parking sensors still work?

Yes, provided the parking radar is transferred to the new rear bumper and reconnected during installation. Test the radar before the bumper is finally secured, so any wiring issue is caught early.

How low does the front lip sit?

The 720S is already very low, and the front lip lowers it further, so ground clearance is a genuine consideration. Set the lip at a sensible height, use the car's nose-lift on inclines, and protect the leading edge with paint-protection film.

Planning a 720S carbon build? Explore the parts in our McLaren Body Kit range and talk to the AME Motorsport team about professional fitment.