What To Do....The Great Reflector Debate

jeffnnj · 12-02-2010, 04:30 PM

When I got my 2006 550i it came with body color reflectors in the rear bumpers. At the time, everyone who I knew with the same car was getting red "Euro" reflectors for their back bumpers so I, of course, did the same thing. I just looked through the Aftermarket Rim thread and it looks like the vast majority of you have replaced your orange front reflectors with body colored ones, doing the exact opposite thing as E60 owners back in the day. Just wondering if I am the only one who decided to just keep the stock ones. Am I all alone out here?

James T. Kirk · 12-02-2010, 04:48 PM

You may just be alone on this. The front reflectors are a consequence of USDOT law. You won't see them on EU versions of the car which one could argue is the originally intended design. Those reflectors are right up there with those yellow obligatory child safety seat signs that they plaster on all of our sun visors. Anyone know how to get THOSE off?

jeffnnj · 12-02-2010, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

You may just be alone on this. The front reflectors are a consequence of USDOT law. You won't see them on EU versions of the car which one could argue is the originally intended design. Those reflectors are right up there with those yellow obligatory child safety seat signs that they plaster on all of our sun visors. Anyone know how to get THOSE off?

Actually yes. I did a DUI on my 2002 M3. Tape off around the perimeter of the sign with masking tape. Then apply Goo Gone liberally to the entire area and allow to penetrate for a couple of minutes. You will notice the area bubbling up. Should will then the easily wipe off. If not then reapply, wait and try again. After it's gone, clean the entire area with vinyl or all purpose household cleaner. Worked great for me.

KJM3 · 12-02-2010, 04:55 PM

If I dont see it when i drive the car then I dont care that much, if someone hates the yellow ones that much they are more than welcome to send me a pair of jet black ones for free and I'll gladly install them

linsm3 · 12-02-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

You may just be alone on this. The front reflectors are a consequence of USDOT law. You won't see them on EU versions of the car which one could argue is the originally intended design. Those reflectors are right up there with those yellow obligatory child safety seat signs that they plaster on all of our sun visors. Anyone know how to get THOSE off?

I deleted them with help from IND

James T. Kirk · 12-02-2010, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the Goo-Gone tip! That won't harm the vinyl, right?

Erhan · 12-02-2010, 05:21 PM

I never "fix"ed this in my Z4 MC, and I doubt I will in M3.

sor · 12-02-2010, 05:29 PM

Look at it from the perspective that the trend is to take it back to the original euro look, then your 550i example and the front reflector trend are pretty much the same thing.

toper · 12-02-2010, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJM3

If I dont see it when i drive the car then I dont care that much, if someone hates the yellow ones that much they are more than welcome to send me a pair of jet black ones for free and I'll gladly install them

so you don't care if your car is dirty, gets keyed, or has dings?

KJM3 · 12-02-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toper

so you don't care if your car is dirty, gets keyed, or has dings?

No, those things would annoy me, the yellow reflectors dont annoy me

toper · 12-02-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJM3

No, those things would annoy me, the yellow reflectors dont annoy me

They're actually orange.

KJM3 · 12-02-2010, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toper

They're actually orange.

See how much I've noticed them

toper · 12-02-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJM3

See how much I've noticed them

LOL, good one!

SchnellM3 · 12-03-2010, 01:38 PM

What I never understood is why they can make them reasonably "camouflaged" in other models and they just put them in plain sight on ours

I was also debating what to do with mine, unfortunately 4 weeks ago even though I was parked in a completely different time zone at the store some idiot (we'll keep it clean) in a pimped out caddy thought it would be a good idea to swipe my front bumper with his instead of backing out of his space completely. So now I have a new Euro bumper coming all paid for by him

I hate the fact that it had to come to that for me to do it since now my M wont be whole and feel a little tainted when I look at her now. I work so hard to keep all of my cars nice and its always seems like other people screw it up

MShao825 · 12-03-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffnnj

Actually yes. I did a DUI on my 2002 M3. Tape off around the perimeter of the sign with masking tape. Then apply Goo Gone liberally to the entire area and allow to penetrate for a couple of minutes. You will notice the area bubbling up. Should will then the easily wipe off. If not then reapply, wait and try again. After it's gone, clean the entire area with vinyl or all purpose household cleaner. Worked great for me.

You mean you did a DIY. There's a big difference

saeedg48 · 12-03-2010, 02:44 PM

The reflectors don't bother me but my friends are always suggesting that I send the money to get replacement color matched ones. Given that I have a Sparkling Graphite Metallic (they don't make the color on M3z anymore) - they cost way too much. $80 for what??? an 80Cent part made in China by Lee and Wong..

I'd be interested if they were $30>

zhangzeyuandss · 12-03-2010, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MShao825

You mean you did a DIY. There's a big difference

saw that two.. I was like what.. DUI .lol

LateBraking · 12-03-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saeedg48

The reflectors don't bother me but my friends are always suggesting that I send the money to get replacement color matched ones. Given that I have a Sparkling Graphite Metallic (they don't make the color on M3z anymore) - they cost way too much. $80 for what??? an 80Cent part made in China by Lee and Wong..

I'd be interested if they were $30>

FYI at the very least, IND reflectors cost 70-80, and are OEM reflectors that have been painted. I have had made-in-China replica reflectors before, and the quality is not comparable, fitment and longevity being the two issues. For OEM, you pay to play, I guess.

bunny · 12-03-2010, 06:29 PM

i guess i'm the only one with the clear reflectors. i love them on my AW m3

View Poll Results: What have you done with your front reflectors?
Left them alone.	16	28.07%
Replaced them with body colored ones.	36	63.16%
Replaced them with clear or another color reflector.	5	8.77%
Replaced them with carbon fiber inserts.	0	0%
Voters: 57. You may not vote on this poll

12-02-2010, 04:30 PM	#1
jeffnnj Second Lieutenant Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NNJ, USA Posts: 281 iTrader: (0)	What To Do....The Great Reflector Debate When I got my 2006 550i it came with body color reflectors in the rear bumpers. At the time, everyone who I knew with the same car was getting red "Euro" reflectors for their back bumpers so I, of course, did the same thing. I just looked through the Aftermarket Rim thread and it looks like the vast majority of you have replaced your orange front reflectors with body colored ones, doing the exact opposite thing as E60 owners back in the day. Just wondering if I am the only one who decided to just keep the stock ones. Am I all alone out here? __________________ 2011 M3 Convertible, Alpine White/Black Novillo Leather 2008 550i Sport, Platinum Gray/Natural Brown (retired) 2006 550i Silver Gray/Black (retired) 2002 M3 Convertible Titanium Silver/Black(retired) 1998 328i Convertible Arctic Silver/Gray(retired)
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12-02-2010, 05:21 PM	#7
Erhan Colonel Drives: Cooper S Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,462 iTrader: (0)	I never "fix"ed this in my Z4 MC, and I doubt I will in M3. __________________ 2011 MINI Cooper S previous cars: E92 M3, Z4MC, Z4 Roadster, E36 328 Sedan

12-03-2010, 01:38 PM	#14
SchnellM3 Digger Drives: 03 E46 M3, 09 E92 M3, 09 X6 50 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pa Posts: 2,607 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 Tra ... [4.00] 2009 BMW E92 M3 [4.17] 2009 Yamaha R1 (FOR ... [4.75]	What I never understood is why they can make them reasonably "camouflaged" in other models and they just put them in plain sight on ours I was also debating what to do with mine, unfortunately 4 weeks ago even though I was parked in a completely different time zone at the store some idiot (we'll keep it clean) in a pimped out caddy thought it would be a good idea to swipe my front bumper with his instead of backing out of his space completely. So now I have a new Euro bumper coming all paid for by him I hate the fact that it had to come to that for me to do it since now my M wont be whole and feel a little tainted when I look at her now. I work so hard to keep all of my cars nice and its always seems like other people screw it up __________________ 2009 E92 M3 /// Melbourne Red /// Fox Red /// M DKG Full Innotech Exhaust - DINAN Intake - IND Engine Bay Appearance - IND Hand Stitched Boot Covers - and much more....

12-03-2010, 02:44 PM	#16
saeedg48 Brigadier General Drives: 2008 6MT E90 M3 & 2012 CLS63 P Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Unknown Posts: 3,354 iTrader: (1)	The reflectors don't bother me but my friends are always suggesting that I send the money to get replacement color matched ones. Given that I have a Sparkling Graphite Metallic (they don't make the color on M3z anymore) - they cost way too much. $80 for what??? an 80Cent part made in China by Lee and Wong.. I'd be interested if they were $30> __________________ _______________

12-02-2010, 04:48 PM	#2
James T. Kirk Captain of the Enterprise Drives: 2011 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 1,407 iTrader: (0)	You may just be alone on this. The front reflectors are a consequence of USDOT law. You won't see them on EU versions of the car which one could argue is the originally intended design. Those reflectors are right up there with those yellow obligatory child safety seat signs that they plaster on all of our sun visors. Anyone know how to get THOSE off?

12-02-2010, 04:55 PM	#4
KJM3 Private First Class Drives: 2011 E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 177 iTrader: (0)	If I dont see it when i drive the car then I dont care that much, if someone hates the yellow ones that much they are more than welcome to send me a pair of jet black ones for free and I'll gladly install them

12-02-2010, 05:02 PM	#6
James T. Kirk Captain of the Enterprise Drives: 2011 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Alpha Quadrant, Sector 001 Posts: 1,407 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the Goo-Gone tip! That won't harm the vinyl, right?

12-02-2010, 05:29 PM	#8
sor Lieutenant Drives: 2011.5 E93 M3 MW/FR Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UT Posts: 493 iTrader: (0)	Look at it from the perspective that the trend is to take it back to the original euro look, then your 550i example and the front reflector trend are pretty much the same thing.

12-03-2010, 06:29 PM	#19
bunny Private First Class Drives: e92 m3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orange County Posts: 116 iTrader: (1)	i guess i'm the only one with the clear reflectors. i love them on my AW m3

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