Tow Hook Cover

Meccos · 11-19-2012, 11:15 PM

Someone jacked my tow hook cover last month. Im looking to buy a tow hook cover for my 2011 E90. Dealer wants about 110 with painting included. Anyone have one for sale or know where I can get it cheaper?

Just a FYI if Persian54 is reading this, I appreciate your offer. I messaged you back just now... I just checked my messages tonight.

Thanks.

DARK_M3 · 11-19-2012, 11:18 PM

$110!?

Meccos · 11-19-2012, 11:19 PM

yeah seriously. 110 bucks. WTF

C|3R1C · 11-19-2012, 11:34 PM

I got mine for like $25... IIRC. Well, more like I bought the cover unpainted and a pal at the dealership hooked up the painting.

radiantm3 · 11-19-2012, 11:38 PM

110 doesn't sound like a lot considering they need to be prepped, painted, and cleared.

fuzzybam · 11-19-2012, 11:39 PM

It was about 90 bucks for one on my WRX, so 110 doesn't seem that far fetched for it being painted.

S65NAPWR · 11-20-2012, 01:40 AM

Talk to IND, they might be able to help you out.

M3 Esq · 11-20-2012, 08:28 AM

You can buy the piece and paint it yourself. When someone stole mine a few years back, I bought a replacement through the dealership. It came with primer on it. I bought a touch up paint kit and painted it.

The only issue with this of course are brush marks, but you can minimize them by following these steps. I heated up the cover with a heat gun (you could also use a blow dryer), get it really nice and warm. Next apply the base coat. Getting the piece warmed up will help you brush on the paint smoother. I also got a lot of paint on there - the more paint you can get on the smoother it will dry. I let it dry over night. Make sure it is covered while it dries - you don't want dust or other particles to adhere. The next day I did the same but applied the clear coat. Make sure you get the piece nice and warm again and apply. Apply a good amount of clear coat. The clear will fill in all of the brush marks you left applying the base coat.

This is a cheaper way of doing it and you will also have the touch up paint kit for future use. Once it was finished, there were no brush marks that I could see. Plus the piece sits low on the car so any imperfections there you are not likley to notice. I am pretty anal about my cars but I was really happy with the results. Total, this is probably a 15-20 minute job. Hope this helps.

jphughan · 11-20-2012, 09:41 AM

Yeah $110 is pretty normal given the paint labor, and I think that's roughly what IND charges for painted covers. Unfortunately even though the part is so small, the paint shop still has to go through all the labor of mixing the paint, and matching it to your car if they have it available. Speaking of which, if your car is a few years old and/or it's parked in sunlight a lot, I'd actually recommend NOT going pre-painted since your car's paint might have faded a bit and thus a pre-painted cover wouldn't be an exact match, whereas if you bought it unpainted and took it to a shop with your car, they can match the CURRENT state of your paint, not its brand new state. But I suspect even pre-painted would look better than touch-up paint unless you're a ninja like M3 Esq. above apparently....

Unpainted covers are about $25. I'd actually recommend buying 2 or 3 unpainted covers and then getting them all painted somewhere; the paint labor cost difference will be minimal or non-existent to paint 3 of those things rather than 1, so your per-cover cost will be lower, and then you'll have spares if this happens again. I lost one because it just fell out on the road somewhere, and others have lost theirs at track days.

F82_SID · 11-20-2012, 09:56 AM

I have had to replace mine 3 times! IND is the place to go. I think its usually about 40 bucks painted and shipped.

Castr_85M · 11-20-2012, 10:31 AM

Talk to IND I just got a tow hook cover with the slit for the tow strap painted for a good price.

iamcpap · 11-20-2012, 11:27 AM

tow hook... problem solved.

isugoo · 11-20-2012, 11:46 AM

get it from IND.
They can get you OEM painted alot cheaper.

shendrick · 11-20-2012, 03:52 PM

I bought 2 which came only primed. Local Auto body charged $100 to paint them both. Now I have a spare if one gets jacked.

mdosu · 11-20-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92_SID

I have had to replace mine 3 times! IND is the place to go. I think its usually about 40 bucks painted and shipped.

problem solved.

m3an · 11-20-2012, 07:21 PM

IMO $110 is a lot of money to spend on a tiny little piece considering a full bumer cover prepped/painted is only a few hundred more; that being said though, it is a pain for the body shop to have to setup to do such a small piece. I'm very surprised a small piece like that isn't sold in body color from the factory.

Meccos · 11-21-2012, 02:46 AM

thanks for all the help...

badbimmer · 12-01-2012, 11:11 AM

I don't think your tow hook cover was jacked. Mine is gone too and I know it wasn't stolen. I think they are falling off our M3's.

11-19-2012, 11:15 PM	#1
Meccos Private 13 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Anaheim iTrader: (0)	Tow Hook Cover Someone jacked my tow hook cover last month. Im looking to buy a tow hook cover for my 2011 E90. Dealer wants about 110 with painting included. Anyone have one for sale or know where I can get it cheaper? Just a FYI if Persian54 is reading this, I appreciate your offer. I messaged you back just now... I just checked my messages tonight. Thanks.
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11-19-2012, 11:18 PM	#2
DARK_M3 Banned 105 Rep 1,292 Posts Drives: 08 E90, 89 Grand Wagoneer Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: So Cal iTrader: (3)	$110!?
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11-19-2012, 11:19 PM	#3
Meccos Private 13 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Anaheim iTrader: (0)	yeah seriously. 110 bucks. WTF
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11-19-2012, 11:34 PM	#4
C\|3R1C So Kewl Guy 49 Rep 619 Posts Drives: 2010 E93 M3 DCT Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	I got mine for like $25... IIRC. Well, more like I bought the cover unpainted and a pal at the dealership hooked up the painting. __________________ 2010 E93 M3 / MS Catless X-Pipe / AA Catback / Vorsteiner Vented Hood and Bootlid E93 Trunk / ADV1 7.1 Wheels GB / LS3 LED Lights / Harrop Supercharger
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11-19-2012, 11:38 PM	#5
radiantm3 Apex Everything! 976 Rep 4,378 Posts Drives: 2007 Honda S2000, 2017 GT350 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cedar Park, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 E92 M3 [9.35] 2014 BMW i3 [10.00]	110 doesn't sound like a lot considering they need to be prepped, painted, and cleared. __________________ 2011 E92 M3(Sold). 2007 Honda S2000 (Track Car). 2016 Cayman GT4 (Sold). 2017 Shelby GT350 (AKA Crowd Killer). My pet project: https://stickershift.com
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11-19-2012, 11:39 PM	#6
fuzzybam Second Lieutenant 3 Rep 215 Posts Drives: MB GLE350 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: California iTrader: (0)	It was about 90 bucks for one on my WRX, so 110 doesn't seem that far fetched for it being painted.
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11-20-2012, 01:40 AM	#7
S65NAPWR Lieutenant 28 Rep 557 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tri-State iTrader: (0)	Talk to IND, they might be able to help you out. __________________
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11-20-2012, 08:28 AM	#8
M3 Esq Automobilist 395 Rep 2,632 Posts Drives: E70 X5, 911 GT3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CT iTrader: (12)	You can buy the piece and paint it yourself. When someone stole mine a few years back, I bought a replacement through the dealership. It came with primer on it. I bought a touch up paint kit and painted it. The only issue with this of course are brush marks, but you can minimize them by following these steps. I heated up the cover with a heat gun (you could also use a blow dryer), get it really nice and warm. Next apply the base coat. Getting the piece warmed up will help you brush on the paint smoother. I also got a lot of paint on there - the more paint you can get on the smoother it will dry. I let it dry over night. Make sure it is covered while it dries - you don't want dust or other particles to adhere. The next day I did the same but applied the clear coat. Make sure you get the piece nice and warm again and apply. Apply a good amount of clear coat. The clear will fill in all of the brush marks you left applying the base coat. This is a cheaper way of doing it and you will also have the touch up paint kit for future use. Once it was finished, there were no brush marks that I could see. Plus the piece sits low on the car so any imperfections there you are not likley to notice. I am pretty anal about my cars but I was really happy with the results. Total, this is probably a 15-20 minute job. Hope this helps.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-20-2012, 09:41 AM	#9
jphughan Brigadier General 594 Rep 4,488 Posts Drives: '16 Cayman GT4 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Austin, TX iTrader: (0)	Yeah $110 is pretty normal given the paint labor, and I think that's roughly what IND charges for painted covers. Unfortunately even though the part is so small, the paint shop still has to go through all the labor of mixing the paint, and matching it to your car if they have it available. Speaking of which, if your car is a few years old and/or it's parked in sunlight a lot, I'd actually recommend NOT going pre-painted since your car's paint might have faded a bit and thus a pre-painted cover wouldn't be an exact match, whereas if you bought it unpainted and took it to a shop with your car, they can match the CURRENT state of your paint, not its brand new state. But I suspect even pre-painted would look better than touch-up paint unless you're a ninja like M3 Esq. above apparently.... Unpainted covers are about $25. I'd actually recommend buying 2 or 3 unpainted covers and then getting them all painted somewhere; the paint labor cost difference will be minimal or non-existent to paint 3 of those things rather than 1, so your per-cover cost will be lower, and then you'll have spares if this happens again. I lost one because it just fell out on the road somewhere, and others have lost theirs at track days. __________________ '16 Cayman GT4 (delivery pics, comparison to E92 M3 write-up) Gone but not forgotten: '11.75 M3 E92 Le Mans \| Black Nov w/ Alum \| 6MT (owned 5/2011 - 11/2015) Last edited by jphughan; 11-20-2012 at 09:48 AM..
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11-20-2012, 09:56 AM	#10
F82_SID Brigadier General 208 Rep 3,153 Posts Drives: 2020 M2C 6mt HK Silver Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denver, CO. USA iTrader: (2)	I have had to replace mine 3 times! IND is the place to go. I think its usually about 40 bucks painted and shipped. __________________ 2011/E92/M3/MR/BB/ZCV/ZP2/EDC/2MT
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11-20-2012, 10:31 AM	#11
Castr_85M Captain 55 Rep 944 Posts Drives: AW/Fox 6MT E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NYC iTrader: (7)	Talk to IND I just got a tow hook cover with the slit for the tow strap painted for a good price. __________________ E90 M3 AW/Extended FR•Ohlins•Borla•ACM•K&N•IND•BBS•Vredestein•Velos Designworks•Vorsteiner•BMW Performance•Lux AE•Arkym
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11-20-2012, 11:27 AM	#12
iamcpap Captain 53 Rep 920 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW X5M Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (7)	tow hook... problem solved. __________________ 2010 E70 X5M \| Black \| Black \| Stock for now. 2008 E90 M3 \| Interlagos Blue \| Speed Cloth \| Sold 2011 E92 M3 ZCP \| Space Grey \| Black \| Sold
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11-20-2012, 11:46 AM	#13
isugoo Major General 248 Rep 6,125 Posts Drives: 991.2 GTS Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (73)	get it from IND. They can get you OEM painted alot cheaper. __________________ PAST: F80 M3 ZCP \| 911.1 C2S \| F10 M5 ZCP \| E70 X5M \| E90 M3 \| E46 M3 \| E36 M3
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11-20-2012, 03:52 PM	#14
shendrick Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3, 05 e46 zhp, 07 X3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Near Boston MA iTrader: (0)	I bought 2 which came only primed. Local Auto body charged $100 to paint them both. Now I have a spare if one gets jacked.
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11-20-2012, 07:21 PM	#16
m3an Banned 39 Rep 1,590 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Florida iTrader: (2)	IMO $110 is a lot of money to spend on a tiny little piece considering a full bumer cover prepped/painted is only a few hundred more; that being said though, it is a pain for the body shop to have to setup to do such a small piece. I'm very surprised a small piece like that isn't sold in body color from the factory.
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11-21-2012, 02:46 AM	#17
Meccos Private 13 Rep 88 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Anaheim iTrader: (0)	thanks for all the help...
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12-01-2012, 11:11 AM	#18
badbimmer Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 241 Posts Drives: E92 M3 White/Fox Red CF Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	I don't think your tow hook cover was jacked. Mine is gone too and I know it wasn't stolen. I think they are falling off our M3's.
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