Quality...Matte Black Rear Insignia

[alpinecoupe]

Gentlemen,

I recently installed a pair of matte black kidney grills and side markers on my coupe and am very satisfied with the results.
I inspected the parts thoroughly before installation and found the quality to be very high.

I'd like to finish the package by replacing the rear M3 insignia but...
Based on the photos I've seen on the various vendor websites, what is currently available is not up to the standard of the other parts noted above.

Specifically the color bars.

The versions I've seen look like someone took a sticker and colored it with a set of magic markers. There appear to be visible variations in the color e.g. streaks, and the finish does not have a clear coat overlay.
Bottom line: I'm not putting something like that on the back of my car.
Looks OK from 8 feet, not good enough.

Does anyone make a matte black insignia that is OEM quality?

Thanks,

AC

[aajami]

I'd be interested in knowing as well.

[swamp2]

+1 absolutely. The existing stuff ranges from terrible to poor.

[J08M3]

I had my body shop paint mine black, then I have an artist I use for making signs for my business color match and hand paint the three stripes on for the flag. She used some paint that has some sort of UV protectant in it (don't know much about it). Anyway it looks great. You would think it came from the factory that way. Been almost a year now and it still looks like the day I had it done.

[jk6672]

I picked mine up from RENN Spec and I'm happy with the quality/look/finish

http://www.renn-spec.com/product_p/at-bm-0206.htm

[tightie]

Originally Posted by jk6672

I picked mine up from RENN Spec and I'm happy with the quality/look/finish

http://www.renn-spec.com/product_p/at-bm-0206.htm

+1. I love mine too.

[SV Concepts III]

I haven't noticed any quality issues on the units we have here but shoot me an email and I can grab a close up to see if it's what you need.

[FRRSquad]

is this what you are talking about?

[alpinecoupe]

Originally Posted by FRRSquad

is this what you are talking about?

Yes.

Where did you get yours?
Based on the photo, it looks nice.
Is that an adhesive sticker that was placed on the matte base?
And, does it have any type of clear coat / acrylic finish like the OEM part?

The versions I have checked out appear to be a sticker, with the noted quality issues. Some I've seen had a visible edge around the "sticker" and what looked like excess glue around the border.

Again, not something that's going on the back of my M3.

With all of the high end custom parts available now, it seems odd that
this would be so difficult to do.

I'll check out your source and go from there.

Thanks all for the input / feedback.

AC

[wolftrouble]

+1 on it looking ugly, I dislike mine. The one I got is clearly just a sticker, no clearcoat/overlay. It pissed me off something fierce that I was charged so much (I think $60?) for what is basically a piece of cheap injected-molded plastic and a sticker. A visit to Tap Plastics and a little model paint and I could have made the same thing myself for $20 and had it look way better.

I've considered trying to put a acrylic or some other coating over the top of the sticker, but I don't want to take it off the car (which would be necessary) and stick it back on all over again (especially since if I eff it up I'm out another $60 or whatever).

I understand about the BMW tax, but come on. If these things cost more than $10 each in parts/labor to manufacture I'd be surprised.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by wolftrouble

I understand about the BMW tax, but come on. If these things cost more than $1 each in parts/labor to manufacture I'd be surprised.

I edited your statement above to match my estimate...

[King Tut]

I have the matte black emblem from **********s, and I like it. I don't feel it is of any lower quality than the OEM one. I also have the OEM one in my hands right now, and it is also just a sticker on the emblem. It is not clear coated or anything either.

[alpinecoupe]

Originally Posted by King Tut

I have the matte black emblem from **********s, and I like it. I don't feel it is of any lower quality than the OEM one. I also have the OEM one in my hands right now, and it is also just a sticker on the emblem. It is not clear coated or anything either.

Well, well.
My bad.

I went down to the garage and got right up on it with a flashlight...
You are correct. There is no clear coat and it does appear to be an adhesive inlay i.e. sticker.
The side markers, steering wheel, etc. all have some type of coating so I thought these were the same.

Given that, where is the best place to get one i.e. are there good ones and bad ones, or do they all come from the same source?

AC

[alpinecoupe]

Done deal.

I checked out several sites and it would appear that most, if not all, are coming from the same source (the photos are even the same).

I did however find a few photos in my previous searches where the quality looked iffy e.g. I could see visible flaws in the color bars along with the excess glue I noted.

The photos in this thread all look good so I have one on the way.
BTW it was $39.99, free shipping.

Thanks for the feedback

AC

[King Tut]

No problem man. If you are really worried I'm sure you could have a body shop shoot some clear on it and remove any adhesive you see.

[Noodlefoxes]

I just bought an oem one from the dealership, had it painted gloss black (i say that becasue painting it matte black would be alot easier) and put the sticker on it. Sticker comes with the oem one. It looks absolutely brilliant

[swamp2]

I got mine today in the mail from Auto Tecknic. They have both gloss black and matte black. The part, sticker and even the packaging are of OEM quality. It looks just like the ones in post #6 and #8 above. Finally...

http://www.autotecknic.com/product_p/bm-0206.htm

[alpinecoupe]

Mine arrived a couple of days ago from RENNSPEC.
I'm pleased with the quality (OEM) and this will go on the back of my M3.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

AC

[stubadub]

Originally Posted by wolftrouble

+1 on it looking ugly, I dislike mine. The one I got is clearly just a sticker, no clearcoat/overlay. It pissed me off something fierce that I was charged so much (I think $60?) for what is basically a piece of cheap injected-molded plastic and a sticker..

FYI to all, i see these types of post all the time for aftermarket badges, the complaint is ALWAYS the same. Cheap piece of plastic with a sticker!!!........news flash.....go look at your current OEM badge....cheap plastic WITH A STICKER on it straight from Germany!!

OEM emblem was exactly the same as the one i got off ebay for much much cheaper.

I do want to say i am sure a lot of these aftermarket badges are even cheaper quality than the OEM ones, (wrong size, 3 connected to the M ect ect) but if you look at what your buying and dont expect a piece of metal with hand painted stripes on it that looks like a million bucks they will be just as nice as the OEM ones. There is no clear coat on the E36 M3 badges either.

I thought the same thing when i got my german striped badge in the mail, opened it....looked at it, cursed the quality then went and looked at my OEM one.....wow, exactly the same. A little disapointed with BMW, there should NOT be a sticker on the badge on a 35-50k car.

(No i dont sell these)

[Dartanium]

should find one that's made of titanium with powdercoated stripes, but seriously I thought the emblem was metal instead of plastic.

[FRRSquad]

this thread back from the dead

no the emblem is not metal, and you'll be surprised to find many part on your car are made with plastic!