Supplier for 82mm Hood emblems besides BMW?

[reelizmpro]

I bought some ebay emblems before and they looked legit (even had BMW stamped on back) but only lasted a few years before delaminating and falling apart. I don't know if these are from the same aftermarket supplier BMW has hired or if these are from a lesser quality supplier. I know the new BMW emblems aren't exactly like the high quality old school emblems they used to have either and they are more expensive to boot so I'd rather not go that route unless I have to. I would hate to pay $30-40 only for it to do the same thing. So who sells quality emblems at a fair price these days? Are the new OEM BMW badges all black-backed?

[15Michaeljoseph]

You bought knock off emblems. You bought them on ebay. They were obviously shit. If you order emblems through any of the legit suppliers who carry them, like BavAuto, this won't happen because they'll be a true BMW product. My advice would be to just get them from the dealer since they'd probably be cheapest there.
I haven't had to change my front emblem yet, but the trunk emblem I got from the dealer was made of metal and had a chrome finish on the back with the part number and BMW logo. I'm willing to bet this emblem will last me another 28 years.

Don't forget to buy the grommets too.

Don't be cheap, you get what you pay for.

--Mike

[jhaurimn]

My advice would be to just get them from the dealer since they'd probably be cheapest there.

:stupid:

[nando]

actually, pretty sure even the factory BMW emblems are shit these days. They don't make them out of metal anymore either, they're just chrome plated plastic.

I like how a 2013 newbie talks down to barry like he doesn't know anything about E30s or something. I'd bet whatever you got on Ebay is the same thing you'd get at the dealer for 3x the price.

I picked up a bunch front emblems for $5 a piece or something ridiculously cheap a few years back. Unfortunately I don't have any rear ones, but I replaced my rear when the metal ones were still available.

They definitely used to be metal, and now they are definitely cheap plastic. I can't remember if the emblems I got are metal or plastic, but at least I have enough to last me the rest of my life. :|

[Mr. Tasty]

actually, pretty sure even the factory BMW emblems are shit these days. They don't make them out of metal anymore either, they're just chrome plated plastic.

This, ordered an OEM one a couple years ago, the quality is absolute trash compared to the original ones that came on the e30's from factory. IMO just buy cheap ones and replace every few years.

[DrJosh]

I ordered new front and rear for my x5 from the dealer. They were shitty plastic. I was expecting metal as I had just gotten a brand new metal one for my E30. Boy was I disappointed.

[reelizmpro]

It's all good Nando, I am looking for any feedback. BMW changes OE suppliers all the time. We know they are now all shitty plastic with a laminate (sticker) on top. Been that way since the late 90's IIRC. The hood emblems have changed a few times over the years so it's hard to tell what's "fake." Looks like the quality has been compromised to save costs and increase profits by selling more replacements. There are some really shitty fake bubble sticker emblems on ebay that get cloudy...those are not the ones I bought. The ones I bought were identical to the OEM badges I bought just a few years ago before BMW switched to the black backed. I mean, they could still be really good replicas but they could also be overstock/blemished OEM badges as well. IE the same badges you would get from ECS but at a quarter of the price.

Michael Joseph, your trunk emblem should last decades. It's the front emblem that gets cracked by the sun and delaminates at highway speeds. This has been happening a while now especially on E39, I believe due to the angle of the hood. I agree, the dealer will have the highest quality emblems but it doesn't mean shit if they have the same problem because they are made by the same supplier. Maybe I will order one up for the sake of studying it to see if it's any better.

[rcsoundn1]

I bought dealer ones as well, and they are plastic. If anyone ever finds NOS or re-pop of the metal ones I would buy 2 hood, & 2 trunk.

[reelizmpro]

It would be nice but those are probably all long gone by now. I'm afraid we are stuck with the plastic laminated badges. Anyone ever have a new black backed badge fly away/delaminate on them?

[15Michaeljoseph]

actually, pretty sure even the factory BMW emblems are shit these days. They don't make them out of metal anymore either, they're just chrome plated plastic.

I like how a 2013 newbie talks down to barry like he doesn't know anything about E30s or something. I'd bet whatever you got on Ebay is the same thing you'd get at the dealer for 3x the price.

I picked up a bunch front emblems for $5 a piece or something ridiculously cheap a few years back. Unfortunately I don't have any rear ones, but I replaced my rear when the metal ones were still available.

They definitely used to be metal, and now they are definitely cheap plastic. I can't remember if the emblems I got are metal or plastic, but at least I have enough to last me the rest of my life. :|

Hey, looking back at my post, I see that it comes off as being kind of rude. So I have to say I'm sorry I was kind of a cock before, its been a crappy day for me. So with that said, the TRUNK roundel I bought from my dealer a little over 2 years ago (for around $30 or $35 iirc) was 100% made out of metal. Maybe it was old stock, who knows. I have never bought a new hood roundel before.

I am very strongly against eBay car parts, especially for any BMW. I learned the hard way through an eBay e36 serp belt tensioner fiasco, and again with shock mounts, that 'genuine BMW' on eBay may not really mean 'genuine BMW' and that eBay junk is usually just that- junk. I didn't mean to be so harsh.

I am interested now to see how a cheap ebay roundel holds up compared to a genuine one... To see if the cost is justified by the frequency of replacement. Maybe I'll buy one myself... The 36's hood roundel is chipping.



--Mike

[CW325]

It would be nice but those are probably all long gone by now. I'm afraid we are stuck with the plastic laminated badges. Anyone ever have a new black backed badge fly away/delaminate on them?

I was driving on the parkway in my e90 and saw something fly over my car. Later that day I realized the BMW part of the roundel flew off leaving only the chrome part on the hood! These were what I assume to be the original BMW ones too!

[reelizmpro]

^this happened to me and to many others on Bimmerforums. That's an adhesive problem. The hot/cold weather weakens the bond and eventually the sticker flies off at highway speed. If this is the case, then if we can improve the bond then we should be able to avoid this problem. On the backside of my aftermarket emblem I put crazy glue in the two holes and clamped the leading edge of the sticker down so that wind can't lift it up. The laminate isn't perfectly seated down behind the edge of the base like it should be.



This aftermarket emblem didn't lift but started cracking. This one lasted 4 years outdoors and cost me $5 so I guess I can't complain too much.




Just ordered up an OE BMW emblem to compare. Stay tuned.

[YosemiteSam]

A while back I found a cast aluminum front roundell on a Bavaria in pick n pull. Had the whole logo cast in with recesses for the different colored enamels. I need to get it restored, but once I do I will never need to buy another one again.

[Cabriolet]

There are 2 types made by BMW, same part number but there is a price difference and quality difference. make sure to get the silver backed ones, no the black plastic ones. i've bought maybe 10 or so for my cars over the past few years and the only ones that failed were the cheaper black backed ones.

[reelizmpro]

Eric, how exactly did the black ones fail?