Quick question about roundels/badges

[Ranchero]

Just received one that I bought off ebay. Am I right in thinking that a proper BMW one should be made of chrome?

I can't check the bonnet one on my car as it has been removed and I don't have it to hand but the one on the bootlid is definitely metal.

The one I received has a plastic base.

[JB88]

Yeah it should be metal. Atleast the one i got was.

[e30topless]

metal

[Ranchero]

Thanks. Hope the information is correct as I've just sent the seller a snotty email .

[Ranchero]

The seller is arguing the toss, citing 30 years in the automotive industry as his credentials. He says that genuine BMW ones are made of plastic.

Anyone else care to shed some light. I know the one's prised off my last E30 were metal.

[burtcocain]

Hi,
I brought two a coupe years ago for my old e36 and my e39-they where BOTH plastic!!

[phil540uk]

New ones from BMW are plastic now. A mate of mine bought one afew weeks ago.

Phil

[DHFiS]

New ones from BMW are plastic now. A mate of mine bought one afew weeks ago.

Phil

Same for me. The original was metal and when I ordered a new one it was plastic.

[Ranchero]

Looks like I'll be eating crow....again .

[B7]

New ones from BMW are plastic now. A mate of mine bought one afew weeks ago.

Phil

Same for me. The original was metal and when I ordered a new one it was plastic.

You guys are joking right???? FFS BMW is going down the pan!!!!!

[AlpineAde]

I bought two of each (front and rear) from the dealer, one set to go on the car and one set to keep for stock and both sets were metal. Old stock?

[phil540uk]

Maybe you got lucky and your dealer had old stock. If the dealer has to order it, it will be plastic as the newly manufactured ones are deffinately plastic.

[AlpineAde]

Well, I'll count myself a lucky chap then.

[bmwsport]

Which ebayer is it? I've seen some supposably new genuine bmw roundels on ebay for a 3 pound odd. Surely these cannot be genuine?

[Ranchero]

I bought one of these first.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-BONNET-BOOT-B ... 255a5d2ed4

It looks alright, has proper part number etc. Obviously this can be faked as well as anything but many of the one's you see on ebay don't have it.

After it arrived and I realised it was plastic I enquired with several other sellers and they all said that their's were plastic also.

In fairness the first guy has offered me the chance to return it but if they're all the same what's the point.

Here're some pics if anyone knows what to look for.

[DHFiS]

Looking at realoem I guess 51 14 1 872 324 is metal (showing as discontinued) and 51 14 8 132 375 is plastic

[AlpineAde]

Righto, I dug out another badge that was given to me. It is the same part number as the above (51 14-8132 375) and is...plastic!

[RicoSuave]

New ones are plastic. Old ones are metal.

Simples.

[Ranchero]

Tis true, confirmed with the dealers this morning.
The two metal ones I have, while having different designs on the back, both bear the parts number; 5114 1872324.
I'm going to be looking out for these as the plastic one I bought, if it really is genuine, is nowhere near as nice looking.

[Brianmoooore]

ETK cross reference shows the metal part number as applying to various models up to and around the time the E30 was in production. A search for the plastic part number shows all the models that apply to the metal one, plus nearly every other BMW model up to the present time.
This suggests that new BMW's have plastic badges from the factory, and the range has been rationalised by dropping the metal version.

[DmcL]

if it fits right and looks right whats the big deal if its plastic or metal? any ive seen are plastic but i havent owned any BMW older than a facelift E30 (this is my 2nd), had 3 E36's also. plastic doesnt rust either..

[Falkster]

Good point plastic ones dont tarnish

[sihooker]

if it fits right and looks right whats the big deal if its plastic or metal? any ive seen are plastic but i havent owned any BMW older than a facelift E30 (this is my 2nd), had 3 E36's also. plastic doesnt rust either..

Nor does it scratch the paint if you're a bit clumsy putting them back on

[e30topless]

I bought OEM metal one's from German and swedish I have 2 pairs ,

plastic badges are for e36's ,

[BMW_E30vert]

took one off a bmw i was breaking its metal and the part number is 51 14 1872969

[fingerman]

I agree with above - new ones from BMW are Plastic as I've bought quite a few so cheaper to produce, weigh less so more speed

[m0gsia]

Do the plastic ones look as good?

[sihooker]

Do the plastic ones look as good?

If you're replacing manky metal one's with new plastic one's, they look a lot better

[Falkster]

Do the plastic ones look as good?

I replaced both mine with plastic and they look a thousand times better than the old manky metal ones.

[Ranchero]

The one I got off ebay looks like what it was; cheap.

[jaymos]

The one I got off ebay looks like what it was; cheap.

the guy i got the e21 off bought 2 new badges for it 12 years ago, they are plastic, the ones that are on there are metal but the lettering and logo are raised, i wonder if they can be refurbished, cus they will look ace i reckon.

[Ranchero]

Exactly what I was thinking. The one's I have are manky but I feel that if they were in good nick they'd look a lot better than the plastic one.
I'm probably just being a tart.

[jaymos]

Exactly what I was thinking. The one's I have are manky but I feel that if they were in good nick they'd look a lot better than the plastic one.
I'm probably just being a tart.

ye my e30 ones are metal but way past it, i might just put the ones i got off that guy on, they are like new. I wonder how much the embossed ones would be worth if i could refurb em.

[mrLEE30]

abay buyers also worth noting the E36 and E34 badges are not sized to fit the E30,

the E39 and E30 are about the same (if not exactly).

they sell the plastic badges here locally for about a quid each - make me laugh when i see them for a tenner on ebay - and they last about as long as a quids worth of badge should - my current record is 5 months.