Badges

Thu Jul 09, 2015 6:14 pm

I bought a new font badge on eBay, sold as a genuine one, but man it feels plasticky and cheap. Is that the norm?

It is not identical to the base of the one that came off but presumably the markings on the back have changed over the years.

Caught in two minds whether to return it and see what the local stealer has in comparison.

Jesus it's only a badge!

Thu Jul 09, 2015 7:39 pm

I believe the badges from the dealers are also plastic nowadays and not made out of aluminium like the old ones,but the cheap rubbish on eBay are crap as they tend to be a sticker stuck to the plastic.
I would've thought a genuine one would be embossed.

Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:53 pm

Sonatine wrote:I bought a new font badge on eBay, sold as a genuine one, but man it feels plasticky and cheap. Is that the norm?

It is not identical to the base of the one that came off but presumably the markings on the back have changed over the years.

Caught in two minds whether to return it and see what the local stealer has in comparison.

Jesus it's only a badge!

I did the same thing mate!

I saw the price difference and thought you cant really go wrong!

Well the truth is you can! lol It looks like a fake imitation compared to the real deal and it didn't even sit in the holes properly!

Some things have to be genuine imo!

Fri Jul 10, 2015 7:11 am

bimanut wrote:?..but the cheap rubbish on eBay are crap as they tend to be a sticker stuck to the plastic.

That might explain why the top of it disappeared after a long trip if it's only a sticker.

Thanks guys

Fri Jul 10, 2015 8:49 am

Genuine plastic ones from dealers look good, not metal anymore but once fitted there is no real difference

Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:05 am

I need front and rear badges.....this might be a stupid question but are they the same front and rear or are they different shaped?

Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:15 am

Different curvature. The wrong one will 'fit', but won't lie flat.

Fri Jul 10, 2015 10:15 am

macas wrote:I need front and rear badges.....this might be a stupid question but are they the same front and rear or are they different shaped?

Nope!

The front are generic up until the E46 if I remember correctly

The rear however is bigger and shows in the price!

Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:18 pm

Well I picked one up after work from the main dealer and it's quite different to the one from eBay. The genuine one has raised or embossed lettering and a black plastic back, compared to chrome-effect plastic. The shape of the pins are different with a slight chamfer, compared to a pronounced reduction on the cheap one. The pins are different lengths too.

The grommets I got wouldn't go in but I realise that there could be some in there and just painted royal blue like the bonnet.

Overall I'm happy with buying the proper one. Sommat about it visually and tactile that feels right. And given that the the previous owner bought a cheap one on eBay shortly before selling the car and it came off on the motorway, it's a no brainier.

Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:42 am

i managed to find a good condition pressed aluminium rear one for a fiver at a scrapyeard for the rear. they are different entirely to the front ones with a curvature to fit the boot lid. i front one will fit the back but doesnt look right, i think you can only get rear ones from BMW as nobodies remade them correctly, they just sell two front ones in the badge kit. even the genuine ones deteriate over the years but theres plenty of well kepy garaged genuine badges about second hand. possibly all rear pre 1990 badges will fit??check out that 1980's 5/7 series being split for spares?