Carbon Badges - cost, where to buy, aesthetics...?

[Bing]

Okay chaps & chapettes, I've decided that I want to buy a full set of black or black carbon badges as a present for my Sapphire Black 3.0 Si roadster - bonnet, trunk, steering wheel, side repeaters and wheel caps (with silver/metal surrounds rather than grey plastic). However, there are a bewildering array of suppliers on fleabay, prices vary widely, very few do full sets (I want them all to be the same visual style), and I am suspicious of what look like cheap deals from Vietnam or Hong Kong. So my questions are :

1. Gloss black & white, or carbon ?
2. If carbon, white or silver ?
3. Do 'carbon effect' cut it, or just look cheap ?
4. Typical Far East price looks like about £50 for a set, gloss or carbon, not including repeaters ; buying separately is £loads ; got a quote from a chap on fleabay today for a full matching set of apparently genuine carbon fibre, UK-based, £110. what should I actually be paying ?
5. Can anyone recommend a supplier - fleabay or otherwise ?
6. Is there any way of securing the wheel caps so they're at least harder to steal, if not totally theft-proof ?

I'm covered in confusion and indecision... :sos:

 

[Psy]

Here's a link to the e46Zone forum and a DIY post I did re my old 330 and the carbon badges.

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13421&st=0

Good ones look great.
Cheap ones look cheap...


Si

 

[skillick]

You have PM...

 

[tomscott]

Have you seen the coloured carbon fibre badges, think they look much better than the colourless ones, got the normal ones on my wheel caps and think they look really naff.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-NEW-GENUINE-CARBON-FIBRE-SIDE-REPEATER-BADGE-E85-E86-Z4-Z4M-Models-/130573659759?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e66cbee6f#ht_520wt_1165

 

[marksdesigns]

stick with the tried and tested ones mate, carbon fibre effect, black and silver. Yep get the set from a reputable Hong Kong bloke, ive ordered loads in the past and as long as they have the good old 100% feedback ive been ok.
The sticker versions (the little triangles that apply to your existing badges) think MStyle have them or something, come off and peel in time - the other variations in different colours look slightly bejewelled in certain light - sort of blinged up like halfords would do.. get my drift? obviously go for what you fancy, thats just my thoughts on the subject. i had the black carbon versions and they are quite a nice subtle change. :dance2:

 

[Bing]

Here's a link to the e46Zone forum and a DIY post I did re my old 330 and the carbon badges.

http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=13421&st=0

Good ones look great.
Cheap ones look cheap...


Si

Lovely job Si - you're right, they look great (but nice and subtle)

Have you seen the coloured carbon fibre badges, think they look much better than the colourless ones, got the normal ones on my wheel caps and think they look really naff.

Tom - I think the coloured ones will actually look really smart on your motor, but then it's a bright shiny colour anyway. The blue stands out enough on the black of mine, so I don't want to make it look in-your-face bling - I want to dial it down a little whilst making it 'mine'.

Marksdesigns - no to stickers, and yep, know what you mean 8) I would do Hong Kong on your recommendation, however ...

You have PM...

...seen your PM skillick, just couldn't respond to it on my Berry. I shall PM you back shortly


Thanks for the responses guys - all very helpful

 

[Mangozac]

Have you seen the coloured carbon fibre badges, think they look much better than the colourless ones, got the normal ones on my wheel caps and think they look really naff.

I agree and have a set of the blue CF ones for sale

 

[Bing]

At about £40 incl. postage I think that's a bargain - not for me, but if I were Tom...

 

[aquazi]

I have had plenty of people on my black badges.. even the BMW dealer said to me they should have come like that from the factory :roll:

Ironically my badges had the same pc and stamp printed on the back as my stock ones.. clearly made from a mould of the original!