Centre caps

Armaan · 03-01-2024, 03:02 AM

Hi all,

After of a year of what I can only assume weren’t OEM centre caps, they are looking a mess and bubbling.

Generally OEM better? Any links welcome, seems to be a lot of ‘BMW’ branded ones on eBay, with the logo on the back, which is deceptive!

I assume genuine ones are made in Germany?

Thanks,
A

SkyJawa · 03-01-2024, 03:20 AM

Non gen die very quickly, defo go with OEM.

un1eash · 03-01-2024, 03:45 AM

I put cheap ones on my car from eBay, cost £7 for a set. Still look like new but then I only did 1500 miles last year.

Watsey · 03-01-2024, 04:30 AM

Stick with OEM. I tried some cheap eBay caps and they looked shit within a few months.

danb1979 · 03-01-2024, 04:32 AM

OEM only IMO as well; used plenty of eBay/Amazon specials; all crap within a year. Spend c£40 and they'll last well...

See if they're on eBay first via a dealer; tend top be cheaper than directly from the dealer themselves!

If you need the M badges too; be sitting down when they tell you the price of them little stickers

Armaan · 03-01-2024, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danb1979

OEM only IMO as well; used plenty of eBay/Amazon specials; all crap within a year. Spend c£40 and they'll last well...

See if they're on eBay first via a dealer; tend top be cheaper than directly from the dealer themselves!

If you need the M badges too; be sitting down when they tell you the price of them little stickers

Just over £50 at the moment from dealers and waiting for an offer.

Fortunately Sport spec so no badges - £12 for 4?! Ridiculous.

A

Armaan · 03-01-2024, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un1eash

I put cheap ones on my car from eBay, cost £7 for a set. Still look like new but then I only did 1500 miles last year.

12 months and about 5k for me, so about right.

A

danb1979 · 03-01-2024, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armaan

Just over £50 at the moment from dealers and waiting for an offer.

Fortunately Sport spec so no badges - £12 for 4?! Ridiculous.

A

£12?! Try £26-£28 for OEM ones!

Armaan · 03-01-2024, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danb1979

£12?! Try £26-£28 for OEM ones!

Seriously?! I’d go without - or make them!

A

danb1979 · 03-01-2024, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armaan

Seriously?! I’d go without - or make them!

A

Yup; not cheap

Ennoch · 03-01-2024, 11:02 AM

I put eBay specials on with the refurbed winters in November and they're already fubarred. Genuine are pricey but definitely worth it.

Pond · 03-01-2024, 04:35 PM

Sorry but don't agree.
BMW do not make wheels caps, they are made in the same Chinese factories as the aftermarket ones which are a fraction of the cost to you and me.
I have bought eBay centre caps for all my BMWs in the last few years. All have lasted as well and are exactly the same as the expensive ones with "BMW tax added".

Why would anyone think that a piece of moulded plastic with a stuck-on motif which is then lacquered could be so much better than any other?

un1eash · 03-01-2024, 04:50 PM

Mine at £7 are definitely not OEM quality. They are cheap plastic with a metal badge held on by some bent over tabs.

Ennoch · 03-02-2024, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pond

Sorry but don't agree.
BMW do not make wheels caps, they are made in the same Chinese factories as the aftermarket ones which are a fraction of the cost to you and me.
I have bought eBay centre caps for all my BMWs in the last few years. All have lasted as well and are exactly the same as the expensive ones with "BMW tax added".

Why would anyone think that a piece of moulded plastic with a stuck-on motif which is then lacquered could be so much better than any other?

No they don't, but they do spec them more highly and will have higher quality standards - even if they're made in the same factory they are not made to the same quality. It's pretty evident that the factory ones have much tougher coatings and are made with better corrosion resistance. The lacquer/coating has failed on my aftermarket ones within months. Of course it's also true that not all aftermarket ones are of equal quality. Made in china does not equal badly made, and OEM manufacturers will have higher production standards by some margin than the cheap aliexpress suppliers.

danb1979 · 03-02-2024, 07:15 AM

E=Bay centre caps are made cheap; they're cheap for a reason. Made from inferior materials; the caps are laid over them rather than actually glued on (as stated above by un1eash )

They're fine for a stand in or for winter wheels maybe; but they don't last/they soon start to corrode. All because they're cheap...

fortythirtyfive · 03-02-2024, 11:33 AM

It's the same issue with the bonnet and boot badges, they just ink print straight onto a metal sheet and then bend it on a plastic place holder.

They don't stand up to much, I dechromed the outer edge of my roundels and went OEM for this exact reason. Sadly though I also got stung at around £60-70 for the front badge. You cannot sand and paint the non genuine badges as there's no top coat to etch into.

un1eash · 03-02-2024, 11:44 AM

I went full eBay special for the current car, £21 grills, £19 wing mirror caps, £10 front/rear badges and £7 center caps.
I also paid £18 for a Bosch carbon cabin filter, £16 for a Bosch air filter and £50 for Bosch platinum spark plugs.

03-01-2024, 03:02 AM	#1
Armaan Major 715 Rep 1,158 Posts Drives: F30 320i Sport Remapped Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Birmingham iTrader: (0)	Hi all, After of a year of what I can only assume weren’t OEM centre caps, they are looking a mess and bubbling. Generally OEM better? Any links welcome, seems to be a lot of ‘BMW’ branded ones on eBay, with the logo on the back, which is deceptive! I assume genuine ones are made in Germany? Thanks, A
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03-01-2024, 03:20 AM	#2
SkyJawa Major General 3719 Rep 8,636 Posts Drives: F10 530d Join Date: May 2014 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (1)	Non gen die very quickly, defo go with OEM.
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03-01-2024, 03:45 AM	#3
un1eash Captain 500 Rep 969 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Midlands, UK iTrader: (0)	I put cheap ones on my car from eBay, cost £7 for a set. Still look like new but then I only did 1500 miles last year.
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03-01-2024, 04:30 AM	#4
Watsey Major General 6419 Rep 8,500 Posts Drives: F31 330D sDrive M Sport Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: On sabbatical. iTrader: (1)	Stick with OEM. I tried some cheap eBay caps and they looked shit within a few months. __________________ Current : F31 330sD, remapped, Ohlins Road & Track, Millway camber plates, Quaife LSD, Stoptech brakes + Pagid RSL1 pads all round, Weichers front strut brace, Eibach front & rear anti-roll bars, Michelin MP4S.
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03-01-2024, 04:32 AM	#5
danb1979 Idiotic lifter of heavy stones... 1897 Rep 2,089 Posts Drives: 2015 F31 325D M Sport touring Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Preston, Lancashire - UK iTrader: (0)	OEM only IMO as well; used plenty of eBay/Amazon specials; all crap within a year. Spend c£40 and they'll last well... See if they're on eBay first via a dealer; tend top be cheaper than directly from the dealer themselves! If you need the M badges too; be sitting down when they tell you the price of them little stickers __________________ My car: 2015 F31 325D M Sport Touring in Glacier Metallic Silver - Keeping it OEM 'Plus' Project: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1982298
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03-01-2024, 11:02 AM	#11
Ennoch Colonel 2257 Rep 2,048 Posts Drives: F31 335D XDrive Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	I put eBay specials on with the refurbed winters in November and they're already fubarred. Genuine are pricey but definitely worth it.
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03-01-2024, 04:35 PM	#12
Pond Lieutenant Colonel 1838 Rep 1,706 Posts Drives: E89 Z4, F31 and Z3 project Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Lincs UK iTrader: (0)	Sorry but don't agree. BMW do not make wheels caps, they are made in the same Chinese factories as the aftermarket ones which are a fraction of the cost to you and me. I have bought eBay centre caps for all my BMWs in the last few years. All have lasted as well and are exactly the same as the expensive ones with "BMW tax added". Why would anyone think that a piece of moulded plastic with a stuck-on motif which is then lacquered could be so much better than any other? Last edited by Pond; 03-01-2024 at 04:40 PM..
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03-01-2024, 04:50 PM	#13
un1eash Captain 500 Rep 969 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Midlands, UK iTrader: (0)	Mine at £7 are definitely not OEM quality. They are cheap plastic with a metal badge held on by some bent over tabs.
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03-02-2024, 07:15 AM	#15
danb1979 Idiotic lifter of heavy stones... 1897 Rep 2,089 Posts Drives: 2015 F31 325D M Sport touring Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: Preston, Lancashire - UK iTrader: (0)	E=Bay centre caps are made cheap; they're cheap for a reason. Made from inferior materials; the caps are laid over them rather than actually glued on (as stated above by un1eash ) They're fine for a stand in or for winter wheels maybe; but they don't last/they soon start to corrode. All because they're cheap... __________________ My car: 2015 F31 325D M Sport Touring in Glacier Metallic Silver - Keeping it OEM 'Plus' Project: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1982298
	Appreciate 1 Armaan714.50 Quote

03-02-2024, 11:33 AM	#16
fortythirtyfive Major 640 Rep 1,381 Posts Drives: 435i MS Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: North iTrader: (0)	It's the same issue with the bonnet and boot badges, they just ink print straight onto a metal sheet and then bend it on a plastic place holder. They don't stand up to much, I dechromed the outer edge of my roundels and went OEM for this exact reason. Sadly though I also got stung at around £60-70 for the front badge. You cannot sand and paint the non genuine badges as there's no top coat to etch into. __________________ 2015 435i - 401whp Scorpion catless dp, VRSF 6.5" HD FMIC, MST V2 inlet, NGK 97506, MHD Stage 2+ 102, xHP Stage 3, M Performance Exhaust (modified for valved straight thru)
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03-02-2024, 11:44 AM	#17
un1eash Captain 500 Rep 969 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Midlands, UK iTrader: (0)	I went full eBay special for the current car, £21 grills, £19 wing mirror caps, £10 front/rear badges and £7 center caps. I also paid £18 for a Bosch carbon cabin filter, £16 for a Bosch air filter and £50 for Bosch platinum spark plugs.
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