OK, I just talked to a guy yesterday about doing this. He makes his own rings for the e34 and e36. He is going to be making them for the rest of the BMW models too, but he first needs to get the dimensions of the gauges in the other models.
Anyways, these are actual metal rings with a chrome wrapping, not the rubber rings the guy in the UK was selling. I had heard those rip real easily anyways. A double sided adhesive holds these rings on. I think most of you knows what installation entails, hardest part is really getting the cluster out of the dash. Then there are a few screws to take out so that only the cluster shell remains. You bend the rings slightly to get them inside the shell and then fit them and you are set. Even though these rings are metal, they are thin of course so they can be bent pretty easily to fit. They are approximately 1/16th inch thick which is a lot bigger than it sounds-I believe the UK ones are 1/16 inch as well (I dont think anything any bigger would fit on the 2 end gauges.
Best news is the price right now. They are gonna be $65 shipped. The guy said if we can get 40 orders, he will give them to us for $54 shipped. He also will offer a further discount to a few helpful souls who can help him obtain measurements on any of the models he doesnt have now.
I think thats a good offer for a e30 guy. Maybe one of you can get measurements for the e30, as that would make it a lot easier to get 40 orders if the e30 is included.
I dont have any pics of the actual rings. You have seen pics of what the UK ones look like, these look the same obviously and I dont know, a 1/16th metal ring with chrome wrapping is just that, lol.
So if you are interested, please reply with how many sets you need and for what models. Maybe someone even wants to buy a few sets so they can sell them on Ebay for $85 each, think thats what theyve been going for-anything so we can get to that 40.
sounds intresting.. id like to see them before i make any decesions tho
Matthew
BMW 325i
AA Stage II Turbo ///M3 3.0 Engine AA Stage II Clutch/Flywheel, AA custom turbo exhaust
Hi guys, my name is Matt and I am the one who is manufacturing these rings. I just woke up and found an email from Jim saying he had posted the group buy on a few different boards and I just wanted to check in and add a few thing.
Basically, he said everything. The rings are $65 for a set of four. This includes shipping to the US and Canada. If you are overseas, please add $5 to the total for shipping.
If you guys can organize a 40 set group buy, I will offer you a price of $54 shipped in the US and Canada, $59 elsewhere.
I have kits for the e36 and e34. If an e30 owner can measure his gauge sizes....either by tracing along the outside....or I can send them just a piece of wire that they can conform to the shape of the e30 gauges, I can then make a mold and production of the e30 doesnt take more than 2-3 days so you could include those now in the GB.
Trying to think if there is anything else....these are real metal rings with a thin chrome sheet that goes over the rings. Thats how the Z3 ones are constructed I have heard as well as the ones that come from England. A double sided adhesive will hold the rings on.
Trying to think of any questions that will come up.
I chose to use real metal rings instead of rubber or plastic because its not the easiest to install these. No, it shouldnt take more than 30-45 minutes, but I think people believe this is a 5 minute job. Most of that time is in like James said, removing the instrument cluster from the dash. Anyways, I had 2 friends who ordered the UK ones via Ebay and said that although they were cool, one of my friends ripped one of his rings because as a result they were flimsy. Also, he lives in Arizona so his actually began to melt during the summer. The cluster is black as you know and it can get very hot in there in the summer. I dont think you want that melting all over your gauges
So that is why they are metal. The metal is easily flexible, as they will have to be slightly bent in order to put them in the holes and then bent back. I am actually deciding whether to have the double sided adhesive already on the rings.....or leave them off the rings so you can install those first and then the rings, as I think that may be easier installation wise.
The adhesive is strong enough so that the rings arent gonna fall off, not after you put the cluster back together, not once it gets hot.
Unfortunately I dont have any pics of the rings installed or noninstalled right now. My digi. camera went kaput. Most of you have seen pics of what they look like installed, and like James said, they are nothing spectacular noninstalled, I mean really, how spectacular is a chrome ring? :P
You guys can do whatever is easiest for you to organize this group buy....reply to this post, or email me at bmwtuners@aol.com and I will get right back to you with any questions, etc. the best I can.
They honestly look real nice, but at the same time I didnt think it was fair to sell these for $90 just because everyone else does. I think $55 was a fair price, as I dont think it will be too hard to get 40 orders. This was posted here and at bimmerforums.
Maybe you can order 2 sets like James said and auction one off or give it to a friend. If these regularly go for $75-95 on Ebay for rubber ones, no reason why you cant get that for real metal ones.
E30 owners, email me if you are interested in giving me the measurements for the e30 one, I will give the first person who can do this a set for $40.
Thanks,
Matt
PS-I have enclosed 2 pics of what it will look like after installation. I did not take these pics myself, but it will give a general idea for those of you who need it.
<p>
The rings are metal and have to be bent in slightly to fit the rings into the hole of the dash pod. The ring from the side view, is it grooved to mate with the plastic of the dash pod opening? If so, I believe this is how the Z3's are, why would you need adhesive?
Would this adhesive melt during a hot day?
Thanks.
Ray
Ray, first the adhesive. It will not melt. When I talked about the rubber rings....I had meant the rings themselves were melting, not the adhesive. The adhesive isnt gonna melt because its double sided as opposed to a glue.
Second, the rings fit on the face of the dash cluster, versus the inside groove plastic there. From what I was told at least, the rings on the Z3 are on there as 1 with the dash cluster. Its not something where they assemble the dash cluster, and then put the rings on last. Reason the Z3 is not like that (where they assemble everything and then put the rings on) is because the rings will have a tendency to fall off once you reinstall everything. Im guessing those Z3 ones might even be snap on ones.
Matt,
I'm interested in a set for E36. Let me know how payment is to be made.
Thanks.
Ray
Ray, Drop me an email at bmwtuners@aol.com
Its easier to keep track of.
Thx, Matt
From now on, please email me if you are interested in the group buy or have questions as I wont be checking this post anymore.
Does anyone know these guys?
kinda shady how they won't be checking out this post anymore.Originally posted by jsp98m3
Does anyone know these guys?
spam if you ask me.
Hey man, I'm a professional!
I'm ok with spam to a certain extent, we all likr to buy cool things and there can't be buyers without sellers.
I'm just worried about people who had ZERO posts before they come in to offer us this great product at a great price.
It's probably completely legit, but I always wonder about these things when the people are unknow before.
which is why I call it spam.
no history here what so ever.
then the other guy jumps in with the deal.....
then they say they won't be checking this thread anymore...like they can care less about feedback.
It sounds like a freakin time share sales pitch. I'm not comfortable with it.
The product looks good, but that's it. Kinda left hanging here....you know?
Hey man, I'm a professional!
Yeah. The product looks nice. If some dealer picks it up, I'd be interested in it but I think I'll pass on the fast moving GB.
think about it.
gauges they display aren't even their own product.
those are euro gauges (kmh) and these guys are located in California. they claim to make their own product but post no pictures of'em.
Shady.
Hey man, I'm a professional!
Yeah. I am a little uncomfortable as moderators to be sitting here passing judgement on these guys. I'm not saying as a moderator that these guys are questionalble, just as a potential consumer, I'd like to find if anyone that we do know, knows these guys. All the trouble Deez has had lurks in the back of my mind.
you're right, but as a consumer, I considered their product, till I saw the holes in their sales pitch and their false display of their product. that's a euro spec car's cluster.
As a moderator, I mention this:
Beware what's on the internet...this board and others.
I consider it a duty to look out for these things. I know it isn't my turf, but it just looks soooo shady.
Hey man, I'm a professional!
Very interesting......and you are the moderators of this board?
First off, its a group buy.....you shouldnt have a group buy board if you are going to criticize the group buys as being spam.
Second, how do you know I am not another poster with 1500 posts who just is posting under a different name so he doesnt get flamed for "selling something?"
Third, there is like 3 boards in on this group buy, and the response was very poor here....pretty much because this topic had to be stuck in the group buy board instead of the E36 board. So thats why I was not gonna check back, because I got no response almost for it here.
Four, did I say those were my pics? I said "I did not take these pics myself."
You arent left hanging....I said if you have any questions, please email me and I will answer right back. Its pointless to write 20 paragraphs on every new update for the GB when no one on this board is involved.
Finally, there arent no "guys." Its me Matt, Im not a business.
jsp98m3, at least you seem somewhat smart, madhatter....not sure if I can say the same for you. Looks pretty shady I posted this what....3 weeks ago and this is the first time you apparently noticed this?? LOL. So you are gonna criticize me because I wasnt gonna check back.....when you are the MODERATOR of this board and apparently just noticed this message! Get real.
Just uncalled for....especially from 2 moderators.
I have read this awhile ago...I just didn't post since it looked shady then. I still think it's shady.
Go ahead and flame. Jim already called it, he said it wasn't appropriate.
I guess you missed his post asking if anybody knew the orginator of the thread.
Matt? Which Matt? I'm sorry, but I really don't think I know you. What's your other screen name? Don't we have a rule about using more then one screen name? That's shady on it's own.
As a moderator, I'll point that out. You don't give alot of confidence to your customers by your actions. I was pointing this out.
There were no personal attacks on yourself or your partner. Please refrain from your personal attacks on this board. If you must, please re-read the RULES of this board.
As for the product, I hope your business does well, but leaving this forum dead in the water since you don't want to check up on it has a tendancy to that.
Last edited by themadhatter; 05-14-2002 at 11:27 AM.
Hey man, I'm a professional!
I'm not saying anything as a moderator. I'm assuming you are good guys. But as a consumer I looked at one guy comes in and makes his first post and then the seller makes his first post. I just wanted to know if anyone knew who you are. I am interested in the rings but I don't know you from Adam and there have been several scams lately, particularly on ebay. Just trying to look out for myself.
Good luck with the rings. If you get a dealer to carry them, or if someone I know can vouch for you, I'm ready to buy.
As a consideration to you, if you want to send me a set to look at, I'll be happy to pay you on receipt and perhaps buy 50 sets if they are good and we talk, exchange phone numbers and addresses, yada^3. That way your GB can be taken care of all at once.
I'm just careful with my money. As I would expect you to be.
Thank you for offering the board this deal, that's exactly what the forum is for. Good luck, if you want to pursue anyting further, my name is Jim Powell, my phone # is 760-500-0417. I live at 1244 Calle Prospero, San Marcos, CA 92069. One or two people have heard of me.
Feel free to leave your information. Or not.
it's not me to clarify
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I have been ripped off before.
Since then, I will no longer buy from anyone that has not made several posts and has been helpful to others.
Maybe I will miss out on a good deal, but I won't buy unless the seller already has a good "reputation".
Thats just how I feel now. It's not worth my time to save a few $$$ and then possibly have to call a detective to get me my money back.
I don't buy off the Turner boards anymore because of a scam that cost me $100 by the time all was said and done. It could have cost me a bit more than that if it were not for the LA Police.
Take Care and good luck selling,
Eric
95 330ti
95 M332i
It's not the job of the moderators to pre-qualify vendors to be able to offer deals. Buyers need to do whatever they feel they have to do, if anything at all.
My comments should not be contrued as any type of policing action, whatsoever.
That said, as a consumer on this board, like everyone else, if I'm interested in a product, I'm going to ask some questions. I'm not naive enough to think I know everyone on the internet, so I asked if anyone else who had read this thread knew who these people are.
That is the total and complete extent of my intent. I hope the product and the people are great, I like the rings. I'd like to buy a set. Again, anybody know these guys? If they're legit, I've got the money ready.
Thanks for watching out for us, Jim.
Roman
- Roman
Jim and Mad, just a word of advice! RELAX GUYS!
Dont jump to conclusions right away, there is no need to bash on these guys.....
ANd you guys are moderators, you should know better not to say things about another person right on the board.... why not PM them or E-mail?
I am a business man as well and really hate it when stuff like this happens to somthing that is legit......
So what if they didn't provide us with enough info, ask for it then......
Sorry, but i just had to vent....
Jim and Madd, you have very good and strong points, just be nicer...... Thats all i ask...
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ANd just for the record, no i am not not selling this item and am not affiliated with them!
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