How to Replace BMW Wheel Badges

Nigel Marston
June 28, 2010

Nigel Marston
http://www.nm-motorsport.com

The badges in the centre of BMW wheels have a hard life being so close to the road surface. After a time, they will start to look tired. The clear surface lacquer may start to lift and the badges will need replacing from time to time.

Depending upon the wheels that are fitted, the badges most often are stuck to a plastic centre cap which is pushed into the centre of the wheel. This cap needs to be removed in order to make it easier to detach the badge from the cap.

If the wheel is off the car, this can be done by pushing the cap out from the back of the wheel. If the wheel is still on the car then the cap needs to be prised off by inserting a small flat implement or a screwdriver between the edge of the cap and the wheel surface.

Screwdrivers are often used for this task but levering against the wheel surface may cause small areas of damage to the wheel surface. If possible, use something plastic such as the edge of a credit card or similar. Once the edge of the badge is lifted a little, it may be possible to pull it out with your fingers.

With the cap removed, a small but strong flat bladed screwdriver is required to prise the badge off the cap. The screwdriver needs to be forced between the edge of the cap and the badge, being careful to not allow the screwdriver to slip and injure yourself. You will probably need to work all the way around the cap until the badge becomes free. The old badge often gets destroyed in the process.

Once the badge is removed, it is important to remove as much of the old adhesive from the cap as possible. If the adhesive is hard, it may be difficult to remove but it can be attempted using the ubiquitous screwdriver again. Clean the surface of the cap as much as possible, being sure to remove any dirt or loose adhesive. An alcoholic cleaning wipe is useful for this purpose if available. If not, any sort of suitable cleaning fluid should work. If the surface is in particularly bad condition and won't clean up sufficiently, then a new cap may be required. It is worth noting that certain sizes of badge are only available already attached to the cap, therefore requiring the whole cap to be replaced.

When buying your new badges, it is best to ensure that you purchase original BMW badges. These are made from a flexible aluminium. Various replica badges are available but apart from being fake, the design of the BMW logo often looks a little odd and the colours are not always accurately reproduced. Some of these badges are made from a clear plastic and are quite thick, making them look a little out of place once fitted. It has even been known for fake badges to be made from paper.

Original BMW wheel badges are available in a variety of sizes, most of which have a self adhesive backing. It is important to measure the diameter of the centre cap accurately to identify the correct size of badge as they are measured in millimetres. Be sure to measure the surface where the badge fits onto and do not include any lip that runs around the outside of the cap.

Also, it is important to decide whether your centre cap is flat or slightly raised. Some badges are available as either flat or convex (raised or domed). Some sizes are only available as either one type or the other. If you have original BMW wheels, it should not be a problem to identify the correct size and profile of badge that you require. However, if your wheels are none BMW, then it can be a little more tricky as some after market manufacturers have centre caps that are not suitable for any size of original BMW wheel badges.

Before peeling off the backing of your new badge, try it against the centre cap to ensure that the size is correct. If it is, then simply peel off the backing and stick the badge on to the cap, making sure is is centrally located. Press the badge firmly around the edge where the adhesive is located. Avoid pressing the centre of the badge because not only is there no adhesive there but it can put a dent in the centre and ruin the new badge. After this is done, then simply push the cap back into the wheel and the job is done.

Some original BMW wheels also have a small M-Tec badge near to the centre. These badges are stuck to the surface of the wheel and are very easy to remove with a screwdriver or credit card. Once again, clean the surface before applying the new self adhesive badge.

A new set of wheel badges can easily give your BMW wheels a new lease of life. Be sure to change them as soon as they start showing signs of wear to keep your wheels looking fresh and new.

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Nigel Marston has been an independent BMW accessories and parts specialist for 20 years and a BMW enthusiast since the late 1980s. He has owned many BMW models over the years and is well known by people in many countries for his knowledge and enthusiasm about BMWs. To see his range of original BMW badges and other accessories, visit his online shop at => http://www.nm-motorsport.com