I have a '99 9-3, whose hood & trunk emblems have worn out. I have ordered new ones, but now I'm wondering how original ones have been fixed to sheet metal? How do I get old ones out, and how should I fix new ones in place? Is it some kind of glue that holds them there, or some sort of screw, or what? What is a recommended way to mount new ones?
BR:Z
I've just done this job on the hood badge of my 1996 900SE. It WAS ok, and then I noticed a few weeks ago that all that was left was the substructure, and the colored portion of the badge had disappeared. I went to the dealer and bought a new one, which cost about $30.
At the dealer's, I was told that "it happens all the time" -- apparently because the plastic cover deteriorates, and then what's under the plastic cover gets washed away in, for example, a car wash. That raised the question in my mind as to why, if this is a well-known problem, it hasn't been fixed long ago.
I asked at the dealer's about how to get the old badge off. I was told to lever it off carefully with a screwdriver with a cloth underneath (to prevent scratching the paint). This I did -- but BEWARE if you are doing likewise. In the first place, the old badge may come off, leaving the two prongs still stuck in the plastic bushings. If this happens, the old prongs need to be pushed out, to clear the openings for the new prongs. Be aware that the entire badge, including its two prongs, is just made of plastic. It is very easy to break one of the prongs, e.g. by pushing the badge into the place for it without having cleared the bushings.
The only thing that holds the badge in place is the prongs. However, since I broke one of the prongs while trying to install the new badge without clearing the bushings, I put a dab of latex glue under the badge to hold it in place.
The whole arrangement is utterly flimsy, and unworthy of any car that claims to be a quality vehicle.
"Kenneth S." wrote in news:4036b3e6$0$3102$ snipped-for-privacy@news.rcn.com:
I recently did it this way (as a Saab tech suggested):
Fold a business card in half and insert under the lower half of the badge. Slide a single-edge razor blade between the folded halves of the card, and rock the blade back and forth gently to pry the badge off. Worked like a charm! He also suggested using fishing line as an alternative!
I use dentil floss to remove most badges from cars.
MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.