Re-badging

[idlerider]

I had a replacement tailgate fitted and sprayed; now I need to replace the badging. I've found s/h "95" and "Aero" badges but how to fit them? I'm told suitable double-sided tape can be had from a certain nationwide cycle/automotive retailer - can anyone confirm? More importantly, how are the badges correctly placed? - are there templates?

[Bruce]

Hi Idlerider

When I got my car, the previous owner had had them removed. I got some through a dealer and they came with the adhesive backing already on. Just heat it up with a hair-drier before sticking them on.

As for the spacing - I had a good look at all the other 9-5's around to judge where was best. You could even sneak into a dealer & measure it yourself!

 

[sgould]

Dealer parts come with the letters stuck to a backing sheet already correctly spaced.  The glue side is stuck to a waxed sheet and the sticky itself is slightly resilient.  More like double sided tape with a thin foam layer.

Trying to fit secondhand individual letters is likely to be a world of pain.

Plain double sided tape will probably not stick as the panel is slightly curved.
Is the tape exterior quality?  If not, rain will dissolve it.
You have to get each letter stuck in the right place with the right spacing and the right tilt.  Not easy.

The dimensions for the first letter of the dealer set are given in the WIS.

Letters for the rear and the side wing are different sizes.  They look wrong if mixed up.  And the boot layout is different on different years.

The attachments show the layout for a 2002 estate.

[Max Headroom]

I'd be tempted to use somethng like 'No More Nails'.

We have a product at work called Thiokol which is a pretty toxic polysulphide glue that comes in a caulking gun and is used for bonding vortex generators on to aircraft wings etc. Something similar to that would be good and the only thing I can think of easily available would be No More Nails!

EDIT:

Just had a thought - how about using clear silicone sealant? You would need to tape the badge in place until it sets

[phoenix]

Having had to do this on a couple of cars for various reasons, the stuff to use is number plate tape. Available in Halfords for about £4 a roll. It's black, so doesn't show under the lettering. Stick it onto the letters then use a sharp scalpel to cut round it. Give the rear surface of the letters a thorough degrease and clean. For the bodywork, a wipe over with alcohol does the job.

[idlerider]

sgould: thanks for the pics. I'm in the graphics business, so I should be able to scale these to the actual items and make a rough template.
phoenix: number plate tape must be what I was told about - same supplier, same method. Sounds good.

Thanks to both and everyone else who responded.

[Saabman]

I'd be tempted to use somethng like 'No More Nails'.


Just had a thought - how about using clear silicone sealant? You would need to tape the badge in place until it sets

  I could see either method going very wrong  As said by others the stuff to use is foam backed double sided tape cut with a scalpel/razor blade. 

[Max Headroom]

No more nails is not an option - I just meant a strong easy/ready to use adhesive. I reckon the silicoset would be good.
I note also that there are some 3M products specifically for glueing badges on cars

[Audax]

From what I recall the price of buying brand new badges isn't a huge amount of money if you're bothered about it and would be 20x easier than trying to fit second hand ones. I'd at least speak to a specialist or dealer about pricing for the badges before even considering mucking about with 2nd hand.

[collywobble]

If you consider buying new try 'Car Parts Connexions' or that well known internet auction site.

Part nos. for 2002 - 2006 estates are:

Aero - 4833448
9-5   - 4833463

Having replaced the bonnet badge on mine the hardest part was taking the old one off!

[aljshep]

My "Turbo Edition" badge and earlier "Sport" badges were not fitted to the car when I bought them.
They came with Templates (which I no longer have) to line up with the edge of the boot.
The badges came with adhesive and, once pressed on, have not moved since.