GROUP BUY-Chrome dash gauge rings

[jim545]

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 get40orders, 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.

[BMWTuners]

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

[BMWTuners]

I found some pics in the archives. This is a general idea of what they will look like after installation. I did not take these pics myself, but in case you are wondering what they look like after installation, this is for you.
<p>

[kyeguy82]

put me on the list......they look very nice
mike

[MSL]

I definately want to order 2 sets of these chrome gauge rings for the e36....i want to order them immediately though....matt do you have anumber so i can order a few sets and get them to me asap....thanks>?

[///M3junkie]

I'm in. I'll install them when I put in the aluminum guage face I've been meaning to get.

[Droptop///M]

Put me down for 1

[BMWTuners]

I have a feeling 40 is gonna be pretty easy to get based on response so far.
MSL....email me ASAP at mjr52521280@aol.com or bmwtuners@aol.com
The earliest I could get a set shipped out is Thursday as I am out of town until then. You could throw an extra $2.00 in and I will send them Priority meaning you would have them Saturday or Monday.
Matt

[havenlock]

sent you some mail..

mark me down for 1

[Doc]

sent some email myself.. also count me for one

[///M328i]

count me in for a set

[Hellrot Sachin]

I'd be really interested in a set too. Is there a how-to for removing the cluster? Will the adhesive be visible? Paypal?

HRS

[MPowerE36]

I'll take (1) set for an E36.

Eddie
mpowere36@yahoo.com

[avusbluem3]

I would be down for a set.

[junta]

uuhhh....I don't actually post anything for discussion...
but I want to say that pictures bmwtuner posted are shots taken from my car. I took those photos myself. I have chrome rings installed myself; they look perfect. As people mentioned about rings pealing off; that total depends on how you install the thing. I am very upset because someone actually taking my things for their business and they don't even own them.