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Repair Summary
Ok..so let's face the three thousand pound gorilla sitting in the room. What do we call the model numbers (and letters) on the trunk lid of our Bimmers? Are they the trunk emblem? That gets confusing - the BMW logo (the roundel) that is mounted in the center of every BMW car and SUV trunk lid is also often referred to as the trunk emblem. BMW calls the model letters and numbers on the trunk lid the "trunk nameplate", which we actually really like but people seldom use. How about the trunk model number? That just doesn't sound right for some reason.
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All BMW Models
Replacing your BMW trunk emblem may be necessary if you have old or missing numbers and letters, or if you are looking to upgrade your vehicle's look.
Whatever you choose to call it, it will always be the core identity of your BMW.
As BMW trunk emblems become old, they can get encrusted with dirt and wax or can start to lose their finish. Age can also cause the numbers and letters to fall off requiring replacement. It has also become extremely popular to swap out factory chrome emblems and replace them with custom aftermarket black or carbon fiber ones.
There are two types of emblems on the market; complete "factory" emblems that contain all of the numbers and letters neatly packed, spaced, and ready to be attached to the vehicle, and the aftermarket individual numbers and letters that you need to space yourself. As a general rule of thumb, the complete emblems are Genuine BMW brands and the individual letters and numbers are "generic" aftermarket. We prefer the complete emblems from BMW; they are perfectly spaced and install much quicker than the individual letters. For your convenience, we have provided installation instructions for both.
Whatever your BMW trunk emblem replacement is for, follow our steps below to ensure a good bond between your new numbers and letters and the existing paint.
View the detailed parts diagram for this repair.
Includes detailed part diagrams, part numbers and links to purchase all of the required components needed to complete this repair.
Before starting this repair, you must have the following required parts.
Emblems for all BMW years and models
Pick from trunk and hood emblems and roundels for all BMW models and years. These are the same genuine factory parts that would be installed at the BMW dealership.
Section 1 - Complete Emblem Installation (Genuine BMW)
The trick to any emblem installation is making sure the paint surface is completely clean of any old glue. You must take the time to make sure every little bit of glue, foam, grease, and dirt is removed from the paint prior to installing the emblem to avoid it coming off during your first car wash.- Mark the left-hand side and the bottom of the existing emblem with alignment tape. The bottom piece of tape is optional...it usually gets destroyed when removing the old emblem. We like to use it because it helps protect the paint when scraping and applying the adhesive remover.
- Use a piece of braided fishing line to "saw" off the old emblem. Try and put as much pressure as possible against the paint when sawing...this helps remove the majority of foam backing material.
- Liberally soak the BMW trunk emblem residue with 3M Adhesive Remove and immediately scrape with a plastic trim removal tool. Continue to soak and scrape until all of the foam residue is removed.
- Soak a clean rag with adhesive remover and continue to clean the old adhesive from the paint. You may have to put a little "elbow grease" into it...but if you continue to soak and scrub you will eventually remove all of the old emblem backing. It is very important that every bit of the old emblem is removed from the paint before installing the new one.
- When all of the old BMW trunk emblem backing is removed, clean the area with a good alcohol based degreaser. We highly recommend Goof Off Power Cleaner and Degreaser (yellow bottle). It is safe to use on automotive paint and does an excellent job removing grease, dirt and old wax. NEVER USE a petroleum based cleaner or degreaser on your paint...you could destroy the finish.
- If the bottom piece of tape was destroyed during the cleaning process, use a small level to install a new one.
- Slowly peel the white backing off of the new BMW trunk emblem. We say "slowly" because if you are not careful, you can pull a number or letter off with it. The goal here is to leave the numbers and letters stuck to the clear front piece of plastic.
- Line up the new emblem on your tape guides and press onto the car. Slowly work your way across the emblem putting pressure on each individual number and letter. When you are finished, peel the clear plastic off of the emblem.
Section 2 - Individual Letter and Number Installation
- Mark off the existing BMW trunk emblem using a left side and bottom alignment tape as shown below. Use a permanent marker or Sharpie to mark the exact spacing of each number or letter on the tape.
- Follow steps 2-5 above with one exception - since you have marked the location of each number and letter on the bottom alignment tape, you must take extra care in not destroying it during the old emblem removal.
- Apply the new BMW trunk emblem numbers and letters by removing the adhesive backing and pressing into place with your fingertips. Make sure the numbers and letters line up on your tape edges and spacing marks.
- Remove all of the tape and wipe clean.
BMW Trunk Emblem Replacement Finished
