B post caps

[wayne]

I origionally posted this in parts wanted... but I think that looking at where this is heading a post here would be prefered...

Anyone have any un damaged spares that they would be willing to either sell or loan?

I have recently had to remove a B post cap due to some damage to the rear attachment.

cap back.jpg

cap front.jpg

I hate driving around with this part missing and although I believe I can easily repair this and refit it. But have been hanging on to it for a while so as possibly using it to have them duplicated by the same company that has done the escutcheons.

My parts are not good to be used to replicate other sets as they are probably discoloured and may be warped, etc....




I have been thinking about having these done for along time now but could never really justify doing them.... Tonight I saw Douglas vally breakers ad on fleabay wanting 50 pounds for 1 of them !!! Unfortunaty for them this has kind of pissed me off... I think it's time to make these things affordable once again....

caps

Bad news is that it will turn out to be another 6 month plus project.... I go on vacation in a few weeks and have a few family problems to deal with at the moment so nothing will start to happen untill September.

First thing is I would rathere start with a good set of caps. At the end of the day the dupicated part is only as good as the origional... If anyone has some spares that they would be willing to lend out for several months please let me know

Many thanks

Wayne

[abmunro]

They are affordable

About £50 for a pair from SJ Sports

Check this topic


Tony

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Those are fiberglass reproductions, wrong colour and wrong texture.

Wayne is looking to produce sets as original - even considering including the springs and hinges.

[Nobby]

Wayne is looking to produce sets as original - even considering including the springs and hinges.

That would be cool, as theres sure to be interest including myself as mine are damaged.

Ps the esucthens are great, picked them up tonight, many thanks to everyone who made these happen.

Nobby

[GeoffSmith]

If all else fails Wayne, I'll take mine off and send you them.

[theelanman]

Wayne is looking to produce sets as original - even considering including the springs and hinges.

That would be cool, as theres sure to be interest including myself as mine are damaged.

[rip]

Wayne is looking to produce sets as original - even considering including the springs and hinges.

That would be cool, as theres sure to be interest including myself as mine are damaged.

Ps the esucthens are great, picked them up tonight, many thanks to everyone who made these happen.

Nobby

I picked my escutcheons up last night too & I agree with Nobby that they look great.
I knew there was something different about the replacement B post caps available but did not know that they were fibreglass.
I am sure many would be interested in a set of these if they were made available.

[epipete]

I agree with the above, picked up my escutcheons last night - a great job indeed!

Also I suspect there would be considerable demand for these B post caps, but I wonder if this company could remanufacture the clear perspex that covers the rear lamps, now I'm sure that there would be demand for that.

Pete

[theelanman]

I wonder if this company could remanufacture the clear perspex that covers the rear lamps, now I'm sure that there would be demand for that.

again...

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I agree with the above, picked up my escutcheons last night - a great job indeed!

Also I suspect there would be considerable demand for these B post caps, but I wonder if this company could remanufacture the clear perspex that covers the rear lamps, now I'm sure that there would be demand for that.

Pete

We are still looking for that solution.

Clear plastic - some type of carbonite or somethng is very difficult to make. They are not perspex.

The angles of the sides of the covers make them very difficult to make. We have approached several reputable vacu-forming companies and none felt they could make something that would be usable.

[Denny]

I would definatley have a set or three if these went into production

[wayne]

They are affordable

About £50 for a pair from SJ Sports

Check this topic


Tony

Thanks Tony. I had seen the info on the SJ's caps before but although they a decent price and probably stronger than the plastic ones and probably only specky could tell them apart. I would prefer a plastic one that doesn't require painting and they would be available for about £25 / pair. Would you have any pics of the fibreglass caps? I'd be interested to see the back of the cap. I seem to remember seeing a pic of the top side somewhere and I believe they have matched the texture.

Geoff. Thanks for the offer. I hope it doesn't come to such drastic measures. as someone removing them from their car. I'll keep my eye out on flebay, etc.

Pete. I'm not sure if this company could do the rear light covers. They specialize in injection moulding only. I will send them some pics and see what they think but due to size they could work out expensive. Looking into having these remade has crossed my mind several times. I have a light assy sat on the bookshelf to remind me to look into it some time.

Unless anyone else wants to look into having them made I will look into it when I get back from vacation. In the mean time...

I'm still searching for some spare b post caps

[GeoffSmith]

John, Wayne,
I would be interested in one or two sets of B post caps should you make it fly guys.

***Moved the rear light discussion to the correct topic***
Geoff

[GeoffSmith]

Geoff. Thanks for the offer. I hope it doesn't come to such drastic measures. as someone removing them from their car. I'll keep my eye out on flebay, etc.

I'm still searching for some spare b post caps

Don't worry Wayne. The better the pattern, the better the finished product.

[wayne]

Geoff. Thanks for the offer. I hope it doesn't come to such drastic measures. as someone removing them from their car. I'll keep my eye out on flebay, etc.

I'm still searching for some spare b post caps

Don't worry Wayne. The better the pattern, the better the finished product.

Thanks Geoff. I have to agree . The better the patern the better the product.... I am willing to send my parts over but am worried that people will not be happy with the reproduction. As seen by my escutcheons the colour of mine were way off the origional colour.... My B post caps are probably no better

There seems to be quite a few people with damaged caps.... does everyones fail in the same place as my pic?? If so I wonder if this part can be modified or upgraded to prevent this?

On my caps the attachment seems to be more flexible than the rest of the cap and probably a softer material..?
As these will now be made in 1 mould any suguestions on material and thickness could be usefull....?

Any other thoughts how to improve these?

Many thanks

Wayne

[Denny]

My caps are held in place by springs but I believe the later versions have a hinged type?
My springs are quite stretched now but luckily I have not lost the caps yet.
Forgive me if you have already considered this but would there be any chance converting the earlier type to hinge?

[wayne]

Hi Denny.

Other than the pic in the parts manual I havn't actually seen the early style cap.

The early design may be even more reliable than the later type?
If it's only the springs that are worn I'm sure you could find replacement springs?

As for converting them have a look at DVB ebay pics to see what the B pillar looks like under the later cap
DVB's cap

If it's different to yours then I would expect that you may need to source a pair of B pillar covers.

I did wonder if there would be any way to incorporate both styles on 1 cap. Unfortunatly I do not believe this would be possible.
Maybe someone that has seen both types could shed some light on this?

I initally tried to find a company that could do the vac formed version but no one could match the colour and texture of the origionals. ( Believe me. I tried alot of companies)!!

If anyone can find a vac forming company that could do this it would probably be possible to have different attachments fitted to the back and would work out alot cheaper than injection moulding.

Sorry. I can't offer any good advice at this point.

[WienLot]

Here below some photos of the caps fitted on my 1991 built M100. Are those the said ''early style cap'' ?

[Brit-Car-Nut]

I can't see the hinge and spring, so I am assuming that you have the early type. Did it have two springs to pull the cap down when the hood is away?

If you decide to change to the later design, I believe you need to replace the "B" Post interior cover. See: http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?MAK ... 0&ST=&SC=0

Part numbers 1 and 3. The VIN changepoint is listed, so you should be able to determine which you need. The part pictured is the early design.

Here is the link to the Caps: http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?MAK ... 0&ST=&SC=0

[WienLot]

yes I can confirm that each cap is maintained in place thanks to 2 springs (approx. 4 cm long each).