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January 19th is the build date for our GLE 43 AMG, and I can hardly wait to pick up this thing!!!
I've actually started on a project that I hope to have completed before we actually pick the vehicle up, which should be next week sometime. I wanted to get an AMG receiver cover, but I couldn't really find anything out there that I liked, so I'm building my own.
Here's some pics of what I have done so far:
Close up of the machining on the letters:
Computer rendered image of what the final product should look like:
Looks beautiful! In fact, too nice. Unless you plan to include a lock, it'll probably disappear in some parking lot. Sad to say, but just being realistic.
Looks beautiful! In fact, too nice. Unless you plan to include a lock, it'll probably disappear in some parking lot. Sad to say, but just being realistic.
Yup. I already have that part as well. While no lock is impossible to pick, I have a locking pin that is "harder" to pick. I use it when I have my motorcycle trailer attached to my truck or our Touareg. Should slow them down at least...
If you want to make another, I"ll buy one from you.
So, here's the deal. I would LOVE to make these for people and sell them, however, I can't legally do that without MB's blessing. I can build them for myself, and my use only, but I can't sell them. I don't even think that I can give them away. Has to be for personal use only.
I have actually started the process with MB to see what it takes to get licensed, and I haven't heard back from them in a while. I need to rattle their cage again, and see where that process is at...
I have actually started the process with MB to see what it takes to get licensed, and I haven't heard back from them in a while. I need to rattle their cage again, and see where that process is at...
This is probably why. If they agreed to license you to make your version as well, it would probably sell for $200. Yours puts theirs to shame.
That is EXACTLY the reason that I'm building my own! That thing that MB is offering is a total joke. That's a GREAT price on the one on eBay. I've actually seen them for $50+.
Mine won't be $200, I don't think, but it isn't going to be cheap either.
This looks awesome so far, nice job! Here are a couple "pie in the sky thoughts" ... in your original finished product rendering it appears to be a white "face" around the AMG lettering. You could do one of two things... match that "perimeter" color to your GLE color (not so hard) or have it somehow be bright white LED's that glow red upon braking.... oops it's now a $500 receiver cover!
Did u order the gle 43 suv or coupe? Wondering why my build got moved to march. Originally was suppose to be jan like yours.
Coupe. That would have been a bummer if ours got moved. In fact, ours got moved UP. I was originally supposed to be period 2 in February IIRC, and it got moved up.
Did you order a special color or some special option that they have a long lead time on getting, or having issues getting???
This looks awesome so far, nice job! Here are a couple "pie in the sky thoughts" ... in your original finished product rendering it appears to be a white "face" around the AMG lettering. ...
While rendering in CAD programs is cool, I can't always make it look like the real thing. Or maybe, I should say, I don't have the patience to jack around with it to make it look like the real thing. Anyhow, that front face is polished aluminum, even in that rendering, it just doesn't display well.
Originally Posted by Boston
... You could do one of two things... match that "perimeter" color to your GLE color (not so hard) ...
Actually for our GLE, the color is matching, at least close. Our Coupe is Obsidian Black, and I'm powder coating the outside in black. Just doesn't have the metal flake. But, it would be easy to change that outside color to match.
Originally Posted by Boston
...or have it somehow be bright white LED's that glow red upon braking.... oops it's now a $500 receiver cover!
That's not funny. I've already had this thought, and have pondered how I could do that. And while I'm sure that I could get it to work, I'm afraid that it would be one of those things when I get it done, I look at it and say, "man, I put a lot of work into getting those cool LED lights in there, and it's not as cool as I thought it was going to be." I have a lot of projects that are like that. I work on them, thinking they are going to be cool, and then when I'm done, I look at it and go, ehhhhh, no...
Masking removed, and ready for polishing. I did have a little bit of bleed thru on the letters, and I kind of figured that would happen. I think it will all buff out and be just fine...
Same view after 4 coats of 2 part automotive clear, and heat soak all night long.
I ended up with a few specs of dirt in the clear coat, and some slight orange peel. The orange peel was a LOT worse after coat 2, but as I put more coats on, it improved dramatically. I was a little bit worried after the second coat. At this point, I'm not going to mess with it. For what the clear coat is doing (protecting the raw aluminum) it's doing a good enough job...
Here's a top down shot of what it looks like complete:
IF, I get clearance / approval from MB to make and sell these things, I've learned a couple of things along the way:
The milling on the logo will be slightly different. It will have rounded bottoms, as opposed to square cut bottoms
I will eliminate the middle hole on the vertical sides. It's too many holes, and they are too close compared to the ones on the horizontal sides
The entire thickness will be increased slightly, so that I can use standard socket head cap screws without needing to cut them off. I had to buy longer screws and cut them off, so that they didn't stick out the back. While that worked, that was a TIME consuming process
Masking and painting is a TIME consuming process
The next ones will be painted completely black, and have the face milled off AFTER painting. Then, I'll make that surface look brushed, and then clear coat
All of the tapping needs to be done AFTER powder and clear coat. I've tapped the holes twice
There probably won't be any buffing / polishing of anything. Time consuming, and the end product doesn't quite look as good as I had hoped
All-in-all, though, I'm happy with where this one came out for a first try, and it is momma approved, so that's really all that matters!!
I have one final picture to take, and that's with the receiver cover ON the truck. COME ON DELIVERY DATE!! I can't wait!!
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Yours puts theirs to shame.
