my star!!!!!!

[kiwi_bloke]

I need to let my anger go! some bastard uplifted my star while in a parking lot!!!!!!! Why would someone want a damn star!!!! now my car looks like some kind of rice burner with out it

 

[wagamama]

the bastards!

but i think you can get replacement bits like that from an MB stealership tho.

 

[jaques2k]

Geez, I think I´ll have to invent some kind of "electrified star" to my benz... just in case .

 

[Spike]

I know you'll want one of these :wink: goes up and down with the remote central locking.

 

[jaymanek]

YES YES, we all WANT one of those, but who the h*ll makes them??????

 

[Spike]

I have one on my car but it seems that they can no longer be sourced.

I have been toying with the idea of getting a batch of them made up again if I can generate enough interest.

 

[NormanB]

Spike

How are you going to determine the level of interest?

Coz I am - interested that is!

NormanB

 

[jaymanek]

Two for me!

 

[dieseldes]

I'll have one, some b*****d removed mine last week, from the 123 not vandalised, removed it properly complete with mount...

Des

 

[jaymanek]

Hi,


How were you thinking of making a batch up, im interested now??? If you need a partner to sell these things, let me know!!

Thanks

Jay

 

[Spike]

Well I have a working example to use as a template for a batch to be made up from.

I have a number of people interested both here, Europe & a few in the US.

The main problem as I see it is volumes. To get the badge/kit viable it has to be reasonably priced. To get a good price I will need to commission quite a large number of them. What I dont want to do is make so many that I cant shift so research is the key here I think.

My starting point really is what people think is a fair price to pay for such an item. The kit would involve all the bits required to replace the original badge and plumb it in to your central locking pump. It is my understanding that when these were in production they were priced a bit on the high side and hence few people bought them and production ceased. I had been looking for one for over five years and had to pay more than I'd care to mention for a new one still in its box....but others wont I'm sure.

Once I get a rough idea of what people think is reasonable, I can get an idea of numbers I need to make up to fall within the scope of being do-able.

Anyone recomend a good engineering shop that could handle something like this?

 

[jaymanek]

Spike,

I know how much you paid as i was watching it on ebay. I decided to let it go after 60 quid!

I think the key is to be able to do something fo all models. The one you have can only fit in models with a 'big chrome grill', hence ruling out anything past 1993ish.....

However if you stick to making ones exactly like yours, you will probably not be able to charge more than 60/70 quid i guess. The replacement badges are less than a tenner from MB, and so the only reason anyone would buy one that goes up and down, is for the looks!

However im confident you could shift a lot. I think most members of this forum with a big chrome grill, would be interested.

There are a few other things to consider: Guarantee's - will the chrome last as long and look as good as MB, the mechanism etc etc.....

 

[Spike]

I think you are right on all points apart from designing a badge for later model cars. The reason why I dont think thats such a good idea is because to fit a similar device on newer cars would necessitate cutting a section out of the bonnet of the car to enable the star to go down. I don't know about you but I was wary doing this to my chrome grill let alone in the middle of the bonnet.

The chrome finish on mine seems to have coped well through the British winter and appears to have a nice durable thick chrome plating. The star itself appears to be a genuine Mercedes star with the base section changed which I guess is a good thing as it would mean that no copyright laws would be relevant as the kit need not necessarily include the star itself if needs be. The mechanism is sturdy and relatively simple....the only maintenance it to grease the shaft every 12 months or so. There is only a couple of seals that are standard 'O' rings so even they can be replaced reasonably cheaply if ever they fail.

Fitting....well the instructions were.....interesting, and the task itself daunting as an insision had to be made in the chrome grill and a section off the front of the bonnet (hidden by the grill) had to be chopped off also. Very careful use of a dremel completed the task in hand reasonably swiftly - total job time was around two hours but may put many people off.

 

[jaymanek]

Yes i thought so, but was just an option. Well hope you get this off the ground, i cant wait to get my hands on one. I dont really mind drilling away at my grill. For the price they are from MB, i would buy a new one and drill into that one as to keep the original one...original.


Please do keep us updated


thanks

Jay

 

[NormanB]

Spike

Would it be worthwhile using your template to produce an engineering/production drawing.

Then if any of the members have access to machining facilities they could come with ideas and possible quotes.

NormanB

 

[Spike]

That would be nice I guess but I am gonna keep a lid on the design for a while as I have been bitten once too many times before.

 

[kiwi_bloke]

i got the bastard back - electrified star

I uplifed MY star from the offending car.....it was even complete with super glue

Now for my brainwave....an electrified star could be in theory be set up with a coil and indicator relay My mind is running wild with the possibilities, an "electric fence" unit could be used as well. The only problem would be insulating the star from the rest of the body.....



Josh

1989 230e 164,000 km runs like a dream! Now complete with a star....soon to be electrified

 

[NormanB]

Sorry Spike

I am not sure what you see that you stand to lose - or am I being thick?

NormanB

 

[clegsr]

Sparky Stars

Electrified Stars? that seems to me a great way to get keyed... I would just live with it, they only cost about £10 fitted by the dealer .

 

[andy_k]

Spike,

If you are thinking about going into "production" there are a few options which will be governed by the amount of demand you generate.

The best way is to get a fully working prototype supported by the relevant drawings, DXF (CAD) files and go from there.

For small quantities then you will probably looking at an engineering firm producing the parts using a CNC mill then you will be left with the plating, assembling etc - now if this is in small numbers then fine but you sould soon end up with a house full of bits and half assembled chrome stars. This method is not cheap and will probably result in some very low profit margins for you - dependant on the number of parts but an estimate of £40-£50 (cost) per unit is not unreasonable

For larger quantities you could get the components cast from a mould made with your original drawings. This would be cheaper but you would also need to arrange plating and assembly and any price you were quoted would be dependent on quantities. (I've very little experience of the costs of this method)

Important things to consider, before you get any drawings made you need to have your facts and figures from both your CNC mill and the chrome platers - what tolerances do they guarantee - insist on a guarantee figure not a "at best" the guarantee will be slightly lower but easier to accomodate in the long run. When talking to the platers you need the same figures - how thick is the plating and what tolerances do they operate within? Do all the parts need plating or just the visible bits? If you go for CNC milled and not cast what material will they be made of?

I'm not trying to put you off here it's just that producing stuff like this on a limited basis isn't ever going to be easy and seldom is it cost effective.

Maybe better to see if it is possible to patent the idea - a slight modification of the original should neatly sidestep any current patents/copyrights and then sell the idea to one of the manufacturers. if you want computer simulations/drawings etc produced - then drop me a line - I'm more than willing to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement if you commission me to do the work - I do a lot of visualisation work which involves these terms so have no problem with it.

HTH

Andy