Mercury Man with a bad case of acne!!

[Meteorite]

I bought the God's Head badges (both front and rear) from CAR Motorsports in 2006, and installed them last summer. After only about 2000 miles during one Michigan winter, this is what they now look like (see attachment).

Supposedly, these Marauder badges come with a lifetime guarantee from CAR Motorsports, but I have emailed them a few times, and tried (sometimes successfully, sometimes not) to reach them on the phone. I heard that they have replaced at least one other member's corroded badges, but I am having no luck getting through to them.

The one time I talked to a live person, he assured me that my email to them had been
forwarded to the person who will help me. However, that was 2 weeks ago. Now, my calls are not being returned.

Any help here?

[magindat]

Not to make light of your trouble, but that looks polishable to me.

Try a Dremel on low speed with a polishing wheel and some tripoli. Bet it comes right out.

Best of luck.

[Zack]

For the money, they should not do that

[Meteorite]

Not to make light of your trouble, but that looks polishable to me.

Try a Dremel on low speed with a polishing wheel and some tripoli. Bet it comes right out.

Best of luck.

Thanks; I will give it a try.

[magindat]

Thanks; I will give it a try.

Keep the tool moving, don't stall in one spot. You'll be fine! Finish it up with some Mother's aluminum polish.

[Krytin]

If you think that's bad - you should see mine!
The chrome is peeling off of the front one.
The rear is holding up fine, but that's because he's ducking his head down!

[magindat]

For the money, they should not do that

Clean it up with acetone. Clear coat it with Duplicolor clear and bake it for 20 min in a 150 degree oven. You'll never have this issue again.

[Blackened300a]

Clean it up with acetone. Clear coat it with Duplicolor clear and bake it for 20 min in a 150 degree oven. You'll never have this issue again.

Ok, for the cost of these badges, Why should you have to do anything at all???

[ctrlraven]

Ok, for the cost of these badges, Why should you have to do anything at all???

Agreed! My rear looks fine but my front one is starting to develop small pits in it. I have gone no more than 3 days without at least cleaning them really well.

[Meteorite]

Clean it up with acetone. Clear coat it with Duplicolor clear and bake it for 20 min in a 150 degree oven. You'll never have this issue again.

I have a 2nd set of clean badges (which I only bought to help the vendor make the minimum numbers they needed to produce the badges). So, can I skip the acetone step, or does that somehow help with adhesion.

Acetone seems kind of harsh; can I use the pre-paint de-greaser that body shops use?

Also, what kind of paint is the Duplicolor clear? Acrylic lacquer?

[magindat]

For the cost you shouldn't have to do anything...

Agreed.

However, as someone who would rather hassle with a little polishing than hassle with an unresponsive vendor, I humbly offer my suggestions.

I polished and clear coated my Colex and CAR badges myself as most were hand-me-down gifts I was grateful to receive.

[magindat]

I have a 2nd set of clean badges (which I only bought to help the vendor make the minimum numbers they needed to produce the badges). So, can I skip the acetone step, or does that somehow help with adhesion.

Acetone seems kind of harsh; can I use the pre-paint de-greaser that body shops use?

Also, what kind of paint is the Duplicolor clear? Acrylic lacquer?

I use acetone and it hasn't harmed my pieces. I'm sure the paint prep fluid will do it. Point is to get the polish remnants off.

I never looked at the type of paint Duplicolor is. I used the 'system' (primer-color-clear and adhesive promoter-color-clear on a van I used to have) and it worked great. The clear SMELLS like paint shop clear, so I used it to coat my badges. It gives them a nice deep look and makes them waxable and as carefree as the rest of my paint job (which has 6 clear coats).

[fastblackmerc]

I had the chrome start to wear off of two badges. I called Rich, sent them back and got new ones each time. No problems getting it done.

[Meteorite]

I had the chrome start to wear off of two badges. I called Rich, sent them back and got new ones each time. No problems getting it done.

I PM'ed Rich perhaps a month ago. He replied that he no longer is part of CAR Motorsports, and that I should just call them directly. Which is what I've been trying to do since then.

[RCSignals]

Not to make light of your trouble, but that looks polishable to me.

Try a Dremel on low speed with a polishing wheel and some tripoli. Bet it comes right out.

Best of luck.

Unless they absolutely refuse to warranty it, I would not touch it at this point.
They will probably want it back as it is now.

[Meteorite]

Unless they absolutely refuse to warranty it, I would not touch it at this point.
They will probably want it back as it is now.

Agreed. I won't touch it until I hear from them.

[MACFORD88]

That Looks Like It Has Chicken Poxs.lol

[Lowell]

Looks like you need to take better care of your car. Like wash the salt off more often. Mine have seen two Michigan winters and look like when I received them. Daily driver!

[Meteorite]

Looks like you need to take better care of your car. Like wash the salt off more often. Mine have seen two Michigan winters and look like when I received them. Daily driver!
Perhaps so, but the chrome trim on my old cars doesn't do what this badge has done, and I don't wash them any more or less than the Marauder ... I guess they have better quality chrome than this badge had.

In any case, it would be nice if they'd return my phone calls ... at least once.

I mean, really, it should not take 2 months to get hold of a company. Even if they would just call me back and tell me "tough SH17" ... it would be better customer service than I'm getting right now.

[MERCMAN]

Is there an update on this?

[Meteorite]

Is there an update on this?

Yes, there is, MERCMAN, and thank you for asking.

I was able to reach Chad at Car Motorsports, by telephone, and he told me to send the corroded badges to them. I was out of town over the weekend, so have not been able to take the badges off yet.

I will update this as any further developments occur, including clear-coating of the new badges, and the results.

[MM03MOK]

Yes, there is MERCMAN, and thank you for asking.

I was able to reach Chad at Car Motorsports, by telephone, and he told me to send the corroded badges to them. I was out of town over the weekend, so have not been able to take the badges off yet.

I will update this as any further developments occur, including clear-coating of the new badges, and the results.
Ah, thanks. I just sent Rich and Alan an email asking them to contact you. I'll pass your post along to them.

[Meteorite]

Ah, thanks. I just sent Rich and Alan an email asking them to contact you. I'll pass your post along to them.

Thank you, Mary!

[Meteorite]

Well, I finally got a chance to get the badges off the car ... and it wasn't easy!

Any fear I had about those suckers coming off due to imperfectly matching curvature, were totally unnecessary. That adhesive on the badges is great!

I'll send them off to CAR Motorsports on Monday.

[Cobra25]

Glad too hear your problem is getting resolved. Best of luck with the New ones.

[NATEHAWK]

Im having a problem with mine the chrome is starting to come off and rust is showing underneath. This is not happening to the truck one. I was and keep them polished up real good eveytime I do the car.I will take a few pics later today . The elements are not a factor I have a garage.

[RCSignals]

where were these things actually made?

[Meteorite]

Thank you, Alan, and CAR Motorsports!

This issue is RESOLVED.

I have replacement badges. I will document the clearcoating process when I install them in the spring of 2008.

[MM03MOK]

Great news, Paul!! :D