Whats up everyone?

My '96 Es300 has gold emblems. The front emblem has gone through a lot of abuse from the wind and road dust while traveling on the highway for all these years and lost its luster. The rear emblems are still mint. How easy is it to take off the old one (with all the dried glue) and replace it with a new one? Should I just go to one of those gold plating places and get it redone?

Also, I need a dark burlwood dash piece. About 7" by 7" square. I don't need the whole kit. I just need a square that I will use for a special project. Do they sell those? Can anyone provide me with a link for that?


Thanks for your help

 

I just painted my gold emblems with silver touch up paint!! It looks awesome!! I wanted to chrome plate it, but I just don't want to take it off.

 

dtp,

Thats a good idea. I got gold paint. Maybe I will put that on. If it doesnt look good I can always take it off.

 

Doing the gold paint thing will be a good solution, but if you want to make it look perfect just replace them. I did the paint thing on my previous car and it looked good for a while then it started to wear off with the MN weather (I forgot the clear coat). If you paint take your time! I've heard that the front emblem is held on by a screw in the back of the grill so it should be super easy to remove. Anyway, first take it off and try to polish it up, if that doesn't work paint it and do a spray clear coat after that for protection.
Earl!

 

The Es 300 emblem is on the hood itself. It not on the grill. I want to get a new emblem but I am afraid it wont stick right or some paint will scrape off while I am taking it off.

 

Sorry I remembered that you had and ES after posting, opps. Try using a hair dryer to heat up a glue a bit, then use dental floss to get behind it. I'm not sure if your emblem is secured in the hood with pins, if it is then ummmm I'm not sure. I know spxchrome replaced his emblems recently, try to search for his post about that.
Earl!

 

I replaced the chrome rear "L" on my RX300 with a Gold one. Now 1 1/2 yrs later it looks like crap. I'm going to put the chrome one back on. The emblem if I recall had 2 prongs and some sticky stuff on it on putty. I just pryed it off with screwdriver -no problem. I like the idea of a heatgun or dryer to soften up the glue-that should make it easier. No more gold for me.

 

Roger,

Same thing here with my gold emblem on my RX. Looks like crap, however it came with the gold package when I bought it used. What is really crummy are the RX center caps. I have the gold ones, and eventually took them off, not due to theft, but they are pporly made pieces of plastic. Could have bought the silver caps, but again same problem. Did not want to shell out several hundred for new caps. My solution? Bought the 2003 Camry Toyota Caps, metallic not plastic, and only cost $25 a cap including tax.

 

Just buy new emblems. Go with silver. Gold is sort of pimp. I had all 4 of my gold emblems taken off and replaced with silver ones for only $100 at a body shop. This included the labor for them to install them also. Good luck finding a better deal than that. I think on ebay it will run you around that price for the emblems alone, and then you have to take the old ones off and install the new ones. Anyway, check with your local body shop. They can order the emblems in, and do the work for you for cheap if you find the right place.