Topic: OFFICIAL Group Buy on ** Billet Engine Bay Covers **

[Cheers]

You have until the 22nd to order it.  I can't wait to install mine.  It's a B-Day gift to myself. 

ME TOO and my B-Day isn't til May

[xtrememedic]

I am on the group buy list, but need to know on the black caps can the engraving be done in orange if not than I need to rethunk my order to a different color

[Cheers]

I'm in Black with Mobil 1

[Gunnys GXP]

I am on the group buy list, but need to know on the black caps can the engraving be done in orange if not than I need to rethunk my order to a different color

just get some orange touch up paint, fill in the lines and wipe off the excess with a non fiberous/smooth rag so it doesn't grab it out of the engraved lines.

[GXPinKC]

Ok, folks.  I am confused here.  When I go to your area to confirm my order, I see a set of red engine bay covers that are highlighted in white, off to the right, and I assume that they are to be sold for $199.99 less $30.00 or the discount for the group buy which makes the set $169.99, and this includes the one for the oil, with the Mobil 1, on it in white.  You have already pictured the fact that they are available in colors. 

Ok, for clarity, I was led to believe that I would get the set of 5 Billet Engine Bay Covers" for $199.99 less the group discount of $30.00 for a net cost of $169.99.  Pardon my stupidity, but I don't have a dictionary available.  What do you mean by the term "anodized"?  I know engraved, inset, etc, but "anodized" escapes me for the moment.  I would assume it has something to do with color?

Bottom line, I want to purchase in good faith a red set, as you show, and with the white contrast in the design, and on the oil one I want it to have the Mobile 1, in white.  Now, please explain to me what the extra charges are all about.  Pardon me but, I am getting older and sometimes things come a bit slower.  Please bear with me.  But, if I have to pay an additional $30.00 for the deal, than I believe that I will have to reconsider, because I don't like to be taken advantage of.

Please clarify your offer.  Thanks. 
GXPinKC
Global Moderator, Kappa Performance.com

[Chemist]

I'm not stepping in on the $$ issue, just speaking to the term "anodized" in this discussion.

"Anodized" means that in an electrochemical reaction (reduction-oxidation, or "redox") these pieces served as the anode or electron source. As a result the surface of the aluminum metal loses electrons and is converted to the aluminum (3+) ion. This reacts with various chemicals to produce the colored surface (as you correctly surmised). The anodized coating actually adheres to aluminum more strongly than aluminum adheres to itself, producing a very hard and durable surface. This surface appearance is long-lasting, will not bubble or peel, and should not fade over time.

Anodization is in contrast to "normal" electroplating, where metal ions in solution are reduced (given electrons) to the pure metal on a surface (the cathode).

--Chemist (There will be a brief quiz on this on Friday, cost is only $10/person. At 20 people, that will make my set free.  )

[jrsno1fan]

Although I have already bought and paid, I did pay the extra for the red. And here's my take (coming from someone in the advertising business). No where in any of the info for the group buy posted here on the forum did it say anything about an additional charge for colored caps. If I had done my due deligence and gone to the website and searched all the way at the bottom of the page I would have seen in advance that there was an additional charge but in my excitement I like most everyone else did not. On the forum MRZ posted pics of all the colors available without disclosing the additional charge, poor judgement? Maybe. Bad business? Maybe. But I also think that this was not intended to be any kind of bait and switch just a lack of knowledge when it comes to advertising. MRZ - my suggestion to you is full disclosure up front. We are still going to buy them we just want to know in advance what all of our choices are and the full cost of each item including additional charges. A tiny disclaimer at the bottom of your page would have been nice. (ie, *Colored caps require additional charge, see website for details.)

 

[Critterman]

I guess I sure am glad I like chrome, or as blue says "plain"

[DeepBlueGXP]

Very good suggestion Kim 

[sol_man]

Well I just ordered mine but I agree that the additional costs for the colored caps should have been mentioned.  I didn't go to the website, I was going on faith that our vendor would let us know about these additional costs.

Hopefully I get black caps with OEM symbols except Mobil 1 on the Oil.

[lil goat]

I thought the price at $170 was about twice what it should be for some caps, but I was willing. I will NOT give them the benefit of the doubt, this was a flat out bait and switch. They pictured the anodized ones with the group buy discount price. You can remove me from the list, this was very poorly handled they certainly knew about the additional cost and never mentioned it. I don't deal with dishonest vendors.

[chuckdoc]

I'm not stepping in on the $$ issue, just speaking to the term "anodized" in this discussion.

"Anodized" means that in an electrochemical reaction (reduction-oxidation, or "redox") these pieces served as the anode or electron source. As a result the surface of the aluminum metal loses electrons and is converted to the aluminum (3+) ion. This reacts with various chemicals to produce the colored surface (as you correctly surmised). The anodized coating actually adheres to aluminum more strongly than aluminum adheres to itself, producing a very hard and durable surface. This surface appearance is long-lasting, will not bubble or peel, and should not fade over time.

Anodization is in contrast to "normal" electroplating, where metal ions in solution are reduced (given electrons) to the pure metal on a surface (the cathode).

--Chemist (There will be a brief quiz on this on Friday, cost is only $10/person. At 20 people, that will make my set free.  )

Oh No!  Now I will have nightmare of being back in Organic Chemistry class.  It almost caused me to be a barber.  Covalent bonding, benzene rings, No, No No.  Not ever again.

[Go-N Def]

About the whole "extra charge for colors" thing...

Why did I know about this almost from the start?  I could have sworn it was posted from the start or at least addressed in the first few of his replies.   

I don't know, maybe I just read his webpage because I was looking to get some custom engraving also???

Either way, I'm still in and am still going to get some in red with some customization...

I'll pay in a couple of days.  I'm spent from working for 40 hours straight and then coming home to realize I had to do some laundry.  I've had about 4 hours of sleep in 2.5 days, I'm out....

[Cheers]

Well I just ordered mine but I agree that the additional costs for the colored caps should have been mentioned.  I didn't go to the website, I was going on faith that our vendor would let us know about these additional costs.

Hopefully I get black caps with OEM symbols except Mobil 1 on the Oil.

 

[Whip]

I agree with Kim and Lil Goat.  No mention was made that there would be an additional cost.  The colors and price were displayed and I expected to get them for $170.00.  I really can not justify paying an additional $40.00 for orange.  If that is the case, I think I'm going to pass.

[Squirrel Boy]

Ok Squirrelboy(Jonathan Belcher) has now ordered a set in red with Mobil 1 on the oil cap...
..and the waiting begins

[BANDITCAR]

I was excited about these pieces until I saw the price.  Then with the discount it got a little bit better, but not much.  I was then very disappointed to see the extra charge for anodizing as from the post I saw had the color listed the same as polished. 
Although, I have ordered many things like this before and do know that most places will tack on an extra charge for an addition to a base product (ie. anodizing to the polished piece)  So I thought about it and see it that instead of paying $249 for the five pieces ($50 bucks a piece) I'm now paying $209 which brings the price down to about $42 a piece.  Now when purchasing the pieces separately you pay $40 for just polished so I see the anodizing at $2 a piece extra as a good deal!

Im still in for a set of Red with standard etching.  Will place my order this Friday.

One question, I noticed that there is no option for anodizing (+$40) with OEM etching.  Is there a comment place to denote that when I place my order and is there an extra cost for the etching as well?

[Gunnys GXP]

One question, I noticed that there is no option for anodizing (+$40) with OEM etching.  Is there a comment place to denote that when I place my order and is there an extra cost for the etching as well?

Put the details of what you want in the comments box when you check out you order.  If it is a custom labeling I would call them and order it.

[PubliusE]

When I saw the "Gauging Interest" post I went to their website to see the product listed there.  I was also interested in seeing what other products they sold.  It was on their website that I noticed the extra fee. I was considering adding some color to my engine compartment but the extra $$ made me decide to stick with the polished chrome.  I'll be placing my order this weekend after I payoff my CC from the Stage II Upgrade and RPI Exhaust (Christmas gifts to myself).    

[Deep-GXP]

Did i not say they'd make a killing off of these ? 

[lil goat]

I have done some checking, and in most cases for other cars anodized oil filler caps and the like are rarely over $20 each. MRZ may be the only game in town for now but I am sure that will change. I paid $15.95 for the custom billet oil filler cap I bought for my son's GTO, and it is much nicer and more detailed than these, it is also a complete replacement not a cover.

[DeepBlueGXP]

Ya but the guy that makes the parts for the GTO is very hard to reach.  The business he is working with out of Florida won't talk to anyone else except him, their loss.    I tried to get something together for the Solstice community. He is just a middle man that is tacking on another charge to the price because you have to pay the middle man!!! 

The stuff that the NYC group has is a painted cap, not anodized and they pay more...  They look great also.  I've seen them in person.  But they are covers that go over your existing caps and that makes it difficult to remove the oil cap.  You can see for yourself what they look like on nakidparts dot com

Once the group buy is over, they're pricing will be comparable to the NYC company.  We are getting a great deal on this...

[GXPinKC]

If I am correct, lil goat, Whip, and GXPinKC have decided to bypass this group buy, after first  ordering.  I don't normally change my mind after it has been set, but on this one I am just going to have to ask to defer, that is not follow through with my order.  I am sure that this new vendor will produce products that we will all admire and purchase on this forum.  MRZ Performance is a welcome addition as a supporting vendor.  Can't wait to see all you guys and gals with these Billet Engine Bay Covers installed at the next Kappa Meet we attend, and that would be the Denver 2009 National Meet.  In the meantime, I will be looking at what this company offers for sale in the coming months.
Just my 

[MRZ - Performance]

I am on the group buy list, but need to know on the black caps can the engraving be done in orange if not than I need to rethunk my order to a different color

We cannot fill the engraving but someone with good patience, paint and a seringe can fill in the engravings with paint. We have some customers that did it in the past and this does look good. Let me know if you need to change anything.

Thanks again! 

[DeepBlueGXP]

How long does it take to manufacture and ship?