Trunklatch kit install - report

1330 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by K100Dennis, Apr 1, 2012

K100Dennis

Discussion Starter · Mar 28, 2012

I just installed my "fix it before it breaks" kit from Trunklatch.com. What an inpressive product, where engineering meets art ! Obviously this masterpiece has been 3D modelled using some software then CNC machined from single piece of aluminium stock. Excellent product, excellent instructions, a real credit to the inventor. A couple of things of note - I needed to remove the trunk and invert it on the bench as it was just too much trouble to work upside down from the floor (PITA). That said, the central locking cannot be checked during the install, so I took a gamble on that part and all was good. I thoroughly recommend this product, well worth the money and solves the problem of poor design from the OEM. Dennis.

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Dick

· #2 · Mar 28, 2012

K100Dennis said:
I just installed my "fix it before it breaks" kit from Trunklatch.com. What an inpressive product, where engineering meets art ! Obviously this masterpiece has been 3D modelled using some software then CNC machined from single piece of aluminium stock. Excellent product, excellent instructions, a real credit to the inventor. A couple of things of note - I needed to remove the trunk and invert it on the bench as it was just too much trouble to work upside down from the floor (PITA). That said, the central locking cannot be checked during the install, so I took a gamble on that part and all was good. I thoroughly recommend this product, well worth the money and solves the problem of poor design from the OEM. Dennis.

Yeppir - Evan done good. He's a master at CNC work from CAD design to the finished product, and with excellent instructions. I wuz blown away when I visited him in his shop a few miles from Boerne (he has sinced moved to the Houston area - closer to NASA!!) and got the tour whilst the CNC machine wuz whirring and blasting and squirting and drilling and cutting and - and - and. Very impressive, to me at least.

BTW - the OEM product suffered from the use of inferior material, as I understand it. Pot metal or sumpthin' similar and not addressing the stress points in the design.

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K100Dennis

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 28, 2012

Yes Dick, I'm a fitter & turner by trade, almost had a little twinge when I unpacked the kit. Very nice indeed. Just write the program, drop in the stock metal and have a cup of tea while the creation occurs. Simple, yeah, right !! Thoroughly recommend this product.

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MMcGuire

· #4 · Mar 29, 2012

Dennis,

Could you post a pic of the finished trunk?

I have mine off the bike now & thinking of pulling the trigger. I did not see a pic from outside. Did you need to paint black like stock handle?

Mike

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K100Dennis

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 30, 2012

Mike, my kit was the reiforcing parts for the original arrangement, so all stock latch parts remain in use but the forces are transferred through the Trunklatch parts. Photos will show vituually nothing of any use, you are better off to visit LTTrunklatch.com, there are better pics and instructions on there. Excellent product, a credit to the designer. It even makes the latching action feel beefier. Dennis.

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smahon

· #6 · Mar 31, 2012 (Edited)

Dennis,

How long did it take to get your kit? I placed an order on Mar 20th and haven't had any communication from Evan yet. Not worried or anxious, just curious that 10 days would go by and I've nothing but my PayPal receipt to show for it.

Edit: Just following up. When I posted this I also emailed Evan. He responded right away and appolgized for the delay due to a (minor) supply issue. It's all good.:bmw:

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cws

· #7 · Apr 1, 2012

K100Dennis said:
I just installed my "fix it before it breaks" kit from Trunklatch.com. Dennis.

Wise move Dennis.... mine broke, or at least started to, before I found the threads on the products. I'd probably read about them before but had forgotten.
I was very impressed with the product too, only a couple of hours to install, being very methodical about it.
The paintwork on my new latch has crazed a bit, which I reported to Evan, but not worth me sending it all the way back to get resprayed, which he offered to do!
Anyone thinking of dealing with Evan should have no concerns, at least for my 2c worth of opinion!

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K100Dennis

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 1, 2012

Hmm, bad luck Chris, fixing it before it fails is cheaper. I read about the fault early and treated mine very delicately till I got the kit. Keeping grease on the underside of the dogs that engage the trunk lid pins helps, and pressing down firmly on the lid also takes a lot of forces away. I wonder if BMW actually designed this part or let it out to others, regardless, you'd think they (BMW) would still have to sign off on the design. Sometimes I wonder. Evan Guy has it sussed right enough !!

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