Laser Engraving on a E46

I aquired a nice x y axis Universal laser systems engraver . Ive been lasering everything i can get my hands on! Id like to engrave something on my 330i but i dont have any ideas what might look good. It will engrave almost any material except bear metal with a max size of 1' tall 12" wide 2' long. My first thoughts were the air box,engine cover or even a small bmw logo on the MAF sensor. Any ideas or thoughts are appreciated.

Pics of stuff you've engraved?

Engraved exhaust tips But I'm not sure how any of it works. I'm thinkin because it's round you couldn't do it

In for engraving pics/video!

Engrave a portrait of DMAX on your airbox! I'd probably pay to see that.

In for pics

Would your laser be able to remove the "E46Fanatics.com" I, like an idiot, had tattooed on my forehead, just under my hairline?

I was so young when I did it...just 50...so I chalk up that mistake to my youth. Can you fix this?

So...for real now...I think this could be a very cool thing.

Think of little things that you can get that are exactly the same as what many have on their cars.

For instance, if you could get blank wheel covers, you could custom engrave them with whatever someone would want.

Me? A laser cut roundel could look very cool...subtle and clean.

Maybe airbox too, but if you actually wanted to make this into a business, you'd need to have things you could get sort of cheaply and just send out to folks.

There aren't many little parts you can get like that. The engine cover would work...and guys can live without them, so that's not a bad idea, but personally, I think mine looks sharp as it is.

For yourself, you could do your wheels, glass, whatever...

How about a laser cut e46fanatics.com on your back window?

Originally Posted by dmax

So...for real now...I think this could be a very cool thing.

Think of little things that you can get that are exactly the same as what many have on their cars.

For instance, if you could get blank wheel covers, you could custom engrave them with whatever someone would want.

Me? A laser cut roundel could look very cool...subtle and clean.

Maybe airbox too, but if you actually wanted to make this into a business, you'd need to have things you could get sort of cheaply and just send out to folks.

There aren't many little parts you can get like that. The engine cover would work...and guys can live without them, so that's not a bad idea, but personally, I think mine looks sharp as it is.

For yourself, you could do your wheels, glass, whatever...

How about a laser cut e46fanatics.com on your back window?

He said he can't cut into hard materials I think. So glass wouldn't work

Since its x y axis round objects are out of the question altough the surface doesnt have to be perfectly flat. Sry but dmax and laser tattoo removal is not gunna happen. I havent taken many pics of what ive engraved but i have successfully engraved a laptop,tablet,cell phone,sunglasse,name tags,key chain,images on tile and wood,honda valve cover, coolant tank,etc. Its max engraving size is 1' tall 2' lond 1' wide. It will burn almost any material except bear metal. It will do glass but a window is not gunna fit inside it as the cover of the engraver has to be closed for it to burn anything.

That's pretty damn neat. How much does a machine like that cost?

Well this particuliar model has all the bells and whistles,software,exhaust,and warranty.> ~ $15k. Imthinkin about maybe engravin bmw on the ashtray cover since its easy to remove.

What's the software interface like, can you simply upload a JPEG and engrave it?

Originally Posted by Megasquirter

Well this particuliar model has all the bells and whistles,software,exhaust,and warranty.> ~ $15k. Imthinkin about maybe engravin bmw on the ashtray cover since its easy to remove.

+1 on engraving the ashtray cover, sunglass holder cover and the little things like that. May be interior trims and steering wheel trims too.
I'm sure people here would want to have the trims engraved to give a personal touch.

Just throwing out ideas.

in for pics of the ashtray cover

hope you bought that for making money at some point because 15k is like another E46 in the drive way

lol don't overdo it.

I can just see an E46 with about 300 roundels on all the exposed surfaces.

Originally Posted by dmax

Me? A laser cut roundel could look very cool...subtle and clean.

+1. If you could get your hands on a piece of anodized/powder coated metal in the shape of a roundel, a laser engraved one would be awesome. I'd buy a pair.

15k!??!? !?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??! GEBLEHHHHHHHHHHH!? What do you use it for?

Maybe you could engrave the front license plate bumper trim piece. Sort of e36 style how they had "BMW" on it.

You could write your name on the back of your key.