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I don't want to use zinc plated or stainless. BMW's price is now a ridiculous fifty cents for a 6mm nut. I've searched the web endlessly--McMaster-Carr, MSC, all kinds of industrial suppliers, etc.--with no luck. Maybe there's an OEM source in Germany?

I have heard that cadmium plating is VERY harmful to the environment, hence it's increasing rarity.
I would pay BMW's price and be happy it is available at all.

Unless the BMW stuff is very old stock, it won't be cad plated, as use of cadmium for these purposes was phased out about 25/30 years ago.

Walk into a BMW dealer and buy some $.50 nuts and unless you buy dozens, he is surely losing money. I would try to pair the purchase with some other parts.

I have had parts cad plated. It cost a certain fee per five pounds. I think it was ninety dollars. May have been fifty.

Chuey

Someone help me here.
What is so special about cadmium plated fasteners?

They don't rust.....much.

I had some stuff cad plated about 15 years ago, it was done 'under the counter' , I went back 5years layer and the guyrefused to do any more. This is based on UK regulations. Nowadays use zinc plating. As it will age to a Colour similar to cad.

Personally I use stainless steel, I think that it looks really smart and fits in with the cast and polished aluminium of an airhead.

Charles

chasbmw wrote:Personally I use stainless steel, I think that it looks really smart and fits in with the cast and polished aluminium of an airhead.

+1
You can even take them down to a satin finish if you are fussy.

Cadmium is an especially egregious groundwater pollutant. Plating companies did themselves and everyone else a huge dis-service when they dumped their solutions out the back door back in the day. EPA spent a lot of money that was never recovered cleaning those places up. Florida was especially bad because the drinking water aquifer in much of the state is so close to the surface.

I've read that the torque values for pieces coated with cadmium and pieces coated with phosphated zinc can differ by as much as thirty percent. Anyone know about that?

Prices for the old cad-plated stuff (/2 especially) can be pretty crazy. I saw two /2 upper shock bolts with the correct KAMAX markings go for $58.00 on eBay a couple of months ago. AND, they needed re-plating.

Yup, I'm using stainless where I can.

Chuey