Opinions on M spoiler (for non M car)

[Lansing]

There's a guy rolling in a non-M 3 series coupe in my area. Car's debadged and is silver. Really looks clean. Saw a black one like it, too. MO is that it has been debadged but also has a M spoiler on it although the car clearly is a non-M type.

I kind of like the look, but hesitate to put a cosmetic external mod on this already classic coupe look.

Anyone else tried this? Do you think this is a class or cheese look?

Lansing

[blackhawk77]

Originally posted by Lansing
There's a guy rolling in a non-M 3 series coupe in my area. Car's debadged and is silver. Really looks clean. Saw a black one like it, too. MO is that it has been debadged but also has a M spoiler on it although the car clearly is a non-M type.

I kind of like the look, but hesitate to put a cosmetic external mod on this already classic coupe look.

Anyone else tried this? Do you think this is a class or cheese look?

Lansing

It depends--- A lot of people on these boards like the lip spoiler (me included), but you will find that the common thinking here is that any addition of M-badging and/or the addition of the front fender gills/vents are a no-go.

[Lansing]

Originally posted by blackhawk77
It depends--- A lot of people on these boards like the lip spoiler (me included), but you will find that the common thinking here is that any addition of M-badging and/or the addition of the front fender gills/vents are a no-go.

Yeah, that's what I am talking about, too....the LIP SPOILER. IMHO it is subtle and nice. Looking for other ideas, too.

[Kaz]

I like the fact that BMW had the restraint to stick to a small lip spoiler on the M3 (which is also a delete option, IIRC). But I DON'T like the big ugly wing they put on Clubsports. : puke:

The lip spoiler is also available in a shorter version that fits sedan trunks.

Incidentally, a popular mod with the Audi B5 A4 crowd is the M3 spoiler with a slight extra bend in it. Looks very nice.

[artvandelay]

Originally posted by blackhawk77
It depends--- A lot of people on these boards like the lip spoiler (me included), but you will find that the common thinking here is that any addition of M-badging and/or the addition of the front fender gills/vents are a no-go.

Let's not forget that BMW sees fit to put m-badging (but only on the inside) and m-equipment on non-m cars. The m-sport pkg that comes on my canadian 330ci has the lip spoiler, M-steering wheel and M door sills. If anything with M-badging is verboten, then no one here would have M68's.

I think for the most part you just need to use good judgment. Lip spoiler, steering wheel, wheels and such are fine. Fake gills, M-badges on the outside, etc are silly.

[waxhaw]

I don't get the whole "debadging" thing. Is it mostly 325 drivers trying to pass as 330 drivers? Or what?

:dunno:

[blackhawk77]

Originally posted by artvandelay
Let's not forget that BMW sees fit to put m-badging (but only on the inside) and m-equipment on non-m cars. The m-sport pkg that comes on my canadian 330ci has the lip spoiler, M-steering wheel and M door sills. If anything with M-badging is verboten, then no one here would have M68's.

I think for the most part you just need to use good judgment. Lip spoiler, steering wheel, wheels and such are fine. Fake gills, M-badges on the outside, etc are silly.

Yeah-- I know that BMW uses the M in limited cases on non-M cars but I find it funny that you wont find the M68s on an "M" Bimmer.:dunno:

If you read my post you'll notice that I suggest M "badging" is taboo here which implies that placing an M Badge on the outside of the car is a :nono: in the minds of Bimmerfesters.

Thanks for repeating my point though.:)

[JetBlack330i]

BMW does it (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30908) :dunno:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=385043
:angel:

[Artslinger]

Originally posted by waxhaw
I don't get the whole "debadging" thing. Is it mostly 325 drivers trying to pass as 330 drivers? Or what?

:dunno:

What kind of comment is that. :mad:

[drmwvr]

Originally posted by waxhaw
I don't get the whole "debadging" thing. Is it mostly 325 drivers trying to pass as 330 drivers? Or what?

:dunno:

Back when I had my A4, this was pretty common regardless of engine size (S4s included). Many owner's think that this gives the rear of the car a cleaner look :dunno: I never did it.

[Lansing]

Originally posted by drmwvr
Back when I had my A4, this was pretty common regardless of engine size (S4s included). Many owner's think that this gives the rear of the car a cleaner look :dunno: I never did it.

When I took ED of my car, I noticed that most cars in Germany, with the exception of those destined for other countries did not have badges. Friend from Belgium explained that it seemed like an eletist/snobby type of thing to do (not sure how to translate).

So it is a pretty clean look with some real roots IMHO.

[drmwvr]

Originally posted by Lansing
When I took ED of my car, I noticed that most cars in Germany, with the exception of those destined for other countries did not have badges. Friend from Belgium explained that it seemed like an eletist/snobby type of thing to do (not sure how to translate).

So it is a pretty clean look with some real roots IMHO.

Did your friend mean that it was snobby to have badges showing engine size?

In addition, now that you mention it, I remember seeing very few badges in Germany as well.

[Lansing]

Originally posted by drmwvr
Did your friend mean that it was snobby to have badges showing engine size?

In addition, now that you mention it, I remember seeing very few badges in Germany as well.

Yeah, that's how I interpreted it--having a badge denoting engine size was in bad taste. Maybe an American thing to do. :)

Just about all the German cars I saw did not have badges. Apparently they get taxed on engine size among other things, too.

[Kaz]

BMW seems somewhat interested in devaluing ///M somewhat. Whatever. Let em.

As for debadging, it's standard option code 300 (I think) in Europe. I've heard of people ordering cars in the US with that code, though it's easy enough to DIY it (took me a minute while washing my car ).

[mbr129]

Originally posted by Lansing
Yeah, that's how I interpreted it--having a badge denoting engine size was in bad taste. Maybe an American thing to do. :)

Just about all the German cars I saw did not have badges. Apparently they get taxed on engine size among other things, too.

It's actually quite the opposite. People don't want other to know they have "only" a 320d. This was alway smy believ and it was confirmed by the factory tour guide. The few badges I saw were for 325i's or 330d's.

[Dirtboy]

no badge on mine.... AND i have the M lip spoiler, but i also have the M Sport Packet II :D

[GimpyMcFarlan]

I've ordered the lip spoiler for my car. The motivation... I like how it trims out the relatively flat trunk lid. :thumbup:

Overall I'm not into wings overall, especially large ones... ...but I do like the M3 lip spoiler, the version on Alex's Mora beauty and the CSL version.

[Lansing]

Originally posted by GimpyMcFarlan
I've ordered the lip spoiler for my car. The motivation... I like how it trims out the relatively flat trunk lid. :thumbup:

Overall I'm not into wings overall, especially large ones... ...but I do like the M3 lip spoiler, the version on Alex's Mora beauty and the CSL version.

I'm with you. It is clean and a sporty way to supplement the flat trunk lid! Any preference as to where you're going to get the spoiler painted, and ...okay...dumb question here. Do we paint it AFTER it's installed or before. Does it matter?

[doeboy]

Originally posted by Lansing
I'm with you. It is clean and a sporty way to supplement the flat trunk lid! Any preference as to where you're going to get the spoiler painted, and ...okay...dumb question here. Do we paint it AFTER it's installed or before. Does it matter?

Before. Makes things much easier for you and the body shop. They can paint it without having to mask the rest of the car off, and you can have the use of your car while the painting is being done/drying/etc....

[mquetel]

To de-badge or not to de-badge...

Aesthetics aside, I would think there is a practical side also. Wouldn't the car be easier to detail without it?

[mquetel]

I've thought about the M spoiler, but after seeing Alex's car I'm seriously considering both the front and rear spoiler from Alpina. I think they look outstanding and really enhance face-lifted coupes.

My main concern now (besides price) is how much lower that front spoiler is than stock. I would hate to spend a ton of money on that upgrade only to slam it into the pavement everytime I went into or out of a driveway. :eek:

[Lansing]

Originally posted by mquetel
To de-badge or not to de-badge...

Aesthetics aside, I would think there is a practical side also. Wouldn't the car be easier to detail without it?

Not that Zaino leaves a lot of residue or anything, but you're right about the detail ease. You have me thinking real hard about this.

It's a common thing, but can someone post pics of a lip spoiler maybe with no badge so that I can gawk for awhile?

Thanks

[blackhawk77]

Originally posted by JetBlack330i
BMW does it (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30908) :dunno:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=385043
:angel:

Yeah, BMW was really stretching to try to improve the perceived stature of the 318 ti when they put the M badge on it.

Thanks for helping to bolster my case though, and make sure you give SARAFIL some credit for using his pics.:D

[Fuzzypuppy]

...if that was my car. I'd just be so embarassed, since I have to think most people would believe I put it on myself.

There's a guy in my garage with a E36 325 with badges added. :gay: I just crack up every time I see that little "M325i" badge on the back. :slap:

As for de-badging, I always thought it was a snobby thing that M3 or 330 owners did... sort of a "If you know what this car is you don't need a badge to be impressed and if you don't then I don't need to tell you" sort of thing. I never got it personally. Personally, I'd be more inclined to de-badge if I had an E36 318i: "no, I SWEAR it's a 328!!" :angel: joke! joke! stop hitting me!

Has anyone seen the Tiff Needle E46 M3 review video from the BBC's Top Gear show? Awesome, I love all those vids, I downloaded them from kazaa. The ///M History and M5 reviews are top notch too. Definitely get it if you have broadband.

[mquetel]

Originally posted by Fuzzypuppy
...if that was my car. I'd just be so embarassed, since I have to think most people would believe I put it on myself...

Why be motivated by other people's ignorance? :nono:

[Fuzzypuppy]

Plus the fact that I think it's just silly to put an M badge on a 318.

I mean, I could put a Ferrari symbol on my M3, but it still doesn't make it any closer to a 360 Modena. I'd just be a poseur extraordinaire...