To debadge or not to debadge?

+1 for De-badge. Looks much cleaner and as many have said, I love the symmetry. I find it funny when people who have no enthusiasm, passion or understanding of automobiles make statements they don't understand (ie. removing an emblem makes you "Fast and the Furious").

Also, please don't think twice about being a "poser" because of any mod. If you like it, DO IT!

This is an interesting question for me because I've de-badged all my E-Classes before this car. Something about "E350" just looked too boring and ubiquitous to me, so I opted for the clean look.

On this car, with the black color and my chrome plate frame, I don't mind the look as much. Also, the "535i" to me signifies an engine I have enthusiasm over, so I don't mind having it plastered across the back.

Gonna debate whether I should go for the clean look or not.

As someone said here though, a de-badged car that's not modded to coincide with it (i.e just looks stock with the badge removed) can sometimes give me the impression of a car that got out of the body shop or something.

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

Originally Posted by ausdude

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

Of course not, because as BMW enthusiasts we all know the prestige that comes with the M. I love our 535i but I know that my X5M is even more special. So that's why we opted to remove the "535i" badge but leave the "X5M" badge. Not trying to disguise our 535i since its pretty obvious (not rocking 550 exhaust or M badges); but the "M" on my X5M is coveted and something I'd like to show off.

Originally Posted by ausdude

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

Don't have a M but did de-badge my 550i.

Originally Posted by ausdude

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

Originally Posted by Die Wolfe

Of course not, because as BMW enthusiasts we all know the prestige that comes with the M. I love our 535i but I know that my X5M is even more special. So that's why we opted to remove the "535i" badge but leave the "X5M" badge. Not trying to disguise our 535i since its pretty obvious (not rocking 550 exhaust or M badges); but the "M" on my X5M is coveted and something I'd like to show off.

Perfect example and good answer!

Personally, I wouldn't mind if someone mistook my 535i for a 550i. Do I care what anyone thinks of that. NO

Originally Posted by ausdude

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

Exactly, most (not all) who debadge have models with smaller engines than 550. You see this all the time in SoCal where a buyer gets a Mercedes S with an engine size below 550.

I guess I just have too much pride in the 535i name to want to fool anybody to think of it as anything otherwise, then. 535i signifies something sportier than the 550i to me, which signifies brute smooth luxurious force to the nth degree.

But I still do some poseur-ing of my own, as I added an "M" license plate frame. Though, I don't think in this day and age where BMW already put 8 other "M" badges on my car, that can be considered "poseur" anymore.

Originally Posted by ausdude

Here's a question for all of you... (If you owned one of the following) Would you debadge a M, M3, B7? If you would then go ahead and debadge whatever you want

I would remove an M badge on "my" car. Unfortunately, Mrs D likes her badges, so the 335d and the X5M have kept their badges.

I guess this debunks the "I removed the badge because it looks cleaner"... Its amazing how much "cleaner" the car looks with M5 or M3 on it

Actually, even if M meant the complete opposite of what it means, M3, M5, etc. would still look much cleaner than any of 538i, 535i, and 550i, especially with xDrive for 2013+ being on the back left side. It just looks like garbage now. It's too cluttered.

I dunno yet what I'm going to do when my 550i xDrive arrives. The wife wants the badges on and I lean towards taking then off. Maybe I'll take off just the xDrive badge. Then maybe find an "xi" and just swap the "i" part out. Hehe.

Originally Posted by ausdude

I guess this debunks the "I removed the badge because it looks cleaner"... Its amazing how much "cleaner" the car looks with M5 or M3 on it

Hell yeah, a red and blue "X5M" badge looks MUCH cleaner on my SAV! Haha, I'll rock that "M" all day long so I can wave it at the haters! Lol

My personal rule:

It is ok to de-badge; however, it is not cool to re-badge with false badging.

I don't think a single person that de-badges their vehicle would disagree that it looks cleaner.

Originally Posted by ausdude

I guess this debunks the "I removed the badge because it looks cleaner"... Its amazing how much "cleaner" the car looks with M5 or M3 on it

I would prefer it without the M badge and to oversized X5 badge, but Mrs D has limited me to monotone color choices such as the grill, roundels, and license plate surround on her truck. Removing that last bit of unsightly of plastic chrome would make me very happy.

Another +1 for De-badge. Again much cleaner.

If you do it. Once the pieces on off, looking at them off the car and on a surface - at least for me was confirmation of my decision.

Anyone know -- when you turn in a leased car -- will they care if you debadged? Or just stick them back on with 3M tape and avoid the issue?

Originally Posted by DDGator

Anyone know -- when you turn in a leased car -- will they care if you debadged? Or just stick them back on with 3M tape and avoid the issue?

I wouldn't sweat it since it's such a minor detail...the dealer might not even catch it unless it's not clear enough what model it is which is unlikely. Worst case scenario it's a cheap and quick fix.

Originally Posted by DDGator

Anyone know -- when you turn in a leased car -- will they care if you debadged? Or just stick them back on with 3M tape and avoid the issue?

When I asked my SA to debadge my car I told him to keep the emblems so I can put them back when selling..he told me not to worry and he will put new emblems whenever I need..no charges

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Bimmer App

Originally Posted by qadhi79

When I asked my SA to debadge my car I told him to keep the emblems so I can put them back when selling..he told me not to worry and he will put new emblems whenever I need..no charges

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Bimmer App

I am sure the SA knew to oblige to any request of a Qatar prince. We don't often get the same treatment state side .

I am loving the de-badged look on my F10. It yields a much cleaner look .

I'm leaving my "535i", but removing the "xdrive" from my trunk. It's just as bad, if not worse, then on the fenders on previous years. That was an obvious afterthought. Looks like one of those dealer badges from a distance.

All of my past/present BMW's have been de-badged and so will all future one's. The only badge that deserves to stay on will be M car badges imo.

Its such a hassel washing/waxing with the stupid badge back there. I would always have to use a special brush just to get in between the letters to get all the dirt out and not being able to wax in that area causes a different looking finish compared to the rest of the trunk.

Alan

Alan, I now know that the amazing shine on your F10 sig pic is not some sort of computer enhancement . That is what I call attention to detail!

add me to the debadge list..... back of car just looks better to me without.

Originally Posted by LukeS

I'm leaving my "535i", but removing the "xdrive" from my trunk.

+1

I did the same. I don't mind model designation but marketing fluff I can do without.

I debadged mine and I think it looks great...