debadged... wtf?

I was driving to work the other day, and I saw what appeared to be some 5-series. I didn't see any badge on the back, so the first thing that flashed through my mind was: "Some 530 driver, trying to look punk with a debadged 5." Upon closing in on the car, I caught the trademark ///M side vents.

Now, before I ask, let me say, I think debadging is stupid. If you have a good engine or model, show it off. If you have maybe a 2.5 or a lower end 3.0 (215hp or whatever) what are you thinking? That by magically taking off the badge your car will give off the illusion or not being a small engine?

Now it completely boggles me that someone would take one of the most beautiful and prestigious badges off of a car they pay so much for. If I had an ///M, I'd fly a 5ftx5ft flag over my car, proclaiming to the world the glory that lies under my hood. That was exxageratory I know, but really, who here would do this to an ///M?

I know several people who've de-badged their ///M cars.

You don't pay for the badge, you pay for what the badge means. A fugging beastly engine, a perfectly tunned suspension (for the most part), an engine sound inside the cabin that keeps the radio volume low and the RPM high, and sheer high performance driving joy.

Well, I'm sure there are people who do buy ///M cars for the badge, but they're known as poseurs.

I hear some people do it to M cars because they are trying to keep a low profile with it. I guess it might help with jealous people wanting to key it, or steal it. I have read on bimmerfest that it is popular in Europe to debadge.

Originally Posted by bzap

I hear some people do it to M cars because they are trying to keep a low profile with it. I guess it might help with jealous people wanting to key it, or steal it. I have read on bimmerfest that it is popular in Europe to debadge.

Yeah, I would probably debadge a M car if I owned one for the stealthy look. I buy cars for my driving enjoyment, not for the neighbors to figure out what I am spending on them

I hear some people do it to M cars because they are trying to keep a low profile with it.

This I can mildly understand. But the grill ///M kinda defeats the purpose of this.

but they're known as poseurs

I didn't say buy a car for that, or advertise, but being a poser for wanting people to know that you own a car that is one of the most phenominal machines on the road? Plus, the guy still had the M badge on the grille, so anyone that's even mildly familiar with BMWs would know, M5.

Originally Posted by msquaredserver

I think debadging is stupid.

Stupid is as stupid does, as in making such a statement here.

Originally Posted by msquaredserver

I know, but really, who here would do this to an ///M?

Plenty of people who are not attention whores, or......who don't want chrome plastic clutter all over the back of their cars. Also, I think it is safe to say that M cars are recognizable, before you get close enough to see the badge. So, what do you really need the badge for anyway?

I like debadged cars.

Debadging is O.K. - as long as it's done professionally..
I've already seen some "debadged" cars that still had the nice glue on or very noticeable scratches...

Holes aren't that cool either, IMO...

m cars are stolen quite frequently beause of the high performance parts which are then swapped into tuners/ricers

If you saw an m5 without the badge, the guy probably took it off and sold it on ebay to help pay for his car!!!

I don't think i'd debadge unless something happened to make me want to. I guess it's all subjective. Maybe someone feels the same way you do about the badges when they see your car with neon ( not necessarily me).

BTW that's awesome that you have a carputer. Hows it workin' for you ?

Debadging is pretty stupid if you're doing it for security. Anyone who can successfully steal an M5, will know exactly what it is froma glimpse from 500 feet away. Removing the badge does nothing to deter them.

I think it is mostly to keep it it low key. If you want to race someone, and they're not a BMW fanatic and don't see the M badge, they'll think you're a chump. Then you can promptly shove their ego down their throats.

If I was to get an M car (maybe my next car who knows) I'm definitely debadging it the stealth look is very hot.

If anything id put a 525i badge on it and destroy unwary ricers

Many (dare I say most?) BMW is Europe are debadged. In fact it is an option code (it is here too if you ask).

I don't have a M, but I do want to debadge my 530xi. I'd rather it being the licence place frame.. it bothers me a bit where it is.

I am hesitent though.. seems disrespectable to the car.

Originally Posted by lib

I don't have a M, but I do want to debadge my 530xi. I'd rather it being the licence place frame.. it bothers me a bit where it is.

I am hesitent though.. seems disrespectable to the car.

Aot at all. Not avertising what the car is isn't disrespectable. Disrespectable would be advertising something that the car *isn't* ...

i.e. M badges on a 525/325...whatever.

I think I saw the debadged car u are speaking about in Livingston today. I was following it into a parking lot and spoke with the owner a few seconds after parking.

W/ or W/o the badge it is a stunning car.

And it looked cool wothout the badge IMHO.

I don't own a M but I do think about debadging quite frequently I think it might balance out the rear of the car .

I don't care about badges that come "naturally" with the car (540i, M5 etc.), what drives me nuts is when I see a car that is "overbadged" with advertising from the dealership where it was bought. So the dealer already made a profit, and now he wants free advertising on top of that. License plate frames that show the dealers name are O.K. because you can get rid of them quite easily, but it gets nasty as soon as they start pasting their badges on your paint....

I debadged my car today. I couldn't find any "Goo Gone" which I'd used before, but Autozone had "Oops" which worked perfectly.

Will be posting pics this weekend (nearly one month of ownership now)

Originally Posted by msquaredserver

I didn't see any badge on the back, so the first thing that flashed through my mind was: "Some 530 driver, trying to look punk with a debadged 5." Upon closing in on the car, I caught the trademark ///M side vents.

I'm a 530i owner and I debadged. From a previous post I said this:

99% of the people on the road don't know or don't care what model the car is. Those that do will easily tell by looking at the wheels, pipes etc. Many may look at the non badge and figure it's a 525. If I were really worried about impressing people about what model it is, I probably would not debadge.
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Originally Posted by msquaredserver

Now, before I ask, let me say, I think debadging is stupid. If you have a good engine or model, show it off. If you have maybe a 2.5 or a lower end 3.0 (215hp or whatever) what are you thinking? That by magically taking off the badge your car will give off the illusion or not being a small engine?

There you go, the difference between you and me. I'm not interested in showing off.

Originally Posted by msquaredserver

Now it completely boggles me that someone would take one of the most beautiful and prestigious badges off of a car they pay so much for. If I had an ///M, I'd fly a 5ftx5ft flag over my car, proclaiming to the world the glory that lies under my hood. That was exxageratory I know, but really, who here would do this to an ///M?

I of course don't have an ///M, but if I did, I'd debadge for the same reasons I debadged the 530i:

From a previous thread:

"The main idea behind this was to get the car to look more like the many E60s that we saw in Europe. It seemed like 90% of the cars we saw there were debadged."

I liked the way the E60s looked in Europe- Debadged with reflectors.

Other reasons"

1) Cleaner look (just an opinion, probably a minority opinion)
2) Do not have to deal with wax build up around numbers and letters

So, in summation, I'm well over 50 years old, own a debadged 530i, and never have tried to look "punk."

The previous M5 incarnation had an M Badge delete option. A few people actually specified on their order to have that option.

Originally Posted by msquaredserver

If I had an ///M, I'd fly a 5ftx5ft flag over my car, proclaiming to the world the glory that lies under my hood. That was exxageratory I know, but really, who here would do this to an ///M?

Get....tohhhhhhhhh!

i saw an E60 debadged... but in its place, the owner had a custom badge with what im assuming was his initials SMJ.

i dont think there is anything wrong with debadging, i wouldn't do it myself, but i find no reason to criticize somebody for their taste, as i quite frequently say, to each their own, by the way, sc 540i,i love your signature, i'd love to see that in person!