[mroll320]

Originally Posted by Piers

Re debadging - E60 520d was badged, F10 520d debadged, nothing to do with hiding it, just that the chamois used to get caught in the badge.

99% will not know the difference 520/530, nor will they care. Neither do I, more to life than keeping up with the Jones's

Spoken like a true 20d owner..... I used to say the same when I had my 520d. LoL

[Piers]

Originally Posted by mroll320

Spoken like a true 20d owner..... I used to say the same when I had my 520d. LoL

I have my Lotus for willy waving moments

[The Beast]

I always debadge, just like the cleaner look.

And no it's not a 520d, it's a 530d. My X5 35d was also debadged.

Plus it's great that everyone assumes that you have the smaller engine and make the mistake of having a go...

[mroll320]

Originally Posted by Piers

I have my Lotus for willy waving moments

That will be a plastic one, that never works then...

Sorry mate, just a bit of banter I couldn't resist it.. Ha ha

[Piers]

Originally Posted by mroll320

That will be a plastic one, that never works then...

Sorry mate, just a bit of banter I couldn't resist it.. Ha ha

Haha! 7 years if ownership, the most reliable car ever, genuinely, 80k miles now and not one breakdown, used in all weathers and tracked regularly.

Oh, and glacial depreciation

[CmdllbF11]

Originally Posted by Piers

LCI cars, 520d and 530d now have black twin pipes to the left at the rear.

Chrome strip on the door handles indicates only that it has Ambient lighting. This is the best way to tell between models though, as this not standard on LCI 520d, so unless specced have solid handles, whereas every other model has chrome strips

LCI vs pre LCI is easier, 10 slats on grille vs 12 slats on pre LCI

Not 100% true. I have LCI 520d (de-badged) and has L/H twin chrome.

Quite happy it's de-badged; I like to pretend it's a 530/550. Must say...if I overtook an Audi and it saw a "520d" badge, it'd be cat & mouse all day long. This way, I see them sigh, put one hand to their head and resign themselves to being beaten by a superior automobile

[Piers]

Originally Posted by CmdllbF11

Not 100% true. I have LCI 520d (de-badged) and has L/H twin chrome.

Quite happy it's de-badged; I like to pretend it's a 530/550. Must say...if I overtook an Audi and it saw a "520d" badge, it'd be cat & mouse all day long. This way, I see them sigh, put one hand to their head and resign themselves to being beaten by a superior automobile

You have SE....I was talking of the MSport for black pipes on the LCI

[CmdllbF11]

oh! Started thinking I'd like those. Can't miss what you never (should've) had!!

[SomeRandomer123]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Some truth in that, as most debadged models are the smaller engines.

I've thought of debadging my 535i, but I think the exhaust pipes give it away.

Plus having a 535i badge is a good conversation starter, BMW enthusiasts approach me saying something like, "see you've got a petrol, not many of those about... how do you like it" kind of chat.

HighlandPete

That's one reason I kept 328i on. A very rare car in terms of 3 Series in the UK, as is your 35i 5 Series. Just generates a bit of interest among enthusiasts as you say. Dual pipes give the high performance away so I might as well let you know it's actually a little different from the 30d.

[Beancounter_74]

I debadged mine. Yup, I'll be honest, I didn't want the 20d on there . I checked the 530d exteriors and when I realised that to 99% of people they look the same I took mine off.

To be fair, when I get a 535d, I'll debadge that too as I like the cleaner look, but for now, it was a conscious decision to not have people thinking I had the entry level car.

There, I've said it

[accordRE]

Originally Posted by Beancounter_74

I debadged mine. Yup, I'll be honest, I didn't want the 20d on there . I checked the 530d exteriors and when I realised that to 99% of people they look the same I took mine off.

To be fair, when I get a 535d, I'll debadge that too as I like the cleaner look, but for now, it was a conscious decision to not have people thinking I had the entry level car.

There, I've said it

There's no shame in having a 520d, which is EXACTLY why I had mine debadged too

I just tell myself the debadged rear looks better

[CmdllbF11]

Originally Posted by accordRE

There's no shame in having a 520d, which is EXACTLY why I had mine debadged too

I just tell myself the debadged rear looks better

...and it does look better (and leaves folks wondering )

[s.alnaqbi]

520i to 530i twin side tips
535i single tips on each side
550i square on each side

[stuartey]

Debadged my 520
Then stuck a 530 one on in its place