[EmArAsOnS]

Originally Posted by Ellmat

I would be interested to know why do some BMW drivers debadge their cars..?. I have noticed here in the UK more and more F10`s without their engine size...why do drivers do this is...what is the real reason..?

1- No dirt in between/around the badge or gathered salt for example from the roads in winter.
2- clean look
3- stealth
4- none of ur business message
5- to show it is ordered and not bought or picked up from the show room ... is often the case.

And there are so many Ms' debadged so....

[EmArAsOnS]

Originally Posted by MPH

Just pretend it's my 530d - I don't mind

And BMW agrees with u I guess since it is their best selling engine in Europe.
So people judge one another by the engine size... no one pretends anything here I guess. It is a 5 series after all people. U bought the car because u want it and like it period.

hmm wonder why Ferraris debadge their cars

[obiltagi3]

Originally Posted by YodaSyrup

It just looks cleaner. If I had an X Drive, I'd pull those badges too. I could care less which model/engine people 'think' I've got - I know what I've got. Plus, anyone who knows the U.S. F10 can tell a 528 from a 535 from a 550 - they all have different rear bumpers and tailpipe configurations.

+1

[ezmaass]

The motivation for debadging, like every other motivation in life, will likely differ from person to person - and maybe even culture to culture (country to country). Just as you have young and old, slow and fast, conservative and liberal, and all other contrasts driving a 5 series... it's hard to nail down a question like this with a one-size-fits-all answer.

Clearly some people debadge because they're OCD about the "clean look" of the car, and the badge interferes. I can see that to some degree. Others debadge to hide their engine size... whether too small OR too big (although I suppose too small is more common). Others still may debadge simply to give their car a more custom look from the run-of-the-mill.

Whatever the motivation may be, I think it's a personal choice for people, and that's good enough for me. I'm all about stock - I don't like messing with my cars, so I'd probably never consider debadging... similarly as I don't consider swapping wheels, adding tint, changing body kits, etc, etc. I'm a bit boring that way. But it's all personal touch. And if people don't want their model number advertised to the world, so be it.

[remmib]

Originally Posted by YodaSyrup

It just looks cleaner. If I had an X Drive, I'd pull those badges too. I could care less which model/engine people 'think' I've got - I know what I've got. Plus, anyone who knows the U.S. F10 can tell a 528 from a 535 from a 550 - they all have different rear bumpers and tailpipe configurations.

It's not so easy here, we got 518, 520, 525, 528 and 530 (mix of 'i' and 'd') with the same exhaust comfiguration as the US 528i.

[ezmaass]

Originally Posted by remmib

It's not so easy here, we got 518, 520, 525, 528 and 530 (mix of 'i' and 'd') with the same exhaust comfiguration as the US 528i.

Out of curiosity, do you still have the 535i/d and 550i/d options there?

[BigK]

Originally Posted by stealth.pilot

If I summarize this thread, here are the conclusions:

1) In the UK the people who debadge are largely embarrassed to be driving an entry level model, and those with the real thing typically do not debadge.

2) In Europe where society is increasingly communistic and having a few bucks more than the average 35 hour per week manual laborer is considered social exploitation, people often debadge for both cultural reasons. Further some on the continent genuinely believe in minimalism and so a few debadge for optics.

3) The US has a bunch of oddballs who debadge high end models for reasons of aesthetics. However the embarrassment factor in the US of driving a car with a small engine is typically addressed by getting quad exhausts on a 4 cylinder snail powered 528i.

Big deal you drive a M5, that doesn’t mean shit. I don’t understand why in your mind people should be embarrassed of driving entry level models, I mean you’d have to have some major self-esteem issues to be embarrassed about driving a BMW, any model. If you have to feel good about yourself via a bigger engine size, then you must be lacking somewhere else…

[ezmaass]

Originally Posted by BigK

Big deal you drive a M5, that doesn’t mean shit. I don’t understand why in your mind people should be embarrassed of driving entry level models, I mean you’d have to have some major self-esteem issues to be embarrassed about driving a BMW, any model. If you have to feel good about yourself via a bigger engine size, then you must be lacking somewhere else…

I don't know Stealth (have seen his posts around on the M5 board), but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that it was a semi-sarcastic comment. I say "semi" because, even if in jest, it's still somewhat true that many people debadge (and also RE-badge, here in the US at least) to make their engine size a bit more ambiguous. I certainly agree with you, though, that your engine size is nothing to be embarrassed about - as you said, certainly any BMW is a worthy vehicle. However, we all know how the typical male mind works, too... so, while I'd like to discount the comment altogether and pretend like it's an ideal world, I know better... and to most men, maybe moreso for those who drive BMWs, "size matters."

My first BMW was a 325i with 184hp. I drove it with pride for 6.5 years and 125k miles. And while I always glanced over at the 330i in the next lane, I never once felt the need to debadge to hide my engine size. That car was a hoot to drive, and I loved it.

We should also take note that this thread is 2+ years old now.

[BigK]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I don't know Stealth (have seen his posts around on the M5 board), but I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that it was a semi-sarcastic comment. I say "semi" because, even if in jest, it's still somewhat true that many people debadge (and also RE-badge, here in the US at least) to make their engine size a bit more ambiguous. I certainly agree with you, though, that your engine size is nothing to be embarrassed about - as you said, certainly any BMW is a worthy vehicle. However, we all know how the typical male mind works, too... so, while I'd like to discount the comment altogether and pretend like it's an ideal world, I know better... and to most men, maybe moreso for those who drive BMWs, "size matters."

My first BMW was a 325i with 184hp. I drove it with pride for 6.5 years and 125k miles. And while I always glanced over at the 330i in the next lane, I never once felt the need to debadge to hide my engine size. That car was a hoot to drive, and I loved it.

We should also take note that this thread is 2+ years old now.

I may have misunderstood, if so, apologies. I’m just tired of people bashing entry level models (328i, 528i etc.), making them sound like POS where in fact these cars have very little difference to their bigger engine brothers. I’m not sure if they know that there’re a lot of people on the forum own entry level models and that’s a huge disrespect.

It’s ok that you like bigger engines, more power to you. But you don’t have to go around and bashing others’ cars. Would it be justified if I come on here and call all BMW’s regardless of engine sizes POS if I own a V12 Bentley? Respect is mutual, nobody cares what car you drive, just enjoy it without bashing others’.

My frustration isn’t towards you Ezmaass, just speaking in general.

[Apple Corps]

BigK,

I read the post you quoted from stealth.pilot and am having trouble grasping what triggered such a reaction from you.

"Self esteem issues .... must be lacking somewhere else..." - wow, where did all that come from?

What did the Old Bard say - Thou do protest too loudly ?

So what does a BigK signature say to the world

[ezmaass]

Originally Posted by BigK

I may have misunderstood, if so, apologies. I’m just tired of people bashing entry level models (328i, 528i etc.), making them sound like POS where in fact these cars have very little difference to their bigger engine brothers. I’m not sure if they know that there’re a lot of people on the forum own entry level models and that’s a huge disrespect.

It’s ok that you like bigger engines, more power to you. But you don’t have to go around and bashing others’ cars. Would it be justified if I come on here and call all BMW’s regardless of engine sizes POS if I own a V12 Bentley? Respect is mutual, nobody cares what car you drive, just enjoy it without bashing others’.

My frustration isn’t towards you Ezmaass, just speaking in general.

I hear you. Like I said, I owned and loved a 325i (the most entry of entry level models at the time in the US) for 6.5 years. I don't want to speak for Stealth, but I sensed a bit of jest in his post - but also a bit of truth in it. I don't think he meant any disrespect towards any entry level owners... but I think he was being realistic, in part, by suggesting that SOME (clearly a subset, and probably a small minority) of the folks who debadge their cars do so to "hide" the fact that it's a smaller engine... and at the same time do things like slap on quad exhausts, M badges, and the whole nine yards. So, it's a fine line between showing respect and also peppering in some truth.

That said, all of us F10 guys are brethren here, so let's sing Kumbaya and be happy we get to own such marvelous vehicles!

[BigK]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I hear you. Like I said, I owned and loved a 325i (the most entry of entry level models at the time in the US) for 6.5 years. I don't want to speak for Stealth, but I sensed a bit of jest in his post - but also a bit of truth in it. I don't think he meant any disrespect towards any entry level owners... but I think he was being realistic, in part, by suggesting that SOME (clearly a subset, and probably a small minority) of the folks who debadge their cars do so to "hide" the fact that it's a smaller engine... and at the same time do things like slap on quad exhausts, M badges, and the whole nine yards. So, it's a fine line between showing respect and also peppering in some truth.

That said, all of us F10 guys are brethren here, so let's sing Kumbaya and be happy we get to own such marvelous vehicles!

Enough said.

[Boulder Bill]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

What did the Old Bard say - Thou do protest too loudly ?

Can't help myself - neurotic Shakespeare wonk.

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Lady Gertrude. Hamlet.

[Apple Corps]

Boulder Bill - well, I was close - going from too little memory from too many years ago I guess :-)

[Boulder Bill]

Very close!

I loved the reference. You probably use 2-3 phrases from Hamlet weekly.

But the better part of valor is discretion (Henry IV), so I will stay out of the debadging fray.

[Noggie]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

Out of curiosity, do you still have the 535i/d and 550i/d options there?

Yes we do, but the small price difference from a 550i up to an M5 makes these extremely rare.
We have a import tax system based on Weight, HP and CO2 emissions.
That means that there is not much of a difference between a 550i and an M5, both sporting a V8 with similar emissions and weight.
That way buying a 550i and not put the few extra bucks in for an M5 makes no sense.

I think I have seen 2 or 3 550i for sale in the past 2 years, there are some M550d's but all are wagons like mine, and I guess those who buy them are the people who wants the M5 touring BMW decided not to make.

So you will see lot's of 535i/d, but the most common model is the 520i/d.

[Bowers]

I never really understood why cars have badges at all telling the size of the engine... There are no badges that state what kind of leather I have on my seats? Or how many loudspeakers the car has... And I care alot more about the seats I sit in or how the music sounds while I'm in the car... The engine is just there to move the car from where I am to where I'm going...

I don't wear a t-shirt telling my dic* size... (Ok, sometimes I do... but you get the point)

To answer the question... there are many good reasons for de-badging the car. A bunch of letters on the rear just looks out of place and stupid in my opinion. The only reason for telling the engine size on the back of the car has got to be "Look, mine is bigger than your's" or something similar.

But hey... that's just my opinion

[pillpusher84]

I personally like the clean look of no badges ... all emblems were removed wihtin 2 hours of delivery on every car I buy ... also dealer is given specific instructions that if they install a front plate bracket ... they will be ordering a new car, as I will not take delivery ... remember clean look

[Dan1416]

Originally Posted by pillpusher84

I personally like the clean look of no badges ... all emblems were removed wihtin 2 hours of delivery on every car I buy ... also dealer is given specific instructions that if they install a front plate bracket ... they will be ordering a new car, as I will not take delivery ... remember clean look

That's funny cause I tell them the same thing. And I have debadged every car I've ever owned. It looks much cleaner and it's easier to clean. I don't care what engine people think I have because it makes no difference to me.

[jaydiem8]

+1 cleaner look

[pillpusher84]

Originally Posted by Dan1416

That's funny cause I tell them the same thing. And I have debadged every car I've ever owned. It looks much cleaner and it's easier to clean. I don't care what engine people think I have because it makes no difference to me.

great minds think alike ... plus i can tell your engine size by your tail pipes ... j/k .. i don't really care

[Dan1416]

Originally Posted by pillpusher84

great minds think alike ... plus i can tell your engine size by your tail pipes ... j/k .. i don't really care

Lol exactly!