[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

///M license plate frame on a 530i definitely counts.

Why? It's not a badge and it's not someone trying to fake anything. Honestly, this smacks of snobbery more than anything.

Whether you like it or not, ///M = "BMW" in a lot of peoples' eyes more than whatever M drivers would like to think it means to them.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

///M license plate frame on a 530i definitely counts.

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Why? It's not a badge and it's not someone trying to fake anything. Honestly, this smacks of snobbery more than anything.

Whether you like it or not, ///M = "BMW" in a lot of peoples' eyes more than whatever M drivers would like to think it means to them.

Depends...possible both sentiments can be true simultaneously

My take, it's not "snobbery" rather a legit observation, since many folks do aspire to 'M association'...even in 'poor taste' demonstrations.

BTW >> ///M = Motorsport; aka BMW M or BMW Motorsport formally.
There's certainly a signifigant distinction..."like it or not"

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

BTW >> ///M = Motorsport; aka BMW M or BMW Motorsport formally.
There's certainly a signifigant distinction..."like it or not"

To you and me? Sure. To most other people? No. Including, I'm willing to bet, most 530i drivers who want to show their enthusiasm for the brand.

[TimmyTurbos]

Dude just wanted the 4HP bump the M tag frame gives over the others..Let him live! Hahaha. I also think this is a "gray zone" kinda thing. Now a badge on the CAR = different story.

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

To you and me? Sure. To most other people? No. Including, I'm willing to bet, most 530i drivers who want to show their enthusiasm for the brand.

Yup, "most other people" noted = nescience & oblivious

"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise"

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by TimmyTurbos

Dude just wanted the 4HP bump the M tag frame gives over the others..Let him live! Hahaha. I also think this is a "gray zone" kinda thing. Now a badge on the CAR = different story.

+1

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

///M license plate frame on a 530i definitely counts.

No way, an M licesnse plate frame is no different than having a sports team frame when you don't play for the team!

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

No way, an M licesnse plate frame is no different than having a sports team frame when you don't play for the team!

...yeah, sure

[Phillies8008]

"Oh wow, that guy has an ///M license plate frame! His 530i must actually be an M5!"

– No One Ever

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Unless I'm missing something one that one – and I very well could be – I really don't think license plate frames count. No one's trying to fool anyone into thinking they have something they don't with a plate frame. I think that's more of a general "BMW enthusiast" thing as ///M is highly representative of the brand.

I would agree. An ///M on a license plate frame isn't exactly badging up "IF" it has M Sport package. It's just another one of too many ///M's on an M sport car optioned car, but I guess I am as guilty as anyone if this is a faux pas. I like the quality of the frame itself. Mine says "Powered by ///M". Christ, I just noticed that, now I can't unsee it!!! I may have to take this off, I feel ashamed and a hypocrite after reading the frame comments. Got to talk about this in therapy;-)

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

"Oh wow, that guy has an ///M license plate frame! His 530i must actually be an M5!"

– No One Ever

Forgot to mention...530i driver from earlier, above also 'displayed' M tri-color decal on kidney grill.
You know the one - - that loud 'look at me' one
A true enthusiast, right???

[TimmyTurbos]

That tri colored grill stripe is the worst! It just always looks bad..
Also the "powered by" counts in my book on that one above! Hahah

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

Forgot to mention...530i driver from earlier, above also 'displayed' M tri-color decal on kidney grill.
You know the one - - that loud 'look at me' one
A true enthusiast, right???

I mean, probably? I don't think that any of us have a monopoly on what constitutes someone's enthusiasm nor whether it's valid or not. I think those tri-color grill things are pretty tacky and wouldn't want one, but I also don't think they're indicative of someone trying to fool people into thinking they're driving something they're not.

Perhaps I simply interpret the whole "fake badge" thing differently or incorrectly, but to me it's for when people are adding a badge to a car to make it appear to be something that it's not, like putting an M badge in front of the "330i" on their trunk. Someone using an M license plate frame or the silly tri-color thing isn't trying to fool someone into thinking they're driving an M – they're just showing enthusiasm for the brand. Whether it's in a way that appeals to your particular aesthetics has no bearing one way or the other, IMO. Lots of people show enthusiasm for lots of things in ways I find to be tacky, but who cares? That doesn't mean that they aren't "enthusiasts," whatever that actually even means.

[Joe-BMW33]

Well since we are all perfect BMW enthusiasts and are the judge and jury, LOL, what do we think about Vanity plates?? I mean this one here really is a bad BMW from the chinese smoked tails to the giant ebay spoiler.

[Phillies8008]

I think we're going to have to let the jury consider the meaning of "bad" in this context. The crux of the matter, as a famous philosopher once said, is whether this is "bad as in bad or bad as in good?"

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I mean, probably? I don't think that any of us have a monopoly on what constitutes someone's enthusiasm nor whether it's valid or not. I think those tri-color grill things are pretty tacky and wouldn't want one, but I also don't think they're indicative of someone trying to fool people into thinking they're driving something they're not.

Perhaps I simply interpret the whole "fake badge" thing differently or incorrectly, but to me it's for when people are adding a badge to a car to make it appear to be something that it's not, like putting an M badge in front of the "330i" on their trunk. Someone using an M license plate frame or the silly tri-color thing isn't trying to fool someone into thinking they're driving an M – they're just showing enthusiasm for the brand. Whether it's in a way that appeals to your particular aesthetics has no bearing one way or the other, IMO. Lots of people show enthusiasm for lots of things in ways I find to be tacky, but who cares? That doesn't mean that they aren't "enthusiasts," whatever that actually even means.

Lotta 'unsplainin' for meaning of Fake...actually, it's really quite simple and clear

Welp...perhaps let's 'enthusiastically' agree with the generally accepted meanings as defined by Merriam-Webster:

"anything that is not genuine, real, or authentic, often created or presented with the intent to deceive others

OR

to alter, manipulate, or treat so as to give a spuriously genuine appearance to"

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by smokinjoe64

Lotta 'unsplainin' for meaning of Fake...actually, it's really quite simple and clear

Welp...perhaps let's 'enthusiastically' agree with the generally accepted meanings as defined by Merriam-Webster:

"anything that is not genuine, real, or authentic, often created or presented with the intent to deceive others

OR

to alter, manipulate, or treat so as to give a spuriously genuine appearance to"

I'm glad we agree. So the M plate frame therefore is not faking anything, since it clearly isn't presented with the intent to deceive others. Since no M car comes stock with such a plate frame, I'm not even sure what the deception would be, and it clearly isn't altering or manipulating anything to give a spuriously genuine appearance. Thanks for the clarification!

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Well since we are all perfect BMW enthusiasts and are the judge and jury, LOL, what do we think about Vanity plates?? I mean this one here really is a bad BMW from the chinese smoked tails to the giant ebay spoiler.

No need for words on this one either...

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I'm glad we agree. So the M plate frame therefore is not faking anything, since it clearly isn't presented with the intent to deceive others. Since no M car comes stock with such a plate frame, I'm not even sure what the deception would be, and it clearly isn't altering or manipulating anything to give a spuriously genuine appearance. Thanks for the clarification!

hilarious
Amazing how some are able to 'shape shift' meanings and evidence to fit a narrative...no matter what.

In this case, clearly inferring 'knowledge' into minds, intent of others rather than acceptance of that demonstrated [ie "anything that is not genuine, real, or authentic"]; sadly flawed and illogical.
Nevertheless, some shall always embrace => Fake + Alternative Facts

Predict more of the same 'commentary' shall follow...

[Phillies8008]

"...full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

But just for entertainment's sake, what exactly was "not genuine, real, or authentic" about a license plate frame?

[smokinjoe64]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

"...full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

But just for entertainment's sake, what exactly was "not genuine, real, or authentic" about a license plate frame?

🥱

[Phillies8008]

This is getting silly, even for a stupid badge discussion. So sure, the dude was trying to fool everyone into thinking a license plate frame meant he had an M5, but the courageous M Police were able to stop his nefarious plot, thank god. Not all heroes wear capes.