[Strudle]

I'm thinking of removing my 320i badge and swapping it for a 750i badge, i get it if others think this might be a foolish move, but to each their own. 😏

[maknyc]

Every time i get a new BMW.. I bust out the dental floss and wd40!

[ihateredlight]

Originally Posted by TheRealEssad

I'm curious what everyone's opinions are on removing the badges from your car. I've been seeing it for years on various BMW's over the years, and it always made me wonder, what's the appeal? I'm sure there's a reason people have for wanting to do it, I might just be out of the loop on what that is.

Is it that you want to keep some anonymity over which model car you're driving?

i did it to my old e92 335i. took off the original chrome badge and went black initially but didn't like how it looked on the Monaco Blue exterior so i de-badge which gave it a cleaner look.

***my friend kept the xdrive on his 328i m-sport i have no intentions taking any badges off my 435i xDrive m-sport***

[rackjuediger]

I'm leaving my 328i badge on. I enjoy letting people know that they just got waxed by a 328i.

[rogersmj]

I think debaged cars look nice, but I don't want to take the badges off my 340i. I bought the car with 10k miles on it, and the previous owner had applied those OEM side-sill "M Performance" decals under the doors. More than one person has seen those and asked me if it's an M3 (before looking at the back), so I don't want to take off my 340i badge and have people who know cars think I'm trying to pose as an M3.

[jd_perspective]

I'm currently debating this myself on my new 330i...

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by rogersmj

I think debaged cars look nice, but I don't want to take the badges off my 340i. I bought the car with 10k miles on it, and the previous owner had applied those OEM side-sill "M Performance" decals under the doors. More than one person has seen those and asked me if it's an M3 (before looking at the back), so I don't want to take off my 340i badge and have people who know cars think I'm trying to pose as an M3.

But anyone who knows cars, and more specifically BMW's would easily be able to tell it's not an M3. If you think it looks better, do it. Do you really care what some person you don't even know thinks? :/

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by rogersmj

I think debaged cars look nice, but I don't want to take the badges off my 340i. I bought the car with 10k miles on it, and the previous owner had applied those OEM side-sill "M Performance" decals under the doors. More than one person has seen those and asked me if it's an M3 (before looking at the back), so I don't want to take off my 340i badge and have people who know cars think I'm trying to pose as an M3.

Originally Posted by Kailec

But anyone who knows cars, and more specifically BMW's would easily be able to tell it's not an M3. If you think it looks better, do it. Do you really care what some person you don't even know thinks? :/

But likewise, your self worth and esteem should not be based on what car you drive and fake badges you put on it (or take off as you want others to think it’s a higher priced model).

What’s next? Putting Ferrari badges on the car?

If you think it’s cleaner, do it.

If it embarrassment, figure out why and change yourself, not the badge.

[rogersmj]

Originally Posted by Kailec

But anyone who knows cars, and more specifically BMW's would easily be able to tell it's not an M3. If you think it looks better, do it. Do you really care what some person you don't even know thinks? :/

I didn't say I thought it looked better debadged, I'm kind of indifferent, and the existing side sill decals just kind of seal the deal. At least at the moment -- I'm debating taking the M Performance decals off, even though they are available OEM on M-Sport cars like mine. I just haven't had the time/energy to tackle what would undoubtedly be a very lengthy session laying on the ground with a hair dryer.

[kern417]

Originally Posted by Kailec

But anyone who knows cars, and more specifically BMW's would easily be able to tell it's not an M3. If you think it looks better, do it. Do you really care what some person you don't even know thinks? :/

This. I made the same mistake a few years ago when I saw an M240i dressed up in all the mperformance parts. After seeing the badge (rather, especially with the badge) I thought it was an M2. It wasn't until I took a picture and sent it to a friend that I was informed otherwise and started looking into it.

If you don't know any better, the m stripes are what you notice first regardless. But that was my ignorance, not some fault of the owner. You could always take off the mperformance decals though.

[Kailec]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

But likewise, your self worth and esteem should not be based on what car you drive and fake badges you put on it (or take off as you want others to think it’s a higher priced model).

What’s next? Putting Ferrari badges on the car?

If you think it’s cleaner, do it.

If it embarrassment, figure out why and change yourself, not the badge.

+1 agreed. Putting fake badges is stupid too. The only reason to debadge should be if you like it better that way. I've debated it to make cleaning easier, and It seems asymmetrical to have xDrive on one side and 328i on the other to me. But it's not to hide what kind of car I drive or what others think. Hell I have an M3 style front bumper and sideskirts so I clearly don't care what other people think, but that's because I do not like the 3 series M Sport bumper. Will I get people who will think I'm posing? Sure. Do I care? No, because at the end of the day walking to my car the way it is now makes me smile. If debadging does that for you (or any other cosmetic mod), then do it.

[thatf30]

Debadged to have a cleaner look and eliminate chrome. Not a fan of plasti dip or black emblems. Also not a fan of adding badges pretending to be something I'm not

[BMWinAZ]

I have two debadged BMWs and one with badges. I like both looks. The debadged ones came that way from the previous owner. Interestingly enough they are my "weakest" and "strongest" ones: 316ti and 335i M-Sport. The 328i wears its badge proudly. I can tell by the exhaust pipes what BMW it is anyways. For the most recent models the badges have become meaningless anyways. At least in the old days "328" meant you had a 2.8 liter engine (more or less) now it just means you have the middling version of the car.

[jplev]

I recently purchased a 2015 CPO F33 in Glacier Silver. I was thinking about de-badging for cleaner look. Will de-badging a 3-year old car show the paint beneath the badges slightly different than rest of the car (perhaps ever so slightly less faded than rest of trunk)?

[zuckuss07]

I debadge ALL of my cars for the most part. Especially BMW. Looks much cleaner.

It's all preference...

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by jplev

I recently purchased a 2015 CPO F33 in Glacier Silver. I was thinking about de-badging for cleaner look. Will de-badging a 3-year old car show the paint beneath the badges slightly different than rest of the car (perhaps ever so slightly less faded than rest of trunk)?

No, the paint won't be faded, but the clear coat might be uneven with pitting or wax build-up etc. Worst case you might need to polish the surrounding area with some rubbing/polishing compound. Last year I debadged my brother-in-laws 328. it was mineral grey, from the south, with lots of sun, and was at least 5 years old and after a little polishing you couldn't see a thing. Silver is no problem, If you had 10 years on a red car, then maybe...

[kern417]

Originally Posted by metallicpea

No, the paint won't be faded, but the clear coat might be uneven with pitting or wax build-up etc. Worst case you might need to polish the surrounding area with some rubbing/polishing compound. Last year I debadged my brother-in-laws 328. it was mineral grey, from the south, with lots of sun, and was at least 5 years old and after a little polishing you couldn't see a thing. Silver is no problem, If you had 10 years on a red car, then maybe...

Same. I've never had an issue after debadging any of my cars despite how old they are. If there would be a difference, you'd be able to see it in the surrounding paint i.e. clear coat peeling, lots of scratches, etc. If the rest of the paint is in decent condition then you'll be fine with a quick hand polish.

[zuckuss07]

Originally Posted by apanizo

Debadged to have a cleaner look and eliminate chrome. Not a fan of plasti dip or black emblems. Also not a fan of adding badges pretending to be something I'm not

Agreed 1000% Beautiful build!

[yoon_209]

I have a buddy who debadged his n54 for the clean look but it is the ultimate sleeper (top mount single turbo 550whp)

i honestly think he did it so he could pull up on m3's and just destroy them.

[Sea-Tac]

Originally Posted by TheRealEssad

I'm curious what everyone's opinions are on removing the badges from your car. I've been seeing it for years on various BMW's over the years, and it always made me wonder, what's the appeal? I'm sure there's a reason people have for wanting to do it, I might just be out of the loop on what that is.

Is it that you want to keep some anonymity over which model car you're driving?

Clean look. Easier to clean all surfaces without snagging

[Fuller]

The debadged look is tasteful, but to me it just leaves this awkward empty space that seems like it should have a badge or model designation. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't look bad. It's more like, "Nice car, then.....wait.....something seems to be missing. Like cake with no icing, a window with no trim, etc.

[rogersmj]

Originally Posted by yoon_209

I have a buddy who debadged his n54 for the clean look but it is the ultimate sleeper (top mount single turbo 550whp)

i honestly think he did it so he could pull up on m3's and just destroy them.

Love it. That, I think, is the best scenario for debadging...when you've got a sleeper!