Would you "Debadge" your 1?

[BJDrew]

I just saw a Blue Water 128i convertible in northern NJ - but I realized that the 128i was removed from the rear of the car.

This is a 'soccer mom' type in the car.

I have to wonder, was the choice to remove the numbers for aesthetics, or does she not want her friends to see that her BMW is at least "200" less than a 328 (that's yuppie math).

Has anyone else done this to their 1?

I say - it's the year of the 1. Wear it proud.

[Jumpman]

Haven't seen a car yet that I thought looked better "debadged", but to each his own I guess.

[emm3tt]

No.

[spudw]

In a way it's odd that we feel like something is missing when the model designation is not in place. We don't wear clothes with 'M', 'L' or 'XL' printed on the outside of the garment, but for some reason to remove the 'size' label from the car is strange. Like most people, I think it looks strange when it's missing. I just don't know why that is. You would think the smooth lines of the car and the beautiful paint finish would look better unfettered. But most of us don't seem to see it that way for some reason.

[topvega]

I have not and I wld not debadge my car...

[moff]

Most people debadge when they have a lower model and want to hide that fact.

In the UK it is quite common, but they should realise that a single downpipe exhaust means that their car is a 318d or 320d...

I thought about removing my 135i badge to have real fun destroying everything out of the traffic lights, but after spending £33k on a car I want people to know that it's a 135i and not a £18k 116i!!!!!

[jeremyc74]

My badges are gone. I don't care what people think the car is. It's funny but I've actually had several other BMW owners ask me what model it is. People who really know about cars can tell what it is by looking at it, and I've had several comments from them as well.

[atr_hugo]

Hmmm, we've been down this road before . . .

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...hlight=debadge

. . . plus many more.

[ORIGIN M.]

Much easier to wax the car without it. Who cares anyway.

[EspressoBoy]

I am glad the days are gone when a dealership plasters their signage on the car. It also seems to me some hooligans will take the signage. That is another reason for removing it. I am glad I live/drive in an areas where none of this matters. I am glad my car doesn't have heads turning everywhere I drive. Before I drove a BM'er, I just saw them all as the same. Now that I know the difference, I see it.

As for looks, I think spudw is correct and the 1 looks odd without it. I guess it would be like going to a party with everyone wearing "hello my name is" and I don't wear one. I am also glad we live in a country that it's not required. I wish we didn't have to have a licence plate on the front of the car. Too bad we could not have electronic or just have our car computers tell us who everyone is.

Doesn't this also fall into minimalism in a way? I personally love retro hightech, if there is such a term. Be cool if the signage was magnetic and we could choose what we wanted that day. I badge depending on where I drive, or just my mood.

EspressoBoy & Yoda

[GQ 135i]

Debaging IMO looks alot cleaner. Only debadge I wouldn't do is if it was "GTR" or "M_"

[1ForAll]

I took the 135i off as well as all the BMW rondels. Now nobody can tell what kind of car it is.......:wink:

[I-One-Da?]

I debadge all of my cars. I like the smooth lines of the car not to be interupted by badges. If I had an M car I would debadge as well.

I do not mean this to be harsh, but for those that say they would not debadge an M car, why? You debadge you car now for the looks right? Do you care more about what other people think then what your own car looks like?

Also, for those that say people only debadge cars to hide the fact that they have the lower model. How many cars are there that would even apply to these claims? There are not very many cars on the road that have multiple models that look they same except for a badge. You can't debadge a Lancer LS and have it look like an Evo

[04Enthusiast]

I've owned over 20 cars and I can't remember when I haven't debadge. It's easier to clean and I like the look.

I rarely purchase shirts with logos on them either.

Anyone remember the 1995 - 1999 Nissan Maxima? The letters M A X I M A expanded the whole trunk area. They were so big you would think it belongs on a truck.

At least BMW tags are tasteful, but over the years debadging is the first thing I do when I get the new car home, so why change now?

[I-One-Da?]

Originally Posted by Phiberglass

I personally love the M badge, so I wouldn't take it off, and I think it sets the car off nicely. Although, plain models badges are ugly and take away from the car.

That is true. I really like the small M badges they have all around the car like the ones on the side vents on the new M3:w00t:

[EspressoBoy]

In searching for some other stuff I came across magnetic door guards. If you wanted to debadge...

Is there a DIY to do it cleanly in such a way you can put them back on?

Can you get proper double sided tape to put them on again when re-selling if one ever wanted to? (what tape is recommended??)

Anyone try adding that thin plastic magnetic strip stuff, and then put them on when wanted (pictures at a show, for those who freak when it's missing, don't tell the spouse you removed them???)

EspressoBoy & Yoda

[swiftss13]

I have debadged all of my cars in the past and will continue to do so. It looks so much cleaner IMO. I know what I am driving and that is all that matters.

[WhiteOne]

At least half the cars I saw in Europe were debadged. (MB,BMW,Audi & even Porsche)
Looks very clean...IMHO

[heybuddyjb]

i debadged cuz i think the numbers look very weird...almost like they are to close to the center

[gargoyal]

If I do a custom paint job and body kit, I will totally de badge my 135 including the roundels. Not sure where I’m going to take it cosmetically yet. If BMW isn't sponsoring me, they don’t get free advertising

[F31TanzBlue]

Couldn't wait to get 135i off the back of my car! Thank god for dental floss, patience and polish

[I-One-Da?]

Originally Posted by knowley

Couldn't wait to get 135i off the back of my car! Thank god for dental floss, patience and polish

You forgot to mention PATIENCE:wink:That is the tuff part for me