debadge car?

[mikeinaustin]

I plan on removing the badges because i think it gives the car a cleaner look. Looking at the pics on this forum, i see a fair number of you also have debadged. so, have you debadged or not? what are your thoughts?

My current plan is to use a blow dryer to heat up the badges, then use dental floss to remove, remove the left over glue with goo gone.

[twin turbo]

I am debadged. I didn't use any heat, just dental floss and goof off.

[E89Tardis]

I used a little heat to soften the adhesive and the yellow plastic straps that bundle the leaf and yard waste bags. Then one million repetitions of liquid wax (black magic) and hand buffing. It did come out perfect though.

Over all, I think it makes the car look longer or more streatched as well as cleaner... and much easier to wash and wax.

[sinnet112]

I used a blowdryer and then Goo Gone. Worked like a charm and looks so much better!

[matt_435xi]

Originally Posted by twin turbo

I am debadged. I didn't use any heat, just dental floss and goof off.

your car needs painted reflectors to really look clean

[Dave Driver]

How do remove the rear badge??? its the trunk opening handle??

[evanirene]

how about sth like that XD

[T89]

Originally Posted by evanirene

how about sth like that XD

This is next on my mod list


T

[Vintage]

the de-badging looks really good

[Chuck76]

Initially I de-badged the car, same color apline white. As I was driving around for a week, I noticed that all other BMW's, 1,3,6,M's never really had a de-badge. And then by surprise I saw a 335i (I think) with no badges and it bugged me that I didn't know what 3 series it was.

I had to take in the car later that week to my dealer and one of the sales guy said "nice 30i". It is a 35i btw.

What I had noticed is that there is not much difference between the looks for each series and what really distinguishes the model is the badge. I put them back on and decided not to touch them. I don't think there's many bmw drivers in the community that places fake badges. You'll never see someone who has a 3 series put a M badge on their trunk lid. I also never saw anyone who drove 328i and remove them because they have a smaller engine.

So these badges started to feel like a real distinguisher.

[T89]

Originally Posted by Chuck76

Initially I de-badged the car, same color apline white. As I was driving around for a week, I noticed that all other BMW's, 1,3,6,M's never really had a de-badge. And then by surprise I saw a 335i (I think) with no badges and it bugged me that I didn't know what 3 series it was.

I had to take in the car later that week to my dealer and one of the sales guy said "nice 30i". It is a 35i btw.

What I had noticed is that there is not much difference between the looks for each series and what really distinguishes the model is the badge. I put them back on and decided not to touch them. I don't think there's many bmw drivers in the community that places fake badges. You'll never see someone who has a 3 series put a M badge on their trunk lid. I also never saw anyone who drove 328i and remove them because they have a smaller engine.

So these badges started to feel like a real distinguisher.

The mentality you have portrayed (about the badge being distinguisher), IMO, is more common in the US and most parts of Asia where it is about showing off who has the biggest engine. I'm not saying that you guys are like this, not at all, but I have noticed that it is more common in those places.

Here in Europe people like to debadge their cars just because of the cleaner look. Nobody really cares who has the biggest engine and those who really know about cars will be able to distinguish one model from the other (isn't that part of the fun?).

Once again this is my opinion but just in case, flame suit on


T

[bobbydog]

I took everything of mine...I find that they made the Z4 badge in the back too big, makes the car look small.

[BlueZ4AZ]

I'm looking to add more badges. Any photos of the car with about 6-7 more badges on it? Doesn't even have to be a BMW badge. Maybe a few vintage STP stickers too.

[Vintage]

I also do not like the Z4 badge on the back - it looks a little silly to me.

[ChuckB]

Debadged right after I got it home, the sole purpose was to clean up the lines which I think it did nicely.

I taped a wad of paper towel under each badge to catch any dribbles, dribbled Goo-Gone on the top of the emblems and let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then used Dental Floss to remove the badges and most of the foam/glue, cleaned up the little foam/glue that was left with a soft cloth and Goo-Gone, cleaned the area with a bit of car wash soap and water, applied some wax and was done in 15 minutes. Badges can off intact so they could be re-applied if I ever sell the car

[Dave Driver]

I think ill leave my car the way it is.... best not to mess with perfection!

[Z_Victor1]

Er..........
Um..........
I see ALL these vehicles with BMW badges still there....
I don't get it
If you are the sort of person who wants to do this, then do it properly.

All madness to me.......after all, who else de-badges cars?
Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley.....nope....
BMW......yes.....
Audi.....maybe
Merc.....yes

But on a much more serious note......WHY?!?!?

This is a very interesting conundrum...........
I put it to you, it is because the German manufacturers [god bless them] mostly have no names for their cars, they're all NUMBERS................

AND..............

REMEMBER this.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner

"I AM NOT A NUMBER, I AM A FREE MAN"

We (humans) don't like to be numbered......

Go on, tell me I'm off my head

[ChuckB]

Originally Posted by Z_Victor1

Er..........
Um..........
I see ALL these vehicles with BMW badges still there....
I don't get it
If you are the sort of person who wants to do this, then do it properly.

I would love to do it properly, but the BMW Roundels are set in with pins, and recessed in the body panels, so substantially more involved with removing these, not to mention the boot thing, but I think it boils down to personal preference, I think, just to keep things interesting, that the script should in be Japanese, which actually no-one will believe because it hasn't been recalled yet...

エスドライブの30わたし [takes up most of the fender/wing]

アルファベットのゼット4 [wouldn't look good on the trunk/boot lid]

[T89]

Originally Posted by Z_Victor1

Er..........
Um..........
I see ALL these vehicles with BMW badges still there....
I don't get it
If you are the sort of person who wants to do this, then do it properly.

All madness to me.......after all, who else de-badges cars?
Ferrari, Maserati, Bentley.....nope....
BMW......yes.....
Audi.....maybe
Merc.....yes

But on a much more serious note......WHY?!?!?

This is a very interesting conundrum...........
I put it to you, it is because the German manufacturers [god bless them] mostly have no names for their cars, they're all NUMBERS................

AND..............

REMEMBER this.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner

"I AM NOT A NUMBER, I AM A FREE MAN"

We (humans) don't like to be numbered......

Go on, tell me I'm off my head

Ferrari, Maserati and Bentley already come debadged. They only have the hood/trunk emblem. Besides that no model name what so ever. Maybe except the bentley supersports which has supersports written just behind the front wheel arch.


T

[Jordanpryce]

It's pretty easy to tell what's what. two pipes on the left, non-turbo. One pipe on each side, turbo. Two on each side, M. This is true for E9x 3 series as well as Z cars.

Originally Posted by Chuck76

Initially I de-badged the car, same color apline white. As I was driving around for a week, I noticed that all other BMW's, 1,3,6,M's never really had a de-badge. And then by surprise I saw a 335i (I think) with no badges and it bugged me that I didn't know what 3 series it was.

I had to take in the car later that week to my dealer and one of the sales guy said "nice 30i". It is a 35i btw.

What I had noticed is that there is not much difference between the looks for each series and what really distinguishes the model is the badge. I put them back on and decided not to touch them. I don't think there's many bmw drivers in the community that places fake badges. You'll never see someone who has a 3 series put a M badge on their trunk lid. I also never saw anyone who drove 328i and remove them because they have a smaller engine.

So these badges started to feel like a real distinguisher.

[Constant.S]

De-badging is personal opinion. But Z_Victor1 is right... Have you seen many debadged Porsche's? The debadging trend came from the Japanese tuning crowd especially with cars having the "cheaper car complex" but then again they take it all the way and even take the Vehicle brand badge off with the excuse of a "cleaner overall look". Would you go that far as well?
And one question: If your Z4 was a special edition (e.g the E89 Z4 Mille Miglia edition) would you still debadge it? I know some will say yes just for the sake of saying it but we all know the answer
Anyways... It's all Personal opinion and its well respected.

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by Constant.S

And one question: If your Z4 was a special edition (e.g the E89 Z4 Mille Miglia edition) would you still debadge it?

I wouldn't debadge the Mille Miglia edition - of course I would have never even considered buying one either. I can't fathom what outrageous price BMW was getting for this limited production run of 99 vehicles. Although I'm sure its destined to be a rare collectable. I have yet to see one.

I left the model type badges on the sides for about 7 months. Then I got sick and tired of the look and cleaning aroung the mouthfull 35i Sdrive tagging. Off with them - much easier to clean. Kept the Z4 badge on the tail as I like that one.