BMW's without model #'s in Germany.. reason?

[heckler]

Just got back from a trip to Munich.. and of course I went on the BMW factory tour too (VERY cool). Happened to notice in my travels in Germany that the majority of BMW's don't have the model on their back trunk lid - like 318, 530, 740il, etc...

Is there some euro-unique reason that the Germans (and maybe other europeans) don't want their model number affixed to the back of the car?

 

[adamsonem]

theft (of badges) ?

 

[heckler]

Nice guess - however I also meant to clarify that they weren't even put on at the factory when produced.. in effect you can specify whether you want the model nuber on the car or not. For some "status" reason, seems German's don't have them..

 

[xLibelle]

neither are they on the mercedes noor many other cars from europe.
i dont really know why, but i do know that bmw and mercedes in europe are the everyday car over here.
meaning some arent built with all the growl youd think, maybe thats why they preffer not to sport the badge on a small engine.
status, i believe is rather expressed with other types of emblems like dumb horse shoes. heh, that or paint splotches. heckler, what is the sticker of choice now?

 

[edelweiB]

The reason why most cars are debadged in Europe is because there is no set marriage of trim level to engine offering. This is not the case in the States, where certain options are only available with certain engines.

In Germany for instance you can order a 330xi sport wagon with cloth, 15 in rims, and manual seats. Moreover, most germans and europeans in general opt not to have a model designation because those little pieces of metal serve no real function and a car looks much cleaner without them.

In the States badging holds more importance as to the features that your car has. As a result badging in the States has more to do with vanity and status than actual function.

 

[Marinakorp]

The reason why most cars are debadged in Europe is because there is no set marriage of trim level to engine offering. This is not the case in the States, where certain options are only available with certain engines.

In Germany for instance you can order a 330xi sport wagon with cloth, 15 in rims, and manual seats. Moreover, most germans and europeans in general opt not to have a model designation because those little pieces of metal serve no real function and a car looks much cleaner without them.

In the States badging holds more importance as to the features that your car has. As a result badging in the States has more to do with vanity and status than actual function.

I eorops (in general) people like to understate their wealth... where as people here like to flaunt their wealth...call it status or whatever

 

[mikev]

Over here BMW CITROEN RENAULT Etc. are used alot for the companay car sector. (in england more than 50% of cars sold last year were company cars) the badge tells others how much you are paid. a juinior exec will have a debadged 318, where as senior will keep badges on his 330i. so he can say hes got more.

 

[adrean8j]

I live in Germany.......
My car is not badged, neither is my girlfriends grandfathers Schnitzer E34, neither is her stepfathers 325d sport-kombi......It is because it does look cleaner. You dont want a bunch of glued or otherwise stuck on emblems on your 30-40 thousand euro car...plain and simple!

 

[Heezyo2o]

It is definatly cleaner without badges. I mean if you have a nice car people will know from any angle and not just from behind.

On another note, I'm not sure if its vain or anything, but if I ever own an M5, I wouldn't dare debadge her. It would just hurt to drive by some uneducated fool and allow him to even consider my M5 was like a 525 or something.

 

[largebore]

Hello Heezyo20

Just out of curiousity, exactly how would your life change for the worse if some uneducated fool considered your M5 to be like a 525?

Or converserly, how would having your car recognized as a super sport powerhouse make your life any better ?

 

[Heezyo2o]

Hello Heezyo20

Just out of curiousity, exactly how would your life change for the worse if some uneducated fool considered your M5 to be like a 525?

Or converserly, how would having your car recognized as a super sport powerhouse make your life any better ?

How would it affect my life? It wouldn't bud, I was just kidding around.

I recently debadged my e34 525i and really enjoy the look. If I ever get some mods on my 545i, I will probably debadge her too.

 

[Ronnie Boy]

Regarding your question on badges , I would also like to add that a 545 is more alluring to a potential car thief than a 520, in Europe there are lots of thefts on high value cars, specially BMWs.

 

[mikev]

How would it affect my life? It wouldn't bud, I was just kidding around.

I recently debadged my e34 525i and really enjoy the look. If I ever get some mods on my 545i, I will probably debadge her too.

My dads E34 M5 was debadged from the factory, so it will look pretty much like a semi riced 520i or something (at least to the untrained eye ) Ahhh the fun we have with impretzas is nothing short of jaw dropping (for them )

 

[Sweetwater]

I'm just not buying some of these responses.....



Why not get rid of the rondel if you really don't care or want anyone to recognize your wheels?


A real de-badged car doesn't give you any manufacturer or model information.