Debadge or Not?
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Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
Tried the dental floss, I came closer to slicing thru my hand than getting the damn lettering off- those puppies are on there. My dealer said they would do it for $45- 1/2 hr labor. Kinda sucks but I think I'll just have them do it and if something bad happens, they're responsible for fixing it.
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
to me, de-badging is someone that has a C240 making believe he has a C32 or C320.
but I guess its just me....
maybe remove the star and put the Ferrari horsey ??
but I guess its just me....
maybe remove the star and put the Ferrari horsey ??
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From: SF
2007 VW GTI
Originally posted by bagwell
to me, de-badging is someone that has a C240 making believe he has a C32 or C320.
but I guess its just me....
maybe remove the star and put the Ferrari horsey ??
to me, de-badging is someone that has a C240 making believe he has a C32 or C320.
but I guess its just me....
maybe remove the star and put the Ferrari horsey ??
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From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by zimmer26
Tried the dental floss, I came closer to slicing thru my hand than getting the damn lettering off- those puppies are on there. My dealer said they would do it for $45- 1/2 hr labor. Kinda sucks but I think I'll just have them do it and if something bad happens, they're responsible for fixing it.
Tried the dental floss, I came closer to slicing thru my hand than getting the damn lettering off- those puppies are on there. My dealer said they would do it for $45- 1/2 hr labor. Kinda sucks but I think I'll just have them do it and if something bad happens, they're responsible for fixing it.
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'01 C240/6
Originally posted by session
i'll repeat my question from before:
what's involved with debadging a car that's got some mileage on the paint? does it require paintwork?
i'll repeat my question from before:
what's involved with debadging a car that's got some mileage on the paint? does it require paintwork?
I'm not a big fan of debadging (normally because the badges are not too obtrusive and its done 95% of the time by the C240, BMW 323, 525, etc. models, almost never by the bigger engined models), but on the Hatchback I'd make an exception, for a couple of reasons.
1. There is WAY too much lettering going on there. K-O-M-P-R-E-S-S-O-R??? Too much. Plus, its a goofy looking word. Plus, its unnecessary. Kind of like on American cars when they put a big "Fuel Injection" badge on, or "Disc Brakes" on the hubcaps. What's the point, and who cares?
2. Anything that helps de-emphasis the back end of the Hatchback is a good thing.
The big D sticker is obviously dumb (WHY????) and should be the first thing to go.
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'01 C240/6
Originally posted by JeT
but if you are worried about your paint job, best get the MB guys to do it.
but if you are worried about your paint job, best get the MB guys to do it.
Who cares more about your car?
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From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by SoCal240/6
To the contrary, if you are worried about your paint, you should do it yourself, and not put it in the hands of some anonymous hack at your dealership.
Who cares more about your car?
To the contrary, if you are worried about your paint, you should do it yourself, and not put it in the hands of some anonymous hack at your dealership.
Who cares more about your car?
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From: Nashua, NH
2008 VW GTI
Originally posted by JeT
It isn't a half hour job...its like a 2 minute job.
It isn't a half hour job...its like a 2 minute job.
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From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by avlis
It took me longer than 1/2 hour. I used heat and floss but, the floss proved useless. I could have used my fingers to pull them off after they were heated. I spent a lot of time removing the glue residue.
It took me longer than 1/2 hour. I used heat and floss but, the floss proved useless. I could have used my fingers to pull them off after they were heated. I spent a lot of time removing the glue residue.
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From: OR
It may be true that many debadged cars in the US are the lesser models in the line. Curiously, when I picked my car up in Europe I was paying particular attention to what de-badged cars looked like and which cars were de-badged. It seems that MB owners in particular like to debadge their cars, and the up-scale cars get debadged MORE often than the lesser models. Most of the big Benzes I saw only had the star in back.
I am in the process of completely de-badging (even the grill) because I like the clean look, and don't much care if anyone else knows what car I drive. After all, it just advertising!
I am in the process of completely de-badging (even the grill) because I like the clean look, and don't much care if anyone else knows what car I drive. After all, it just advertising!
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From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by jlm
It may be true that many debadged cars in the US are the lesser models in the line. Curiously, when I picked my car up in Europe I was paying particular attention to what de-badged cars looked like and which cars were de-badged. It seems that MB owners in particular like to debadge their cars, and the up-scale cars get debadged MORE often than the lesser models. Most of the big Benzes I saw only had the star in back.
It may be true that many debadged cars in the US are the lesser models in the line. Curiously, when I picked my car up in Europe I was paying particular attention to what de-badged cars looked like and which cars were de-badged. It seems that MB owners in particular like to debadge their cars, and the up-scale cars get debadged MORE often than the lesser models. Most of the big Benzes I saw only had the star in back.
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From: Mercedesland
Originally posted by jlm
It may be true that many debadged cars in the US are the lesser models in the line. Curiously, when I picked my car up in Europe I was paying particular attention to what de-badged cars looked like and which cars were de-badged. It seems that MB owners in particular like to debadge their cars, and the up-scale cars get debadged MORE often than the lesser models. Most of the big Benzes I saw only had the star in back.
It may be true that many debadged cars in the US are the lesser models in the line. Curiously, when I picked my car up in Europe I was paying particular attention to what de-badged cars looked like and which cars were de-badged. It seems that MB owners in particular like to debadge their cars, and the up-scale cars get debadged MORE often than the lesser models. Most of the big Benzes I saw only had the star in back.
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From: Ohio
2010 C300 4matic
You can use a piece of string or something thicker than dental floss if it hurts your hands that much. Sometimes even a piece of string hurts, so I can imagine how dental floss would hurt. And it helps if you have some kind of solvent to remove the glue, otherwise it can take a very long time to get it all off.
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From: Brisbane/Sydney, Australia
Originally posted by avlis
We're talking DE-badge, not RE-badge...
We're talking DE-badge, not RE-badge...
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From: Chicago
C32 AMG
Originally posted by JeT
No kidding Einstein! The point I was making is that lower end models don't usually debadge, they rebadge...thats how it is in Oz anyway.
No kidding Einstein! The point I was making is that lower end models don't usually debadge, they rebadge...thats how it is in Oz anyway.
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
If I had a C240, I'd leave the badge because it would look like trying to pose as a 320 or C32 which many people do- its cheesy! I think it works in the coupe's case because a) there is only one engine (not trying to pose) b) there is way too much lettering on the already busy rear end. Final answer: I'm losing the badges and paying the 45 beans so I don't have to bother with it. I'm on mod #2 after just 8 months!! Mod #1 was the alloy e-brake pedal pad- crazy right! It does look better and I hear its good for 3hp!
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From: Afghanistan / South Florida / Camp Lejeune, NC
2008 BMW M6, 2008 Ducati 1098, 2008 Ducati Monster S2R1000, 1971 Ducati Scrambler
Originally posted by zimmer26
If I had a C240, I'd leave the badge because it would look like trying to pose as a 320 or C32 which many people do- its cheesy! I think it works in the coupe's case because a) there is only one engine (not trying to pose) b) there is way too much lettering on the already busy rear end. Final answer: I'm losing the badges and paying the 45 beans so I don't have to bother with it. I'm on mod #2 after just 8 months!! Mod #1 was the alloy e-brake pedal pad- crazy right! It does look better and I hear its good for 3hp!
If I had a C240, I'd leave the badge because it would look like trying to pose as a 320 or C32 which many people do- its cheesy! I think it works in the coupe's case because a) there is only one engine (not trying to pose) b) there is way too much lettering on the already busy rear end. Final answer: I'm losing the badges and paying the 45 beans so I don't have to bother with it. I'm on mod #2 after just 8 months!! Mod #1 was the alloy e-brake pedal pad- crazy right! It does look better and I hear its good for 3hp!
Not all of them are available in North America though.
Thread Starter
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From: Vienna, Austria
Audi S4
Originally posted by SoCal240/6
The big D sticker is obviously dumb (WHY????) and should be the first thing to go.
The big D sticker is obviously dumb (WHY????) and should be the first thing to go.
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
I de-badged the rear of my C240 because I like the cleaner look, NOT to fool the 1% of drivers behind me that might know the difference between C240, C320 or C32. I consider myself an "automobile enthusiast", but up until about 6 months ago, when I became interested in buying a German sedan, I had NO idea what the letters and numbers on the rear of MB's stood for. There are SO many variations! If I would have seen "C32", I would have probably thought the "0" fell off since I have noticed over the years that most MB model numbers are three digits and end with "0" 
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From: Croton, NY
1991 mr2 turbo, 2002 coupe
I don't really see how C240 is "not clean", but whatever. As long as you're not trying to come off as a 320 its all good. I consider myself an enthusiast as well and I can tell you that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference at a glance. If however I saw a 3, C, or A4 debadged I'd assume it was a 318/325 trying to pose as 328/330, C240 as C320, or 1.8 A4 as 3.0 as there are many examples on the road. The other possibility is an M, C32, or S4 trying to go undercover, which is understandable and is why the M badge deletion is on the bimmer's option list (or at least I think it is.) I guess its more of a case with the bimmer because their badges are or were at least drilled through the sheetmetal which would be trouble that I don't think many 330 owners would care to bother with. In general I'd bet that the vast majority of debadgings come from the smaller siblings in their respective classes with the exception of the hotted up (M, AMG, S Audis) trying to go unnoticed. This is far better than if you were to dress up your C240 as the C32 by rebadging, those dorks are probably most plentiful and the most easily found out, and laughed at the hardest. But that's just my cynical opinion.
