K-A

That's essentially what I'm saying as well. Also, props to you to admit what I got hammered for by the sensitive 550 owners (that's a joke, guys, don't go nuts! ), which is that you'd actually keep the 550 badge on to "show it off" per-se, even though it looks uglier back there (hell, a debadged E350 is a *superior* looking car from the rear angle to a badged E550 IMO, lol).

Of course, technically speaking the 550 is a superior car, as it isn't priced higher for nothing. However, the superiority x value scale is another story. To me, an E350 isn't any less superior, it actually has some aspects that I find superior (MPG, more reliable due to less complexities, and the businesses best vinyl seats as opposed to some of the worst Leather seats).

I'm proud of the E350, proud of Owning one, and have no envy whatsoever toward the E550, so why would I debadge to "pose"? I literally chose my E350 over the E550, after all, didn't I?

Well said, and agreed. I just get annoyed by "superiority complexes". I'm 6'5" tall, and I certainly don't look at people who are shorter than me to be inferior, just like I don't find less HP motors to be necessarily inferior. I feel that if we're dishing out "complex" generalizations here, we should spread it around to reveal the full dynamics of how it works.

bigigg

Yea K-A i have nothing to hide, i love my car.. and for the 550 guys to point there fingers and say "you guys are trying come across as if you have a 550 by debadging".. that just shows they have issues within themselves.

CEB

Just because you don't agree with someone doesn't make them an idiot. I am positive that there are plenty of people out there who do not agree with you - does that make you an idiot?

hyperion667

awesome thread!

golfster

A very naive viewpoint and more telling of how you may make a car choice than how others choose to spend. I'm sure some people do buy all the car they can afford while others can comfortably afford to make a choice how to spend or invest.

CEB

Correct. It really depends upon their priorities. If I were doing my BMW purchase over again, then I would buy the 328 over the 335. While the extra power is fun at times, the excessive problems that BMW has had with the fuel pumps just takes any enjoyment out of the car.

For the MB purchase, I asked my dealer to look for options and colors on both the 350 + 550 as I do not consider one to be 'superior' to the other - one just has a bigger engine (with worse gas mileage but more power) and more standard features.

K-A

Exactly. And I feel that those are the same people who just *might* agree that the clean/symmetrical look back there might be better, but perhaps want to "show off" their engine designation.

In reality lots of 350 owners probably do de-badge because they have an inferiority complex, and that's not the fault of the car, however instead some personal issues within the modder. Just like some guys who drive like snails buy the highest HP cars they can afford to feel better about themselves and fill the void within their own complexes, and ironically are the same ones that usually like to boast about how the less powerful cars are "inferior".

Again, this is generalizing/stereotyping with a negative slant. There are many of us who healthily gauge cars to our best abilities. Some find an E550 necessary and valuable, and some find the 350 level with it, maybe even superior in certain ways, and a far better value.

And I agree with Golfster. It's ridiculous to assume that if someone can "afford it" they would get the biggest motor available. I can technically afford an S65, the ultimate of braggart proportions: Huge, huge engine, huge torque, crap MPG. But I got an E350, and I probably like my E350 as much as I'd like an S65.

hyperion667

and I probably like my E350 as much as I'd like an S65.

enzo thecat

I’m going to be brutally honest here. So please keep that in mind when flaming me.

Time for some honest perspective from a guy that’s "been there":

I bought a new 2010 E350 4matic. It was loaded. I even paid the $1700 for the leather package, and I never really even considered the V8. I LOVED the car. I was proud to own it. But I have to admit, that every time I saw another E class, I looked to see if it was another 350 or the mighty 550. And I must admit, every time I saw a 550 I was tweaked. I thought, "BAD *** CAR! What if?" What if my "perfect" 350 have gobs more power to play with? And I guess that made my car feel small, especially when I'd see an E550 with MY COLOR COMBO!!!! HOW DARE THEY?!?! Moreover, I was tired of being asked why I didn't get the 550 and the ensuing discussion on their part. So now I was being “judged” and wanting to defend myself. (FYI: I always kept the retort humble, “Too much money””

Now, I must admit, I was tempted....the thought did cross my mind..... to remove the "350". I assumed others would be looking out for my numbers as well. I told myself it would look better anyway. But in the end, I left it on. A greater fear was that others would know my “true” motivation.

So when I heard the 2012 E550 4matic had the V8 and the twin turbo, I couldn't resist. Don't get me wrong; the extra power is FUN. The motor is a MONSTER and for me, I could never go back to a V 6 now. But, do I feel superior when I see an E350? NOPE. Do I feel my car is better? NOPE. In fact, I see E350 owners being a little more sensible with their money. Do I still always look to see what model the other car is? YES. I guess I always will, because I am a car enthusiast and I love Mercedes.

One other thing: In a matter of months, my mighty 2012 E550 will be obsolete. There will be a newer, even more powerful car. So it really is foolish to feel any pride about a car. There will always be something better, newer and faster right around the corner. Could you imagine if Mercedes put a badge on the car with the model year? As soon as the car was a model year old, EVERYONE would be “debadging”. LOL Just think about that.

e

K-A

And you wonder why I made those comments before?

Please, get into my head and tell me why not.

Is it because I drive like a granny, or because I like the W212's design more than the W221? Because if you were gonna say that, then yes, you're right, those are why I'm just that happy with my car.

You seem to find it hard to believe that someone could like a less than gluttonously powered car, why is that?

wmoor004

K-A

This is you, though, and we all have our tendencies toward what we like. I've never looked the badge behind an E, and the first thing I think when I see an E550 is "I wonder if the Airmatic is sagging in one corner".

No, but really, I never really care. I'm blessed in that HP isn't a weighing factor in my Luxury Car love, it makes me not ever find my car "obsolete". It's all about quality and style for me, really.

wmoor004

My co worker owns a 2012 CLS63 *Debadged*. Maybe people take those plastic numbers and letters off just because...

I own a 5k sqft home and it's debadged!

hyperion667

wow cousin, that's a lot of squares to clean, hehe, but nice.......
how many of those feet are for the cars?
wish I had a garage

CEB

What is funny is that you are looking at a 350 (with 300+ hp) as being "entry level."

Entry level in reality is the 136hp E200. Oh and BTW, the E550 is sold in the rest of the world as the E500.

The difference between the two cars (350/550) is the engine and the options. The 550 comes with leather, 4matic and ventilated seats as standard (all things optional on the 350) so you're really paying a $6k premium for the engine. That really means that the price difference is about 10% - not a big deal.

If you can't afford a 550 then you probably can't afford a 350 either.

One isn't superior to the other, one just has a bigger engine.

Me? I'd prefer a diesel if it came in AWD.

The Europeans do it right. You can get all the options on any engine size rather than automatically adding options as the engine size increases.

bigigg

Another way to look at it..(not the kind of person i am but theres people out there like this)If it was all about $$,and hey look at me i drive a 60K + Mercedes, forget about debadging and pretending to be a 550.. your still ahead of the game because the majority of people out there arent spending that kind of $$ on there car. So you would be "superior" to majority of cars on the road.

golfster

This is epic. The owner of a white Benz with black grill, star, badges, chrome, spoiler and OEM wheels who thought about a black roof calling out the owner of a white Benz for having a black roof.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ite-black.html

Car forums are so entertaining, but nothing beats a Benz forum. HBO, are you listening?

park423

If I were to believe that E550 owners that do not debadge their cars have "small *****" or superiority complexes for merely wanting a V8 powered car, then yes, I to would be an idiot. Right or wrong, I didn't think KA's argument was a mature and/or intelligent reply that he is more than capable of doing based on his past comments/replies...if he or anyone wants to call out people, then expect the same back, that's all

park423

Yeah I thought about it but then I thought to myself "am I posing as if I have fake pano roof" and decided not to do it, plus my friends called me out on it too so I nixed that "mod", now KA and I had a discussion about and out of respect and politeness, did not add my 0.02 at the time about my final opinion on blacking out the roof

Now you want to call me out about my mods of blacking out my car while defending other people's "mod" of debadging? What a hypocrite

44kevin

IMHO, I think we can all agree that putting a fake badged on a car is not acceptable behavior. Badged or de-badged is a personal choice. For example, if one decide to replaced the stock rims that came with a car, this action is view acceptable. No one would question this individual's intention. Others choose to leave the car stock. And that fine too. It's all about choice of expressions.

golfster

The hypocrite is the modder who calls out the mods of another modder.

jon2002

350 vs 550..with all features being equal, and acceleration aside, I prefer the 550 more due to the smoother and more refined motor.

Do others really not feel the difference?

acela11

I debadge because they're wax traps
'

hyperion667

this really mushroomed eh Bigigg??
my debadge thread never got this much love......

AsianML

What, nobody brave enough to touch this one?