What do you think? Or you simply don't care? I found out that around the badging on the boot is some dirt so I was thinking about removing the "S500 4Matic" because, who needs to know anyway?

Since you live in Europe, you well know that a good portion of the Mercedes owners buying new cars request they be delivered de-badged.

I have a theory on that...those with small engines don't want their neighbors to know they went cheap and those with big engines don't want to embarrass their neighbors with their affluence.

So having one de-badged won't be any big deal...do it. Easily done with a hair dryer to soften up the glue followed by waxed dental floss to work the badges loose. Finish the job with something like Glue-B-Gone followed by a good waxing of the area.

I'm afraid your post explains how important it is for US owners to show off. This exact example is about a big engine, considering the Euro model range and average engine size, a 4-matic too, this example car is more expensive than the average W221 and still the owner considers removing the badge. I find it more like he does not want to show off with the car, which is the more typical case for debadged cars in Europe.

I don't see the point of debadging. The car is what it is. Anybody who knows benzes will know what it is, and anybody who doesn't won't care what an S550 4matic is anyway.

Uh, check to the left slick...I live in Europe.

I thought I checked your profile, missed it. Are you European or do you just live in Europe. You don't sound like German. But I accept your view equally valuable as mine if you are German, we just seem to have quite opposite views

debadge it. It looks so much better without any signs.

The point usually is that most people assume the car is a baseline model but the real experts can recognise if it actually has a bigger engine and those who do recognise the actual model would not behave like idiots because they would not be jealous (in an unhealthy way). An enthusiast may not drive a Mercedes with a big engine and would simply respect the owner, any envy would be healthy.

Nope, you didn't check the profile, I just looked. The software logs visitors and your name's not on the list as of this post.

You're really vying hard for the observancy award-of-the-week aren't you? NOT!

Hope your auto troubleshooting skills exceed your ability to extract yourself from this morass. Drop it.

Hey guys do not try to steal my thread! Focus on the cars!!

I spend a lot of time in Germany so the opinion of both of you MB_Owner and Diesel Benz is valuable to me.

But what about others? Is it 1 on 1 now? How do you make a poll in a thread??

So I think I'll sleep on it and decide in tomorrow. I think I'll de-badge it. The reason is there are some very little almost "rust" spots around some numbers on the left side and also, I didn't get the car for showing off so clean boot is better (or at least I think).

I've heard more from some other members about debadging for the reasons that Diesel Benz stated as far as Europe goes. For America I hear more of both actually.

Personally, I like the cleaner look of a debadged car. But on some cars the debadged look doesn't work. The W221 looks nice with or without them. Your call.

+1...I debadged the E55 because it looked cleaner (to me). I didn't debadge the SL65 but painted them satin black so you would have to really look to see them...plus I preferred the badged look on the SL.

On the W221, I think I would go debadged...for some reason I like a sedan in debadge form.

It's symmetry for me. S550 4matic? Keep. S550? Remove!

Alright so it is:

MercedesFTW - keep
AMGfan - remove
AsianML - remove
MB_Owner - remove
Diesel Benz - remove
aschb - remove
Oliverk - keep

I'm going to have a look at the badges now

Alright guys so I did it.

Check out the rust spots around the emblem, they used to be hard to clean:


Before:


After:


I used a hair dryer and dental floss and it was gone in 5 minutes. Thanks for the tip, MB_Owner. The overall procedure took no more than 15 minutes. The clean look is nice, the majestic back of the S deserves it

I don't know. if you like it, thats fine, but I feel like the trunk is so big it needs something to break it up.

not a huge deal either way.

I really do. To be honest, I felt better when I had a S350 4Matic before with badges on. I feel like for some people the S500 is a waste of fuel (even the consumption is roughly the same) or show off etc.. so I prefer the stealth look. But you are right, it doesn't really matter. Hey wait, now I can make a hybrid out of it - just joking (its 2 seconds of fame):

I decided that I would keep mine on. So I'm a keep on the vote.

LOL, ditto on the S400 badging. Now you are a hybrid. That will really mess up with people's minds.

I was also really confused abt whether I should debadge my car (it's an S350 with a full S65 bodykit and exhaust) but since in Indonesia there are only 2 types of S-class on offer, the S300 and S350, debadging your benz would just make people assume that your car is actually the lower model. Call it a poser or wannabe even....I'd hate that.

few more keepers and I'm putting them back on but to be honest, S600 is something quite different

I was going to ask you but instead I debadged mine Anyway, your bodykit and wheels are really stunning (and I'm an OEM fan so it means something )

Badge/brand debate really depends upon one's local consumption culture, specific industry and position in one's career...many different answers even in same lucrative industry like finance, comparing NYC vs SiliconValley...and I suspect even Germany is similarly non-monolithic

That said, jealous people will always find a reason to be jealous of others; life's too short to not enjoy one's toys because of others' jealousies/insecurities

Most wealthy guys aren't car guys and don't really care if random people on road know they are wealthy

In Midtown Manhattan, many wealthy financiers choose to be driven around in base, blk/blk S550 (w/no Sport look but w/badges) and with various scuffs on bumpers and many door dings....a car difficult to distinguish from various high-end taxis in NYC

But many of these same guys who are driven in a humble, <$100K S550 in NYC and have no interest in cars are flown around in private, $50MM G550s....

I really, really love the looks of your car. Great job and the wheels are about the best I've seen. Good job!

You are absolutely right. People who are secure and confident with their own finance and status would never care enough to worry about the minute details such as debadging their cars and then worrying if other people will "know" that their car is the lower model or higher model. I was talking to a guy who own a paper mill (that prints money, drivers' licenses, tax stamps, etc) and he own 2 private jets, a slew of private pilots, choppers, etc. and he gets driven around in an old camry around Jakarta.

Even warren buffet I heard still drives himself in an old volvo. And I think he is very very comfortable with himself.