It's a free country, so... (archive)

... if you're trying to impress people who don't know anything about cars in general, or BMWs in particular, go ahead. However, if that's your target audience, do they even know what the "M" is supposed to stand for?

So if I wanted to put a "M" on the front of my 535is and on the rear to make it a M535is...I'd get a lot of grief?

Joe

... just cheesy poseurs, but fake badging is a significant issue with collectible and/or muscle cars. I once told a guy who had just bought a '57 Chevy "Bel Air" that what he had really bought was a 150 (the lowest model) which had been retrofitted with reproduction Bel Air side and dash trim. I wouldn't have let on, but he was bragging about how his "Bel Air" was better than my real Bel Air. Heck, whoever conned him didn't even bother to put on window chrome, change the fin caps, or change the grille. The scammer got about $5k more for putting on a few hundred dollars in repro parts.

This isn't an isolated incident -- it happens all the time and people go to jail for creating fake 442s, Z-28s, Trans Ams, and AMG Mercedes, so I have no doubt that there are BMW owners out there who paid extra for a "special" car just because it has the badges.

When I was 18, I had a 520i and it was badged with an "///M" on the left side and many different designations on the right. Sometimes I badged it a 518i, sometimes a 525i. I even made my own badge (with a lot of time and effort) and combined the 518 with a 745i and had a 545i badge. I had an //M badge in the front. Why you ask??? Because. I drive a M5 and it doesn't bother me when I see a M318ti. It just tells me the person is into BMW's and not just an everyday driver. The M535i has the //M badge because of M-Technic spoilers. So why can't a 528 or 325 have M badges? A friend of mine has a brand new 330ci. It has a //M steering wheel, and factory //M wheels. He is entitled to a badge! People should not concern themselves over things like this. Just enjoy your cars. Who gives a shit about badges.

Tim In Eastern PA
1988 //M5 (Soon To Be Badged 524td)
1988 535i (Soon To Be Badged 318i)

I've only been an E28 owner for just under 2 years. When I bought my car the former owner had on the trunk the M5 badge. I immediately removed the "5" and left just the "M". I've noticed that there seems to be issues with this and wanted to follow proper etiquette here. Seems like a lot of people out here in the S.F. Bay Area add the "M" in front of their badge numbers. The E28's that I've seen has it like me just the "M" only on the trunk, so I assumed that would be okay. Just curious how some of you long time Bimmer owners felt about this.

Thanks,
Ron

Follow Ups:

Re: It's a free country, so... Joe 11:50 6/25/2001 (0)

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