[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Kaizer84

The SUV’s are always the one’s.

Most definitely and 90% of the time there will be tri colored grill stripes on the front of that.

[CJ421]

I would like to contribute the X5 ///M, silver edition.

Charles

[Yuille36]

What is the old adage, "Fake it until you make it".
This use to really upset me, when posers would fake an AMG or M car.
Although it still bothers me, I don't get upset about it anymore.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

What is the definition of a "true M vehicle"?

“M” stands for marketing nowadays. Unless you have a G87 M2, then it stands for Mexico.

[Kaizer84]

Originally Posted by CJ421

I would like to contribute the X5 ///M, silver edition.

Charles

Tried being a bit inconspicuous 🤣

[Jetmart]

I have a 2011 Z4 IS. Ser# confirms it as well as IS on instrument cluster however the badge on the side only says SDRIVE 35I. Also says M on the door sill. I have seen other cars show the full 35IS on the side. Did they make a change part way through 2011?

[CJ421]

Originally Posted by Jetmart

I have a 2011 Z4 IS. Ser# confirms it as well as IS on instrument cluster however the badge on the side only says SDRIVE 35I. Also says M on the door sill. I have seen other cars show the full 35IS on the side. Did they make a change part way through 2011?

It is doubtful that BMW made a mid-year change like that. But I see you're in Canada -- your cars may be badged differently vs. US.

Either way, not a fake badge, so don't worry about it.

Charles

[Belair62]

Originally Posted by Jetmart

I have a 2011 Z4 IS. Ser# confirms it as well as IS on instrument cluster however the badge on the side only says SDRIVE 35I. Also says M on the door sill. I have seen other cars show the full 35IS on the side. Did they make a change part way through 2011?

Someone just removed the S. Maybe they thought it was stealthy that way.

[I Luv BMW]

230i = baby M2.
M240i drivers have entered the chat!

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by I Luv BMW

230i = baby M2.
M240i drivers have entered the chat!

Nice find. That plate is actually pretty funny!

[ShocknAwe]

Stupid vanity plate on a quite nice learner's permit car. Cheaper to buy the eBay M badge like they should have.

Baby M would be a 1M/M2.

[MmmmmM2]

I sure wish I had pictures, but I saw an M535e at the gas station and an M444 on a 430i. Can't make this shit up.

[Burnsey]

I've installed fake badges

My car is a 2025 X5 MSport 40d xdrive and debadged on delivery.

Added all the M-Performance kit, PPF, ceramic, new wheels, plus this, that and the other.

Decided the rear was a bit bland, so bought dealer supplied black badging, but X5 left and ///M40d right.

I hate the xdrive badge and it is an Msport, but believe these were meant for the X3 or X4, even the dealer wasn't sure, but ordered a few options/sizes in and these seemed the best option.

The badge shown is a complete piece, so not a pieced together badge.

I don't feel a fraud, because it has a d for diesel, but some will disapprove - I can take it.

[I Luv BMW]

M 5-er and M 2-er

[bucketfoot]

I had an M badge on my 230i to go with the 11 that BMW put on the car from the factory. Until I decided to de-badge the car.

Didn’t give a crap what anyone else thought about it. If BMW put them on who’s to say I couldn’t.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

I had an M badge on my 230i to go with the 11 that BMW put on the car from the factory. Until I decided to de-badge the car.

Didn’t give a crap what anyone else thought about it. If BMW put them on who’s to say I couldn’t.

So you were the "M230i" guy?? Glad you came to your senses, even if it was more about debadging than de-posing. I think the difference is what I bolded above. BMW actually didn't do what you did. There is no such thing as an M230i.

[Burnsey]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

So you were the "M230i" guy?? Glad you came to your senses, even if it was more about debadging than de-posing. I think the difference is what I bolded above. BMW actually didn't do what you did. There is no such thing as an M230i.

There is - he had one

At the end of the day, there's mis-badging and mis-badging - I've done it - but my car is a (OEM description) X5 xDrive40d M Sport LCI 3.0d and it didn't say that on my boot when I collected it.

It had X5 on one side and xDrive 40d on the other, but they'd plastered a few ///M badges elsewhere on the body and within the dash. I've just relocated one and removed the others.

My previous three cars were F80 M3 competition, F90 M5 and G80 M3 competition. I removed the competition badging and no one noticed, or complained and if they had, it's my car, so would have made no difference.

Those trying to portray their cars as a true M when it's not is perhaps different, but c'est la vie.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Burnsey

There is - he had one

At the end of the day, there's mis-badging and mis-badging - I've done it - but my car is a (OEM description) X5 xDrive40d M Sport LCI 3.0d and it didn't say that on my boot when I collected it.

It had X5 on one side and xDrive 40d on the other, but they'd plastered a few ///M badges elsewhere on the body and within the dash. I've just relocated one and removed the others.

My previous three cars were F80 M3 competition, F90 M5 and G80 M3 competition. I removed the competition badging and no one noticed, or complained and if they had, it's my car, so would have made no difference.

Those trying to portray their cars as a true M when it's not is perhaps different, but c'est la vie.

Removing factory competition badging is de-badging IMO. It's down badging of sorts. You did it for the look. Most people debadge for the look, nothing wrong with that. But, some debadge to hide what they have so people will think more of it.

When people OEM up-badge or fake non-existent perceived up-badge (like the super rare M230i), it's posing and they are fooling no one but themselves. Enthusiasts that know the line up are laughing and the people that don't know, don't know the difference between an M3 and an X1.

[Burnsey]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Removing factory competition badging is de-badging IMO. It's down badging of sorts. You did it for the look. Most people debadge for the look, nothing wrong with that. But, some debadge to hide what they have so people will think more of it.

When people OEM up-badge or fake non-existent perceived up-badge (like the super rare M230i), it's posing and they are fooling no one but themselves. Enthusiasts that know the line up are laughing and the people that don't know, don't know the difference between an M3 and an X1.

Yep, I de-baged for the look, but does it matter what people think - honestly?

The ones who do it won't fool the petrolheads and even if they do fool them, what difference does it make to anyone.

I appreciate this thread is here spotting the fakes - some are hilarious and that's the fun of it for me, but not something to police for absolutely no reason.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Burnsey

Yep, I de-baged for the look, but does it matter what people think - honestly?

The ones who do it won't fool the petrolheads and even if they do fool them, what difference does it make to anyone.

I appreciate this thread is here spotting the fakes - some are hilarious and that's the fun of it for me, but not something to police for absolutely no reason.

Exactly, but unfortunately when people stick ///M badges on, they are doing it because they think people care and they care way too much.

What's worse is the people that defend it. "Hey, I have a tune, it's basically an M5".

[pz619]

Down badge or de-badge is permissible.
Up badge is clearly a no-go
Badge relocation is a newer twist... jury is still out but I think I'm voting 'no'

[Burnsey]

Originally Posted by pz619

Down badge or de-badge is permissible.
Up badge is clearly a no-go
Badge relocation is a newer twist... jury is still out but I think I'm voting 'no'

When people start using terms like permissible, I'd say it's gone too far.

Your car, do as you wish, but don't post photo's on Bimmerpost.