Why do people put "M" badges on non-M cars?

[helix402]

I reckon the badge is straight and the car is wonky.

[jakesmith]

How can anyone in their right mind, want to portray themselves as owning a slightly-less middle of the road SUV than the one they bought, and think they will achieve this by sticking on a badge completely wonkey.

[survivalist]

Not just an M Badge, but an M4 Badge. On a 428i convertible. If you're going to try and fool people into thinking you have an M4, surely the first step is to remove the 'lesser' badge first. Or just tick the FOC 'model designation delete' option when you buy the car.

[Maracus]

st number plate combo/wonky Halfords ///M badge

[Robbidoo]

I live in Luxembourg and it's absolutely rife - particularly the stripes, almost always on 120d or 320d. No-one really drives petrol over here unless it's a proper sports car.

[Brainpox]

Few more. Got my girlfriend involved as well now. They're getting more common.






Not quite the same but still noteworthy...

[pickersm]

Re-vitalising thread. I spotted the very excusive M118d today

[WY86]

Tbf BMW are doing worse… fitting M wing mirrors to M40 models. The M40i X3 looks near identical now to the X3 M comp!

[DVandrews]

On the other side of the coin..



Dave

[popeyewhite]

Vicarious thrill. They want others to think it's an M, and vicariously experience the imagined thrill at witnessing their beast.

Also they're idiots.

[MikeM6]

DVandrews said:

On the other side of the coin..



Dave

Not sure I understand this one, especially with the lip spoiler and twin exhaust, so doesn't look like a 'sleeper' if that is the aim.

Anyone that knows about cars knows it isn't a 418i and those that don't know about cars don't care. Anyone that therefore does notice this would just wonder why someone has miss-badged their car on purpose and what the motivation for that is.

Curious.

[Gunk]

popeyewhite said:

Vicarious thrill. They want others to think it's an M, and vicariously experience the imagined thrill at witnessing their beast.

Also they're idiots.

Does it really matter? It’s just a silly badge

[Ryyy]

popeyewhite said:

Vicarious thrill. They want others to think it's an M, and vicariously experience the imagined thrill at witnessing their beast.

Also they're idiots.

Orrrr, they don't know the differences and think its missing the badge?

Its the same as all the mperformance/sport/power sunstrips and side decals that don't do any justice they're as bad as the dirty diesel and because vw/ford/Renault stickers.

[survivalist]

MikeM6 said:

DVandrews said:

On the other side of the coin..



Dave

Not sure I understand this one, especially with the lip spoiler and twin exhaust, so doesn't look like a 'sleeper' if that is the aim.

Anyone that knows about cars knows it isn't a 418i and those that don't know about cars don't care. Anyone that therefore does notice this would just wonder why someone has miss-badged their car on purpose and what the motivation for that is.

Curious.

Surely that’s true of all this misbadging. As you say, people who know cars aren’t fooled and the rest don’t care and/or don’t understand the difference.

The biggest wow factor for most people seems to be having a ‘new’ car. Even if it’s some boring mini SUV with a 1.2L engine.

Edited by survivalist on Sunday 24th July 18:03

[MikeM6]

survivalist said:

MikeM6 said:

DVandrews said:

On the other side of the coin..



Dave

Not sure I understand this one, especially with the lip spoiler and twin exhaust, so doesn't look like a 'sleeper' if that is the aim.

Anyone that knows about cars knows it isn't a 418i and those that don't know about cars don't care. Anyone that therefore does notice this would just wonder why someone has miss-badged their car on purpose and what the motivation for that is.

Curious.

Surely that’s true of all this misbadging. As you say, people who know cars aren’t fooled and the rest don’t care and/or don’t understand the difference.
...

Edited by survivalist on Sunday 24th July 18:03

Well yes, but in a thread where most are mocking miss-badging, to post about doing just that (albeit in the reverse direction) is quite interesting.

[popeyewhite]

Gunk said:

Does it really matter?

Personally I'd say if someone has gone to the bother of starting a thread on the matter then yes, clearly.

[Boosted_8]

At the current count I've taken six M badges off my car so far (both wings and four wheels). Just debating the last one on the boot lid (M550i)

[Wills2]

[Wills2]

survivalist said:

MikeM6 said:

DVandrews said:

On the other side of the coin..



Dave

Not sure I understand this one, especially with the lip spoiler and twin exhaust, so doesn't look like a 'sleeper' if that is the aim.

Anyone that knows about cars knows it isn't a 418i and those that don't know about cars don't care. Anyone that therefore does notice this would just wonder why someone has miss-badged their car on purpose and what the motivation for that is.

Curious.

Surely that’s true of all this misbadging. As you say, people who know cars aren’t fooled and the rest don’t care and/or don’t understand the difference.

The biggest wow factor for most people seems to be having a ‘new’ car. Even if it’s some boring mini SUV with a 1.2L engine.

Edited by survivalist on Sunday 24th July 18:03

Regardless it looks truly awful, the colour, the spoiler, the exhausts etc...

[Gunk]

And why the huge gap between the 6 and the D?