Look at this stealer trying his luck..

[User33678888]

Have a look at the advert below.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Do you see anything wrong with the gear shifter?

It looks very much to me like someone has added a 7 speed leaver to an older box.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong of course..

[theaxe]

That's just weird. May not have been the dealer though, could have been taken as part-ex like that.

[hornetrider]

Saw this ad briefly the other day and thought it was odd to have an LCI on an 06.

You're right, door handles major giveaway. Odd thing to do, but dodgy badging hints at the type of owner.

[crostonian]

Available on ebay;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-5-Series-E53-X5-...

[richwig83]

Why do BMW drivers insist on putting the M badge everywhere? 320D.. with M badge on is my favorite!

[User33678888]

richwig83 said:

Why do BMW drivers insist on putting the M badge everywhere? 320D.. with M badge on is my favorite!

Yet I have a real M5 with no badges...
The four exhausts and V8 rumble do give it away a little

[crostonian]

I've never really understood why you would remove the badges either.

[richwig83]

User33678888 said:

richwig83 said:

Why do BMW drivers insist on putting the M badge everywhere? 320D.. with M badge on is my favorite!

Yet I have a real M5 with no badges...
The four exhausts and V8 rumble do give it away a little

Removing badges is fine.

I had my GTI badged up as a TDI for a while.... just for fun

[davepoth]

crostonian said:

I've never really understood why you would remove the badges either.

High spec badges mark the car out for people who can't otherwise tell the difference between the M5 and a 520d.

[sparks_E39]

crostonian said:

I've never really understood why you would remove the badges either.

My 530i is debadged and in my opinion it looks better. The only person who cares what's under the bonnet is me, and I couldn't care less if someone thought it was a 520, 525, 540 etc etc. Also it has on the odd occasion sparked up conversation, as people have asked what engine it is as it's not advertised... and it's always nice to talk with other petrolheads.

Going the other way and sticking ///M badges everywhere. That's not cool, especially on car's that aren't ///M somethings.

[dave_s13]

I'm sure I've read somewhere that retro fitting the lci paddle shift is an option on the e61. Maybe that's why?

[User33678888]

dave_s13 said:

I'm sure I've read somewhere that retro fitting the lci paddle shift is an option on the e61. Maybe that's why?

Yeah, but it doesn't have paddles.

In regards to de badging, it helps make the car look a little more discreet. I've no need to shout about my V8. It does that all on its own.

[james280779]

I keep meaning to debadge the W8, I get bored of people asking what a W8 is.

[forks]

What's a W8?

[silverthorn2151]

I recall reading that in Germany customers had high spec vehicles debadged but in the UK it was lower spec vehicles that were debadged.

Does that say more about nationalities or BMW drivers?

[Birdster]

Is the actually gear lever DCT and the base which shows the selected gear is the original pre LCI?

[sebhaque]

"That's not a real M6, you have a big hole in the back bumper."

I've actually heard this before. I disregarded the idiot when I saw the Type R badge on a 1.6 steel wheeled Civic.

[hornetrider]

forks said:

What's a W8?

[LuS1fer]

james280779 said:

I keep meaning to debadge the W8, I get bored of people asking what a W8 is.

That'll be a W8 off your shoulders.

[T1547]

User33678888 said:

Have a look at the advert below.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

Do you see anything wrong with the gear shifter?

It looks very much to me like someone has added a 7 speed leaver to an older box.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong of course..

Saw this car advertised privately on AT a couple of weeks back. It had same dodgy stick on gearstick then so was almost certainly the private owner not the dealer. Matches all the lovely M badges...