Fake Badges

[louielouie]

Originally Posted by SpaceSilverX1.

I'm not Italian, so I'll let you make the comments about this Chinese-made BMW 535i M3(license plate) with the Italian flag colors... in China.

Never seen an Li on a BMW.

Thought it was their last name.

[Sand]

Originally Posted by louielouie

Never seen an Li on a BMW.

Thought it was their last name.

Does that mean 22 years ago, the 2003 BMW 330xi correctly predicted the name of the current Chinese dictator?

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by Sand

Does that mean 22 years ago, the 2003 BMW 330xi correctly predicted the name of the current Chinese dictator?

For the longest time I thought it was xl like XL and couldn't figure it out

[Sand]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

For the longest time I thought it was xl like XL and couldn't figure it out

it's okay. I understand. no need to poke the bear.

[mr.unknown]

Originally Posted by louielouie

Never seen an Li on a BMW.

Thought it was their last name.

I had F02 740Li and had Li on the back, photos actually not fake badges.

[I Luv BMW]

The tatted up G in this M118i with fake M mirrors was darting in and out of traffic, cutting off others, all while looking at this phone. Probably busy organising the next deal bulk import of te///Mu badges. He was too fast for me to take a clearer pic.

[Sand]

Originally Posted by I Luv BMW

The tatted up G in this M118i with fake M mirrors was darting in and out of traffic, cutting off others, all while looking at this phone. Probably busy organising the next deal bulk import of te///Mu badges. He was too fast for me to take a clearer pic.

Aren't the police very strict in Australia about using the phone while driving? Even if it's to take pictures? At least that's why my Australian friends have always told me.(although I only have 3 of them)

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by louielouie

Never seen an Li on a BMW.

Thought it was their last name.

The E65 used Li - 745Li, 750Li. The L was the long body and an i only was the short. The E32 and E38 7-series prior had them reversed which made more sense. Add the L at the end for long body - 740i, 740il. I owned all three of these, some MY's multiple times. Then I "downgraded" to a 5-series as I was going through a divorce and fell in love with the 5.

[I Luv BMW]

Originally Posted by Sand

Aren't the police very strict in Australia about using the phone while driving? Even if it's to take pictures? At least that's why my Australian friends have always told me.(although I only have 3 of them)

Yep! Pretty much no touching at all unless it’s for navigation etc. Hence the irony about calling out the guy about being on his phone. But how else would I contribute to this great thread!

[Phillies8008]

I thought I had a sighting the other day. It was a 530, and the guy had M stripes on the grill (which I don't think really count), and some "eDrive" and "i" badges. I thought for sure he'd slapped EV badges on a regular 530; then I noticed the extra fueling door, and that it was a 530e. Womp womp.

He did, however, have M stripes on his steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position – I'm more apt to count that than the grill, for some reason. Gonna have to appeal to the Commissioner for a ruling on that one.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I thought I had a sighting the other day. It was a 530, and the guy had M stripes on the grill (which I don't think really count), and some "eDrive" and "i" badges. I thought for sure he'd slapped EV badges on a regular 530; then I noticed the extra fueling door, and that it was a 530e. Womp womp.

He did, however, have M stripes on his steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position – I'm more apt to count that than the grill, for some reason. Gonna have to appeal to the Commissioner for a ruling on that one.

Hmmm. It's a good case that's likely to be appealed multiple times. Did the 530e at least have the M-Sport Package?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by pz619

Hmmm. It's a good case that's likely to be appealed multiple times. Did the 530e at least have the M-Sport Package?

I'm not 100% sure. It did have the black-out grill, but then it's probably aftermarket for the stripes (I assume you buy the entire kidney for this, rather than snapping on the colors or something?).

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

He did, however, have M stripes on his steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position – I'm more apt to count that than the grill, for some reason. Gonna have to appeal to the Commissioner for a ruling on that one.

Let me know how the Comish rules on that one so I can best know how to proceed with pleading my case.

When I first bought the car I absolutely hated the ///M on the steering wheel cover. Nowdays I find it actually serves a practical purpose - the stitching acts as a "feeler" position indicator to my hands when I'm doing things such as backing up.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by ctcarbonari

Let me know how the Comish rules on that one so I can best know how to proceed with pleading my case.

When I first bought the car I absolutely hated the ///M on the steering wheel cover. Nowdays I find it actually serves a practical purpose - the stitching acts as a "feeler" position indicator to my hands when I'm doing things such as backing up.

Heh. I think ultimately it doesn't matter what the Commissioner says, because it's your car and you should do whatever the hell you want with it, M Police be damned. As long as you like it, who cares what some Internet randos – myself included – think?

For the record, the M stripes on the grill and steering wheel don't bother me. I feel like they've in large part come to represent BMW as a driver-focused performance marque, and having them on the grill, etc. conveys an enthusiasm for BMW as a brand. I think it's hard to imagine that anyone putting these in/on their car is trying to fool people into thinking they're driving a "real" M model. I will say, however, that I think the fake badges are pretty stupid and embarrassing. But I certainly don't get my panties in a bunch over it.

What I really, really hate – much more than any fake badge – is the attitude that some people seem to have that if you don't drive a "real" M you're not a "real enthusiast," whatever the hell that is. I don't think it's incompatible to be a car enthusiast and not want and/or be able to spend $80k+ on a car. It's gate-keeping at its worst. Like a camera, the best car is the one you have, and you can enjoy driving any of them. One of the most fun cars I ever had was an '81 Honda Accord with every bit of 86hp. That car was a blast. If someone can only have fun in a 500hp car, it says more about them than as a driver than they think.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Heh. I think ultimately it doesn't matter what the Commissioner says, because it's your car and you should do whatever the hell you want with it, M Police be damned. As long as you like it, who cares what some Internet randos – myself included – think?

For the record, the M stripes on the grill and steering wheel don't bother me. I feel like they've in large part come to represent BMW as a driver-focused performance marque, and having them on the grill, etc. conveys an enthusiasm for BMW as a brand. I think it's hard to imagine that anyone putting these in/on their car is trying to fool people into thinking they're driving a "real" M model. I will say, however, that I think the fake badges are pretty stupid and embarrassing. But I certainly don't get my panties in a bunch over it.

What I really, really hate – much more than any fake badge – is the attitude that some people seem to have that if you don't drive a "real" M you're not a "real enthusiast," whatever the hell that is. I don't think it's incompatible to be a car enthusiast and not want and/or be able to spend $80k+ on a car. It's gate-keeping at its worst. Like a camera, the best car is the one you have, and you can enjoy driving any of them. One of the most fun cars I ever had was an '81 Honda Accord with every bit of 86hp. That car was a blast. If someone can only have fun in a 500hp car, it says more about them than as a driver than they think.

yes think your onto it Phillies.
My son has the kidney colours, to be honest it looks pretty good on his black 92. It's an M port and he gets excited about the aura of it all. I encourage him to appreciate anyone's effort. Not bag all fords because you are a holden guy so to speak. It may not be your colour, style or liking but its the deeper appreciation of driving. And sure some get it wrong to your tastes but don't laugh too hard.

I'm about to put dOd where 330d once was. The car is 15 years old and it smells like a dirty Ol diesel. Also painting 3 bars in the grill the same as the new body colour, and might put 330 on the sill as I have painted them to reflect M performance sill stiped. Its an M sport but I call it Athlete all just for a bit of fun. People can take the piss, that's ok. I like it.

[IcewaterPete]

It’s been a bit, but came across this poser the other day.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

It’s been a bit, but came across this poser the other day.

Ah no, not on an E91... sad face.

[GOLFFRR]

Some of these are wild

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by IcewaterPete

It’s been a bit, but came across this poser the other day.

Love the dual exhaust.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

Some of these are wild

The best ones are adding BMW badges to non-BMW cars. On the one hand, I feel bad that these folks are clearly BMW enthusiasts that for whatever reason aren't able to drive a BMW – it sucks to be excluded from something you really want to be included in. On the other hand, it's just kind of cringe. I'd love to own a Ferrari, but I'm not putting a prancing horse on my Z4.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

The best ones are adding BMW badges to non-BMW cars. On the one hand, I feel bad that these folks are clearly BMW enthusiasts that for whatever reason aren't able to drive a BMW – it sucks to be excluded from something you really want to be included in. On the other hand, it's just kind of cringe. I'd love to own a Ferrari, but I'm not putting a prancing horse on my Z4.

who knows why they do it but at the end of the day different strokes for different folks right lol. I also think that since the demo on the forums are super knowledgeable about cars and car info etc.. that we are more fixated on these sort of thing and see them for what they are. The sad truth is most of the population doesn't know and prob assumes it's legit or doesn't care/notice.

[jaffles]

Originally Posted by GOLFFRR

who knows why they do it but at the end of the day different strokes for different folks right lol. I also think that since the demo on the forums are super knowledgeable about cars and car info etc.. that we are more fixated on these sort of thing and see them for what they are. The sad truth is most of the population doesn't know and prob assumes it's legit or doesn't care/notice.

Know or understand rally I'd say. Marketing and perception is a powerful thing, after buying a 57 Bentley I can tell you little of the engineering is "best in the world", cutting edge, market leading, or even original. Really opened my eyes to a car is no more than a product for a company to make money. The purpose of a company is no more than to make money. The marketing and perception is no more than to persuade people to a line of thinking for a company to sell product to make profits, regardless of reality. Then humans latch onto that for their own piece of profit or notoriety.