Why Debadge A Pre Facelift 320CDI CLS?

[developer]

I followed one tonight (lovely) but with no badges.

It can't be anything else to anyone who knows enough to care .

Clean lines are all I can think of.

 

[Simon_M]

That's why I debadged mine. Anyone with a brain cell can hear it is a diesel. I just felt there was too much going on around the chrome strip and it ruined the curves of the boot.

Especially in black I just like the symmetrical lines with the central star.

I did however see one that was rebadged CLS 32AMG with no other external changes, not good.

S

 

[clk208]

I quite like the CLS350 CGI on the back of mine. I guess most people wouldn't know what CGI means, or would assume it is a diesel but I don't mind.

I'm not ashamaed to have the smallest CLS petrol engine of the era, in fact it is a hoot at a shade under 300bhp, albeit more revs needed than my old M112 3.2.

I think it would look a little empty without the badging on the back, but each to their own!

 

[redbaron]

I always debadge my cars... prefer it that way.

 

[developer]

I always debadge my cars... prefer it that way.

Sure, I can see why some people do, particularly when there's a number of possibilities of what the car could be, but with it's sooty tailpipes it can only have been a 320CDI, not a CLS500 aspiration (for example) .

I can see the clean line logic though.

 

[redbaron]

Sure, I can see why some people do, particularly when there's a number of possibilities of what the car could be, but with it's sooty tailpipes it can only have been a 320CDI, not a CLS500 aspiration (for example) .

I can see the clean line logic though.

which reminds me - i havent done the SL yet... need to do it..

it is more fun debugging the larger engined variants of a car as it enable more traffic light surprise.

 

[developer]

it is more fun debugging the larger engined variants of a car as it enable more traffic light surprise.

I enjoy the opposite - I catch Beemers/Audis (in the main) sneaking a peek at my front wing "powered by Brabuus" badges, wondering what that might entail - it's funny to see them "gaze around" as you catch their eye.

The badges do their stuff, whether I give them some dust to eat, or casually cruise away .

 

[Fizzer]

Rear badges werent an option on mine

 

[developer]

Rear badges werent an option on mine

Now that's an interesting development.

That means an unbadged diesel CLS could be the 265bhp Grand Edition - hmmm .

 

[WillDeBeest]

My bog-standard E220 CDI came without badges and looks good that way. I've generally taken the view that it's no-one else's business what's under the bonnet, which is why I specified my Volvo S60 D5 ten years ago with the minimum of badging, but part of me would rather like to see the letter E on the back of my Mercedes. Won't bother changing it, though - clean lines are good lines.

 

[RMS]

it adds class, adds an element of surprise at the lights, to me its like leaving the barcode sticker or price sticker on an item or that little tag on the sleeve of a nice suitive debadged all of ours incl the blueefficiency badges

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Its the smallest engine in the range is it not? thats most likely why its been debadged.

 

[RMS]

maybe, id debadge anyway

 

[sinewave]

I agree!

A lot of the bottom of the range Beemers go with the de-badged look.

To me I've grown up with the likely hood that a de-badged car is a pretender to the decent versions.

Might appeal to some but I would get bored avin to nail it at the lights to prove otherwise!

Might as well leave the badges on if it's worth shouting about!

 

[grumpyoldgit]

Quite a few Demonstrator cars don't have badges on, both MB & BMW of all ilks.

 

[Abdul]

I think badges ruin cars even AMG badges on real AMG's but that just because I like a nice clean look with minimal fuss!

 

[Simon_M]

I think badges ruin cars even AMG badges on real AMG's but that just because I like a nice clean look with minimal fuss!

Couldnt agree more, a few characters can look OK or a single badge, but multiple ones on the rear and even more bling on the front wings is just too much IMHO.

Each to their own though, it's their car, the owner can do as they want.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I always debadge my cars, as soon as I can, it gives a much cleaner look, especially on the back end.

 

[Troon]

Sure, I can see why some people do, particularly when there's a number of possibilities of what the car could be, but with it's sooty tailpipes it can only have been a 320CDI, not a CLS500 aspiration (for example) .

I don't care what people think of the spec of my car, but I removed the badges for simplicity and ease of cleaning — and I would have done the same to a 500 or 63. If anyone pays attention to my car, the most I want them to think is "ooh, that's well looked after".

My car, despite being the bottom of the (UK diesel) bunch will run to 60 in a touch over 9 seconds and reach very illegal speeds in short order: "adequate" as Rolls-Royce used to claim for their power outputs. Most other non-ancient cars on the road will do exactly the same, plus or minus a few seconds.

I don't understand the need for status. I appreciate nice cars, but if you're buying them to influence others' opinions of yourself, I'd respectfully suggest there's some insecurity there. Unless you're building your own car — or heavily modifying it — the most your choice of car can say about you is your ability to come up with a certain amount of capital (whether your own or someone else's), and the choices you make in spending that capital.

 

[developer]

I'd respectfully suggest there's some insecurity there.

Damn, you got me .