Why Debadge A Pre Facelift 320CDI CLS?

[GreetMe]

I've always debadged my cars (except the M5 which I didn't own for long enough ) and I'm going to do the same to the E55.

I do it for several reasons.

1. I don't want the car to attract unwanted attention from vandals or thieves. I know there are lots of other visual cues like the body kit, exhausts, etc. but I think the badges are the biggest giveaway.

2. You get less grief from boy racers in a debadged car. I've had more people try it on in the M5 and E55 (both badged up) than I ever did in my S4 or RS4 (which were debadged). In the E I've even had people go past, do a double-take at the V8 Kompressor badges on the flanks and then drop back level with me before trying to get me to race.

3. On the performance variants I think the badges are nothing more than a status symbol. I know what car I've got and badges on the outside of the car are only to tell the rest of the world what's under the bonnet.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

In the E I've even had people go past, do a double-take at the V8 Kompressor badges on the flanks and then drop back level with me before trying to get me to race.

I hope you gave them a damn good spanking, old chap.

 

[GreetMe]

As a general rule I've found that allowing others to influence your pace is when you're most likely to come unstuck.

But I'd be lying if I said that I didn't occasionally flex my right ankle to swat away the flies.

 

[RMS]

its about understated class, not proving worth, u can nail em at the lights or cruise

you dont see saville row suits with saville row plastered all over them, why detract from the beauty of lovely cars

 

[RMS]

John, a fellow brummie i see!

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I personally think that debadging on a performance model looks cheap when it has all the standard bodykit. If I see a car that looks like an AMG without badges I think that it is an AMG wannabe (even with the exhaust as they are easily copied) that has stopped short at doing the full badging as they know deep down its wrong and they have something to hide.

I know I am in a minority but then it would mainly be those who care about debadging that would contribute to this post anyway. I just thought I would add a point of view from a non debadging fan.

I like cars to keep their badges as I find it interesting to see what they are.

 

[developer]

John, a fellow brummie i see!

Yup, that's me Doc, south Birmingham - which part are you?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I personally think that debadging on a performance model looks cheap when it has all the standard bodykit.

If there's one thing that Mercedes do well, it's to make a Q-car and debadging goes along with that.

Having the model designation on the boot is quite a British thing, if you got to the continent you'd find that most are debadged.

 

[developer]

I'd rather eat worms that take the badges of an AMG - it's the top of the tree, loud and proud.
Why would I want to change that and make it look like a pretender .

 

[RMS]

id keep amg and not the numbers, i feel that makes it look more like an amg bespoke car

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Whats an AMG bespoke car?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

If anything, just having an AMG badge and no numbers looks less genuine than no badge at all.

 

[nick mercedes]

Having the model designation on the boot is quite a British thing, if you got to the continent you'd find that most are debadged.

Back in the day everyone debadged their 200/200E in the hope that they might be mistaken for 300Es.

These days almost all Mercedes seem to be "AMG" from the factory.

 

[developer]

Many years ago, as an impressionable yoof, my elder brother's friend arrived in his brand new BMW 5 series, with some sort of sports wheels/low profile tyres on.

It was de-badged.

My brother looked at the back and said "it's a 2.0L isn't it"

"Yup" was the reply.

For me, from that day, the die was cast.

 

[C240Sport97]

Back in the day everyone debadged their 200/200E in the hope that they might be mistaken for 300Es.

These days almost all Mercedes seem to be "AMG" from the factory.

from the factory, only real AMGs have AMG badges on the boot

 

[MB-BTurbo]

If anything, just having an AMG badge and no numbers looks less genuine than no badge at all.

This thread just proves how individual people are with their cars and their appearance and how many different opinions and reasons are out there. What one person thinks and thinks that other people think is usually the complete opposite to what they really think, so lets stop waisting time and do what you want and what makes you happy.

Of course there are people such as a guy I work with that has an AMG badge on his used C220 diesel that has no idea what it means or how to remove it - not that he would want to anyway. He couldnt care less, it was just on when he bought it and it will be on when he sells it, which is one example of why I laugh at those that post "I saw the AMG badges and laughed to myself", or in other words "Im so clever you havent fooled me I know what you are trying to do".

 

[juux]

These days almost all Mercedes seem to be "AMG" from the factory.

Yeah, I actually don't like that my lowly Sport has AMG splattered all over the place (mats, wheels), and I think that rebranding the Sport as "AMG Sport/Sport Plus" in the MY2013 cars further dilutes the brand. Especially the AMG Sport trim as this is effectively a replacement for an Avantgarde-type trim as far as I can see.

I get the feeling that M-B have been watching BMW and especially Audi with their proliferation of fast selling M & S trim lines/option packs with envious eyes and thought to themselves "We'll have a bit of that!".

Shame really as AMG used to mean one thing and one thing only: Fast.

Now some of that cachet is meant to rub off on to any humdrum diesel like mine just 'cos of a bit of badging? Naaahhh!

On the main topic, I'm not really fussed on the whole thing but I probably would debadge a car to keep it clean-looking, and for that matter easier to clean.

 

[Fizzer]

As posted previously my CLS didnt come with option of rear badges. Dont know why, cant say that I ever considered it before I saw this post. Dont think badges would have made me want it more or less, the car is what it is. I find it ridiculous that modern cars (or their owners) need to shout their identity to the world.
How many true sports car manufacturers proclaim their alternative tuning houses and/or cubic capacities to the world?
If your car suits you so what?

 

[Simon_M]

It is all about marketing, weren't the C180 and 200 using the same engines at some point?

And the old 280 and 350 lumps? Both 3 litre petrols?

And the new 5.5 AMG lump labelled as 6.3? Or for that matter the 6.2 AMG lump branded as a 6.3.

Then there is the 3 litre 320 diesel.

Mercedes seem to be scared the UK market will not tolerate a smaller engine replacing a larger one.

But maybe the ML 250 will start a change.

But either way, whether badged or debadged the cara look good, it is when people start sticking any old bobbins on their car that it starts to go downhill.

S

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Yeah, I actually don't like that my lowly Sport has AMG splattered all over the place (mats, wheels), and I think that rebranding the Sport as "AMG Sport/Sport Plus" in the MY2013 cars further dilutes the brand. Especially the AMG Sport trim as this is effectively a replacement for an Avantgarde-type trim as far as I can see.

I get the feeling that M-B have been watching BMW and especially Audi with their proliferation of fast selling M & S trim lines/option packs with envious eyes and thought to themselves "We'll have a bit of that!".

Shame really as AMG used to mean one thing and one thing only: Fast.

Now some of that cachet is meant to rub off on to any humdrum diesel like mine just 'cos of a bit of badging? Naaahhh!

On the main topic, I'm not really fussed on the whole thing but I probably would debadge a car to keep it clean-looking, and for that matter easier to clean.

I think thats quite astute of you and as a marketing ploy will hold them in good stead. If I was to buy a mid range Mercedes having AMG branded things spread around is appealing as the brand stands for something very prestigious. It somehow makes you think you are getting more for your money (which I know you aren't). I can see the main objectors would be the genuine AMG owners but as they are few and far between Mercedes can afford to ruffle their feathers.