Debadging - why?

dazzerb

Why do people debadge cars?

Is it to disguise that they have a cheaply specified car or is it because they have a fast expensive model that they do not want stolen?

....or is it something to do with modesty, aesthetics, embarrassment, .....?

Seems like an odd thing to do!

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Some people don't want it to be clear that their car is a high spec expensive car.

Others do it simply because it makes the car look better

Saab Ed

Embarrassingly big or embarrassingly small , thats why. You dont see many folk de-badging a mondeo

Anan1

I've always debadged, I just don't see the need to advertise what's under the bonnet. Used to have a Mk2 Golf 16v GTI with 'Golf CL' on the back, it made driving much more hassle-free.

Topper Harley

I've read on here before about people even rebadging cars such as M5 as a 520d to avoid unwanted attention from thieves but anyone who knows anything about cars can usually tell anyways.

Flesh Gorden

Uncle did it with his RS2000 (not cossie)

1 - to prevent theft
2 - stop people acting like idiots when they see what it is


I'll probably do it myself in a few years when I get an Alpina Coupe



At least debadging is better then sticking "Type R" everywhere on a 1.4




.

Berty

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.

I did not put another badge on. Limerick Man can confirm he saw no badge on my car.

Maybe I will put a 2.7 TDi badge on it for the LOL's of it. :rolleyes:

Sean Quagmire

Flesh Gorden wrote: »

At least debadging is better then sticking "Type R" everywhere on a 1.4

I dunno, i seen a 1.4 astra and it was a 'GTI - Type R - turbo' and it only looked the biz :pac:

I did actualy see this...and it has two back spoilers. must have been very quick.

Wishbone Ash

The engine size is on the tax disc anyway - surely every would-be thief knows that!

L-M

Berty wrote: »

I did not put another badge on. Limerick Man can confirm he saw no badge on my car.

Confirmed.:D

I debadged mine, but I didn't remove an engine size to make it look like it was a bigger engine, I just removed the "Golf". Why? Because it was a quick and easy mod and I think it looks well.

I know of a few people with the likes Anan1 and his previous GTI. Taking off the "GTI" badge for a hassle-"wanna race me?"-free life.

R.O.R

Berty wrote: »

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.

I did not put another badge on. Limerick Man can confirm he saw no badge on my car.

Maybe I will put a 2.7 TDi badge on it for the LOL's of it. :rolleyes:

I'm afraid re-mapping a 1.9Tdi doesn't mean it's no longer a 1.9Tdi, just means it's a re-mapped 1.9Tdi.

We have a few people request it, mainly on lower spec cars so the neighbours can't tell. But a couple of years ago I did get a 535d debadged.

I occasionaly see a de-badged 318 around, but since the reg is 03LH318 I think most people will know what it is

Dave147

Berty wrote: »

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.

I did not put another badge on. Limerick Man can confirm he saw no badge on my car.

Maybe I will put a 2.7 TDi badge on it for the LOL's of it. :rolleyes:

Why does remapping the car change the fact that it's 1.9TDi? Mine is debadged A4 TDi remapped to 170bhp but I'm not too pushed whether it's badged or not.

Dartz

Debaging...

How many BMW 520's and 116's have had it done. That said, if I ever bought that 135i I've been wanting, I'd replace the 135 with a 116... just because because.... (I'm a fan of sleepers, and a smallish family car with rear-drive and 300bhp is one hell of a sleeper)

It's not illegal if it's still registered/taxed as a 3-litre

Saab Ed

Berty wrote: »

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.

:rolleyes:

What is it then?

mle1324

thats why i would never want an oldish Merc,especially after seening the Ms Doubtfire film:pac:

Owen

I know a family who had a 520d with a 54o badge even though you could still see the dull oval single tailpipe, and a Cooper, with a Cooper S badge, despite the fact that the S had a bonnet scoop and twin exhausts.

Personally, I think debadging is a great thing. Those who know don't need to show I think the saying goes, and it's all over Germany, you see serious machines with no badging at all.

milltown

R.O.R wrote: »

I occasionaly see a de-badged 318 around, but since the reg is 03LH318 I think most people will know what it is

I can beat that with this beauty I spotted in Liffey Valley:



Hard to see from the camera phone picture but it's a badged,kitted and exhausted RS4 TDi with...

....A4 TDi printed on the border of the reg plate.

L-M

I win.

This is the best one I've ever seen.

Makes baby Jesus cry, so it does.



Registration 08C115
Make BMW
Model 520
Description D M SPORT Z5SO 04DR Z5S0
Fuel Type DIESEL

mle1324

Its also the same with the skanners putting the Type R on there 1.4 Civics

Gary ITR

Saab Ed wrote: »

What is it then?

Clearly it's now a 4.2 V8. How could you not know that?

milltown

Limerick man wrote: »

I win.

This is the best one I've ever seen.

Makes baby Jesus cry, so it does.

Registration 08C115
Make BMW
Model 520
Description D M SPORT Z5SO 04DR Z5S0
Fuel Type DIESEL

Holy moley!
Doubleplus dickhead points for going to the bother of the 115 reg :eek:
I couldn't resist checking to see if 08C116 was a very angry M5 owner
No such reg issued sadly.

CharlieCroker

Limerick man wrote: »

IRegistration 08C115
Make BMW
Model 520
Description D M SPORT Z5SO 04DR Z5S0
Fuel Type DIESEL

Saw this car yesterday (again). 1st time seeing it since I found out its only a 2.0. I started laughing and the driver saw me. Didn't seem too impressed to see me laughing at his car. I think the fact that he paid for the personalised number plates makes it one of the saddest things i've ever seen!!!!

Guy:Incognito

Berty wrote: »

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.
:

Unless the remap changed the displacement or the fuel it uses then it very much is still a 1.9TDI.

Eoin

Dartz wrote: »

Debaging...

How many BMW 520's and 116's have had it done.

Well, I have a 525 which I suppose is only one engine model up from the base one, but I'm going to debadge just because it looks cleaner, and it shouldn't make an iota of difference to anyone else what size engine is in my car.

ji

Berty wrote: »

I debadged mine because it was a 1.9 TDi badge but the car was remapped so it was not a 1.9TDi.

I did not put another badge on. Limerick Man can confirm he saw no badge on my car.

Maybe I will put a 2.7 TDi badge on it for the LOL's of it. :rolleyes:

Its still a 1.9 no??

.Longshanks.

This is mine. I debadged the rear simply because i thought it looked better. Later added the small sticker to the rear side window cos again thought i looked good.

ji

milltown wrote: »

I can beat that with this beauty I spotted in Liffey Valley:



Hard to see from the camera phone picture but it's a badged,kitted and exhausted RS4 TDi with...

....A4 TDi printed on the border of the reg plate.

Sad sad sad and there a fair few "rs4's" around with the tractor engine under the bonnet...:pac:

Bluefoam

Debadging is for people who bought a poverty spec 3 series instead of mondeo - they couldn't afford the extras that would make it a worthwhile car but wanted people to think they drove a prestige motor - so they removed the badges - thinking no one would notice the ****ty plastic bumpers and side skirts...

Low spec BMWs piss me off more than Ladas

Bluefoam

Longshanks100 wrote: »

I debadged the rear simply because i thought it looked better.

But its still a Corsa!

Panda Moanium

I once saw what was clearly a base spec LX Mondeo (black door handles, no front fogs, steel wheels) proudly wearing a Zetec badge on the back,

I suppose we can all dream....:D

Anan1

Bluefoam wrote: »

Debadging is for people who bought a poverty spec 3 series instead of mondeo - they couldn't afford the extras that would make it a worthwhile car but wanted people to think they drove a prestige motor - so they removed the badges - thinking no one would notice the ****ty plastic bumpers and side skirts...

Low spec BMWs piss me off more than Ladas

Why do you care?:)

Berty

Remapping is overwriting original software contained inside a cars ECU (Engine Control Unit) with tuned software. This software is referred to as the engine map because it is this program that controls the engine. Before the advent of serial port remapping the only way to overwrite this software was to replace the chip that contained the software. Now this can all be done by plugging in to the vehicles serial port and overwrite the engine map with the performance version

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

colm_mcm

speaking of optimistically badged Fords.... spotted on Sunday evening:

Berty wrote: »

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

That's waffle, TDI is a type of VW engine, 1.9 is the size.

R.O.R

Berty wrote: »

Remapping is overwriting original software contained inside a cars ECU (Engine Control Unit) with tuned software. This software is referred to as the engine map because it is this program that controls the engine. Before the advent of serial port remapping the only way to overwrite this software was to replace the chip that contained the software. Now this can all be done by plugging in to the vehicles serial port and overwrite the engine map with the performance version

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

But regardless of what software the ECU is running it doesn't change the fact it's a Turbo Diesel Injection with a displacement of 1896cc - 1.9TDi

Anan1

Berty wrote: »

Remapping is overwriting original software contained inside a cars ECU (Engine Control Unit) with tuned software. This software is referred to as the engine map because it is this program that controls the engine. Before the advent of serial port remapping the only way to overwrite this software was to replace the chip that contained the software. Now this can all be done by plugging in to the vehicles serial port and overwrite the engine map with the performance version

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

Changing the mapping does not change the engine. VAG had several maps for that engine, but they still kept calling the engine the 1.9TDI.;)

Gary ITR

Berty wrote: »

Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

But still a 1.9tdi no?

colm_mcm

Anan1 wrote: »

they still kept calling the engine the 1.9TDI.;)

with various combinations of silver and red lettering

CoDy1

Berty wrote: »

Remapping is overwriting original software contained inside a cars ECU (Engine Control Unit) with tuned software. This software is referred to as the engine map because it is this program that controls the engine. Before the advent of serial port remapping the only way to overwrite this software was to replace the chip that contained the software. Now this can all be done by plugging in to the vehicles serial port and overwrite the engine map with the performance version

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

But it is. Your engine displacent has not changed, there for its still a 1.9TDI!

You should have got a sticker for your back window that says REMAPPED.

now thats cool...

Berty

R.O.R wrote: »

But regardless of what software the ECU is running it doesn't change the fact it's a Turbo Diesel Injection with a displacement of 1896cc - 1.9TDi

The compression ratio of the engine is changed by the change through the ECU causing the engine to run differently, i.e not like a 1.9TDi should.

Berty

colm_mcm wrote: »

with various combinations of silver and red lettering

Not on the B7 Audi.

The VW have different colour. Silver - Red I - Red T & I

The Audi 80 had a T with a slanted red I.

Anan1

colm_mcm wrote: »

with various combinations of silver and red lettering

All of which still stood for Turbo Direkt Einspritzer or whatever! Remapping changes the running characteristics of an engine, but it doesn't turn it into a different engine.

irishgrover

Berty wrote: »

The compression ratio of the engine is changed by the change through the ECU causing the engine to run differently, i.e not like a 1.9TDi should.

so if ya filled the engine with petrol would that mean the engine was no longer a 1.9 TDi?

R.O.R

colm_mcm wrote: »

with various combinations of silver and red lettering

Berty wrote: »

Not on the B7 Audi.

That's because, unlike the B5 & B6 A4's there was only 1 HP variant of the 1.TDi - the 115bhp version.

.Longshanks.

Bluefoam wrote: »

But its still a Corsa!

Ahem yeah we can all see that....I never said anything about saying it was anything different.
The OP asked why debadge? - i answered becuase i said IMO it looked better

colm_mcm

What is the Audi called for insurance purposes?

B00MSTICK

Its all about cleaner looks/smoother lines for me

Bluefoam

Longshanks100 wrote: »

Ahem yeah we can all see that....I never said anything about saying it was anything different.
The OP asked why debadge? - i answered becuase i said IMO it looked better

Only taking the piss

Robbo

Berty wrote: »

Remapping is overwriting original software contained inside a cars ECU (Engine Control Unit) with tuned software. This software is referred to as the engine map because it is this program that controls the engine. Before the advent of serial port remapping the only way to overwrite this software was to replace the chip that contained the software. Now this can all be done by plugging in to the vehicles serial port and overwrite the engine map with the performance version

Therefore the original engine has been changed meaning it is no longer the same engine. Therefore not a 1.9tdi by factory standards.

I think you forgot to mention the dilithium crystals and what happens when you hit 88.8 mph.

thegen

So funny some of the reaction from some poster's who only yesterday said it was OK to make a car look different with debadging and quad pipes being fitted:rolleyes:

Thread. I am not what I appear to be

Fizman

Question to those who have debadged!!!

Did you debadge them yourself (i.e by just clipping it off etc) or did you get someone to do it for you?

colm_mcm

do tell more! My car has quads and has no badges, but I don't go on about it!