[Joe-BMW33]

Took delivery last week and prior owner ordered it with a badge delete. I had the dealer put them back on. However I have noticed that maybe 25% of the US spec M550's I see online have M badges on the front fenders. At first I thought this was only a Euro thing, but am curious why some have it and some don't within the same MY.

Anyone know?

[AP]

Don't think any reason other than personal preference. If these are dealer cars then presumably just down to the preference of the guy ordering it, probably no different to crossing a colour no right answer

Ordered my 5 without them as I felt there was enough "m" on the car as it was and Felt it looked "better" without them

Individuals choice

From what I've. Priced here in the U.K. dealer ordered cars all appear to have the m left there.

[crypto]

I don't think any US ordered cars have side badges. It's a European and Canadian thing I believe. Maybe other markets too but not the US AFAIK.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by crypto

I don't think any US ordered cars have side badges. It's a European and Canadian thing I believe. Maybe other markets too but not the US AFAIK.

This is exactly what I thought until I perused CarGuru and local dealer inventory and see them with and without. I mean could it be that 25% of the 2018 US M550's out there had the prior owner add them?

I am just curious, I don't plan to add them. Here is a car at my dealer that I considered when looking at mine. Notice the m side badge.

https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/invent...ting=285390878

[crypto]

Not sure. Maybe was originally bought in Canada and brought to US?

[goat milk]

A lot of people just add them afterwards. This is the only time you can add an aftermarket M badge and get away with it. The car comes with them in every country except the US for some reason. Nothing wrong with adding them back on.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by goat milk

A lot of people just add them afterwards. This is the only time you can add an aftermarket M badge and get away with it. The car comes with them in every country except the US for some reason. Nothing wrong with adding them back on.

You know, after a day of researching, reading old threads, looking at pictures, etc. and getting comfortable I am not pseudo posing in any way, I ordered a set. They look pretty good and I will enjoy seeing them as I get in the car.

Now to find a template or a car with them or someone to take a few measurements for me! OCD.

But why does BMW exclude the US market only for this sublte little badge? It must have something to do with trying to distinguish the M5? I am pretty sure the US market is where the majority of M cars are sold?

[beerman80]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

You know, after a day of researching, reading old threads, looking at pictures, etc. and getting comfortable I am not pseudo posing in any way, I ordered a set. They look pretty good and I will enjoy seeing them as I get in the car.

Now to find a template or a car with them or someone to take a few measurements for me! OCD.

But why does BMW exclude the US market only for this sublte little badge? It must have something to do with trying to distinguish the M5? I am pretty sure the US market is where the majority of M cars are sold?

I agree, I think they look good as well. I thought about adding them to my m550, but I am not very confident I would get them placed perfectly and then it would bug me. Let me know how your install goes once you get them.

[ksoze]

They look good, are not poser badges and you spent close to $100K for a car which you can do what you want with. I think they add to the side look and fit the car well.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by beerman80

I agree, I think they look good as well. I thought about adding them to my m550, but I am not very confident I would get them placed perfectly and then it would bug me. Let me know how your install goes once you get them.

Ha! I know what you mean about it bugging you if you don't get it perfect! I have a plan that will involve painters tape and really light double sided tape. I will use the double sided tape before I peel the 3M on the badges to put in place and then the painters tape to mark the placement. Of course I will probably spend an hour or two studying the temporary placement for flaws!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by ksoze

They look good, are not poser badges and you spent close to $100K for a car which you can do what you want with. I think they add to the side look and fit the car well.

[IMG]

View post on imgur.com

[/IMG]

Looks good. Are these dealer installed or factory installed? If so, care to measure from the top corner of the vent closest to your drivers door to the bottom of the badge? Should be a straight vertical. Then a horizontal from the fender edge of the door seal to the closest right edge of the badge?

[thecooltype]

I hate to hijack the post but I have a similar question to the OP sort of. My 2017 540 with the M sport package doesn't have the M in the rims but I see other cars with the same exact rims and they have the M. How, why and where ***[IMG]undefined[/IMG]

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by thecooltype

I hate to hijack the post but I have a similar question to the OP sort of. My 2017 540 with the M sport package doesn't have the M in the rims but I see other cars with the same exact rims and they have the M. How, why and where ***[IMG]undefined[/IMG]

I can't help you here, but no problem jacking the thread! I've been known to do that. It's all relevant to my question, so all good. Hope someone knows the wheel answer.

[Scotty B]

Originally Posted by thecooltype

I hate to hijack the post but I have a similar question to the OP sort of. My 2017 540 with the M sport package doesn't have the M in the rims but I see other cars with the same exact rims and they have the M. How, why and where ***[IMG]undefined[/IMG]

Those are individual wheels, not M. Should say individual in gray text somewhere on wheel. Wheel code will have an i vs m at the end. 668m vs 759i.

[igelkotten82]

When ordering my European M550i i wanted it totally debaged with no badges on the rear and no M badges on the front fenders. And it is two different options.
320 Model designation, deletion (deletion on the trunk)
3DZ Line designation deletion (deletion on the front fenders)

If Bmw has decided to add the 3DZ option as a no choice for all US models and the reason behind it I don't know. If you look at the options of your car with a vindecoder I guess you can see the full option list including the Line designation deletion.

[beerman80]

Originally Posted by thecooltype

I hate to hijack the post but I have a similar question to the OP sort of. My 2017 540 with the M sport package doesn't have the M in the rims but I see other cars with the same exact rims and they have the M. How, why and where ***[IMG]undefined[/IMG]

Just to add to this.....the rims I think you are referring to are 664m, which are not identical to 759i. I personally prefer the 759i to the 664m, I think they look more refined.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by igelkotten82

When ordering my European M550i i wanted it totally debaged with no badges on the rear and no M badges on the front fenders. And it is two different options.
320 Model designation, deletion (deletion on the trunk)
3DZ Line designation deletion (deletion on the front fenders)

If Bmw has decided to add the 3DZ option as a no choice for all US models and the reason behind it I don't know. If you look at the options of your car with a vindecoder I guess you can see the full option list including the Line designation deletion.

Yes, I did a VIN Decode as part of my due diligence before buying. The prior owner ordered my car with a badge delete or the dealer removed them. I had the dealer put them back on as part of the deal. It's a matter of taste, some cars look OK with a badge delete, others look too vanilla. I thought the trunk fascia looked strange debadged.

This is the only reference to badges, which are the side fenders as you noted:

S3DZ
Omission Of Additional Lettering, Outer

[e92hunter]

The small M badge looks weird on the side, especially on such a big body car like the G30. USDM M550i does not get the M badging stock either, obviously to create a bigger gap between M-performance and real M cars.

[SteveinArizona]

I have an MSport 530e. The only place on the exterior of my car that shows an "M" is the tiny MSport logos on the wheels.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by e92hunter

The small M badge looks weird on the side, especially on such a big body car like the G30. USDM M550i does not get the M badging stock either, obviously to create a bigger gap between M-performance and real M cars.

That's what I said. I do like the side badge and it seems like everyone in the world ex. US doesn't have an issue with it. It should get lost and be subtle. Not looking for a Billboard..

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I have an MSport 530e. The only place on the exterior of my car that shows an "M" is the tiny MSport logos on the wheels.

Yeah, we are talking M550's here.

[B530e]

Originally Posted by crypto

I don't think any US ordered cars have side badges. It's a European and Canadian thing I believe. Maybe other markets too but not the US AFAIK.

I have a 2020 530e M Sport and my Mother has a 650i Gran Coupe M Sport and both cars came with M badges on the fender from the dealer. I thought it was odd. I also had a Modern Line Active Hybrid 5 at one point and it didn't have the "Model Line Designation Delete" which added the "Modern" badge on the fender. I guess it's just up to the dealer. I get my cars from the same place so it's probably their thing