Playing the Rebadging Game: Genuine or Fake?

Rather than fork over big bucks to get high-performance versions of sexy sports cars, some enthusiasts are trying to get the bling without the extra ka-ching. They are going to dealers or online auctioneer eBay to buy emblems in hopes their cars can masquerade as versions that would cost thousands more.

"It happens all the time," says Myles Kovacs, president of Dub magazine, which follows car-customization trends. "People want to live outside their means."

Cruising the streets of Southern California, officials at Kelley Blue Book, an auto-buying service, say they've seen Mercedes eight-cylinder coupes rebadged as 12-cylinder versions, a sedan with emblems that would make it a coupe, and fake high-performance AMG or Brabus models.

Occasionally, cars will change brands altogether. "We saw a Ford badged as an Acura. We were dying," says Kelley Blue Book spokeswoman Robyn Eckard.

Online auction service eBay says it sells about 15,000 items a month in the automotive emblem category.

Automakers acknowledge the practice — and don't seem to mind.



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02WRX - 11/14/2006 5:22:21 PM

+3 Boost

A bit sad that people care so much about how other perceive their cars. I've always been of the opinion that it's really cool to remove M/S/AMG badges in order to make it less obvious that you're packing heat. Sounds like I'm in the minority, though...

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/14/2006 5:50:48 PM

+2 Boost

I also Debadge my vehicles if they are Top End. It is usually better to be Low Key until you decide to Unleash The Dragon ;-)

I am one of a few who are Not Fooled by Badge & Exhaust Upgrades, there are Subtle things that people always overlook when they do these modifications
Wing vents/Wheelarch Flares/Original Exhaust Systems/Brakes/...........

Cannot Fool Me.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/14/2006 5:53:50 PM

+2 Boost

My cousin actually put a 350 Badge on his CLK 55 so people will think it is a CLK 350 Sport.

Then when some Sorry Sod in a 330ci tries to race him. RRRRRRRROOOOOOAAA!!

Agent63 - 11/14/2006 6:09:56 PM

0 Boost

I don't know about this rebadging thing. Sometimes if it's obvious that it's not a V8 but in fact a V6. Styling cues could give it away. However to the average driver who knows nothing about cars won't be able to tell the difference. However IMO i think it's lame and a waste of time. For me I may as well debadge than slap on something the car is not.

fuzion - 11/15/2006 12:45:00 AM

+2 Boost

except the fact that most of these dorks cant put things on straight, so what might normally say AMG actually says

a m

g

Rupert - 11/14/2006 6:21:43 PM

+1 Boost

i saw a cls "v12" today.
how i laughed.
i knew it would be a 320cdi underneath.
but debadging is fine.

Agent63 - 11/14/2006 6:57:10 PM

+1 Boost

LOL! that is hilarious. Did it also have badges saying compressor, amg, brabus, lorinsor, which adds 500 horses to the engine? I swear each badge/sticker adds more driving dynamics which makes the car have crazy hp & handling.

supermoto - 11/14/2006 7:34:10 PM

+2 Boost

Best one I saw was a beat-up Jetta with a 325i badge on the back!

Second best was a Beemer 3-series with a Porsche 'Turbo' badge.

But the most common one I see is the ubiquitous fake 'M' badge on every series of BMW. Cracks me up because anyone who doesn't know cars is unimpressed by the 'M' badge, and anyone who does know cars, knows the car is fake!

BimmerFan - 11/14/2006 9:11:49 PM

0 Boost

I get a kick out of seeing "Type R" on 4 door civics... LOL

kart1 - 11/14/2006 9:30:40 PM

+1 Boost

Actually I believe that the civics are the ones with the most of them (rebadging), you know like type R or SiR.

cynic - 11/14/2006 9:40:55 PM

+1 Boost

Kind of like stuffing a bra or your underwear. How sad.

lexusis350 - 11/14/2006 9:50:50 PM

+1 Boost

Around here, you see the stupid Honda rice rockets with BMW logos on them. The "gangstas" think its so cool but people with any sense what so ever find them annoying.

EL34 - 11/14/2006 10:58:14 PM

0 Boost

I know this Mexican guy that did that to his Civic and I said that is not a BMW and he said yes it is, it's my "Big Mexican Weenie", it's my BMW and I said sure it is, whatever you say!

lexusis350 - 11/15/2006 6:00:34 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, like a Mexican could have a Big Mexican Weenie.

lexusis350 - 11/15/2006 6:01:17 PM

+1 Boost

Oh and by the way, the civic with the BMW logo I saw was owned by a Mexican. They think it's cool when the rest of us laugh at them.

chewy - 11/14/2006 9:59:36 PM

0 Boost

Any one that knows anything about cars knows that a simple badge addition adds 50 hp to any car. So if you combine 3 badges MB E350 to E 63 AMG, you will end up with more power than the E63 AMG. The best part is that you get the performance increase virually free.

kart1 - 11/14/2006 11:07:26 PM

+2 Boost

My favorite ones are the Hyundai's rebadged as Honda's.

Sedulous - 11/14/2006 11:50:42 PM

+1 Boost

My favorite one was a Hyundai (the one with 4 headlamps, forget the badging) rebadged as a Jag S-type

fuzion - 11/15/2006 12:43:32 AM

+1 Boost

I'm going to put a sticker on my car that says
"THIS STICKER ADDS 75 HP"

Removing badges.. looks sexy on some cars.. adding.. not so great.. adding stupid ones that repeat the cars name.. you look like a complete idiot

I think the worst was an accord that said Accord on the trunk, then above it was a crappy looking cheap "Accord TYPE R" badge

So it's a Honda Accord Accord Type R

so many people need to be smacked for the things they do.

neutral - 11/15/2006 12:49:23 AM

+1 Boost

Adding badges is ridiculous. If you add aftermarket equipment, you've added aftermarket equipment, you've not bought an AMG, and RS or an M-series. However, I would never de-badge a car, especially if its and AMG, etc. If I pay that kind of money for a car like those, I am going to make sure it is known. (I know, I'm gaudy, but for THAT much money....)

Mark - 11/15/2006 6:52:36 AM

+1 Boost

And neutral you should show it off. For the rest of us that can't afford your AMG or RS, we'll just give you a simple nod of acknowledgment and watch you speed off. :)

lewissalem - 11/15/2006 1:29:39 PM

+1 Boost

Nothing wrong with that. That's why I like German cars, the premium models are more understated.

Bill - 11/15/2006 5:42:08 AM

+2 Boost

I was in Japan a few years ago and saw a Lexus RX with a Toyota badge. Why would anyone do that?

BMW530i - 11/15/2006 6:06:27 AM

+1 Boost

Toyota Harrier = Lexus RX, Bill. Same thing. ;)

fuzion - 11/15/2006 1:39:15 PM

+1 Boost

Lexus did not exist in Japan until somewhat recently.. Either the new GS or LS is the first Lex. to be there.. I think..! (they were all badged as Toyotas)...

Rupert - 11/15/2006 12:12:45 PM

+2 Boost

i see so many 3er saloons badged as m3s, which is odd, as it doesn't exist.
whats wores is when the old 1990-1999 3er saloon with the new chromey 18 inchers off the 3er convertible. looks terrible.
i know someone who had some old car (i think a ford capri) took out the 2.0, put in a v8, kept the badges. he had lots of fun.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/15/2006 5:56:12 PM

+2 Boost

Actually Rupert

The 1990-1999 3-Series had 4 Door M3s in its lineup

Rupert - 11/15/2006 6:13:18 PM

+1 Boost

i knew someone would bring that up.
but very few were made, right?
and they most definitely didn't have an auto and cloth seats.
or an m3 badge on the bonnet.

Mountaineer - 11/15/2006 10:28:16 AM

+1 Boost

Ha. My friends dad accually down-badged his 328i to a 316i.

skoobasam - 11/15/2006 11:59:11 AM

0 Boost

Sometimes, rebadging looks better. In case of G35, I've seen people rebadge it to SKYLINE, as well as RSX to Integras. IS to Altezza and so on. It's when people rebadge it to make their car "seem" like something else that rebadging goes wrong.

Rupert - 11/15/2006 12:13:43 PM

+2 Boost

i often see "clk 320 amg".
or even "A 180 amg" which is hilarious.

rconn14 - 11/25/2006 1:42:39 PM

+1 Boost

there was this dbag at my school with a 1993 C280 hunk of trash, and he put an AMG badge on the trunk (crooked none the less), and V12 badges on each C-pillar. We ripped them off one day.

I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 11/15/2006 6:02:18 PM

+1 Boost

Previously Over Here, MB Sold Vehicles slightly Modified from factory with AMG Trinkets and then Put the AMG badge on the Trunk

Example
CLK 320 Amg is CLK 320 with AMG Wheels,BodyKit & (Maybe Suspension)

Now MB do the same thng under the SPORT Guise
Much Better Package Too.
For £2500 you get
AMG Wheels/Suspension/Bodykit/Brakes/Exhaust/Interior

Rupert - 11/15/2006 6:14:53 PM

+1 Boost

i knew about the amg packages, but they never stuck the badge on the boot did they?
thats practically sacrilegious.