BMW
X1 / X2
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Today's Posts
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums General Automotive (non-BMW) Talk + Photos/Videos Superfluous cosmetic mods

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      07-06-2022, 03:35 PM   #1
tranquility
sportscars only
tranquility's Avatar
Canada
3236
Rep
3,194
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Montréal

iTrader: (0)

Superfluous cosmetic mods

Anyone not a fan? I just laugh and smh whenever I read ppl having FITS cuz their OEM lights, blinkers, etc are too bright and they *must* have them darkened. Also, debadging haha…what's up w that? Those are the 2 major ones but I'm definitely forgetting many more.

OK, as an olive branch, I'm guilty of this too as I got a shortened antenna, but in my defence, my car's OEM is HIDEOUS.
__________________
The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
Appreciate 0
      07-06-2022, 03:44 PM   #2
10"
Colonel
10"'s Avatar
No_Country
4968
Rep
2,268
Posts

Drives: orange BMW 1M.
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: world

iTrader: (0)

when I was younger I did these weird little light cosmetic "mods" but now I find them all a bit absurd—-but if people have fun doing them, particularly younger peeps, it's all good!
__________________
don't read this. too late...
Appreciate 5
Cos270608.50
XMetal1128.00
chenry2355.50
      07-06-2022, 05:36 PM   #3
OkieSnuffBox
Major
1803
Rep
1,011
Posts

Drives: '13 135i
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: OKC, OK

iTrader: (0)

I don't mind debadging. It makes the car look cleaner. I'll probably remove the Subaru and BRZ from the trunk when my '23 gets here.

It's better than flat bill, vapers putting M badges on cars that aren't Ms.

Tinting the lights is dumb.
Appreciate 4
sspade2464.50
M3 boi3211.00
jacbo78.50
      07-06-2022, 05:48 PM   #4
tranquility
sportscars only
tranquility's Avatar
Canada
3236
Rep
3,194
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Montréal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox View Post
I don't mind debadging. It makes the car look cleaner. I'll probably remove the Subaru and BRZ from the trunk when my '23 gets here.

It's better than flat bill, vapers putting M badges on cars that aren't Ms.

Tinting the lights is dumb.
For sure looks cleaner, just not for me. I guess I like things OEM.

Yup, pretenders are the worst haha.

Tinted lights make them incrementally less effective, whether tangible, who knows, but I dunno why ppl bother. Still, I don't say anything to them, they can do whatever
__________________
The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
Appreciate 2
M3 boi3211.00
      07-06-2022, 06:57 PM   #5
eleven11
Major
eleven11's Avatar
United_States
372
Rep
1,425
Posts

Drives: -F85 X5M-
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Derby City

iTrader: (0)

As mentioned with debadging - it looks much better/cleaner. What's the point of a model badge? 328, 330, 340, etc? xDrive? I know what I'm driving. 99.5% of people around you have no idea the difference in those names or numbers. Same thing with other manufacturers (e.g. Accord, Camry, etc.). They're rarely elements of the vehicle's styling, but just text. It's the standard, so no one cares, but looks tacky, imo. They serve as subtle form of advertising ("hey, check out that car. What is that? Oh, it's a Passat."
__________________
2017 X5M - Current
2017 F31 Wagon - Current
2014 M5 ZCP - Retired
2011 135i Coupe - Retired
2007 335i Sedan - Retired
Appreciate 5
      07-06-2022, 07:03 PM   #6
StradaRedlands
Colonel
StradaRedlands's Avatar
United_States
4920
Rep
2,965
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 BMW 330i  [8.21]
2009 BMW 328i Touri ...  [7.90]
2013 BMW X5 35i  [7.63]
2011 BMW 528i  [8.75]
2006 Mazda3  [5.50]
Heh, that's funny... badges come off within 24 hours of a vehicle being in my driveway. Only exception is my spouse's GL450... she flipped out when I said I was going to take them off.
Appreciate 1
Picanha28.00
      07-06-2022, 07:38 PM   #7
Tambohamilton
Brigadier General
3058
Rep
3,909
Posts

Drives: E91 330d
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Herefordshire

iTrader: (0)

On this side of the pond; window stickers. A car drove past my old workplace on a daily basis which had "antisocial" in huge letters spanning the top of the windscreen. I mean, is that good?

More recently I saw a car that had "check on your mates" across the rear windscreen. I like the sentiment of that a lot more, but can't help feeling it's somewhat redundant or something...just odd.

Don't get me started on ill-fitting body kits, bumpers, huge wings, yellow headlights (this isn't France), fart cans, burbles, driving in sport mode around town (it's a 30 limit; every single car can do 30 without making a load of noise about it!), stretched tyres/the wrong wheels, extreme negative camber, deliberately smokey diesels........ Man I'm getting old (and more grumpy). Maybe I should put a sticker on my car to warn people that I'm antisocial...
Appreciate 4
T0RM3NT3604.50
sspade2464.50
540iSUP703.00
      07-06-2022, 09:16 PM   #8
StradaRedlands
Colonel
StradaRedlands's Avatar
United_States
4920
Rep
2,965
Posts

Drives: 2006 BMW 330i MT
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 BMW 330i  [8.21]
2009 BMW 328i Touri ...  [7.90]
2013 BMW X5 35i  [7.63]
2011 BMW 528i  [8.75]
2006 Mazda3  [5.50]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tambohamilton View Post
On this side of the pond; window stickers. A car drove past my old workplace on a daily basis which had "antisocial" in huge letters spanning the top of the windscreen. I mean, is that good?

More recently I saw a car that had "check on your mates" across the rear windscreen. I like the sentiment of that a lot more, but can't help feeling it's somewhat redundant or something...just odd.

Don't get me started on ill-fitting body kits, bumpers, huge wings, yellow headlights (this isn't France), fart cans, burbles, driving in sport mode around town (it's a 30 limit; every single car can do 30 without making a load of noise about it!), stretched tyres/the wrong wheels, extreme negative camber, deliberately smokey diesels........ Man I'm getting old (and more grumpy). Maybe I should put a sticker on my car to warn people that I'm antisocial...
Welcome to the anti-social social club!
Appreciate 1
540iSUP703.00
      07-07-2022, 07:14 AM   #9
H2O_Doc
First Lieutenant
H2O_Doc's Avatar
United_States
512
Rep
357
Posts

Drives: BMW M2C, GLB-250, C7 Z51
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: VA

iTrader: (0)

I guess that, to significant extent, many cosmetic mods are superfluous. I think it's an interesting question about what emotes the behavior and why do people have positive or negative reactions. And I don't just mean "it looks cool" or "it looks hideous" but what deep in our minds and our evolutionary history makes us think, "hey, this is a good idea:"
Attached Images
 
Appreciate 3
sspade2464.50
forcefed2547.50
      07-07-2022, 07:36 AM   #10
10"
Colonel
10"'s Avatar
No_Country
4968
Rep
2,268
Posts

Drives: orange BMW 1M.
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: world

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by H2O_Doc View Post
I guess that, to significant extent, many cosmetic mods are superfluous. I think it's an interesting question about what emotes the behavior and why do people have positive or negative reactions. And I don't just mean "it looks cool" or "it looks hideous" but what deep in our minds and our evolutionary history makes us think, "hey, this is a good idea:"
I think it's a desire for individuality
but the truth is that individuality is
something that happens inside not
on our material possessions—-

i think people learn this as they get older
or sometimes people do not…
__________________
don't read this. too late...
Appreciate 3
heavyD^23688.50
Cos270608.50
sspade2464.50
      07-07-2022, 08:11 AM   #11
heavyD^2
Colonel
heavyD^2's Avatar
Canada
3689
Rep
2,956
Posts

Drives: X3M Competition
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Too close to Santa

iTrader: (0)

IMO any light mods are dumb. There's too many vehicles out there that look like lit up christmas trees that are a blinding distraction for oncoming vehicles. Tinting is even more dumb as the driver is actively reducing the visibility of their vehicle to other drivers. I have seen many cars with tinted rear tail lights where you can barely see their brake lights in daylight.
Appreciate 2
      07-07-2022, 10:55 AM   #12
Donatello.
How's My Driving?
Donatello.'s Avatar
1077
Rep
983
Posts

Drives: Hellcat & Miata
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: US

iTrader: (0)

Nothing wrong with shaving badges. The cleaner look is nice.
Lights too bright? LOL
Appreciate 0
      07-07-2022, 11:05 AM   #13
Donatello.
How's My Driving?
Donatello.'s Avatar
1077
Rep
983
Posts

Drives: Hellcat & Miata
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: US

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 10" View Post
I think it's a desire for individuality
but the truth is that individuality is
something that happens inside not
on our material possessions—-

i think people learn this as they get older
or sometimes people do not…
As we get older we mod cars less? Not us car people
Appreciate 1
WickedNy225.00
      07-07-2022, 11:15 AM   #14
heavyD^2
Colonel
heavyD^2's Avatar
Canada
3689
Rep
2,956
Posts

Drives: X3M Competition
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Too close to Santa

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donatello. View Post
As we get older we mod cars less? Not us car people
LOL
Appreciate 0
      07-07-2022, 11:37 AM   #15
shawnhayes
Major
1830
Rep
1,315
Posts

Drives: 22M5 CS,23X5E,24M3 CS,24 i4
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donatello. View Post
As we get older we mod cars less? Not us car people
I dunno.

I change less and less about new cars as I get older.

Maybe because the OEM's have learned a lot from the aftermarket and are better and better every year.

Shawn
Appreciate 1
10"4967.50
      07-07-2022, 02:41 PM   #16
Kowalski2011
Private
Kowalski2011's Avatar
United_States
1172
Rep
97
Posts

Drives: 11 135i-11E93-M3-01 Z3-91 M5
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Midwest

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1991 BMW M5  [9.38]
2011 BMW 135i  [7.00]
2001 BMW Z3 3.0i  [8.50]
2011 BMW M3  [0.00]
I've always wondered exactly why some people put the obituary info up on there rear window?

Appreciate 3
sspade2464.50
540iSUP703.00
Cos270608.50
      07-07-2022, 05:22 PM   #17
tranquility
sportscars only
tranquility's Avatar
Canada
3236
Rep
3,194
Posts

Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Montréal

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by H2O_Doc View Post
I guess that, to significant extent, many cosmetic mods are superfluous. I think it's an interesting question about what emotes the behavior and why do people have positive or negative reactions. And I don't just mean "it looks cool" or "it looks hideous" but what deep in our minds and our evolutionary history makes us think, "hey, this is a good idea:"
His first mistake was buying an Aztek to begin w...! LOL.

I know this is very subjective but some mods are just hideous and one can't help but wonder 'what the HECK were they thinking???'.
__________________
The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
Appreciate 0
      07-07-2022, 06:25 PM   #18
G MONEY
Major
1217
Rep
1,435
Posts

Drives: 2017 458/ YAS m4
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: EARTH

iTrader: (0)

Lol. Lots of New Balance sneaker wearing mid life whinny bitches in here. I'm not the biggest fan of a lot of these things but so many have done it in the past. Let the youngsters do stupid shit. They will learn. Soon enough they will be able to afford some BMW and then really be an asshole🤣🤪
Appreciate 1
540iSUP703.00
      07-07-2022, 07:35 PM   #19
________
________
4159
Rep
2,301
Posts

Drives: ________
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: ________

iTrader: (0)

Slow day in the office?
Appreciate 0
      07-07-2022, 07:42 PM   #20
10"
Colonel
10"'s Avatar
No_Country
4968
Rep
2,268
Posts

Drives: orange BMW 1M.
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: world

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Donatello. View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by 10" View Post
I think it's a desire for individuality
but the truth is that individuality is
something that happens inside not
on our material possessions—-

i think people learn this as they get older
or sometimes people do not…
As we get older we mod cars less? Not us car people
for me it was certainly the case
did the modding thing before
not interested anymore
__________________
don't read this. too late...
Appreciate 1
540iSUP703.00
      07-07-2022, 10:02 PM   #21
KevinGS
Colonel
3320
Rep
2,158
Posts

Drives: Past 2015 M4, Current 2013 M3
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Maryland

iTrader: (0)

Until I die, I will always mod my fun cars in some way. I'll always think of something I want to do to make it more visually appealing (lowered a tad, spacers, maybe a slight tint, PPF for sure, maybe debadged, etc.). And sometimes I mod for sound, but not for outright volume, just something more appealing to my ear. I rarely mod for performance, but I typically buy fun cars that are fast enough and handle pretty damn well, so more performance is rarely needed to suit my tastes.

But when I mod for appearance, even when I was younger, it was an OEM+ look. Many people who have seen my "modded" cars think I have some exclusive factory options that no one else got.

I think of cars as rolling art. They're the perfect canvas for self-expression. And just like art, one man's beauty another finds abhorrent.

It's cliché, but forever true: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
Appreciate 0
      07-07-2022, 10:38 PM   #22
540iSUP
Captain
703
Rep
799
Posts

Drives: G30, E36
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: California

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by StradaRedlands View Post
Welcome to the anti-social social club!
That is a brand by the way.
Appreciate 1
Post Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:28 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST