I don't mean to poke fun at/criticize another Mercedes (or any vehicle's) owner/driver; however...

Today, on the freeway (in bumper-to-bumper, rush-hour traffic), three lanes over, I spied the left rear section of
a trunk: "500E" was clearly visible.

"YES!" I thought. I weaved in and out, in an effort to get over and check out said vehicle, more closely. I wondered if I might know the driver. Perhaps it might be one of my mercedesshop.com pen-pals, I ventured. After 5 to 10 minutes, I had suceeded in positioning myself in the lane adjacent to the vehicle in question. I looked more and more closely at it, as I approached it. Huh? I didn't see the signature front fender-flare (of which I am obsessively fond). OK. Perhaps I was mistaken, I thought. I checked the trunk script, once more: it definitely said "500E." I pulled up, even with the driver, to scrutinize more closely.
"500E"? Really? I made eye contact with the driver; instantly, his gaze darted left, right, up and down, as he surveyed my vehicle. I held up three fingers, followed by two thumb-to-fingers (zeroes) and made an inquisitive face.

Within seconds, he put on his signal and began to exit the freeway at the next off-ramp! Coincidence?

Perhaps we shall never know; if ever again I see the aforesaid driver of the black (1989-1990) 300E, again, I will roll down my window to pose the question:

"WHY?"

That's a great idea, and gives me a great idea, too!
For 10 cents worth of glue and about 10 minutes of work, my little C240 can become a firebreathing C420!
I've seen that same thing before, there is a BMW 318i (you can easily tell by the single exhaust pipe) driven by a kid in my area that I often see, with a "325i" badge on the back.
I just can't even imagine how someone can't be totally embarrased by that. I mean, they have to take their car to the shop, how could you not feel like a total idiot? Also, I don't get the point. People that don't know anything about cars won't even know what an E500 is, so they will not be impressed. People who do know about cars will immediately know its a fake and think the owner is an idiot. So, I don't get it. I think it really says A LOT about the owner, and what it says is pretty damn horrible.

Yeah, that's a cheesy thing to do. In my opinion, rather than 'up'-badge the car, just debadge it! Keep people guessing, as opposed to misrepresenting what you have.

I knew a guy some time ago that replaced the '380' on his SL trunk to '560'. Definitely pathetic.

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

I think that posing is a great thing for the narcissists of the world... so they can simply achieve the self esteem that they need.

I know people who dump other engines in their cars and change the symbols to reflect it. Personally, I can't understand why a person wouldn't simply just dump the insignia altogether... but that's just my own issue.

The oddest thing that I've ever seen was a person who took a mid-80's honda accord, modified the headlights and taillights to look like a late 80's BMW 325i, changed the insignias, and drove around under the 325 auspices.... ohhhhhhhhhhh the 80's was a terrible age.

[Edited by porsche on 03-24-2001 at 01:13 AM]

A shop I worked at had a customer buy a "560" SL from a private seller. He brought in for some work where he was informed that he had in fact purchased a 380 SL. He wasn't too happy.

This one is funny. Customer's W140 S-class had this on the trunk "S600SEL TURBO DIESEL" I almost died laughing!!

__________________
Scott Diener
89 300E
93 300E
92 Volvo 740 Wagon aka "Mutt mover"

INCREDIBLE!

The extent to which people will go to "fake it" is nothing short of ludicrous! I almost DIED laughing when I read these posts! Thank you (all) for sharing. I especially liked the story about the "gentleman" who bought the not-so-560 SL: unbelieveable! Porsche - I, too, have seen "Nissan BMWs" and even a "Honda Lexus"!!! Noooooo!!!

By no means do I espouse a "holier than thou" attitude; however, I can pretend neither to comprehend nor respect those who try so hard to achieve that which is, quite intuitively obvious (even to the the most casual of observers), impossible!

My hat is off to anyone and everyone who has a passion for driving and cares about/for his or her own vehicle: assuredly, that is globally comprehensible; it is the Ripley's-Believe-It-Or-Not-mobiles that leave me laughing so hard it hurts (to tears).

Ah, the fragile human equation: don't even try to solve it!

"Why ask why?" indeed...

[Edited by run.exe on 03-23-2001 at 11:34 PM]

A number of years ago there used to be a white Triumph roadster parked in the faculty parking lot at CSUF. The monstrosity had an SEC type star grill, an MB medalion on the hood, an MB star in the center of the rear deck, and "380SL" on the right side of the rear deck. There were even MB star center caps on the wheels and Mercedes Benz license plate frames!

I also saw a 914 Porsche in the process of being cut and welded up to look like a 904

The best thing I ever saw in that lot was one of the older retired faculty get out of her car, bundle up all her books and purse, and start to walk through the lot to the library. As she got near a new BMW, then Bimmers aftermarket voice alarm went "Warning, alarm, step back from the car". The poor lady had never encountered a talking car, and her books and papers flew everywhere! Before I could get over to help her, she picked up her purse and bashed it down on the hood, really setting off the alarm. She picked up her papers and continued on to the library!

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

JCE: i'd have loved to have seen the action of the woman you described bashing the car. I am laughing myself silly just imagining it. So sweet is the revenge of some people. hehe

The best way to go is NO badge...
A badge-as-is works fine...
Debadging a C250 Turbodiesel with a C200 Diesel badge can be fun at traffic lights...
Upgrading the badge is pathetic...but cheap...

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

I've always thought that down-badging would be novel. How 'bout E300 Turbodiesel on an E55? Or 300D on a 500E?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

...can be fun when someone else fills up your car at a gas-station...

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

I think one of the funniest additions I have seen on various cars is the addition of the porsche "Turbo" Script. I've seen it on various ford, toyota trucks, and various other toyota's, Honda's, Acura's Etc.

How about Porsche wheels or hubcabs on a VW Bug, bus, or other vw's of that era.

I always thought buying a 500E, and rebadging it to 300E, would freak some people out when it blasts em away, but its better to go clean or original.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Ashman:

I used to have a CLEAN, pearl white over pastel sand, 1963 Type II Transporter ("VW bus" to the layman) with a Porsche engine, Porsche "moon caps" on my solid wheels, pop-out front and rear safari windows, and curved rear corner windows.

Not a warm summer day goes by when I don't miss it...

Now THAT was a beach cruiser (I lived in Hawaii for 17 years). I can still feel the sweet, warm breeze in my face!

Aloha,

Hehe its ok to do the wheels if you really have a use for em on that. A Porsche engine in a vw is ok, but just the hubcaps or turbo badge for looks just doesn't quite cut it.

I always kinda drooled at the thought of a kharmanghia with 911 S 2.7 engine, trans, differential, suspension, brakes and all, basically a whole transplant.

Those Ghia's are still cool lookin little cars.

Alon

__________________
'92 300CE - Sold
2004 C240 - 744 - C7 Wheels - Android Radio
2002 C320 - 816 - Sport Wagon

Yes, I see a little asian chick in her 202 c-class with C320 badged on it. What a joke.

And the saddest thing I EVER saw on a Honday was this: little honda ice rocket sentra had CLK tail-lights MOLDED into the existing one!!! When I was driving up, I was like, CLK? Wait, yeah, CLK, wait? Oh... MY GOD. Sorry person that must have been. But then again I was way out of my area so thank god I don't see too many rice rockets too often. I wonder, what are those people thinking?

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)