I was playing with the UK Mini configurator until the U.S. 2005 version appears (can you even still order a 2004?) and noticed that on the Mini Cooper S there is a "No Cooper S badge" option. I assume that means you get the running gear of an "S" with no external badging. Is this just for "Q-ship" racing? I know there are some weird tax laws in the UK, but this option really stumps me. Is there a JCW "no badge" option in the U.S., so you can shut down unsuspecting Hondas?

 

Only if you remove it yourself

 

Is there a JCW "no badge" option in the U.S., so you can shut down unsuspecting Hondas?[/QUOTE]


I like the way your mind works.

 

JoeDentist, you can easily remove the Cooper S badge with a little Dental Floss.

The side vent badges are harder as you will either need to replace with aftermarket or regular Cooper vents.

I removed my Cooper S badge off the boot and covered up the red S on the side with a dark black/charcoal S to hide it a little bit.

 

Joe, I believe you can opt to have the JCW badges omitted when the kit is installed at the dealer. I do not think the factory will "delete" the CooperS badges though. Like Yucca said though, they easily come off with some dental floss and some soapy water to clean off the excess residue.

 

Yucca, I'll give you the stock vents from my car if you want them!

 

The question still persists - why do people in Europe want Mini Cooper S cars masquerading as plain Coopers? The Spanish configurator has the same "no badge" option. Don't speak Flemish so Belgium is a mystery.

Is this a street-racing thing? Are their Ferrari's masquerading as Fiat Topolinos?

 

I have never liked or understood the no badge thing. Do you rip the tag off your jeans. Bleach the "Armani" off the tee shirt? To me removing the badges always said I have a cheep car and I dont want you to know what it is.

Before you flog me...this is just my opinion.

 

I bet you could go to a Toyoto dealer and get an Echo badge

 

[QUOTE=JoeDentist]The question still persists - why do people in Europe want Mini Cooper S cars masquerading as plain Coopers?[QUOTE]

Perhaps they are fudging with the registration/road taxes and paying less for a Cooper than for a gas-guzzling S?

 

I kinda agree with you, I'll normally pull any dealer markings off of my cars when I can. Especially if they use particularly ugly decals...

I'll make an exception if I'm satisfied with my purchasing experience, however I've only been that happy with two of my auto purchases. One was our MINI, but they only gave me a license plate frame (which is gone b/c it didn't withstand the test of time) and the other was our Subaru. That badge I'm still considering removing b/c it's pretty fugly...

 

"no badge" is actually a popular option for European BMW buyers.... I guess BMW carried it over to MINI as well.

My guess is that people with top-end models don't want to attract unwanted attention (theft, vandalism), while people with bottom-end models may want others to think they have a top-end model.

 

:smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile: :smile:

Maybe BMW is finally bowing to the pressure! For those of you new guys, we had quite an uproar here, on the old MCO about
de-badging. Hafid is the only one that really touts his debagde at this time. (I think) :smile:

It was quite the argument, to show support for MCO. I still am not sure that Europe is no being given the option to support the old MCO now???

Well, anyway if they can't see the scoop up front I guess a few hondas would be fooled.

 

my S without the boot badge, S side markers and rear spoiler, but they wouldn't let me. I'm not going for the stealthy, Q-ship look, it was just for my own aesthetic sensibilities.

Like I said, I couldn't order it that way, and it's not that big a deal to me. But I might remove the boot badge if it is as easy as the dental floss tip.

 

This is a fairly common option on European cars, especially the high-end ones. I would have two reasons for ordering the "delete model designation" option: first, I think it improves the aesthetics, and second, it makes the car a lot easier to wax!

 

while busily deleting your S badging....don't forget to erase the scoop on the hood......otherwise some unsuspecting Honda just might catch you out......

 

OK...last summer, aftr seeing Hafid's de-badged car, and looking at the wax residue in the COOPER S on my black trunk...well, let's just say that a quick stop in the medicine cabinet, and a little zip-zip with some dental floss, and I was debadged. I think the boot looks so much cleaner now, and I love it. I don't have any pics handy, but it's not hard to imagine a cleaned bottom...:smile:

 

good lookin', eh?

 

Thanks! See what I mean...beautiful! Leave it to Hafid to capture its true beauty on film (or pixels)!