R50/53 Rebadging as a BMW
Isn't that pretty much what Paris Hilton has done?
When Shelby and Ford starting talking about it,
he started planning for it.
He's been on cloud nine since it's arrival. I was actually surprised that he's supporting me getting the Mini like he is. Of course, it does get me out of the drivers seat of his Shelby as much.
He's been right here with me about it, well until I started talking about replacing the front stripes:impatient with those Haywain flower
designed stripes.
He's not liking that idea.
Hey, I got the rims he requested, and some other suspension and sports stuff.
Does your forum name have anything to do with the dog breed Chow? Just asking since I have one.
He's been right here with me about it, well until I started talking about replacing the front stripes:impatient with those Haywain flower
designed stripes.
He's not liking that idea.
Hey, I got the rims he requested, and some other suspension and sports stuff.
Geez!
Does your forum name have anything to do with the dog breed Chow? Just asking since I have one.
designed stripes.
He's not liking that idea.
Hey, I got the rims he requested, and some other suspension and sports stuff.
Does your forum name have anything to do with the dog breed Chow? Just asking since I have one.
Our MINI was my wife's daily driver, she added whatever graphics she wanted and I had no problem driving it
I've had two mustangs. Was interested in the Shelby ... now the KR is coming out! Shelby = great name in racing.
Yes, of course ... Chows 4 us! I dont want to hijack this thread. PM me and I can tell you all about it. We have a cream boy right now
Just to put another wrinkle into this thread, I have never owned a prewar Alfa Romeo, but I did put a Quadrifoglio sticker on my boot to cover a scratch. Although I did worry about it before so, & consulted a friend and Autoweek writer before doing it since he knows a lot more about auto racing history than I do.
If my MINI were manufactured by GEO I'd still love her every bit as much!
As long as she still performed as she does, looked as she does, and had the character and charisma as she does.
I'm baffled that anyone would even care who makes something so long as you get enjoyment from it.
My watch is not a rolex, but I love that it tells time. My MINI is a BMW and/but I love how she performs, looks, and produces smiles from everyone who sees her.
I am proud that she is a MINI, and proud that she comes from such a rich and well respected heratige.
And lets leave it at that.
As long as she still performed as she does, looked as she does, and had the character and charisma as she does.
I'm baffled that anyone would even care who makes something so long as you get enjoyment from it.
My watch is not a rolex, but I love that it tells time. My MINI is a BMW and/but I love how she performs, looks, and produces smiles from everyone who sees her.
I am proud that she is a MINI, and proud that she comes from such a rich and well respected heratige.
And lets leave it at that.
I'm open to the idea of the BMW Roundel
I would have to say that when I saw the BMW Roundel I kind of liked it since When ever someone looks at the car the most common conversation we get into is "Is it true that BMW makes those cars now?"
So the idea of the BMW Badging would answer that question right away.
Although I liked the idea I went the route of making my Mini Badgeless.
If you look at the attached image you can see that I kept the Roundels front and rear. Instead, I removed all "S" reference and applied an R53 badge on the front grille I Installed. I though this was a better marking for the car since I have made a variety of Mods to my mini.
I also Swapped the Side Repeaters for the plain ones.
I must say that these changes have allowed for a lot more looks and comments since people now think that my 05 is an 07.
If anyone is looking for these individual letters for there car they can be purchase at: http://www.bimmian.com[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/marc.fairstein/Desktop/badging.jpg[/IMG]
So the idea of the BMW Badging would answer that question right away.
Although I liked the idea I went the route of making my Mini Badgeless.
If you look at the attached image you can see that I kept the Roundels front and rear. Instead, I removed all "S" reference and applied an R53 badge on the front grille I Installed. I though this was a better marking for the car since I have made a variety of Mods to my mini.
I also Swapped the Side Repeaters for the plain ones.
I must say that these changes have allowed for a lot more looks and comments since people now think that my 05 is an 07.
If anyone is looking for these individual letters for there car they can be purchase at: http://www.bimmian.com[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/marc.fairstein/Desktop/badging.jpg[/IMG]
Maybe it would have to be 020i, like BMW did for the 325/328 nomenclature in the mid-90s, when the 325 was actually a 328, but needed to be renamed due to the more powerful 328 being on the market.
JCW cars would have to be Dinans.

And I guess there would be one "M0" designation - the GP JCW.
Ah heck, we could just stick with your idea, as all "S" Coopers do (more-or-less) come with the sporst package. :impatient
These are just photoshop, but if you're interested I can connect you with someone who can help you, or you can ask one of our vendors to make them for you, I'm sure.
Send me a PM if you're interested.
Send me a PM if you're interested.
HAHA
Ummmm
To me, this is pretty darn cool. I personally haven't done it, but seriously thinking to....
If I were to do it, I'd use all OEM badges however.. I'm sure they are all available somewhere, with all BMW has made.... bikes, cars, logos on floormats, etc...... UNLESS someone can prove me wrong, with "made" ones, but as far as my experience/knowledge, there's nothing comparable to OEM. So bust out the micrometer and lets do some research....

Plenty more pics of this "badging", but I'm partial to the DG/MCS, obviously......
But then again these look interesting:

So............... Still think the OEM ones are the best choice, but these above aren't too shaby..... From the pictures I've found. Haven't seen them in person, so quality can't really be judged by myself, but from these pics, they look decent.... I believe that they were made by Aesthetic Creations.... (Wish their site "worked")
If I were to do it, I'd use all OEM badges however.. I'm sure they are all available somewhere, with all BMW has made.... bikes, cars, logos on floormats, etc...... UNLESS someone can prove me wrong, with "made" ones, but as far as my experience/knowledge, there's nothing comparable to OEM. So bust out the micrometer and lets do some research.... 
Plenty more pics of this "badging", but I'm partial to the DG/MCS, obviously......
But then again these look interesting:

So............... Still think the OEM ones are the best choice, but these above aren't too shaby..... From the pictures I've found. Haven't seen them in person, so quality can't really be judged by myself, but from these pics, they look decent.... I believe that they were made by Aesthetic Creations.... (Wish their site "worked")
Last edited by brody78; Aug 17, 2012 at 08:17 AM. Reason: addition
I just traded my 2007 E90 for a 2011 JCW. The license plate on my E90 was "BMW". It worked great on the BMW, but have had a few comments about it being on the MINI. I had the tag transferred to the MINI, but have ordered a new plate that has "JCW". It should be here in a couple of weeks. I hope to get the "BMW" plate for my wife's E90.
We have a lot of specialized license plates to choose from in NC which helps with getting things like "BMW" and "JCW" on a tag. We are lucky in NC that we only have a rear plate.
We have a lot of specialized license plates to choose from in NC which helps with getting things like "BMW" and "JCW" on a tag. We are lucky in NC that we only have a rear plate.

People are each incredibly crazy strange in their own ways - to me at least!
I'm more of the "do what you want", because you obviously have your reasons for doing so....
Last edited by brody78; Aug 17, 2012 at 09:32 AM.
Mini motorsports logo / badge
This is what we need!!! But obviously a MINI version. I'm going to work on creating this over the weekend, just to see what comes of it. Might throw some "heritage" into the design also.
What "BMW" inthusiasts fight to own:

And sorry everyone, but as for the whole BMW or MINI ordeal, I have to through this in the mix:
The "new" Mini of 2001 is directly and absolutely attributed to the BMW designers Adrian van Hooydonk and Frank Stephenson.
**I'll create my own thread too, just so only those truely interested in this idea can follow just that. From start to finish. Sorry for "high-jacking" thus far.......... But only good for me has came out of this thread, so thanks for starting it... Strange how things happen.
Adrian van Hooydonk:
Joined BMW in 1992 as an automotive exterior designer in Munich, Germany. In 2000 he was Head of Automotive Exterior Design at BMW's industrial design centre DesignworksUSA, quickly becoming the president of Designworks in 2001. He left Designworks in 2005 to be promoted to head up the Brand Design Studio, under the direction of the BMW Group Design Director Chris Bangle, and in 2009 became Director of BMW Group Design, succeeding Chris Bangle as the head of design for the company. As head of group design he oversees the design work of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce.
Frank Stephenson:
Is an automobile designer best known for his 2001 design of the award winning Mini Hatch, and award winning design work at Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and McLaren. Automotive insiders regularly refer to Stephenson as "one of most influential automotive designers of our time".
What "BMW" inthusiasts fight to own:

And sorry everyone, but as for the whole BMW or MINI ordeal, I have to through this in the mix:
The "new" Mini of 2001 is directly and absolutely attributed to the BMW designers Adrian van Hooydonk and Frank Stephenson.
**I'll create my own thread too, just so only those truely interested in this idea can follow just that. From start to finish. Sorry for "high-jacking" thus far.......... But only good for me has came out of this thread, so thanks for starting it... Strange how things happen.
Adrian van Hooydonk:
Joined BMW in 1992 as an automotive exterior designer in Munich, Germany. In 2000 he was Head of Automotive Exterior Design at BMW's industrial design centre DesignworksUSA, quickly becoming the president of Designworks in 2001. He left Designworks in 2005 to be promoted to head up the Brand Design Studio, under the direction of the BMW Group Design Director Chris Bangle, and in 2009 became Director of BMW Group Design, succeeding Chris Bangle as the head of design for the company. As head of group design he oversees the design work of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce.
Frank Stephenson:
Is an automobile designer best known for his 2001 design of the award winning Mini Hatch, and award winning design work at Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and McLaren. Automotive insiders regularly refer to Stephenson as "one of most influential automotive designers of our time".
Last edited by brody78; Aug 17, 2012 at 10:45 PM.
True, but the project began with Rover, and was taken over by BMW, which kind of cobbled the R50 and R53 together with many non-BMW parts.
If you want to try and rationalized the R50 and R53 as a BMW, be my guest, but the heritage isn't there. I'd rather see it stand alone as a MINI than a rebadged BMW; it's like taking a Honda and rebadging it as an Acura to somehow make it seem "better". The MINI stands on it's own, it doesn't need any more justification as a serious car by putting a different, more prestigious badge on it.
The rebadging makes more sense for the R56, which was (almost) completely developed by BMW, although is still separate from the BMW line. It makes the most sense for the next generation, which will share the same platform as the 1 series, which almost makes MINI a BMW sub brand.
The irony of all this is that as the MINI progresses from generation to generation, it becomes more of a BMW, and less of a MINI. This isn't necessarily a good thing; and it makes no sense to me to rebadge the MINI, especially the R53/R56, when the very thing that made it so special to begin with gets lost as it becomes more and more of a BMW.
If you want to try and rationalized the R50 and R53 as a BMW, be my guest, but the heritage isn't there. I'd rather see it stand alone as a MINI than a rebadged BMW; it's like taking a Honda and rebadging it as an Acura to somehow make it seem "better". The MINI stands on it's own, it doesn't need any more justification as a serious car by putting a different, more prestigious badge on it.
The rebadging makes more sense for the R56, which was (almost) completely developed by BMW, although is still separate from the BMW line. It makes the most sense for the next generation, which will share the same platform as the 1 series, which almost makes MINI a BMW sub brand.
The irony of all this is that as the MINI progresses from generation to generation, it becomes more of a BMW, and less of a MINI. This isn't necessarily a good thing; and it makes no sense to me to rebadge the MINI, especially the R53/R56, when the very thing that made it so special to begin with gets lost as it becomes more and more of a BMW.







