Debadging and holes... ideas

[J.J.]

I debadged my Mazda yesterday and although I knew there were three holes behind the "Mazda" emblem, I decided I liked the look a lot better w/o the badge.



I now have three tiny holes below the rear taillight that need some sort of filler. I don`t have the money for a professional fill and paint.



Any one have any other creative ideas for repair? Painted plugs or something?



JJ

[Monte78Carlo2k1]

There is no easy..well there is but it isn`t going to be cheap. I would not put filler in those holes. Have the welded and smoothed then what ever filler you want to use. The less filler needed the better!



The only idea I have and if it was my car would be to put the badge back on. Until you can afford to fix it the right way. That`s a new car and no need in taking short cuts. My opinion take it for what it is worth to you. Good luck on what ever you choose to do.

[clipperfan]

+1 on that advice. Put the badge back or it`s going to look ghetto.

[Accumulator]

Hmm..the "flying "M" " is the one badge I left on the hatch of the MPV :think:



I had the other holes welded and filled. I agree with the others, hold off until if/when you have it done right.



You could check out the place that sells plugs for plastic bumpers (bumperplugs dot com or something like that) but I think those will be too big.

[Ern]

Hmm..the "flying "M" " is the one badge I left on the hatch of the MPV :think:



I had the other holes welded and filled. I agree with the others, hold off until if/when you have it done right.



You could check out the place that sells plugs for plastic bumpers (bumperplugs dot com or something like that) but I think those will be too big.



Ya you could do that but if the holes are to big, it wont look right.

[Accumulator]

Ya you could do that [with bumper plugs] but if the holes are to big, it wont look right.



Yeah, I suspect it wouldn`t look good, but I figured I`d try to post something at least a *little* positive :D



I *am* a bif fan of debadging, but I dunno if I`d give up factory paint over it. I wanted to do it to the MPV for ages, then an elderly woman rear-ended me and it was an easy decision.

[sleepercoupe]

re-badge it

[LazerRed1]

Just use your imagination. There are probably many ways to plug the holes at little or no cost. Don`t be afraid to get creative, then one day when you get disposable income, have them filled and painted.

[kkreit01]

I would never debadge if I knew there were holes behind.



Did you do it in your garage? Is that why were are the the garage forum? :)

[BobD]

What about a better looking emblem like one in blue carbon fiber or something?

[J.J.]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I have purchased some fiberglass, plug filler w/ hardner, sandpaper and paint. This will be a nice weekend "how to" with pics. Looking forward to it!



JJ

[wkasak]

:nixweiss Paint the badge the same color as the body and reinstall it to cover the holes? Won`t be debadged but will fade into the body color and be less noticable? I guess it depends on what badge, how big it is, and where it is located?

[tksmr2]

:nixweiss Paint the badge the same color as the body and reinstall it to cover the holes? Won`t be debadged but will fade into the body color and be less noticable? I guess it depends on what badge, how big it is, and where it is located?



Exactly what I was thinking. Paint the badges the same color as the car.. it won`t be noticible to most.





To do it right you have to weld those holes shut and use a super tiny amount of filler if any at all. Otherwise.. no matter what you will see were the holes were, if not right away less than a year down the road, you will see were the holes were.