Call it "anonymity", "cleanliness", or whatever you like - many people prefer their vehicle to appear without the unnecessary badges installed by the manufacturer and dealers.
Steps
Step 1. Wash the area around the badges you want to remove; if your car needs a wash, now is a good time to do it
Step 2. Heat the badge with a hair dryer
Check the temperature on the paint with your hand - you don't have to heat it too much. If you need to remove text or numbers, work on one character at a time. Heat for 10-15 seconds, always checking the temperature.
Step 3. Spray a product to remove the adhesive, holding a cloth under the badge to prevent dripping
Step 4. Heat the area again for another 5-10 seconds while controlling the heat
Step 5. Use dental tape to start peeling off the label
Pull it outwards, away from the car, so that it rubs on the brand and not on the car. If you notice that the adhesive is very resistant while you try to cut it with the tape, heat it again and reapply the product by spray. Ask a friend to help you and keep the badge so it doesn't come off suddenly.
Step 6. Once the writing has been removed, you need to remove the adhesive residue
Paying attention, try to detach a corner; if there is a lot of resistance, heat the area again with the hairdryer and apply the spray product again to remove the adhesive. Slowly peel off the adhesive; be careful not to scratch the paint when doing this.
Step 7. Use a washcloth or a damp towel to wipe off dirt that you couldn't remove before when the area was dry
Step 8. Step away for a moment and admire your work
Advice
- You should keep the badges. You can always give them to a friend if he misses any of his letters.
- Other products can also be used, such as dental floss, spatulas, or scratch-resistant scrapers.
- If you can't find a spray product to remove the stickers, look at auto accessories retailers or buy similar, readily available products online.
- Estimated time for this work: 15-20 minutes.
- Spray products to remove adhesives also remove wax; if your car needs a new wax, this may be a good time to get the old one off, otherwise just put it on the area you are treating. Notice how easy it is to apply the wax without the badge in between.
Warnings
- If you only use your nails to remove the residual adhesive, you can cause light scratches on the surface of the paint. A few specific paint cleaning products (or a light wax) and a microfiber towel help restore a perfect finish.
- On older vehicles you may notice a difference in the color of the paint due to sun exposure. You should check the door frame, under the hood, in the trunk to see if this difference is noticeable enough to prevent you from removing the badges.
- If something goes wrong you can cause damage to the vehicle. You should use common sense.
