Thought I'd bring this up for anyone thinking about removing the door guard strips on an XK8 to upgrade the looks -

I am working this as a project on an 8 year old car. My initial concern was discoloration underneath the strips. I've successfully removed one of the small strips (about 3" long) and luckily there is no paint color difference at all. Now I am working through the glue left on the fender (what a b$tch! - sorry Reverend!).

On paint fade, my project car is a dark color, but I know that it has been garaged all its life. Anyone wanting to remove the strips and worried about paint fade I would suggest - the darker the color combined with sun exposure should figure into your risk analysis.

 

I'm a cool reverend. I cuss like a motherf***er. I like to watch internet ****. I like for my wife to "entertain" me while I'm driving (if you know what I mean...). Don't hold back because of me. The Pentecostals can keep their silly rules against having fun. I'm here to enjoy life.

 

Yes, you sound like a cool reverend...my kinda church. I was going to ask you to pray for me...maybe pray for both of us now!

 

Steve
A local sign supply will have a adhesive remover and a Lil chizler(plastic razor blade), that will make the adhesive gel and practically fall off, won't hurt paint. iso alcohol also works but you will need a little more elbow grease. I removed mine and I like the look much better
Good luck
Doug
2001 XKR Silverstone

 

Hope you won't be too upset with your first door ding.

 

hlgeorge
If I drove the car everyday I would have left them on. We only drive it two or three times a week. And I'm very careful where I park it, It seems like when ever we pull into a restaurant we end up with Rock Star parking. If I have to I'll walk a distance. I don't driven it in the winter but I make a point of starting and warming it up weekly.

 

Thanks - I did use a single edge razor and got down to a very thin layer, now need to get the last stubborn layer off the paint, but I cannot scrape anymore. I'm dreading the long strips until I develop a methodology.

 

Thanks for bringing up the concern, door dings will not be an issue.

Best,

 

The best adhesive remover I have found is "Goof-off". Available at your local Home Depot. After using it, be sure to wax over the area.

 

Thanks - Coincidentally, I've just come back from HD with that product. Going to give it a try.

 

OK... for those of us thinking about doing this, what's the process? Do you apply the Goof Off to the edges and then try to work the plastic blade underneath? Do you start at one end? What works best?

 

Sam, in the detailing section, steve-the-tree-guy-tech asked the same question, and our resident detailer recommended a heat gun to get the glue soft, then it comes off, then steve is now where he is. If you want more details (<- get it?) head over there, it should be on pg 1.

 

Yes, David, the detailing guy is superb! Heatgun, then I worked a heavy dental floss behind the strip. As David recommends, start by letting the car sit in the sun for a couple of hours...puts you way ahead of the game. He recommends some professional glue remover, and I'll try those next if the Goo Gone stuff doesn't work.

BTW - I hope you all caught my mug shot in the off-topic section.

 

Yah, we saw your *** atop that gigantor tree stump!

 

For anyone interested in taking on this project, I've posted an update in the Detailing/Car Care section.

 

I've finished the door strip project and have posted it with a pic in the Detail/Car Care section. Very pleased with the results.