I'm sure most of you have already done this, but it's been something I've been planning for a bit, but don't usually think of until I wash the car. So last week, after I got the car washed and the weather was warm, I got out the hair dryer and removed the dealer decal.

A little heat and the decal came off easily. After that a little rubbing alcohol took off most of the adhesive and the little it left came off with a small amount of lacquer thinner.

Before:


After:

 

Ahhh, I miss my little tailpipe tips. Ok, not really

Great job ditching the decal!

 

I can't believe dealers have the nerve to mess up a brand new car with their crummy advertisements.

I've found the best thing for removing sticker adhesive is WD-40. Just spray it on, let soak a few minutes, and wipe the adhesive right off.

 

Brake cleaner works too. Lacquer thinner scares me a little.

 

Those look like mine as of today, but not tomorrow!!

 

I get mine off with "Goof-off".

 

To remove vinyl use a "Lil Chizler" plastic razor blade available at a sign shop or supply shop. Using alcohol won't hurt your finish and still remove the glue, just keep a rag on it soaked to loosen the adhesive, a heat gun will help soften up a seasoned piece of vinyl. lacquer thinner shouldn't hurt newer urethane paints but I would rather be safe and use alcohol.

 

K. Westra - any change in paint tone underneath the decal? How long (years?) was the sticker on the car?

I am thinking about removing the door bumper strips on an XK8, but I am a little leary if the paint tone will be different under the strips.

Best,

 

No change in paint color underneath. The car is garaged, so I am sure that helped. The sticker was on roughly one year. It was one of those low priority things that was wayyyy overdue so I'm sure it would have been even easier had I done it immediately. When I test drove the car they hadn't plastered it yet, but when I made the deal and picked it up, it was stickered.

 

Thanks - The door strips I want to take off have been on 8 years, but garaged.

 

Heat gun works well, then to remove old glue goo, bumper stickers, window stickers etc
use butter. Just plain old butter breaks down glue and for sure wont hurt anything unlike those strong chemicals.

Door strips really help avoid dings.... why remove them for good?

 

Door dings are only an issue if the opportunity exists.

Looking to remove the door strips to give it a little newer/cleaner appearance. The last few MYs didn't have them and I think the look is cleaner without them.

 

I agree with you Steve, I removed the door guards when I repainted it last year It really gives the car a cleaner look, even more exotic looking (My opinion) The heat gun works well, but be careful not to bend them to much or they will crack with fine lines like the bumpers when they are hit. They make plastic trim tools that will help work the pieces up without scratching the paint.

Doug
01 XKR Silverstone

 

question answered above

 

I agree with Steve too. The car looks a lot sleeker without them.

 

The car may look a lot sleeker without them, but it looks a lot better without door dings!