Debadging DIY

Schm · 03-11-2009, 04:36 PM

I just thought since I made it and put it on my Flickr account, I might as well post it for anyone who needs it. These are the basic steps for de-badging a car. It is a VERY simple process.

Many people choose to de-badge their car. In fact, it is offered as a factory option from some marques. This is how I de-badged my car, a fairly common practice to make a car look cleaner, easier to wash.
STEP 1: Materials

1 Hairdryer
1 Sponge
1 Bottle of Walmart Goop Remover and paper towels
Dental Floss (About 15 inches/38 cm is sufficient)
1 Bottle of Propel Fitness water (Optional)

STEP 2: Cook with a hairdryer.

Wash around the badges. Then heat the badges for about 4-7 minutes, until you notice the glue to begin to get soft.

Use dental floss (minty!) to scrape the badges off. Careful now, don't break anything.

You'll notice glue residue after the letters are off. Don't worry. Use the goop remover and cloth to scrub it, and use your fingernails to scrape it off. Be sure not to damage the paint.

Wash and Admire.

Here you can see the proof that it worked fine.

06E90Rostik · 03-11-2009, 10:52 PM

Can you damage paintwork with 7 min of heat?

machine · 03-11-2009, 11:53 PM

I used:

- A heatgun, to heat the glue behind the letters
- Fishing Line, to pull the letters
- Old cloth, for cleaning
- WD40, to rub off the glue

Took me 15 mins and no scratches or residue left behind.

hanmaas · 03-12-2009, 04:18 AM

If this is done on a new car, after having taken the badges off, heat up the glue some more and start to slowly peel it off from one end. It comes off without any residue and no need to scrape on the paint.

Schm · 03-12-2009, 04:18 PM

I don't think it requires 7 minutes, but I don't think it damages the paint.

I heated it for a while, and then the floss didn't smoothly take it off, I heated it some more. Easy.

tjnptel1 · 03-16-2009, 04:06 PM

wd40 on auto paint does not sound like a good idea

Duhst · 03-16-2009, 05:21 PM

did this, this past weekend i used....

-blowdryer (heated up one number/letter at a time for about 45sec-1min)
-dental floss
-and goo gone!

looks perfect, no stratches or residue!

ThorsHammer · 03-16-2009, 05:33 PM

I did mine with dental floss and nothing else.

Goo Gone to remove the residual adhesive.

Schm · 03-16-2009, 11:19 PM

I am not suprised that works. The hairdryer just aids the glue comming off. I play it safe (sometimes)

ska///235i · 03-16-2009, 11:32 PM

I did it on a hot summer day...no need for heatgun.

cheitz47 · 06-04-2011, 09:47 AM

I just did this on my Wagon. Super easy. The only thing I changed (from some advice from my wife), I peeled the glue off with my fingers and used vegetable oil to clean up the rest of the glue. Worked like a champ.

AlanAZ · 06-06-2011, 05:27 PM

Quote:

and used vegetable oil to clean up the rest of the glue.

As in cooking oil? Your wife reckon olive oil would work - that's all I got.

kiwi29 · 07-20-2011, 01:29 AM

it took me 3 minutes with a old credit card and and goop gone w/ microfiber
pry off(heating isn't really needed, but optional for it to be easiser)
remove excess glue with finger nail and goop gone
wipe clean with MF towel and wash with water*no soap

03-11-2009, 04:36 PM	#1
Schm Colonel 165 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	Debadging DIY I just thought since I made it and put it on my Flickr account, I might as well post it for anyone who needs it. These are the basic steps for de-badging a car. It is a VERY simple process. Many people choose to de-badge their car. In fact, it is offered as a factory option from some marques. This is how I de-badged my car, a fairly common practice to make a car look cleaner, easier to wash. STEP 1: Materials 1 Hairdryer 1 Sponge 1 Bottle of Walmart Goop Remover and paper towels Dental Floss (About 15 inches/38 cm is sufficient) 1 Bottle of Propel Fitness water (Optional) STEP 2: Cook with a hairdryer. Wash around the badges. Then heat the badges for about 4-7 minutes, until you notice the glue to begin to get soft. Use dental floss (minty!) to scrape the badges off. Careful now, don't break anything. You'll notice glue residue after the letters are off. Don't worry. Use the goop remover and cloth to scrub it, and use your fingernails to scrape it off. Be sure not to damage the paint. Wash and Admire. Here you can see the proof that it worked fine.
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03-11-2009, 10:52 PM	#2
06E90Rostik 2006 join date crew 196 Rep 1,482 Posts Drives: 2006 325i, 2011 335i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: CA, Sacramento iTrader: (10) Garage List 2011 335i [10.00] 2006 325i [0.00]	Can you damage paintwork with 7 min of heat?
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03-11-2009, 11:53 PM	#3
machine is also an E46 Fanatic 42 Rep 538 Posts Drives: E70 35D Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	I used: - A heatgun, to heat the glue behind the letters - Fishing Line, to pull the letters - Old cloth, for cleaning - WD40, to rub off the glue Took me 15 mins and no scratches or residue left behind.
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03-12-2009, 04:18 AM	#4
hanmaas Lieutenant 18 Rep 577 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	If this is done on a new car, after having taken the badges off, heat up the glue some more and start to slowly peel it off from one end. It comes off without any residue and no need to scrape on the paint. __________________
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03-12-2009, 04:18 PM	#5
Schm Colonel 165 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	I don't think it requires 7 minutes, but I don't think it damages the paint. I heated it for a while, and then the floss didn't smoothly take it off, I heated it some more. Easy.
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03-16-2009, 04:06 PM	#6
tjnptel1 Cunning Linguist 161 Rep 2,219 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00]	wd40 on auto paint does not sound like a good idea __________________ Bottles are for babies, Real men get blown.
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03-16-2009, 05:21 PM	#7
Duhst That Go 122 Rep 7,415 Posts Drives: AW e90 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vegas? iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	did this, this past weekend i used.... -blowdryer (heated up one number/letter at a time for about 45sec-1min) -dental floss -and goo gone! looks perfect, no stratches or residue!
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03-16-2009, 05:33 PM	#8
ThorsHammer Major 88 Rep 1,389 Posts Drives: '09 BMW 335i Coupe Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (10)	I did mine with dental floss and nothing else. Goo Gone to remove the residual adhesive. __________________ "SYONRA" is for sale! http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=366678 BSM '09 e92 335i \| Performance: JB3, RR Catted DP's, INJEN DCI, Britalman Exhst, AA FMIC, FORGE DVs \| Suspension: ST-V1 Coils, Hotchkis Chassis Brace & F/R Sways \| Wheels: Bremmer Kraft BR03s, Brake Performance Rotors, Cool Carbon Pads, ECS Lines \| Exterior: OEM Aero Lip/Rear, ****** CF Trunk Lid, BLUX5 Angels, M-Force M3 Sides \| Interior: Passport 9500ci, Black Trim, M3 Wheel
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03-16-2009, 11:19 PM	#9
Schm Colonel 165 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri iTrader: (3)	I am not suprised that works. The hairdryer just aids the glue comming off. I play it safe (sometimes)
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03-16-2009, 11:32 PM	#10
ska///235i ***** noob 1461 Rep 10,477 Posts Drives: 325xi>M235i>428GCx Mspor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (34) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	I did it on a hot summer day...no need for heatgun.
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06-04-2011, 09:47 AM	#11
cheitz47 New Member 3 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2011 328I X Drive Wagon Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	I just did this on my Wagon. Super easy. The only thing I changed (from some advice from my wife), I peeled the glue off with my fingers and used vegetable oil to clean up the rest of the glue. Worked like a champ.
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07-20-2011, 01:29 AM	#13
kiwi29 Team iTouge 130 Rep 2,101 Posts Drives: 09 M-Tech 328i Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Long Beach, CA iTrader: (9)	it took me 3 minutes with a old credit card and and goop gone w/ microfiber pry off(heating isn't really needed, but optional for it to be easiser) remove excess glue with finger nail and goop gone wipe clean with MF towel and wash with water*no soap
	Appreciate 0 Quote