[AU335]

Hey guys, just took off my amber reflectors yesterday and made the swap to the painted ones. I first tried the hair dryer and box cutter method but it was way to time consuming and it was difficult to get in a good position behind the bumper without taking the wheel off. So here is what i did instead:

Tools needed: A Pair of Patient Hands, and a bottle of Goo-Gone or any 3M remover!

Step 1: Drive around for a little while and let everything get hot. (This will make it MUCH easier to remove the reflector)

Step 2: Use "Goo-Gone" / 3M remover / "Oops"... now, apply the 3M remover to the outside of the reflector around the edges and also behind the reflector, behind the bumper. I used "Oops" and just squirted it all around the reflector and it worked like magic

Step 3: Now, just SLOWLY push the reflector in (from outside the bumper). Start from the bottom of the reflector and work your way up, slowly pushing the reflector in. You can repeat step 2 as many times as you want to loosen up the 3M tape even more.

This took me a matter of only 10 minutes. I tried for about 30 minutes using the other method and got to frustrated and gave up. So I hope this DIY helps some of you guys who might have had trouble removing them another way.

[Slke46]

Are you for real... lets see some pics of the finished product!

[lkraven]

Heating it is the main thing. A hairdryer or heat gun worked fine.

Personally, I don't like GooGone or any remover anywhere close to my paint. I didn't have any trouble removing it from the backside using a bondo spatula to cut the foam adhesive.

[AU335]

well goo-gone and 3m remover will remove any wax that is on the paint but as far as damaging it,it doesnt. As long as you wipe off any excess 3m remover, you are golden. IMO

Ill post pics later today

[ifaudi]

I will have to try that this weekend

[Mooreski]

Being a single guy, I don't have a hairdryer so this was my only option. Worked well, just takes a little while to get everything loosened up.

I'll try to get a pic on here tomorrow night.

[Excellence]

Originally Posted by AU335

well goo-gone and 3m remover will remove any wax that is on the paint but as far as damaging it,it doesnt. As long as you wipe off any excess 3m remover, you are golden. IMO

Ill post pics later today

goo gone does some serious harm to your clear coat if you leave it on for more than 2-5 mins.
tried it on another car...

[Mooreski]

Finished product with blackout grills!

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by Mooreski

Being a single guy, I don't have a hairdryer so this was my only option. Worked well, just takes a little while to get everything loosened up.

I'll try to get a pic on here tomorrow night.

That's why your single kidding.


I used the goo gone method too, it does not harm your clear coat, but you should clean and wax the area afterwards because it will strip waxes and sealants.

[SoFlo335]

I just finished replacing the reflectors with the colored ones. I did AU335's DIY, and it was extremely easy. Took me about 20min, because the 3M tape didnt directly come off with the orange reflector... and yes, I did change the angel eye bulbs to the GP Thunders... Anyways, here are the pics

[GAM3OVR85]

^^looks amazing....ur car in general .

[SoFlo335]

Originally Posted by MTL Bimmer

^^looks amazing....ur car in general .

Haha, thanks man. Im going to do a photoshoot this weekend with the 335 and my S4(which I will be returning in a couple of weeks due to the lease). The bimmer will be lowered and will have the spacers installed for the shoot.

[McLuVan]

just wondering...
if someone were to get some of that stuff on the paint would it mess up the paint?

[judec]

Originally Posted by Valley_Boy

just wondering...
if someone were to get some of that stuff on the paint would it mess up the paint?

just wondering, why don't U

[EHDEN]

car looks sick in red with the black grill

[attorneyscott]

Thanks for the incredibly easy to follow and eminently useful instructions

Only thing that was a pain in the ass was getting the old adhesive off. It was stubborn as hell.

Finally - something I can do myself! Wish I had the mechanical wherewithal to install all the Dinan stuff... as it is, my shop loves me...

TIP -- a spray bottle of water easily removed any Goo Gone residue left on the paint, followed by chamois dry.

[t0eknee_C]

Does anyone have pics of how this is done.. I remember seeing pics but cant seem to find them

[to_riffic]

i did this method as well, freakin works a charm. the blow dryer method just took 4ever.

[NVMYE92]

I was wondering if you had to wait until the googone completely dried up before placing the painted reflectors.

[me92]

i am gonna go with this method.. i tried 20 mins w/ the cutter method.. i almost cut off the edge of my bumper!

[to_riffic]

yea the cutter method isn't the best, this is by far the easiest. i didn't even kno about this thread. and then wen i was done i was gonna make this DIY but AU335 already had it up. goo gone ftw!

[iamvietness]

Originally Posted by SoFlo335

I just finished replacing the reflectors with the colored ones. I did AU335's DIY, and it was extremely easy. Took me about 20min, because the 3M tape didnt directly come off with the orange reflector... and yes, I did change the angel eye bulbs to the GP Thunders... Anyways, here are the pics

if i were to just remove the reflectors...do i have to add the colored ones like you or will it look fine with just the reflectors removed?