[aarwilli]

Just rolled in from an 500 mile drive through the desert of AZ and NM. This was my first long distance trip with my e92 so I decided to blue tape her up. Turns out this was a horrible idea through the desert. The wind and sand turns it into 400 miles of oscillating sandpaper against your beautiful blemish free hood Now to find time to remove all the left over adhesive it left all over the front end and try to put it back to its original state.

Just had to rant a little and warn others

Side note, does anyone know a fairly good, adhesive remover that doesnt require a lot of elbow grease?

Thanks in advance!

[BAYsic]

I did a similar drive from San Francisco to Las Vegas last summer. My m-tech bumper had been installed less than a week before the drive. I used that clingy plastic wrap they use to wrap furniture on my bumper. Worked pretty well.

As for an adhesive remover, I have had luck with goof off, but have only used it for very small areas (e.g. removing adhesive backing after a debadge), not sure if it would be suitable for the full front end.

[TOGWT]

3M Citrus Cleaner Adhesive Remover Spray - super powerful cleaner can be used to effectively remove grease, tar and adhesive residue and to clean and degrease metal parts, motors, tools, or use to clean the annoying residue from sticky label adhesives.

Aerosol spray can allows quick and easy application with a pleasant citrus smell


For your next long distance road trip try plasidip - http://www.autopia.org/forum/profess...idip-rave.html

[aarwilli]

Never considered that TOGWT. Hmm Seems like it'd be hard work to do the mask off properly. Thanks for the recommendation though. I'll consider it.

As for using the 3M adhesive remover spray, would you recommend just spraying on and letting it dwell, then power wash off, followed by full two bucket wash? I don't want to go and grind in anything stuck to that stuff ya know...

[snowman81]

I think there are some tapes out there with less adhesive, but I'm sure that heat did a number on that adhesive sticking to your car. I've seen a few people use that same tape, but I've never been around for when they had to peel it off. Good luck and let us know your method of removal and how it goes.

[e92LuNaTiC]

CRAP!!!

I'm getting ready for MFEST this weekend and was going to use Blue Tape to mask off my entire front end. I just finished doing a 3 step correction on the entire car so I don't want to cause any hard to the finish. Any other suggestions????!!

[aarwilli]

If you have time to order in some "Road Wrap" that might do better. It is basically a big piece of cellophane tape to put over the front of your vehicle. If you do blue tape, take your time and make sure its very flush to the paint, I'm wondering if I didnt get it pressed down enough and then wind was able to work its way under it and get it loose, then let the flapping begin. Can't guarantee that though. My logic was, "why do a really good job if it is only going to get peeled off in 5 hours anyway". Oh well live and learn...


Or another possibility, since your are all fully corrected, go to a local clear bra installer (perfect time to do it) and have one installed.

[aarwilli]

I'm going to do a wash tonight. I'll let you know tomorrow e92Lunatic how bad it turned out or not...

[divisionbell77]

Road wrap? Wish I knew about that before driving from Cleveland to Durham and ended up with a completely f'ed front end because of bugs. I seriously had to wash my windows twice on the way down because it was so covered.

[e92LuNaTiC]

Originally Posted by aarwilli

I'm going to do a wash tonight. I'll let you know tomorrow e92Lunatic how bad it turned out or not...

Sweet! Thanks!! It's going to be hard to get a clear bra in time since I work bank hours (9 to 6) today, tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday

Hopefully your car isn't as bad as you think it may be!

[aarwilli]

Well I washed her last night. I think I got most of the actual adhesive off but it definitely etched the paint. I think the heat of the sun caused that. Also where loose tape rubbed the paint is marred now. I personally would suggest you not do it since you just did a full correction. I'd say live with a couple rock chips to fill. Just my opinion though. Easier to use some Dr. Colorchip than all that polishing you just went through again on the most complex portion of the car.

[e92LuNaTiC]

Originally Posted by aarwilli

Well I washed her last night. I think I got most of the actual adhesive off but it definitely etched the paint. I think the heat of the sun caused that. Also where loose tape rubbed the paint is marred now. I personally would suggest you not do it since you just did a full correction. I'd say live with a couple rock chips to fill. Just my opinion though. Easier to use some Dr. Colorchip than all that polishing you just went through again on the most complex portion of the car.

Oh thats good to hear that most of the adhesice came off. Polish your car and see what's left over, maybe some rock chip paint filler can help you out if it's not that bad.

Yea I'm sorta torn between taping it and not taping it I want to just to avoid any rock chips since there's going to be a line of 200+ BMW's heading through the 15 Highway to Vegas! But I'm thinking if I place the tape between myself and a buddy I might be better off. I'll let you know what I end up doing and the final results after this Vegas weekend with MFEST. Wish me luck!!

[chrisE92]

Originally Posted by e92LuNaTiC

Oh thats good to hear that most of the adhesice came off. Polish your car and see what's left over, maybe some rock chip paint filler can help you out if it's not that bad.

Yea I'm sorta torn between taping it and not taping it I want to just to avoid any rock chips since there's going to be a line of 200+ BMW's heading through the 15 Highway to Vegas! But I'm thinking if I place the tape between myself and a buddy I might be better off. I'll let you know what I end up doing and the final results after this Vegas weekend with MFEST. Wish me luck!!

I can't decide if I should tape or not, either.

[e92LuNaTiC]

Originally Posted by chrisE92

I can't decide if I should tape or not, either.

I'm thinking of using wide blue tape so that way I don't have to add multiple strips of tape by using the traditional width that's commonly used for trim painting inside your home.

What did you use OP?

Sry don't mean to

[aarwilli]

Originally Posted by e92LuNaTiC

I'm thinking of using wide blue tape so that way I don't have to add multiple strips of tape by using the traditional width that's commonly used for trim painting inside your home.

What did you use OP?

Sry don't mean to

I used 2 inch wide delicate surface tape. I'm wondering if using the original formula tape may have helped it stay on the paint more in the wind. Good luck man! I'm sure she looks gorgeous.

[Brentster]

It's a bit late, but a claybar should take the adhesive off.

[aarwilli]

I considered it but didn't want small grit that would have stuck to the adhesive to grind into the paint with clay. Instead what I choose to do, no clue if this is "good practice" or not, is spray Stoner Tarmonator area by area of ahesive then use my bare wet hand to work it across the paint to gently work off the adhesive, hoping that the softness of the skin might prevent some of the gouging of grit stuck on. I did this all over the front end and then did a very thorough two bucket wash. Now I do intend to clay and polish as usual sometime when my schedule clears up some.

[Brentster]

Originally Posted by aarwilli

I considered it but didn't want small grit that would have stuck to the adhesive to grind into the paint with clay. Instead what I choose to do, no clue if this is "good practice" or not, is spray Stoner Tarmonator area by area of ahesive then use my bare wet hand to work it across the paint to gently work off the adhesive, hoping that the softness of the skin might prevent some of the gouging of grit stuck on. I did this all over the front end and then did a very thorough two bucket wash. Now I do intend to clay and polish as usual sometime when my schedule clears up some.

That's a nice plan of attack.