:evil: Shame on me, but I did not tell the dealership NOT to put thier decal on the backside of my new vehicle. (But then again, I did not need to tell my breeder NOT to tatoo his name on my dog's a**). So the question, can such a decal be removed and, if so, how?

First off I totally agree with your point of view. Our dealership doesn't put anything on the back except a liscence plate bracket.

Anyway... if it looks like a sticker they will peal right off, you might need to use a hair dryer to loosen them but should peal off. the key to removing any emblem is time the sooner you do it the easier it will be.
If it is a plaque type they usually are stuck on with adhesive. What you want to do is get behind it with a something flat or a piece of fishing string and work the corner up and just peal it off.

Depending on your dealer they should be willing to remove it for you their detail department takes them off of trade-ins all of the time.

If you have any other questions or if I can help you out please let me know.

JShy
Buckeye Honda

Thanks! :)

Can those darn dealer stickers be removed from my car without
damaging the paint or leaving a sticky nasty mess? It irritates me
to no end when they go sticking junk on my paint!!! :shock:

Now, if they were going to pay me for advertising the dealership for the life of
my car that would be a different story, but to think I'm going to
give free advertisement??? I don't think so. :-x

I'm guessing that the sticker has not been on there more than 3 weeks and I'm guessing that it's a vinyl decal type sticker. I have those type stickers on windows of other cars, and I know they say that they won't damage paint, but when I get ready to remove them from the glass I just scrape them off with a blade. I can't do that on the paint, so I was wondering what would be the best way to remove them. :?
Thanks

Almost all of these vinyl decals peel off easily just using a fingernail. Follow with a little wax and hand buffing in the area and you're done.

It's the metallic "emblems" that some use which are tougher and require finesse. Anyway, do it sooner rather than later so the paint doesn't fade around the lettering, which makes the dealer ID a lot more permanent.

Yikes!! I hadn't thought about fading. Surely after only 3 weeks
or a little more it'll still be safe to remove it w/o any fading........
wouldn't it? Thanks for the help.

I doubt any fading would be going on in a 3 week period. I took my dealer tag off the first week, it was like a badge deal that was soft plastic.

>...after only 3 weeks...

Of course not. Just don't spend a year waiting for the annoyance to build to the point where you "must" do something... or to muster the courage to just do it. I've seen people put it off that long, with regrets.

I asked the guys in the shop to take it off.......no prob after they saw what I was putting on to replace their sticker!!!!

I'm not much for being anyone's billboard. I took the dealer decal and plate frame off right away, and I worked for the dealership that I bought it from!

Taking the dealer stickers off was my first mod when I brought home the E. Before I even walked in the door I went around back and started peeling.

I'm not much for being anyone's billboard. I took the dealer decal and plate frame off right away, and I worked for the dealership that I bought it from!
I'm with you there, except for the EOC decal I just ordered! When I got my E home I just took the back licenseplate frame and flipped it around, it works and looks just fine.

The easiest way is preparation.
Tell them not to put it on in the first place. I've done that with every vehicle I've bought. Only 1 dealer ignored me, and put it on anyway. I had them remove it before I left the lot.

I told my dealer, I wanted $2000 off the top of the deal for advertising..and they gave me the go to hell look, so after i signed the dotted line, I walked out to the car, and pealed off the dealer sticker and handed to my salesman...and drove off. :roll:

The jerks at my dealership took off this proud parent's Princeton liscense plate holder and put on one of theirs. That didn't last long.

I also peeled mine off right at the dealership as I took delivery... I also removed the license plate frames, and even the keychain on the keys advertising the dealership... such was/is my disdain for them...

Buy your E out of state and no one will know who they are...Saves time taking off the sticker...Just kidding :-D

Every vehicle I have ever purchased I have had it written on the contract not to put any dealer advertising except for license plate frames. It also clearly states if anything else is on the vehicle at time of delivery then the contract is null and void. I have not purchased 5 new cars and a dealer badge has been on 3 of them. I had the contract in my hands at time of pickup and right after my inspection I walk to the salesman and tell him the deal is off. You should see their jaw hit the floor. lol 2 of the 3 were able to remove the dealer logo, the third one couldn't because that dealer painted them on! lol I renegotiated for a new vehicle and saved $2,500 for the inconvenience because it took them 7 weeks to get me the truck in the first place. I was actually not happy that time. They bent over backwards to try and make me happy. They new I bought the truck to tow a race car and without the truck I was going to miss my opening race.

In your case, just peel it off. Use dental floss or your fingers.

Tip. Heat that crap up with a blowdryer before pealing.

I got that stupid dealer sticker off! You can't even tell it was ever on there!
It looks so much better. I was actually going to peel it off the day I bought the car, but didn't know if it'd make a mess or not.

Trust me, the first thing I checked when we decided to buy the Element was if it had a sticker because I was going to tell them if it didn't don't dare put one on!! The Element is MM with black panels, and there was this big white dealer decal and it just popped out at you.........ICK!!! It irritated me every time I saw the back of the vehicle, so I'm so glad it's gone. Now mine is the only Element I see without that dealar decal, so I'm really happy.....lol. The dealer plate frame has been gone because I have specialty plates and the frame covered them up......Now my E is no longer a billboard for the dealer!! :grin:

Tip. Heat that crap up with a blowdryer before pealing.

Yup... removed mine after about six months... no fading or anything (but then the car is garage parked most of the time, parking garage at work, and my garage at home...).

Then a little alcohol will remove the remaining glue, then wash and wax... no problem, can't tell there was ever anything there.

any thoughts on how best to remove the horrible dealer decal/sticker which is above the ELELMENT emblem on the rear of the vehicle on the upper hatch without damaging the paint?

this is a god awful ugly thing on my nifty new ride!

HELP!

Iggy

Welcome!

There's lots of info about this on the forum. A little searching will get you the answers - from hair dryers to goo gone!

Hey Iggy -

I just removed the dealer tag on my '08... the tag in my case was metal, with a foam adhesive backing. Dental floss was the key - if your dealer tag has the same foam adhesive, get some good strong dental floss, and use it to cut through the foam adhesive, working it back and forth just like you're flossing between teeth. Then use WD-40 to remove the rest of the sticky stuff - the WD-40 removes the gunk, and doesn't hurt the E's painted finish.

-Adirondacker

Welcome, Iggy and Adirondacker! Thanks for filling in your profiles.

PVR speaks wisely.

cant you jsut go tot he dealer and complain?

IMHO the hair dryer (or heat gun) works the best. If you are patient with pulling it off, once it's warm, it comes right off, sticky residue and all (even if it's metal with the sticky foam backing (i.e. the ELEMENT and "H" decals on the hatch)). Goo Gone works well to remove any residue (but, it's harsh, so wash off immediately).

Good luck!! :smile:

I actually got the dealer to take another $500 off the total price of mine, I told them that I wasnt advertizing for free for them:-P:razz: It actually worked and then a month later I still took it off

I didn't get any money :cry: but I did tell the dealer to get the tag frames off - I'll just pitch them when I get home - he appreciated the honesty.

Welcome Up, Up State NYer

Yeah, basically what everyone else said. The key is to use a hair dryer. If it's a vinyl decal heat it up above 90° and the adhesive should become soft. You'll have to lift off an edge with something like a fingernail but once you get it going it should all come off. If it's something like the Element emblem where it is a raised piece of plastic/metal with the black goop behind it - same thing. Heat it up then peel it off. The remaining gunk can be removed with a universal solvent like "Goo Gone" which you can pick up at home depot, ace hardware, etc for a few bucks.

It's all about patience. You'll have to stand with the dryer on the decal for a few minutes depending on how cold it is outside.

Like they have said, get it hot and pull a string of some type between the emblem and the body, then clean it up...

I used a 100+ degree day, fishing line and scu-be-do-be gue-be-gone ;-)

Cheers!

i have a heated garage at work :)

this is a see thru decal/sticker...

tomorrow i will be bringing in the hair dryer!

many thanks!

:)

Good Gone (NOT Goof Off) works fine. I used it on my E to remove the sticker residue.

Like many before me. Pull sticker off, then goo gone if needed.
Luckily the dealer didn't have time to sticker tag mine.

Good Gone (NOT Goof Off) works fine. I used it on my E to remove the sticker residue.

Second that. I used it to remove the ELEMENT decal gunk.


It is critical not to use Goo Off.

It is critical not to use Goo Off.



wait. whats wrong with goo off?

i used it. to take my element badge off...

is that bad?

crap.....

wait. whats wrong with goo off?

i used it. to take my element badge off...

is that bad?

crap.....

Did it not eat through your paint? I used it at work one day to get gunk off the tile and it stripped the varnish right off. Now when you walk over that patch its rough and the rest of the tile is smooth. Oh same thing with the interior of our water filter covers. Had to replace all the plastic covers because they turned this god awful white color after using that stuff to clean them out.

Yes - goo off and goof off are VERY strong and IF used, used very carefully - I would use it for a "problem" only, not just while modding the E. IMHO

I came across a can of 3M Adhesive Remover at my job, anyone familiar with it and do you think it would work to take the glue off after removing the Element Emblem without messing with the paint?

I came across a can of 3M Adhesive Remover at my job, anyone familiar with it and do you think it would work to take the glue off after removing the Element Emblem without messing with the paint?


Thats the same stuff i used on mine....no worries about harming the paint.

any thoughts on how best to remove the horrible dealer decal/sticker which is above the ELELMENT emblem on the rear of the vehicle on the upper hatch without damaging the paint?

this is a god awful ugly thing on my nifty new ride!

HELP!

Iggy
I've always asked the dealer not to put any of their stuff on the car. If the car I was buying already had anything on it I just asked them to take it off.

Thats the same stuff i used on mine....no worries about harming the paint.

Thanks, I originally used WD40 on my E but I'm soon taking my father's emblem off to further customize his and I'd like to try the 3M!

FYI, I found car wax (canuba type, etc.) to be great at removing adhesives & tar & gunk off a car body. Turtle wax makes bug & tar remover, and it's basically car wax.

... stickers, what nerve! good luck with that.

I removed the dealer sticker, H(honda "H") and the element off the back hatch:cool:

dont worry too much about the paint fading unless you live in the desert with blazing sun.

back in high school, I had debadged a 94 Honda Accord in dark green that was a hand me down from my parents. It had aged with wear and tear for about 9 years at that point, and with only a very little fading, that you cannot even notice much once it was washed and waxed.

Hope this raises some spirits.


Larry-

Wondering what to do in my situation.
A Marines sticker that was on my 06' for who knows how long was just removed by hand fairly easily a couple weeks ago. After I peeled off the sticker I still have some sticky residue and you can actually almost see the exact sticker outlined in the sticky crud.

I read someone mention rubbing alcohol and canuba type wax, are these the best options or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks.

I've seen goo-gone type products recommended, but when I had sticky glue left from the dealer sticker I peeled off, I used peanut oil and some elbow grease. The peanut oil (peanut butter should work too) slowly dissolved the glue, and rubbing (a lot) with a dish cloth took it off. I it has been there a while, heating it up a bit with a hair dryer first might help.

thank God my dealer didnt put anykind of sticker on my car, its not that i dont like my dealer (i actually like them alot) i just hate the fact of an ugly dealership sticker on my new car, they did put the liscence plate cover on which i left on proudly :rolleyes:

Just removed the dealer badge, took 5 seconds to remove badge with dental floss, took 30-45 minutes to remove glue. Taking her back to the dealer tonight so they can install a trailer wiring harness tomorrow.

Much more tidy without the badge.
Watch'em they might try to stick another one on when you take it back.:???:

You've been spending a lot of time with the E...does your family remember what you look like?

-g

Much more tidy without the badge.
Watch'em they might try to stick another one on when you take it back.:???:
If they put another one on I'm going to make them take it off!!!:evil:

You've been spending a lot of time with the E...does your family remember what you look like?

-g

Between the "E" and your business card may be not.:wink:

Tell them that space is for rent itll be $50.00 a month.:D:D:D

Tell them that space is for rent it'll be $50.00 a month.:D:D:D

and since I got the 8 year warranty 8X12X50=$4,800.00
(Please don't yell at me for getting the extended warranty)
I might go as low as a dollar a day for advertising so that would be $2,880.00

Looks nice. I hate those dealer stickers/emblems.

I love when I bought my first E in SoCal dealers there don't do that.

They have a plate frame on the vehicle and a paper plate that is it.

BTW....

Go the next step and debadge the whole tail gate.

It looks much cleaner and is easier to wash/wax with the badging gone.

Go the next step and debadge the whole tail gate.

It looks much cleaner and is easier to wash/wax with the badging gone.



I have plans for the Element badge, going to get 5th emblems to put above it.

Between the "E" and your business card may be not.:wink:

:oops:

-g

Go the next step and debadge the whole tail gate.

It looks much cleaner and is easier to wash/wax with the badging gone.



My thoughts exactly. Naked Tailgate FTW!

This thread has motivated me to remove my dealer crap on the back of my car this weekend. I'm hoping after a couple years there won't be too much fading, although the car is always outside in the weather. We'll see.

I hate those stickers so much. I took mine off when I got my E back in 03. After 3k miles, I brought it back to the dealership for an oil change and first check up, and they put one back on!

I got the manager and had it removed. That was the last time I used the dealer for an oil change.

Fsttrk

I took my dealers tag off soon after I got her, check it out here:
http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42862

I know that I'm responding to a thread that is a few years old, but I gotta say that this info is timeless!

Just got my pre-owned 2006 Element home, and was already beginning to be bugged by the dealership decal. Silver Element, red "Ron Carter, Alvin Texas" sticker. Lets just say that the cool factor of cruising in my new Element was somewhat lessened by Ron Carter's shinny decal declaring to the world where I got my car.

But my wife's floss kicked that decal's butt. Thanks HEOC!

Now Ron Carter's license plate frames are next to go, thanks to amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00032K9R4/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

That was part of the deal of me taking the car home. It was to be free of any free advertising stickers/license plate frames. Unless they're going to pay me to advertise I don't want that crap on my car.

I was able to peel mine right off (sticker), but there is a residue. What should I use to get the sticky residue off?

I was able to peel mine right off (sticker), but there is a residue. What should I use to get the sticky residue off?

GooGone or similar will take the residue off.

Multiple Threads Merged.

This is 100% true... To insure there would be nothing stuck to my cars, I add to the sales contract... "There shall be no modifications, changes, additions or deletions made to the vehicle from how delivered from Honda without specific approval in writing from buyer. This includes dealer names and/or logos. Violation of this clause shall subject dealer to a $10,000 fine payed to buyer immediately; and shall allow enable buyer to then cancel purchase (at his sole option) with all money paid to be immediately fully refunded without penalty."
They freak out. Refuse to go along, ask all sorts of questions. I tell them to read it and just follow it. Simple to do or no sale. They all have agreed so far.
Many years ago, a Chevy dealer stuck their logo on the trunk lid. You should have seen the look on the salesman's face when I inspected the vehicle before delivery, pointed to it and said "I want my money." He ran to get people to get it off. Stopped 10 feet away and turned around and asked if I wanted some coffee or anything, and would I mind going to lounge for a few minutes. Priceless :grin: