How do I remove this type of dealer badge/emblem without screwing anything up?

Has anyone else removed an emblem of similar type? How did you do it? Wast there residue left over?

http://home.attbi.com/~derek-kelly/element/misc/dealer_badge.jpg

->eMass

I have seen a few posts from people saying that they have already removed the emblems. Some have used a heat gun to loosen them, I guess then you can just pull them off. I also read a post talking about the "ol' nylon string trick", I'm not really sure about that one? I would like to remove them as well, if someone can, please give us the details.

I used fishing line (like using dental floss) on the rear H yeasterday and it didn't leave a mark. Gave the area a mild compounding and then applied wax. No muss no fuss no big chrome H.

get a heat gun or a blow dryer to soften the adhesive behind the emblem. but please be careful that you dont get it too hot or else you might damage your paint.

get some dental floss and slowly floss the emblem off. you may not even need this step if you used your heat source correctly. you can usually just pry the emblem off.

get some goo-gone of goo-off and while catching any drips or drops with a clean towel, let it soak for about a minute then slowly and carefully start removing the sticky residue. after it's all gone, grab your favorite wax and proceed to apply a few coats of it.

some tips - do not use your fingernails to remove the residue. do not use anything abrasive either! you may end up scratching your paint! you can use your finger to 'roll' the adhesive off, but be warned.. if theres a lot of the goo, then your fingers will be very raw afterwards.

good luck!

eMass: I just picked up my EX from the same dealer! I had the same sticker on the car and asked the salesman to remove it. He simply pried up one edge with his fingernail and then very slowly peeled it off. Mine might have been easier to remove since they just put it on, during intial detailing, the day before.

[quote:368db14955="jayharley"]eMass: I just picked up my EX from the same dealer! I had the same sticker on the car and asked the salesman to remove it. I simply pried up one edge with his fingernail and then very slowly peeled it off. Mine might have been easier to remove since they just put it on, during intial detailing, the day before.[/quote:368db14955]

Jay - I hope you'll be joining us for the New England owners meet next weekend!

he's asking about the dealers vinyl sticker, not the "ELEMENT" badge...

dental floss et al wouldn't do any good on a vinyl sticker...

either get a hair dryer/heat gun and warm the sticker up until it's good an toasty, or wait until a hot day.. either way... get the sticker hot... and then "scrape" it off with a stiff peice of plastic such as a credit card or the edge of your license.

when you get the white vinyl off... use a mild petroleum product to dissolve the glue (WD-40 etc) ... gasoline, gas treatments, carb cleaner... all those are bit harsh... leave those to a pro.

after you WD-40'd the glue... wash the spot with non-gritty dish soap and warm water (it will dissolve the petroleum residue) then re-wax the spot with a good carnuba wax.

done.

WD-40 will totally remove the glue with ease. Try it. My dealer placed a "Protect By blah blah Paint protection" stick on the windshield and the glue came off with ease. I also used this on the dealer sticker on the back.

I guess we are lucky here in California. About twenty years ago a law was passed here preventing dealers from defacing new autos with those obnoxous advertisments. The only thing a dealer here can do is put on a license plate frame with his name on it,which I remove immediately. I remember in the fifties and sixties dealers used to punch holes in the trunk lid to affix a chrome dealer emblem !!! Why in hell should we be rolling billboards from some guy who just screwed us ?