Debadging Advice

[silversurfer10]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to de-badge the model designation on the back of my car.

I was wondering what the best way to do this is?

In particular, what is the best way to remove the left-over residue without using a power tool?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[SarahAnn200]

I use dental floss in a light back and forth action behind the badge then I have some glue and tar remover in my detailing kit to use gently. Then a bit of hand polishing if it needs it afterwards

 

[Slartibartfast]

^^^

 

[slade1]

Wait till summer, much easier to remove when hot or use a hair dryer.

 

[Alex225]

A hair dryer or a heat gun will definitely help.

I've used dental floss to get behind the badges and that works well but you can heat up the badges, peel them off by hand and roll most of the glue off with your thumb. Then use a tar remover to get the left over glue off. Light polish and job done.

Keep in mind depending on the age of the car and colour, you may still see an outline if paint has faded slightly.

 

[Shaqs1977]

ive heated it in the past with a hair dryer then use dental floss. if you intend to stick them back on then use some decent masking tape on top. that way you get to keep the correct spacing, saves the headache later on. with the residual glue residue you can use products like tardis or ambersil's glue remover. ive used both in the past with no ill effects on the paintwork.

 

[cluffy]

I’ve debadged quite a few cars and the above methods work very well.
Gently heat with hair dryer, dental floss to take off badges, then remove residue.
Slow and gentle is the key. Good luck.

(P.S. Anyone know of other methods? Do the Pros do it the same way?)

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Soak in WD-40 which will help any glue stuck on.

 

[BTB 500]

You can often 'roll' the residue off with strong adhesive tape, particularly if warmed with a hairdryer etc. first. That's what I did with both of mine - took a bit of time, but no solvents or cleaners required.

 

[merc estate]

WD40 gets the glue off easily

 

[Mickyh7]

Boiling water straight out of a kettle.
Peel badge straight off.
I've done stacks of cars and never had a problem.
For the glue residue use neat petrol on a rag then polish.
10-15 minute job.

 

[chic0821]

For the residue, its petrol. I have tried everything under the sun & it's petrol. Pull off anything that is easy to pull off then soak a piece of kitchen towel in petrol & stick it to the residue. Leave it for about ten minutes then remove kitchen towel & use a plastic scraper or what is even better your finger nail. Less than a minute

 

[GrahamT]

Why 'debadge' ? Just labels a car as the 'value' model .

 

[Mickyh7]

Because a lot of cars are over badged,and just look cluttered,
much nicer with most of it removed.
You can spec most German cars to come de-badged direct from the factory!

 

[GrahamT]

Because a lot of cars are over badged,and just look cluttered,
much nicer with most of it removed.
You can spec most German cars to come de-badged direct from the factory!

Is that the real reason ?

 

[noogieman]

If your girlfriend has nice knockers why not flash them in public same goes with not removing badge of your car if it's an expensive model?
Everybody likes to see what it is.

 

[Fastcar155]

Hello everyone,

I am planning to de-badge the model designation on the back of my car.

I was wondering what the best way to do this is?

In particular, what is the best way to remove the left-over residue without using a power tool?

Many thanks in advance.

Keep that badges

 

[Max M4X WW]

Bit late but I normally pour boiling (or near) water over them to soften the adhesive.

 

[Mickyh7]

Bit late but I normally pour boiling (or near) water over them to soften the adhesive.

Bit late Max (see post 11).
But your quite correct.
Some like to de-badge.
Some don't.
Good job we are all different.
Live and let live, I say!

 

[Alex225]

Why 'debadge' ? Just labels a car as the 'value' model .

Often the back end of a car looks cleaner without a load of badges but it's personal preference.

I de-badged my old E320cdi as I felt it looked smarter, it wasn't poverty spec so not trying to hide anything but I wasn't fussed if it said that on the back and it looked to me, nicer without. I've just done the same with my Saab 9-3 and removed the TTiD badge as it was slightly tarnished anyway and ironically the most powerful engine they did (2.8 V6) had no badges on anyway so doesn't matter too much what mine says.

On the flip side of that, I would actively choose to keep the badges on my CLS63 as I feel it warrants it as it's a slightly special model.