Ford Focus Forum banner

Removing dealer sticker/badge

31K views 54 replies 45 participants last post by  Music  
#1 ·
I've got one of those crappy stuck-on badge things on my hatch that needs to go. It's not a sticker, and it's not a badge. It has that rough feeling to it, I'm sure there's a good term for it that I'm totally bypassing.

Anyways, what can I use that won't harm the paint to take it off? A guy at my local dealer recommended a heat gun and peel at it periodically while using the heat gun.
 
#3 ·
Would vinyl be the term your looking for? On a hot day, wait scratch that your in Michigan you probaly don't have any more very hot days, just heat it up with a hair dryer and peel it then use some Goo Gone for whats left and you'll be good to go.
 
#4 ·
I fail.
Forgot the part about removing the PLASTIC badge.
x2 on heat gun and removing it. When I worked for a Toyota dealer, we used lacquer thinner / plastic razor blade to remove the glue. Must faster than goo gone...but goo gone will work too...or you can use GOOF OFF and acheive the same results.
 
#5 ·
OneYoungGun said:
Would vinyl be the term your looking for? On a hot day, wait scratch that your in Michigan you probaly don't have any more very hot days, just heat it up with a hair dryer and peel it then use some Goo Gone for whats left and you'll be good to go.
Yes, vinyl. :lol: Long day!

And whatdaya mean no more hot days? It's 89 outside right now!
 
#7 ·
dmich said:
Yes, vinyl. :lol: Long day!

And whatdaya mean no more hot days? It's 89 outside right now!
To paraphrase the great philosopher Paris Hilton:
89... That's [not] hot.

x2 on the Goof Off and a plastic scraper. WD-40 would probably work too.
 
#9 ·
When I worked at a Daimler/Chrysler dealer, before they sold to Mercedes, we used acetone and a plastic razor blade on vinyl, plastic, and sticker decals from other dealerships. I recommend using the acetone sparingly too.

I stress again, if using acetone, use sparingly, and be sure to give your car a thorough cleaning afterwards. I've always removed the decals, washed the car real well, and then applied the other "Dealer" decals.
 
#11 ·
I still haven't taken my vinyl dealer decal off either, and it drives me nuts. If you wait too long, the sun, weather, and carwashing will take care of it for you. Hahaha...
 
#18 ·
Or just use the dental floss and heat gun method as mentioned above. Any off the shelf adhesive remover will work on the thick 3M style doule sided tape. Vinyl can be taken off very easily with a little bit of heat, and lightly picking up the side of the vinyl with your finger nail, then just pull. Adhesive remover on that as well.

On a side note, if you ever purchase a car from a dealer and they have that vinyl, or badge or anything else of the sort on the car, tell them to pull it off for you. You will not advertise for their company unless they take an additional $100 (or more) off the cost of the car.
 
#19 ·
If you catch it within like... 2-3 weeks of being put on you can usually just pull it off with a little work. Like, slilding your fingernail between the sticker and your car. At that point it usually hasn't had a chance to get baked onto the car by the sun. Yet.
 
#20 ·
I hate dealer stickers, license plate frames work. Its like piercing a newborn babies ears, yeah you can take it out. But whats the purpose. Or you see a brand new CTS-V and the massive dealer badge on the back. Or worse case scenario, you buy a used Focus from a chevy dealer. Guess whats on the back? "Joe Blobs Chevrolet" people are so stupid, anyways heatgun, credit card, goo gone, mother polish, and wax work for me.
 
#21 ·
Or Just Wait Till Its Cool, Get A Credit Card Catch An Edge And Peel, It Dosent Stretch Cuz Its Cold, Just Took Me 35 Seconds!