I just bought an E30 racecar and it has/had a miiilion stickers on it that had been on there for years. Anyone find a better method than just plain picking at them and peeling and then figuring out how to get the glue off? Taking me forever to get it done. Thanks,

Dan

use a heat gun & warm them up :)

The vinyl guys have some magic chemical that they pre-soak old stickers with and then peel them off. I wish I knew what it was. :D

(Subscribed to hopefully find the answer)

I usually just peel off the old stuff then clean up the residue with aerosol "Goof Off" spray. It has all sorts of cancer causing chemicals in it, so you know its good. Home Depot has it in my area. In my little tests GoofOff puts GooGone and all other adhesive removers to shame. (who thinks of these product names??)

edit: as M3Matt says, a heat gun can work wonders. Whenever its a factory applied sticker or stripes or stick-on emblem, I break out the heat gun. Just be careful with using too much heat or you could burn the paint, especially on plastic bumper covers and such.

Thanks guys, the heat gun was my next purchase.

We use goof-off on our cars.

heat gun, lots of picking at the decals, followed by goof off...i hope for your sake they are large one piece decals...removing die cut decals (especially with lots of small lettering) can be brutal...

3M adhesive remover (http://www.3mestore.com/62478765092.html). Crazy good stuff.

heat gun, lots of picking at the decals, followed by goof off...i hope for your sake they are large one piece decals...removing die cut decals (especially with lots of small lettering) can be brutal...
Tell me about it. I've repainted my car this year. Removing the die cut stickers was he!!:mad

First try WD40!! Works great on tape residue and not nearly as nasty smelling as Goof Off.

Like always, use the most mild stuff first. You can also get the 3m adhesive remover at almost any auto parts store.

Yeah, it's a mix but there are some tiny little cut outs on the car. Crazy. That 3m remover is awesome but I am having a hard time finding it. A couple different cars stores and nothing.

Try paint stores. My local paint store carries both Goof Off and 3M Adhesive Remover.

Edit: I mean house paint stores, not auto paint.

One thing that works for really difficult stuff is using a plastic eraser on it. It balls up and falls off.

3M adhesive remover. Crazy good stuff.

I 2nd this. Removes everything from racers tape residue to silly dinan badges.

Slightly off topic of the original post, but I just peeled off my 26" vinyl hood numbers in 5 minutes, in the cold, without anything but my fingernails. The secret? I clayed the hood and applied wax before putting on the decal two years ago. After some fresh wax I'll put on the new sponsor decal!!

When I was in a shop we had some attachment for the drill that spun(kind of like an eraser) and you simply just went over it and it took it right off...

WAYYY faster than goof off or anything...

I think it was from wurth... I don't remember but if you are doing a WHOLE CAR that participates in Grand Am or the like it was a SAVIOR

Thanks again guys. The fresh paint will get whatever it needs before the new vinyl.

Torch? :buttrock

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=855911

Torch?


I 2nd this as well. The torch removes EVERYTHING!

Torch? :buttrock

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=855911

Are you sure you weren't in the southern California area recently?

Laquer thinner will take most anything off including the paint if its not base/clear:D

Ahh I second torch method..makes some black spots though if you get to close...:D

And if its cold you can roast marshmellows.:buttrock

Pretty well I might add, atleast thats what I use. Doesnt seem to effect clear coat but on an e30 is there any left anyways!?

You have to apply it directly and kind've blot it with a paper towel till it starts to get gummy, then comes the elbow grease the more adhesive the more work, the more zippo fluid, etc...... It evaporates quickly, and as an added bonus you can pour some on the pile of crappy stickers you just peeled and make a nice little bon fire, Sweet!!!!!

We use goof-off on our cars.

Yup same here, works awesome. Just bad a bit on a rag and soak the affected area a bit and then scrape it off with a razor :)

Finally got this reply from my vinyl guru:

>I use these plastic razor blades
> http://www.beacongraphics.com/scraperite.html
>
> and then this rapid-tac brand adhesive remover
> http://www.beacongraphics.com/adhesive-remover.html
>
> I get everything I can from Beacon. their prices are reasonable
> and they usually ship quickly

The vinyl guys have some magic chemical that they pre-soak old stickers with and then peel them off. I wish I knew what it was. :D

(Subscribed to hopefully find the answer)

I usually just peel off the old stuff then clean up the residue with aerosol "Goof Off" spray. It has all sorts of cancer causing chemicals in it, so you know its good. Home Depot has it in my area. In my little tests GoofOff puts GooGone and all other adhesive removers to shame. (who thinks of these product names??)

edit: as M3Matt says, a heat gun can work wonders. Whenever its a factory applied sticker or stripes or stick-on emblem, I break out the heat gun. Just be careful with using too much heat or you could burn the paint, especially on plastic bumper covers and such.

Get that rapdi-tac stuff, it is good and it works.

I had a bunch of sample bottles that I recently threw out. I didn't realize they were so prized on here!

If you guys need to, I can also get it from my local vinly shop, since I used to cut vinyl on the side, and still do it for my cars sometimes.

Most of the time the glue residue just comes right off with water though.

-Don