Debadged Last Night

[mbetoni]

Materials Used:

Griot's Adhesive Remover
Griot's "Dirty Spots" Microfiber Wipe Down towel
Dental Floss (mint)
Griot's Speed Shine
Griot's Best in Show Wax
Griot's Wax Applicator pad (red)
Griot's Microfiber Wax Removal towel
Griot's Microfiber Speedshine & Spray-On Car Wash towels

Process:
1. Liberally saturate badge with Adhesive Remover, using the wipe down towel to catch the excess. Try to blot with the towel, if you have to wipe, do so with very light pressure. Wait a minute or so.

2. Pull a piece of floss out long enough to wrap around opposing index fingers, to provide a firm grip w/ no slippage. Insert the floss behind the badge, and pulling away from the car, gently pull/saw through the adhesive. Side note: obviously, I'm already a Griot's fan, but the adhesive remover is incredible. The floss pulled through almost like warm butter, with no heat applied.

3. Do your best not to let the loose badge fall/rub/scrape against the car, the hard edges could scratch. I was careful, and they did not.

4. Once badge is off, use your finger (NOT your fingernail) to rub up the corners of any remaining adhesive, once the corner is up you can usually pull the rest off in one piece.

5. Speed Shine (again, light pressure on the towel) to remove any excess adhesive remover remaining on the paint.

6. Inspect newly debadged area. As some have reported, depending on the age of your car/paint, what's left may vary. For me, being a brand new car I just took delivery of, once the adhesive was gone there was virtually no sign of it ever being there. An older car may have differences between the exposed paint and the until recently badge-covered paint, and may require polishing/etc to remove any 'ghost' image.

7. I hand applied a little Best in Show wax to the debadged areas, and hand buffed with the Wax Removal towels/Speed Shine.

8. Voila! There is 0 sign the badge was ever there. Took all three off (sides and rear Z4) and I'm VERY happy with the badge-less look. Also, by going slow, never rubbing/wiping hard, and being careful I was left with nary a swirl mark, let alone scratch. If you use a towel to rub at the adhesive relentlessly until it comes off, expect spiders/swirling.

Finally, I know I owe the forum some decent pics, but I was on vacation and I'm just wading through that mountain of photos right now. Promise I will get some up soon.

[CedarZ4]

Nice write up. I'm surprised to see that list of Griot's product you used. I have only heard praise about Griot's Carpet Cleaner (and used it personally), but nothing about their polish and wax. Actually, didn't even know they made them.

But, back on topic...

[rking117]

Pic Pic

[SgtGigglebox]

Badges... we don't need no stinking badges.

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by CedarZ4

Nice write up. I'm surprised to see that list of Griot's product you used. I have only heard praise about Griot's Carpet Cleaner (and used it personally), but nothing about their polish and wax. Actually, didn't even know they made them.

But, back on topic...

I have been a Griot's fan for quite a few years now. Funny, as I was writing that up, I could also have mentioned the only product listed I didn't have on hand was the adhesive remover. The rest of the stuff is in my standard arsenal, along now with said adhesive remover.

[Nkc]

Dental floss (mint) is the key.

[teezee]

My version:

hair dryer (low heat <1 min)
dental floss
goo b gone
meguiars gold class

total job time= 10 mins

[Moo]

• Dental floss
• WD-40
• Wax

That's all folks!

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by Nkc

Dental floss (mint) is the key.

That's why I made special note of it!

[BMWZ4RIDER]

My DeBadge
Hair Dryer
Very light weight fishing line
Goo B Gone
Zaino

[bigendbob]

Why debadge if you have top of the range car?
Bit sad really.
Especially in USA, ain't all the cars the same?
In the UK we have from 1.8 to 3.5, i can understand.

[rking117]

my Dee Bad Ge:

high speed angle grinder
2500 degree kiln
100 grit sand paper
acid

hahaha just kidding

[Teemo Panda]

Originally Posted by CedarZ4

Nice write up. I'm surprised to see that list of Griot's product you used. I have only heard praise about Griot's Carpet Cleaner (and used it personally), but nothing about their polish and wax. Actually, didn't even know they made them.

But, back on topic...

^_+1~

[BMWZ4RIDER]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Why debadge if you have top of the range car?
Bit sad really.
Especially in USA, ain't all the cars the same?
In the UK we have from 1.8 to 3.5, i can understand.

Clean look vs all the plastic names and numbers pasted all over the Z.
I will let engine and performance do the speaking vs having to advertise for BMW.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER

Clean look vs all the plastic names and numbers pasted all over the Z.
I will let engine and performance do the speaking vs having to advertise for BMW.

So you're taking off all the roundels too? ; )

[mbetoni]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4RIDER

Clean look vs all the plastic names and numbers pasted all over the Z.
I will let engine and performance do the speaking vs having to advertise for BMW.

+1. Aesthetically, (to me) the car is simply much cleaner and more seamless without the enormous side badges and rear "Z4". The silver mirror caps, rear diffuser, front bumper and exhaust all do enough to identify the car as an IS, for those who know what to look for .

[CedarZ4]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

So you're taking off all the roundels too? ; )

I know you said this jokingly, and I definitely don't agree with not de-badging top of the line models. However, I really did want to do this on mine. Unfortunately, it would be impossible as then I would have holes in my sheet metal + a big slot on my trunk.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Why debadge if you have top of the range car?
Bit sad really.
Especially in USA, ain't all the cars the same?
In the UK we have from 1.8 to 3.5, i can understand.

Why is it sad? I debadge top range cars because that's the type of person I am. I am the extreme of a person that puts an M badge on a 320.

[nicknaz]

I've thought about putting 18i badging on my 35i

[jparnes1]

I'm swapping my badges for Honda Odyssey. If you can't tell the difference, screw you!

[SgtGigglebox]

The fact is, BMW is on a trend of more and larger badges. The designers dont put them on the clay models and its obvious that they arent part of the actual design of the car. Their absence is nothing but welcomed in my eyes.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

I'm swapping my badges for Honda Odyssey. If you can't tell the difference, screw you!

A friend downloaded a nav update for his Accord from the Internet... Now the welcome screen on the Nav says Odyssey every time he turns it on...