"Depreciating" or removing all or some of the car's emblems is a popular modification. Contrary to what some may claim, this does not void your warranty, nor does it render your vehicle illegal or un-travelable.
I even heard someone incorrectly say that it would affect your auto insurance policy by depreciating the coverage of the policy, or possibly even causing the insurance company not to cover the cost of repairs, etc. This is a perfectly legal, reasonable mod that has no relationship to your insurance coverage!I think this is a cool mod that makes your car stand out and gives it a clean, uncluttered look. When debagging is done along with other exterior changes, your ride will inevitably get a second look as it won't be instantly recognizable.
Another reason you might want to remove emblems is to replace broken or worn emblems. If you take a close look at the emblems on your car, the edges may be covered in dirt and grime that is difficult to clean. The crevices can be left with car wax built up over the years, and even a fitter can't remove them. If you have badges with peeling chrome or paint, removing them or replacing them with new ones will improve the look of your car.
Now that I've convinced you that this is a worthwhile afternoon job, let's gather the materials needed to get it done right.
- A couple of feet of fishing line (20-30 lb line, dental floss or rope will do)
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Picks or an old ATM/credit card
- Adhesive solvent or alternatively penetrating oil or WD40
- Microfiber towels and clean rags
- Car wash solution in a spray bottle
- Optionally - car polish or plasticine.
Before you begin, make sure your emblems are only attached with double-sided tape. Some badges are pinned to the back of the holes in the bodywork. I don't recommend removing them unless you want to leave holes in the panel.
1) Don't tear it off.
Spell with a screwdriver or even a soft plastic tool. will damage the clear coat or harm the color layer. This is not the clean look you want.
2) Heat up.
Using a heat gun, pointing at an angle and constantly moving, heat the emblem and the surrounding painted area. It should be warm to the touch, but not hotter. This will soften the foam tape and make it pliable and easy to cut.
3) Clean with dental floss.
The double-sided foam tape is thick enough so that the plastic or metal badge plate does not directly touch the lacquer. Insert fishing line, floss or strong string between the badge plate and body panel. Wrap the line around your hands and advance the line parallel to the emblem with a saw, similar to how you floss your teeth. Careful and slow movements back and forth will protect against scratches. If you come across a cold middle part of the emblem, it will be difficult to clean with dental floss, so heat it up again with a hair dryer.
4) Remove any remaining adhesive foam.
Once the emblem is gone you will be left with a sticky slime mud. Continue heating if it has cooled down. This will make it easier to clean with copper picks or plastic cards.
5) Soak in solvent
After most of the foam residue is gone, apply a large amount of adhesive thinner or WD40 to a clean rag and gently wipe the remaining adhesive with it. If you've soaked it in solvent, it's easy to wipe off.
6) Clean thoroughly.
Spray the car wash solution on the affected area. Or, better yet, wash the entire car and dry it completely with a microfiber towel.
7) Polish if you like.
Instead of just washing the area after removing the emblems, I prefer to paint the details with a clay block. It can remove the residue stuck to the transparent layer better than just washing. Using a clay stick will remove all the wax you've applied to the car's finish, so you'll need to reapply a coat or two of the wax to protect the paint. Alternatively, you can polish the places where the icons should have blended in better with the sheen.
Sit back, take a few pictures and enjoy your pristine badge-free car.
