Removing Go Fast Stripes

[potiche]

Daughter wants to buy a Swift, white with black stripes over bonnet & roof. Its 3yrs old & the garage have said they will take the stripes off & paintwork will be fine. I'm sceptical, especially after reading posts from peeps who have started the job with heat guns & paint scrapers & solvents. Anyone in the know?

[woofgang]

There may be some difference in the paintwork colour where the sun hasn't bleached the covered bits. I don't think that the glues are as savage as they used to be. DH used to replace the vinyls on his bikes on a regular basis where they got scratched by his boot buckles and the studs on his leathers, it was no big deal. He (we actually) used sticky stuff remover and loads of patience. Why don't you make purchase contingent on satisfactory removal of the stripes?

[Zacs-Master]

If the garage say it will be OK then it will be. They plaster cars with adverts all the time and remove them. Police cars go on sale after theyve had full body decals removed. You may notice that the bits which were under the stickers are slightly shinier if the car has been washed in an automatic car wash but the garage should be able to buff the rest of the bodywork. You always have the option to refuse the vehicle.

[potiche]

Thanks guys that all makes sense. I'm thinking that any damage/ imperfections might be masked with wax & colour rub and not be visible at time of sale but then show up later. As we know, there are tricks to make a forecourt car look good... temporarily.

[woofgang]

well if the car is 3 years old, its not going to be perfect....I guess it depends on the price whether she wants to take a punt. There shouldn't be actual damage..you could always take a magnifying glass with you.

[tonyav]

You could always T cut the car all over and then give it a good waxing.

[alavahalf]

I've seen it done loads of times by a guy who fits the vynil signs... it really is top secret.
You boil a kettle of water ... you then place a tea bag in a cup. Pour the boiling water over the tea bag, and make your self a cup of tea.
The remainder of the water is then slowly poured over the vynil lifting it as you pour.
The hot water makes the adhesive go soft and the vynil can be removed quite easily.
There will usually be a slight discolouration between what was covered and what was'nt.
Nothing hat a good polishing won't remove.

[potiche]

Feeling better...... thnx all

[chas2008]

we de-decal vehicles all the time, heat gun and plastic scraper, never had a problem yet...(we are a bodyshop)...If they have been on ages they may leave a 'ghost' image but a good polish ideally machine polish should sort it.