I have decided to remove the dealer sticker from the rear panel of my car. I have heard one method where you soak a rag or paper towel in white vinegar and place it over the sticker for 10-15 minutes. Remove and start peeling. Any parts still sticking, repeat the process with the vinegar. My question is, will the vinegar damage the paint? It doesn't seem like it will but you never know.

 

Heat it up with a heat gun or hair dryer to soften the adhesive.

 

I might try that but using a heat gun makes me nervous.

 

I've used s hair dryer a ton of times...no problems. ..

 

I have used a hair dryer many times with good results. Just go slow with the heat application. Don't like the smell of vinegar so never tried that. I have also used wd40 soaked with a rag to remove the residual glue.

 

They do bake the finish on the car at the factory, which can be to temperatures over 300 degrees. I would use a hair dryer (lower heat than a heat gun) and just keep it moving. Don't let it dwell on any one particular spot too long.

By the way, this was just sitting out in the sun on a 100 degree day...taken at 5PM.

 

You just have to be careful not to concentrate it too much but a hair dryer will never get it too hot.

 

I tried the vinegar and it worked fairly well. The sticker came off pretty easy but the adhesive was a little tougher. It was working but not fast enough for me so I resorted to an old standby: WD-40. Sprayed some on shop towel, a quick rub and the adhesive came right off. A quick wash and you can't even tell there was a sticker.

 

And this is why I told my dealer do not put any stickers on my car! If you have to cut thru any adhesive fishing line works great

 

I didn't have a choice as it was already on the car. I actually didn't mind it being on there for as I really like them and it didn't bother me to advertise a little for them. But after two years, it was time for it to go.

 

For the record you did have a choice.

"Remove ANY dealer stickers, decals, license plate frames, etc from my car prior to delivery. Any damage unto the paint during that process will be repaired at no cost to me prior to delivery to me. I will refuse the right to accept the car before or after the stickers are removed."

^ easy. Always worked for me, cars were always sticker free.

 

Well, like I said, I like these people so I really didn't mind it being there for awhile.

So you have them add that as a sales condition?

 

Luckily I didn't have to. I simply relied on verbiage. So far, all the dealers have obliged. 2 of my cars were ordered brand new, so I told them those conditions before the car even arrived. I made sure they didn't touch my car lol. Same goes for front plates. Absolutely no holes, or they're ordering me a new car.

 

They make a citrus based goof off in a plastic bottle that is mild and works wonders. Harmless on paint. (Don't use the one in the can or any goof off on plastics.)

Anyway I ran over a huge glob of gum one hot day and didn't realize it until a day later. Worked great to lift it off the paint. Trust me. It was a mess!

 

I did tell them not to install the front plate and they obliged no problem. I bought a no-drill mount from Craig's Customs.

 

I told my dealer not to put any stickers on the car, not drill any holes for the front license plate, and not to wash it. I had to remind the salesperson several times, but I was successful. I received my car sticker free, hole free, and swirl mark free. When I bought my daily driver (Mazda 3) it had stickers on it. I had no problem pulling them off by hand though. Took a little fingernail finesse. I just waxed and buffed the area little bit.

 

The dealer tag on my car was actually made of metal and since I was not happy with my dealer, I had the body shop that repainted my rear bumper remove it for me. I tried pulling on it but it seemed like it was on very good and I didn't want to mess up the paint. Car looks much better without it since it was kind of big.

Wayne

 

I used fishing line to get a metal dealer tag off a previous car and then goo gone for the sticky, but that was a used car. I would like to remove my dealer sticker because it's white on deep impact blue. At least it is pretty small and they obliged when I told them not to put anything on the front after I test drove it. If I ever get to finally order one for myself, it will have nothing from the dealer on it whatsoever! I actually wouldn't mind maybe a license plate frame but this dealer doesn't seem to have those, they always ad a front plate and I hate the way a plate looks on the front of a Stang!

 

Unless the dealership pays me to advertise for them, they do not get to place a decal on my car that I'm paying for.

 

Like I said, I like these people. I didn't bother me to advertise for them for awhile.