I am about to buy a 99 torch red hardtop with 98,000 miles that has BSMs. I would like to take them off, but I was wondering if others had any problems when they did it. I have not seen the car in person yet, but the paint appears to be in very good condition. Is torch red a color prone to looking bad once BSMs are removed?

If you recommend taking them off, is a blow drier and fishing line the best way to get them off. I would really prefer to take them off, but I don't want the car to have a stripe in place of the BSMs.

Thanks

 

Why take them off? Personally i think they look naked with outh the BSM. Either way, be careful.

 

If you take them of the collor differance will show , leav 'em on

 

Chances are you will notice a difference in the paint color when you remove the BSMs. If it were me, I'd just leave them on the car.

 

I just took the BSMs off my '01 MY Z this summer. Yes, there was a "shadow" where the BSMs were -- but NO, it was NOT PERMANENT.

After some good washings, polishings, and time in direct sunlight, all signs that there were ever BSMs there disappeared completely. (Go ahead and read that again if you're not sure what you just read. )

It WILL take a little bit of time (especially now that the sun is a little less potent, at least here in PA)... But any lines should go away completely.

If you'd like to be sure, make sure you get responses from folks who 1) have a torch red car of a similar age, and 2) have ACTUALLY REMOVED THEIR'S. I know I've read that folks with TR cars have had the same experience as me.

If you'd like another shove in the direction of doing this, consider this: If the shadows DON'T disappear with some time, then you'll have a guide as to exactly where they ought to go back on the car.

Good luck!

-Kirk

 

Forgot to address this...

I see now that you're in FLA. That's good -- 'cause I did this when it was cool in my garage, and that sure didn't help any. You want it to be warm out so that the adhesive doesn't fight you the whole way.

Now, I didn't use a hairdryer (again, too cool to make a difference), but that probably wouldn't hurt. Being in FLA, you shouldn't really need one, but it may help. I don't even know if it's possible, but just don't keep it in one area too long where it could "burn" the paint.

As for the fishing line, yes, this is the way to go. But use STRONG fishing line! The line that I used kept breaking, and it was frustrating to say the least. So, get sme really strong stuff.

Also, rather than wrapping the fishing line around your fingers (like you would use dental floss), consider making two "handles" that you can wrap the ends around so that they can take the cutting of the line, not your fingers.

I used an up-and-down sawing motion with the line as I pulled toward the rear of the car, guiding the line down the BSM. Be sure that you don't pull AWAY from the door too much, as you might find yourself digging into the back of the BSM instead of just the adhesive, making the job a LOT tougher (and damaging the BSM).

This job took some patience... But you'll love the results! For me, since I had the BSMs on the car for so long, it was like getting a new car. The difference is that dramatic.

-Kirk

 

Took mine off last month (02) after a polish and wax i couldnt tell the difference, great mod !

 

Thanks for all the responses.

I think I will go ahead and try to take them off. I figure the worst case scenario is that I will have to get them put back on.

 

You can always put them back on if you have any issues.
Give it a shot.

 

[QUOTE=lpabsolute Personally i think they look naked with outh the BSM. [/QUOTE]

I love naked!

CRVETTE

 

undefined how much did you purchase your vette for?

 

Torch red can be effected by UV rays... more so than other colors... ask any body shop, and they will tell you that red colors can be more expensive than other colors.. the car is six years old... chances are there will be a difference.. but as you say if it is too much, you can always put them back on...

 

same here looks good.

 

[QUOTE=dooscoop32]If this what naked be, I LIKE NAKED!

I do not like the BSMs at all, and totally approve of your choice to remove them. The original C5 designers did not include any form of BSM...They were not part of the original design studies, nor of the final production design.