Taking them off is pretty easy but the glue is a different story. My car was 5 years old when I took them off, no scratches.
Body side molding
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Ky
Originally Posted by jman1
heat em up with a hair dryer and use some good fishing line to slide behind em
That's how most do it. Then some will use their thumb to take off the excess glue and then something like goo gone to get the rest of the glue off. Then wax 'er up. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
In 2 years I've only seen one member who had any problems
The key seems to be heat them up and take your time although i've not doen it myself.
The key seems to be heat them up and take your time although i've not doen it myself.
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Originally Posted by jman1
heat em up with a hair dryer and use some good fishing line to slide behind em
That method has worked for most forum members who have removed the BSMs from their car.
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5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Gering NE
Just did this a couple months ago on an 02 EB z. Used a heat gun, had to get pretty warm but be carefull I am sure you can bubble the paint. Getting them started coming off is a b...., once you can get behind them with your fingers, its down hill from there. The easiest way to get the glue off is to get an "eraser", its a tool that goes on a die grinder and it looks just like a pencil eraser only about 3 inches in diameter. It works awesome, no scratches. I bought the whole tool, die grinder and all for $35. After buffing you cant tell they were ever on my car. I would be worried about the fishing line scratching, but maybe it works fine. Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
From: Washington Twp. New Jersey
I took mine off with a hair dryer when car(2004) was a year old. Passenger side looked perfect and driver side left a mark in the clear coat which looked horrible so I had some custom paint work done and now it looks great!!!!! Go for it, too many people have had sucess taking them off and not many had my luck. The car looks some much better without the side moldings!!!!!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 30,055
Likes: 351
From: Big Red Ne
Originally Posted by Electron vette
Has anyone taken the body side molding off without scratching the paint? I have heard to use hot wire, then I will have to get the glue off.
bub
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Somers CT
I took my BSM off, '02 magnetic red metallic, and there was no fading or ghosting leftover. The car is almost four years old and is garaged most of the time, so the paint is in good condition. The hardest part was removing the adhesive using my fingers, it just tore up my hands. Using fishing line to saw through the adhesive worked as described in the forum. It took me about 3 hours to do both sides. I love it, I wish I had done it sooner!