Help with body side mouldings
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Westfield Indiana
Help with body side mouldings
Recently there was a thread about the popularity of BSM's. I would like to take mine off but am afraid of having paint problems. Have any of you done this and can tell me how to do it without problems?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,599
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From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I have read about a lot of members removing their BSM. Look at this post Removed my BSMs and washed the car today a little down from your post. Maybe you can PM the author and get his advice.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
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From: Not on either liberal coast.
Of all the past discussions about removing body side moldings, I only recall one where there was resulting paint damage. I recall that had to do with the prior owner having had some repainting done or something to that effect.
If you use a hair dryer or heat gun at medium settings, dental floss (mint is my favorite
) or thin fishing line and take your time, you'll probably be just fine. Some have used a credit card instead of floss or fishing line. From 6" or so from the surface, heat up 4-6" of the molding and saw cut through the adhesive, repeat...
There will be adhesive left on the body which can be rolled up with your thumb. The shorter pieces of molding are the ones that take extra care since they don't flex as well. When they're all removed, use WD40 and/or a clay bar to clean the surface, then your favorite mild abrasive cleaner, and polish/wax. Hopefully, there won't be any paint difference under the moldings. If your moldings come off intact, you can easily sell them to someone who wants to replace them on their car.
If you use a hair dryer or heat gun at medium settings, dental floss (mint is my favorite
) or thin fishing line and take your time, you'll probably be just fine. Some have used a credit card instead of floss or fishing line. From 6" or so from the surface, heat up 4-6" of the molding and saw cut through the adhesive, repeat...There will be adhesive left on the body which can be rolled up with your thumb. The shorter pieces of molding are the ones that take extra care since they don't flex as well. When they're all removed, use WD40 and/or a clay bar to clean the surface, then your favorite mild abrasive cleaner, and polish/wax. Hopefully, there won't be any paint difference under the moldings. If your moldings come off intact, you can easily sell them to someone who wants to replace them on their car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,451
Likes: 2
From: East Peoria Illinois
took mine off with goo gone and fishing line, and a blow dryer. Worked really well, but looks like an indention in the paint where they were. Almost like past paintwork...not sure. But i had to put them back on.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 11,148
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From: U S A
Odds are you shouldn't have any paint problems removing them...unless of course down the road someone parked next to you accidentally opens their door into yours and there isn't a BSM there to take the hit. Just one of the the downsides to removing the BSM's. Like anything, you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,453
Likes: 81
From: Fishin' Pole FL
Odds are you shouldn't have any paint problems removing them...unless of course down the road someone parked next to you accidentally opens their door into yours and there isn't a BSM there to take the hit. Just one of the the downsides to removing the BSM's. Like anything, you have to weigh the pros and cons.
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Good luck with the removal. Just take your time and use the methods above and you should be fine. Helps to have an extra set of hands to help lift the molding up away from the car when you begin the removal. Just have them pull gently.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
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From: Naples Florida
Pull at them gently and you should not have any problems. Get some gloves for the fishing line
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2007
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Ya there is no reason that the paint would peel off with the moldings unless the car was previously painted and the body shop who painted it did a ghetto job and never took the moldings off. The tape used on the moldings isnt too strong and you really wont have any problems doing it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: U S A
Like I said, you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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I don't think I've ever parked next to a car whose door would hit my bsms if it opened into me.
I heated with a hair dryer and used some fishing line to get them started. Once I could pull, I dropped the line and just used the hair dryer and pulled slowly. Have a black 99 with 55k miles and it did no damage to the paint and the paint was no different underneath. You can't tell I ever had them. After they were off I sprayed 3m adhesive remover, let it dry, sprayed again and then started working with my thumb. Got a blister but a small price to pay. Think it looks a lot cleaner now.
I heated with a hair dryer and used some fishing line to get them started. Once I could pull, I dropped the line and just used the hair dryer and pulled slowly. Have a black 99 with 55k miles and it did no damage to the paint and the paint was no different underneath. You can't tell I ever had them. After they were off I sprayed 3m adhesive remover, let it dry, sprayed again and then started working with my thumb. Got a blister but a small price to pay. Think it looks a lot cleaner now.