Has anyone else struggled with 3M Scotchcal removal from a C5 (or other car)? In case you are not familiar with the product, Scotchcal is a 8 mil clear film that companies like Xpel and others sell in kits to protect the front of your car from rocks and bugs. It is a little tricky to put on, but does the job. The problem comes when you have it for several years, get a couple of dings in the vinyl and try to figure out how to repair the surface. I'm not aware of any way to make it look great again, so removal is the best option.

I've tried heat gun -- nothing. Patience - nada. Gentle pulling - nope. The stuff breaks off in eraser-sized chunks. It would take about 4 hours to clear a one square foot area -- that's a day or more to get it off the front of the car. What I need is a solvent that softens the glue but doesn't damage the clearcoat/paint.

Thanks

 

I finally got all that *&$+# clear bra off my car and repaired the paint. These manufacturers should be shot, IMO.

It took all day to get the 3M Scotchcal "clear bra" product off my car using a pressure washer. During the ordeal, I peeled the paint in a half dozen places. After that, I spent several hours with goof off (contractor strength), getting the residue off. Even though the paint damage was dime-sized and the touchup was pretty good, I wasn't happy.

It's over a year later, and I spent last weekend painting the front of the car where the clear bra was installed - the plastic bumper skin. After many hours of prep, base, clear, color sanding, and polish, the front looks like new again.

You can't make this stuff up. I figured someone would appreciate hearing the full-circle truth about what happens when you put clear bra (3M Scotchcal) on a car and live in a sunny environment.

 

Based on my understanding, Scotchcal is used for graphics and stripes, not for clear bras. The 3M product I have seen widely used for clear bras, including on my own car, is 3M PPF(paint protection film), and can be removed by softening the adhesive with a hair dryer, and pulling at a 90 degree angle. I used the hairdryer method on a friends car, and it worked very well....very time consuming.....but no paint was lifted.

 

indeed, but besides that the scotchcal can be removed much the same way only with a touch more heat and more time.. easiest to heat it a couple times, then heat it evenly on one edge and start tinkering until you get it started peeling.. then just keeep applying the heat and peel carefully... Blasting it off with the power washer wasn't a good idea and will certainly result in the damage the OP posted about.. Yikes.

 

Back in 2001, when I purchased the clear bra product from Xpel, it was called Scotchcal. The name may have changed since and/or it could have been repurposed, but rock chips was the intended use back then.

When the product started to yellow and develop striations (small cracks), I called 3M. They said it would continue to get worse with time and the way to get it off was either steam or use a pressure washer. I visited a local installer and got the same advice. Both cautioned me that this would not be a quick or easy procedure.

I remember saying to the 3M tech support person: "I can't believe a great company like 3M is selling a product like this. If people knew it was going to cost twice as much money to take it off as put it on, if they knew it would yellow and crack, if they knew it they might have to repaint the front of the car, this product would never sell." (All this happened a year ago - before the melt down - so no excuses.)

The local installer advised that in a sunny environment, clear bra products should be replaced every 2 years. Otherwise, they yellow, crack, and are very difficult to get off. FWIIW, my car is occasional use (1-2x/week) and otherwise resides in the garage.

The installer quoted $400 - $500 to remove the clear bra and "no guarantees on paint". Adding up the costs, that's $500 for initial install, $500 to remove, and $500 to repaint the front end - for a grand total of $1500. I'm glad I did it all myself.

I'm not trying to rant. Really, I'm very happy with the paint job and like-new look of the vette. Thanks 3M?? It's just that there are a lot of nice folks on this NG, and they have helped me out with many posts. If I can help them make an informed decision when it comes to protecting the front of their car, it was worth the effort.

 

Well, first off, I agree with the clear bra thoughts in general, the only reason i'd consider it was if I was doing a lot of racing.

I can't however believe that 3m and an install place told you to pressure wash it off... holy cats! HEAT Helps those films release. oh well, upside is you have shiny paint job!