lotus factory fitted film(rear arch)

[vxc]

On my aspen white exige the film fitted at factory is starting to look yellowish

Can this be easily removed?

[bogie]

yes, with a hairdryer ..then just get black ones to replace it for a few quid

[F.C.]

Interesting, where can you get the black protectors for an S2 Exige?
F.C.

[S Works]

Elise shop usually stock them.

[Justin S]

Eliseparts don't show them, but if you order a pair of S1's and put a note on needing S2's they will send them..............

[vxc]

thanks very much!

will see to this at first sunlight

[vxc]

oh just thought,

I guess when taking them off there will be glue reidue left behind is this a simple polish out?

[swilding]

yes but you don't want the surface polished when you fit the new ones. Use some fairy liquid / water to clean the polish off before sticking the new ones on.

[eowen]

vxc said:

On my aspen white exige the film fitted at factory is starting to look yellowish

Can this be easily removed?

Happened to my 2006 Exige. Reason is they use a cheap film, which isnt 3M.

I had to fight against "they all do that sir", "it only shows because the car is white", but eventually Lotus agreed to repalce it. I paid the difference to get 3M. They charge a small fortune for Aspen paint, the least they could do it use better film.

Note: removing the film CAN take paint with it. So be very careful if you do it, or make sure whoever is changing it knows what they are doing.

[vxc]

eowen ... waht u said last got me thinking.

is there a way to perform this task without it taking paint away? like heating it up longer with hairdryer


i have small line of the film on the air scoop entrance i will try this when i get the chance,

[21TonyK]

vxc said:

eowen ... waht u said last got me thinking.

is there a way to perform this task without it taking paint away? like heating it up longer with hairdryer


i have small line of the film on the air scoop entrance i will try this when i get the chance,

Heat with a hairdryer and pull the film back over itself and it should be okay. Done quite a bit of flim on/off on mine without issue.

[vxc]

okay i have started this.

i have got like half the film off but its leaving most of the sticky stuff behind....


how am i getting this off ?
or am i doing it wrong?

please help?!!

[tlracing]

vxc said:

okay i have started this.

i have got like half the film off but its leaving most of the sticky stuff behind....


how am i getting this off ?
or am i doing it wrong?

please help?!!

You need to make sure you're getting the film/glue thoroughly warm before removing. Also, I've found it helps if you pull the film at a very acute angle, so almost right back on itself.

Any remaining glue will usually come off with petrol or other organic solvent, but for obvious reasons don't use anything that's designed to remove paint!

[vxc]

at the moment i am heating the left over glue and rubbing in a down motion with my thumbs/fingers to basically move it off the paint.

this is proving very long and sore process for my fingers.

Can you explain to me a technique or materials to use to make this faster...

[tlracing]

vxc said:

at the moment i am heating the left over glue and rubbing in a down motion with my thumbs/fingers to basically move it off the paint.

this is proving very long and sore process for my fingers.

Indeed - ouch!

vxc said:

Can you explain to me a technique or materials to use to make this faster...

You can safely heat the film until it's almost too hot to touch (obviously, or any further and peeling it off would be difficult!), but the key is to make sure the glue is hot too so it comes away easily (the film's thickness will insulate the glue to an extent).

The paint lacquer is relatively solvent resistant (except things like isocyanates) so something like petrol or similar should get the remaining glue off. you might need to give it time to dissolve, but it will come away. Don't rub too hard though as this will risk scratching the lacquer.

Have a look on the 'Le Mans' section of PH as there are some decent threads in that about sticker removal.

[vxc]

i presume if i douse the area in petrol and leave a while (30mins>?) and use my fingers to rub off?

thanks for your help btw much appreciated!

[mikey P 500]

i used an eraser that you would use to rub out a pencil line. works very well, at removing old glue marks.

[F.C.]

You would be amazed at what a little diesel will do.
After all it melts tarmac.
F.C.

[tlracing]

vxc said:

i presume if i douse the area in petrol and leave a while (30mins>?) and use my fingers to rub off?

thanks for your help btw much appreciated!

Use a cloth, if only because having glue-covered, petrol-smelling fingers might lead to some odd reactions from people!

[vxc]

and obviously....this is not going to effect the paint?