Best way to de-badge a car?
Discussion
What car is it? And what badge? If you are sure the badge is just glued on, I normally just run some bailing twine/fishing line down the back of the badge to break it away.
Then apply some hot water and car shampoo and rub as much of the glue away as you can. Avoid scraping or scouring at the paint. Sometimes tar/bug remover can help soften it.
Once you are happy with having all of the glue removed, give the area a good polish, as often the paint has faded or discoloured slightly and the outline of the badge can be seen.
This has worked for me with all of me "de-badge" efforts
Then apply some hot water and car shampoo and rub as much of the glue away as you can. Avoid scraping or scouring at the paint. Sometimes tar/bug remover can help soften it.
Once you are happy with having all of the glue removed, give the area a good polish, as often the paint has faded or discoloured slightly and the outline of the badge can be seen.
This has worked for me with all of me "de-badge" efforts
Jimmy No Hands said:
Hairdryer and some floss works well. But I've also had good results with some warm water and an old store card, just be careful not to scratch.
Yes I would go with this idea, of course check there are no locating holes.Used this method, plus a 1 bar electric fire mounted about 1 foot away,, (obviously protect the rear lights and bumper), while working in a bodyshop many years ago, working mainly on Volvos, when re-spraying.
People have lots of reasons not to want to advertise what model the car is, so I don't disagree with it.
Unfortunately because the S3 is quite a 'rare' car among other A3s you'll be blending into a boring crowd
All is not lost though, there was some bloke on PH Readers Cars the other week who proclaimed to have an S3 because he had remapped his 1.8T.
Regardless, I've found the best way to remove stick-on badges is to get one of those bodyfiller mixing tools, the flat plastic piece with a tapered edge. Stronger than a credit card and really takes care of business quickly.
Unfortunately because the S3 is quite a 'rare' car among other A3s you'll be blending into a boring crowd
All is not lost though, there was some bloke on PH Readers Cars the other week who proclaimed to have an S3 because he had remapped his 1.8T.
Regardless, I've found the best way to remove stick-on badges is to get one of those bodyfiller mixing tools, the flat plastic piece with a tapered edge. Stronger than a credit card and really takes care of business quickly.
davepoth said:
But why? Why would you spend the money on an S3 which has too much performance to properly exploit day-to-day, if you're going to debadge it and make it look like all of the other TDi S-Lines in the car park? Wear those badges proudly!
Not sure really, it seems a bit showy? People who know what it is don't need the badges and people who don't don't need to know!Every other car has M-Sport/S-Line/Turbo etc on it, there is a guy who has a 2.5 TDI badged up as an RS4 around here
I've just had it chipped and it is fully exploited regularly I can assure you!
C.A.R. said:
People have lots of reasons not to want to advertise what model the car is, so I don't disagree with it.
Unfortunately because the S3 is quite a 'rare' car among other A3s you'll be blending into a boring crowd
All is not lost though, there was some bloke on PH Readers Cars the other week who proclaimed to have an S3 because he had remapped his 1.8T.
Regardless, I've found the best way to remove stick-on badges is to get one of those body filler mixing tools, the flat plastic piece with a tapered edge. Stronger than a credit card and really takes care of business quickly.
Maybe that guy would like to buy my S3 badges! LolUnfortunately because the S3 is quite a 'rare' car among other A3s you'll be blending into a boring crowd
All is not lost though, there was some bloke on PH Readers Cars the other week who proclaimed to have an S3 because he had remapped his 1.8T.
Regardless, I've found the best way to remove stick-on badges is to get one of those body filler mixing tools, the flat plastic piece with a tapered edge. Stronger than a credit card and really takes care of business quickly.
I like my car to be less recognisable whenever possible, be it to the law or others who feel outraged at my reckless overtaking or whatever. I haven't seen many other S3s around town, certainly no other black ones.
I do like the badges though, maybe I'll leave them for a bit while I decide!
M3RMS said:
Is it riding a bit high, it looks like it's on stilts - or is that just me??
Maybe because of the uneven ground, that was a picture the seller took, looks ok on tarmac - suspension is standard.Best way is, to heat the badge\glue with a hair dyer or heat gun. Then get some sewing thread, fishing line or even a credit card. And take your time and be careful. Then you should be able to remove the glue with a tar remover and some elbow grease. 
But be warned that if the paint work isn't in very good condition/not been polished well, then there will be a colour difference where the badges were. So you will probably need to give it a good polish as well
But be warned that if the paint work isn't in very good condition/not been polished well, then there will be a colour difference where the badges were. So you will probably need to give it a good polish as well
My mate's younger brother debadged a Ford Sierra with a shovel in about 1987 when it was briefly fashionable for young boys to go around pinching car badges following the appearance of the Beastie Boys and their VW badge necklaces. So a shovel will definitely work.
A better method is to heat the badge thoroughly with a hot-air gun or hairdryer then to use a piece of nylon fishing line as a kind of cheese wire to cut through the sticky backing. Remove the excess sticky stuf with white spirit.
A better method is to heat the badge thoroughly with a hot-air gun or hairdryer then to use a piece of nylon fishing line as a kind of cheese wire to cut through the sticky backing. Remove the excess sticky stuf with white spirit.
davepoth said:
But why? Why would you spend the money on an S3 which has too much performance to properly exploit day-to-day, if you're going to debadge it and make it look like all of the other TDi S-Lines in the car park? Wear those badges proudly!
Because when people assume it is a boring S Line and are subsequently left behind the look on their faces is far more worthwhile than hoping a few people might notice the S3 badge.1) get a hair dryer and warm the badge whilst pulling lightly at the corner.
2) you should notice that it gets to a point where it will peel slowly, so peel it slowly and it should come off with most of the glue.
3) Clear as much of the glue as possible then use a car wax to get the rest off.
Don't over heat the badge as the glue will become really sticky defeating the object of heating it
2) you should notice that it gets to a point where it will peel slowly, so peel it slowly and it should come off with most of the glue.
3) Clear as much of the glue as possible then use a car wax to get the rest off.
Don't over heat the badge as the glue will become really sticky defeating the object of heating it
Boil a kettle, pour the water over the badge and use a credit card or bodyfiller spreader as suggested earlier. No need to ponce about with a hairdrier...I should know I did this on my Z3 and I have access to all the hairdriers I could want. I took my 3.0i badge off and replaced it with a PH smiley. I hope that no engine size badge is less tempting to some joyridder than the 3.0i as it seems (since buying mine) that many people think they are all 1.9 engines. I know what's under the bonnet, that's all that matters to me and I'm sure it's not as fast as an S3 either, but it probably surprises some drivers...no need to shout about it.
I took my 3.0i badge off and replaced it with a PH smiley. I hope that no engine size badge is less tempting to some joyridder than the 3.0i as it seems (since buying mine) that many people think they are all 1.9 engines. I know what's under the bonnet, that's all that matters to me and I'm sure it's not as fast as an S3 either, but it probably surprises some drivers...no need to shout about it. 
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