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Personally, i think that replacing them is the easiest and cleanest way. Plasty dip is a mess, and it will get all over paint and you won’t be able to get it off. When you replace them they are solid color and the edges won’t peel off while plasti dip will. I believe that plastic will also fade over time. i’ve included a few pics of mine, I replace the badges with gloss black ones.
Personally, i think that replacing them is the easiest and cleanest way. Plasty dip is a mess, and it will get all over paint and you won’t be able to get it off. When you replace them they are solid color and the edges won’t peel off while plasti dip will. I believe that plastic will also fade over time. i’ve included a few pics of mine, I replace the badges with gloss black ones.
Dental floss, heatgun and set of nitrile gloves. Fishing line works better than dental floss if you have it. Used painters tape to outline the original emblems so you have a reference for alignment of new ones but still able to clay & polish the area with a buffer before you apply replacements which I highly suggest you take advantage of at the time. Ex - the "C63" emblem does not come with the proper spacing on the backing paper so be sure to use tape to mark where the "C" and the "6" start on the original emblems on the car because you will want to align accordingly if you want it to look factory. Nitrile gloves to save your skin using your fingers with a lot of pressure to roll the remaining adhesive off if you dont want to use googone or some other adhesive remover on the paint.
Dental floss, heatgun and set of nitrile gloves. Fishing line works better than dental floss if you have it. Used painters tape to outline the original emblems so you have a reference for alignment of new ones but still able to clay & polish the area with a buffer before you apply replacements which I highly suggest you take advantage of at the time. Ex - the "C63" emblem does not come with the proper spacing on the backing paper so be sure to use tape to mark where the "C" and the "6" start on the original emblems on the car because you will want to align accordingly if you want it to look factory. Nitrile gloves to save your skin using your fingers with a lot of pressure to roll the remaining adhesive off if you dont want to use googone or some other adhesive remover on the paint.
Did mine last week..
Looks nice! I think that may be the wrong a badge though.
except the chrome trunk strip, which I wrapped as I could not find an aftermarket piece.
Did you have to remove it to wrap it? If so, what was that process like?
Originally Posted by tobeit
Did them all including rear, side, and door handles. With night package no chrome left on my car.
I'd love to see how the handles look. Did you do the inner part of the handles also? Do you still maintain that touch functionality for locking/unlocking?
Looks nice! I think that may be the wrong a badge though.
Thanks. Realize its the facelift "S" but like it better, haha. Plus I run the panamericana grill and will probably get the new diffuser and tips down the line. On another note anyone know where to get the upper chrome door handle replacement covers? Want to strip them and get them color matched.
Originally Posted by SandSnip3r
They're just held on by adhesive on all models?
Not sure on all models but most likely. Was on mine.
Originally Posted by SandSnip3r
What did you do for the star?
Heated it up very carefully keeping in mind that heat was getting to the camera and plastic behind the back side seams and slowly working floss around the outside. There are 3 grommets that fit into holes in the middle so you cant work the floss up/down all the way through you have to work your way around.
Last edited by deftronix; Feb 25, 2020 at 01:50 PM.
Reason: Added other replies
Did you have to remove it to wrap it? If so, what was that process like?
I'd love to see how the handles look. Did you do the inner part of the handles also? Do you still maintain that touch functionality for locking/unlocking?
Trunk strip - no, you don’t have to remove it to wrap it. Btw, I did not paint it as paint does not adhere well on chrome surfaces
Door handles - the chrome is still a little bit visible when looking close up as the covers don’t fully wrap around. But not noticeable. Yes, touch still works fine.
Btw, on the sedan the star on trunk is held with 3 small screws and to properly remove it you need to take the trunk lid liner off. All others are just taped.
Do you have the tilting star with hidden camera? The 2020 does and I cannot get that star to budge one bit with even a heat gun.
Yes, I have the tilting star. It is the hardest emblem of the bunch to do. Really recommend using floss while heating up the emblem to work your way around and through the adhesive. As you can see by the picture below there is only adhesive around the ring of the star with 3 guide pins in the center.
Do you have the tilting star with hidden camera? The 2020 does and I cannot get that star to budge one bit with even a heat gun.
This happened to me too, I have the coupe so you have to remove the little backing plate. You then have to pry the star off with something. I used a plastic tool.
I tried doing mine on my magno paint and it was painful.
You have to be more careful about the products you use to remove the remaining adhesive. The chemicals strong enough to remove adhesive may be strong enough to damage your matte finish as well.
Also the star is the biggest pain in the ***. I ended up needing to use some tools to wedge it up and remove it from the piece its on, and ended up scratching the matte piece. Had to get it repainted.
This happened to me too, I have the coupe so you have to remove the little backing plate. You then have to pry the star off with something. I used a plastic tool.
You don't have to remove the backing plate. Was able to do it with the method I listed above.
Originally Posted by Encore818
Be SUPER careful.
I tried doing mine on my magno paint and it was painful.
You have to be more careful about the products you use to remove the remaining adhesive. The chemicals strong enough to remove adhesive may be strong enough to damage your matte finish as well.
Also the star is the biggest pain in the ***. I ended up needing to use some tools to wedge it up and remove it from the piece its on, and ended up scratching the matte piece. Had to get it repainted.
Don't use anything to pry the emblems. Floss and heat should be the only thing you need and wont have any chance of scratching the paint. Others replying should read my posts above more carefully. Cant help as far as the sedan mounting screw access though.
You don't have to remove the backing plate. Was able to do it with the method I listed above.
Don't use anything to pry the emblems. Floss and heat should be the only thing you need and wont have any chance of scratching the paint. Others replying should read my posts above more carefully. Cant help as far as the sedan mounting screw access though.
At the time my car was only a few months fresh from the factory. The adhesive was ridiculously strong. I see your car is a few years old, maybe it has something to do with it?
With a lot of effort I was able to floss the other badges off, the star was the only issue. Even with all the adhesive removed I had to use a very fine screwdriver to push out the three grommets from the back of the plate.
Sounds like you were able to pull the grommets out without removing the plate. Either they changed the grommets on the facelift or with time things were just looser on your car.
At the time my car was only a few months fresh from the factory. The adhesive was ridiculously strong. I see your car is a few years old, maybe it has something to do with it?
With a lot of effort I was able to floss the other badges off, the star was the only issue. Even with all the adhesive removed I had to use a very fine screwdriver to push out the three grommets from the back of the plate.
Sounds like you were able to pull the grommets out without removing the plate. Either they changed the grommets on the facelift or with time things were just looser on your car.
Car only has 14K and was garage kept so not sure. The newer the less time it takes in my experience because its not all dried out and flaking everywhere but you're right in that it can be stronger. A steamer can also help in that situation.
Once I had the adhesive cut through around the whole ring I used floss to work it behind the star where the guide pins/grommets are and wiggled back and forth until the star came up enough to be able to pull it off. All the grommets stayed in during the process.
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