Removing ugly striping
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300E
Removing ugly striping
My 300E is the dark charcoal color (I think Anthracite Grey it's called). However, it's got ugly beige accent stripes down the sides (supposed to match the ~Palomino-colored interior I guess). Not only do I not like striping to begin with, but this stuff is clearly original and pieces of it are missing in places, so it just looks worse.
I while ago I was browsing Lexus forums where it was suggested that this crap be removed with concentrated oven cleaner, wiped off after it softens up the stripes but before it damages the paint finish. I tried this with an LS 400 I was driving, and it didn't work. I was in fear for the paint so I diluted the oven cleaner with water and wiped it off, but the whole time the striping on that car wasn't the least bit bothered.
Others have suggested I heat the striping up with a hair dryer and then "peel it right off." Keep in mind that this stuff has probably been on the car for 20 years now.
Just looking for the most simple, painless solution available. Exterior-wise, the car is probably a 4 out of 10, but I know it'll look a lot cleaner without the stripes.
I while ago I was browsing Lexus forums where it was suggested that this crap be removed with concentrated oven cleaner, wiped off after it softens up the stripes but before it damages the paint finish. I tried this with an LS 400 I was driving, and it didn't work. I was in fear for the paint so I diluted the oven cleaner with water and wiped it off, but the whole time the striping on that car wasn't the least bit bothered.
Others have suggested I heat the striping up with a hair dryer and then "peel it right off." Keep in mind that this stuff has probably been on the car for 20 years now.
Just looking for the most simple, painless solution available. Exterior-wise, the car is probably a 4 out of 10, but I know it'll look a lot cleaner without the stripes.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,734
Likes: 65
From: Hotlanta
AMG
If you peel that stuff off, you'll probably still have the lines as the non-faded paint underneath will contrast with the paint that's been exposed all this time.
I know detailers can remove it for you.
I know detailers can remove it for you.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
i did my old car with an old credit card. ideally you use a heat gun or hair dryer and soften it a little, then peel it away with a credit card or something not too hard that will scratch the paint. then some goo gone to remove the residue. i actually left the car out in the sun for a few hours and went at it...
but like chapmeister said, you can take it to a detailer and they will probably do a better job... good luck, and here's hoping those stripes never make a come-back!
but like chapmeister said, you can take it to a detailer and they will probably do a better job... good luck, and here's hoping those stripes never make a come-back!
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300E
Haha, yeah those stripes look horrible on any car. I'm not too worried about the slight paint contrast with the stripes gone--like I said the car isn't the prettiest anyway, but I'm trying to make it look as respectable as I can.
I will try the credit card trick with the hair dryer--I have heard of that before. Do you suggest using any kind of liquid to soften the stripes first (besides parking in the sun), or should I just go at it with the credit card?
I have some adhesive remover--GREAT for removing adhesive parking/registration stickers from glass, etc.--the residue comes right off. So that'll probably be adequate to remove the remaining residue. I've also had luck removing dried egg (not from my car!) and scuff marks using a clay bar, so I'm not worried about getting rid of the residue--just about getting off the stripes themselves.
I will try the credit card trick with the hair dryer--I have heard of that before. Do you suggest using any kind of liquid to soften the stripes first (besides parking in the sun), or should I just go at it with the credit card?
I have some adhesive remover--GREAT for removing adhesive parking/registration stickers from glass, etc.--the residue comes right off. So that'll probably be adequate to remove the remaining residue. I've also had luck removing dried egg (not from my car!) and scuff marks using a clay bar, so I'm not worried about getting rid of the residue--just about getting off the stripes themselves.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,647
Likes: 8
Youngtimer
i never used anything but the card when i did mine, and then goo gone.
just do it REALLY slow, and start with a tiny section and see how it goes before you get into it. just make sure the car is nice and warm and hopefully it will come off clean.
my old car was black, and after i was done i washed and waxed it, you could hardly see where the lines were.
just do it REALLY slow, and start with a tiny section and see how it goes before you get into it. just make sure the car is nice and warm and hopefully it will come off clean.
my old car was black, and after i was done i washed and waxed it, you could hardly see where the lines were.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Socialist West Coast
95 E320, 19 Ram 1500 Hemi, 21 GLS 580(wife)
I have a natural rubber wheel that you attach to your cordless drill, purchased it from an autobody supply shop. It rubs off the vinyl striping with ease, and no risk of scratches or chemicals
It also removes goo from when you debadge a car. It is still at 50% and I have done about 4 cars
It also removes goo from when you debadge a car. It is still at 50% and I have done about 4 cars
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,062
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Dora the Explorer
All you have to do is:
1. let the sun heat up the sheet metal (the car should be completely clean)
2. Use the pointy ent of a zip tie (or credit card - that's a good one, Zed) to pull back enough pin stripe to get your hands on
3. Peel off the pinstripe with your hands.
4. Clean up the adhesive with 3M adhesive remover
1. let the sun heat up the sheet metal (the car should be completely clean)
2. Use the pointy ent of a zip tie (or credit card - that's a good one, Zed) to pull back enough pin stripe to get your hands on
3. Peel off the pinstripe with your hands.
4. Clean up the adhesive with 3M adhesive remover
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
1987 Mercedes-Benz 300E
Thanks all for your contributions. I went at it, first with a credit card and hair dryer (didn't work).
After a third of the front quarter panel was done (sort of) I got frustrated and grabbed an exacto knife and removed the trim that way. Left the car in the sun, spread adhesive remove over the stripe on a single body panel, and then slid the knife along under the stripe for as far down the panel as possible before either the stripe broke off or the blade angle became wrong. The hardest part was keeping the angle of the blade perfect. If it wasn't 100% perfect, the blade wouldn't affect the stripe and might instead scratch the paint (duh!). Most of the time I ended up removing the upper and lower portions of the stripe separately. But if I got the angle right I was sometimes able to take off 2 feet of a stripe at a time. Overall I spent maybe 1/2 an hour on each side of the car.
Most of the adhesive is still on the car (I couldn't get it off) but it matches the paint color pretty well and does not stand out unless you specifically know to look for it. From 10 feet away the car looks MUCH better, much cleaner. I already re-clayed and re-waxed the panels of the car that came in contact with the adhesive remover, and may tackle the remaining adhesive another time.
You can see the difference in the attached [MS Paint] file. I think the front quarter panel looks so much better than the driver's door (where I hadn't removed the stripe yet). Of course now the whole car looks like the quarter panel
After a third of the front quarter panel was done (sort of) I got frustrated and grabbed an exacto knife and removed the trim that way. Left the car in the sun, spread adhesive remove over the stripe on a single body panel, and then slid the knife along under the stripe for as far down the panel as possible before either the stripe broke off or the blade angle became wrong. The hardest part was keeping the angle of the blade perfect. If it wasn't 100% perfect, the blade wouldn't affect the stripe and might instead scratch the paint (duh!). Most of the time I ended up removing the upper and lower portions of the stripe separately. But if I got the angle right I was sometimes able to take off 2 feet of a stripe at a time. Overall I spent maybe 1/2 an hour on each side of the car.
Most of the adhesive is still on the car (I couldn't get it off) but it matches the paint color pretty well and does not stand out unless you specifically know to look for it. From 10 feet away the car looks MUCH better, much cleaner. I already re-clayed and re-waxed the panels of the car that came in contact with the adhesive remover, and may tackle the remaining adhesive another time.
You can see the difference in the attached [MS Paint] file. I think the front quarter panel looks so much better than the driver's door (where I hadn't removed the stripe yet). Of course now the whole car looks like the quarter panel
Last edited by WDBEA30D; Jul 9, 2007 at 10:06 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
