Bumper sticker removal

[imported_stev]

I'm wondering how successful people here have been in bumper sticker removal? Was it on the bumper or on the body of the car? How did you do it? How did it look afterwards? Did it take the paint off? How well did the underlying paint match the rest of the car?

I've seen some good deals for cars that happen to have bumper stickers on them and I'm trying to decide whether I should bother at all. Other people don't seem to be bothering with them and it's caused their prices to drop. Of course, there may be other things wrong or people figure that if you put a bumper sticker on your car, you don't take good care of it!

 

[fredhe12]

Goo Gone on the bumper has worked for me. I wouldn't use if on the body though, might eat through clear coat. On glass, I might test to to see if it spots on the glass in anyway.

 

[imported_stev]

Thanks for the response. Anyone else? If not, I'll let it die.

 

[Yreka]

Heat em up with a hair dryer and remove as much as possible.. You can also use a razorblade scraper depending on the finish. This can be really handy to get it started peeling. You will need to be VERY careful of course and only use this if you dont mind a few light to moderate scratches.. If you are super anal about scratches, I would probibly try and soak the surface with goo gone or some other adhesive remover ( soak a paper towel and lay it over the sticker for vertical surfaces)

Thicker ones, like emblems and such, a piece of dental floss + heat help remove the bulk of them.. Once you get all that crap off, definately invest in some goo-gone to remove the residue then re apply some wax to the finish once cleaned.

I heard 3m makes a professional adhesive remover that also works well, but I have never needed anything stronger than goo gone.

 

[Gillbot]

WD-40

 

[imported_stev]

Originally posted by: Gillbot
WD-40

Will WD-40 soak through a plastic sticker or do you still need to try to peel off the sticker before you use WD-40 to try to remove the remaining adhesive?

 

[Gillbot]

Sometimes it will seep into the edges but it's better to peel the sticker and use WD-40 or any thin oil to remove the adhesive.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I have had problems with almost all cars I buy, these people love bumper stickers...huge and small, on the windows on the the paint. I remove as much as I can and then I use a degreaser I got from bumper to bumper, which im sure you can get at checkered, napa, etc.

All it is, is a degreaser to get the sticky aftermath gone...you spray it on , leave it on for a minute or so and you wipe it and its literally gone. love it!

its also a buffer

 

[dud]

Heat up the sticker with heat gun (or hair dryer) and scrape off (gently) as much as you can. Then soak the remnants with Goo Gone and wipe. The stuff smells horrifically ... but it gets the job done.

Good luck ... and don't forget to wax/polish the bumper (if it's painted) when you are done.

 

[MrPickins]

What I hate is that depending on how long the sticker has been on and what color paint/plastic, there may be an unfaded spot where the sticker used to be.

I hate bumper stickers with a passion.