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Getting ready to polish the car and decided to install new stone guards on our 09 Carrera.
I don't see how people in cold / cloudy climes do this.
Even in the hot So Cal sun, the guards came of in many many pieces, followed by multiple applications of 3M adhesive remover.
YUCK!
I know people recommend using a steam cleaner, but that worked less-well than hot sun for me.
I went through 8 plastic "putty knives"
It's probably the older 3M stuff that spent most of it's time on the car. There is a interval time to remove the PPF and stone guards so you don't have this issue. Don't quote me on this but I believe it's 7-10 yrs depending on the brand.
Yikes! Just replaced the guards on my 06 C2S 73K miles which, AFAIK, had not been previously replaced. It was a 10 minute process on the passenger side (no more than about 5 pieces to get it off) but more difficult on the driver's side. Nothing like your situation or other messes that have popped up recently, so I am super grateful.
It's always a pleasure seeing Nordic Gold, even in the middle of that Cosmic Patience Test you had there.
I removed mine on a 997.1 and it was terrible. Heat gun, goof off, goo gone. I worked for hours and finally called a detail friend to help. We finished at midnight! About 6 hours of work. What I have done is get the magnetic carbon fiber guards. Good to stay on up to 130MPH. I never want to go thru that again.
Agree with direct heat makes for a much cleaner removal. I used a Dyson hair dryer. First side left some residue because I didn't heat it enough. Second side was nice and warm and I pulled it all off in one piece with little residue.
I typically use hot water from a kettle poured over the film to warm it. Then I pour more hot water as I get the edges to lift to pull it up. There's always a lot of variance with PPF though depending on the initial quality as well as how long its been applied. You def got the worst case scenario where it comes off in tiny pieces with tons of residue.
After reading similar posts over the years and a nightmare back straining experience with the rear window tint in a 740i - I decide to defer to the professionals while getting a full detail.
Our car has been garaged since Day 1, but still major PITA to remove.
Mine has been garaged since day 1 too. I changed it when the car turned 10 years old not because of the yellowing (you can't tell on a black car), but for preventive reason. It's also a lot cheaper to buy the film in bulk and make your own. I think it was like $30 for the roll and enough to do 4 pcs.
The trick is to heat it with steam and stretch it not pull it away from the paint. Pull paralell to the paint and let the stretching of the material release the adhesive. It take a lot of muscle is the only drawback. I made gripper with vice grips and wood blocks to hold it while I stretched it. That helped a lot.
After reading similar posts over the years and a nightmare back straining experience with the rear window tint in a 740i - I decide to defer to the professionals while getting a full detail.
Highly recommend.
What'd that run you for the stone guards? I have an '07 with the originals... doh!
04-25-2022, 05:32 PM
Stone guard removal = Fun? No!!
