It is a kinda marmite approach on this, as even I was yes or no for a while.

Decided to bite the bullet and remove the door rub strips

Will possibly colour code the remaining Bumper trim to finish off but for now like it as it is.

tools for the job

- Tar / Panel sticker removal fluid
- Trim strip removal wheel (fixes to a drill chuck)
- Old Credit card or similar to start off lifting trim
- lot's of rags



This wheel is a absolute life saver. It is rubber and you can connect it to a low RPM drill to create friction and heat which will make much lighter work on cleaning off residue sticky stuff left behind



Car before I started



First I used boiling water to heat up the trim. I used a old credit card to start off removal of trim

Then very slowly poured hot water down trim and pulled at same time.

First rub strip removed



You can see that it leaves a tram line of doubled sided tape behind



This was quite easy to remove trim. Did this to all 4 rub strips

Then it was time to use the trim strip removal wheel.

First I soaked a rag in the tar/panel cleaner fluid and wiped over the leftover residue. I cleaned off any dirt. The residue became a little tacky with the cleaner which is better for the trim remover wheel to adhere to it. With the wheel attached to a drill I started off slow and careful then began to get confident. The wheel doing a good job of grabbing the residue and pulling it off. Took approx 5 minutes per door, which without the wheel would of been a hell of a lot longer

first door cleaned up.



With light fading just finished the rest and then used some detailer and clay then some light rubbing compound and scratch remover to clean up the area where adhesive had been.

and results I quite like.

looks good! I did the same on my gold before and used Petrol on a rag to remove the sticky stuff. worked better than anything else.

 

 

looks good! I did the same on my gold before and used Petrol on a rag to remove the sticky stuff. worked better than anything else.

 

 

cheers Petrol does work better than the tar removal type stuff and used it loads of times before. It still takes a while, whereas this trim removal wheel was quick

looks much better ... do you have a link for the removal wheel ?    i may have a go ...

They are called Toffee Wheels, have a search on eBay

Bowders mate nice job, I'v been waiting to see a silver one done.

You just made the decision for me to do mine!

Bowders mate nice job, I'v been waiting to see a silver one done.

You just made the decision for me to do mine!

 

Cheers buddy

 

i recently colour coded bumpers too.

 

 

 

 

Cheers buddy

i recently colour coded bumpers too.

Love that last pic bowders. Mine is slowly starting to look like yours, until the blue dip after Xmas.

Love that last pic bowders. Mine is slowly starting to look like yours, until the blue dip after Xmas.

 

The colour coded bumper strips look the nuts Bowders. :clap:

 

its on m new year / 10th birthday treat list to colour code all mine

 

with that in mind - did you replace the bumper strips with smooth ones or just refinish the original "rough" ones?

Edited 16 December, 201312 yr by mac11irl

The colour coded bumper strips look the nuts Bowders. :clap:

its on m new year / 10th birthday treat list to colour code all mine

with that in mind - did you replace the bumper strips with smooth ones or just refinish the original "rough" ones?

Hey buddy thanks for the comments.

I think the colour coding brings the car more up to date with a modern touch.

I just got the original strips and gave them a rough sanding then a medium sand. Only really to take the texture down a bit. Then I used filler primer and prepared for top coat. Took them to local paint shop to finish off. With the top coat and lacquer they came off smooth.

Sent from my Samsung S3

Cool, I'll start making an equipment / materials list!!

How deep is the recess that's left on the doors that's normally under the strips? Wanting to do the same on my black magic octavia. Need a new drivers door so might have a trial run on the old door when I change it