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Almost every car enthusiast will become addicted to customization at some point, people say. After all, who wouldn’t want to own a vehicle that reflects your unique style? That explains why, year in and year out, millions of dollars are spent on racing seats and headlight bulbs. Trends may come and go, but this one just never gets old.
Overall, the aesthetic is the first thing people come after when they customize their cars. As seen on Car Talk Community – a well-known automobile forum – the visual impression of a vehicle matters most for car customizers. At first glance, you would only pay attention to the external appearance, not the car’s speed or engine noise. It’s the look that matters.
In the last few years, “debadging” has become a prominent part of this “aesthetic customization.” Thanks to its exquisite outcome, the practice is gaining significant popularity. And the best part? You can perform it at home to bestow your ride a simplistic, elegant look without spending a ton of money!
But how to debadge a car without damaging the paintwork? That’s what Drive Revolve will discuss today!
Why Should You Bother?
In case you are still confused, “debadging” is the process of taking off the manufacturer’s emblems from a vehicle. For example, you may remove the brand’s logo or the badge designating the car’s model.
Why would people debadge their cars, then? As mentioned above, the first and foremost reason is aesthetics. The clean, streamlined look of the car after all the emblems are removed fascinates many drivers. Some also believe that this practice complements the smoothed-out bodywork of a modified automobile. Thus, it is often seen on customized vehicles.
Aside from the look, individuals have peculiar reasons for removing emblems from cars. “It would be a little showy that you have to prove to the world you are driving a ///M3, not just the lowly 328i,” Redditor “third_pedal” stated in r/Autos. Well, keeping people guessing what’s under the hood is part of the fun, too!
Finally, some drivers claim that debadging a car makes it simpler to clean and wax. It’s a pain to clean round and mark the paintwork because the emblem tends to trap wax and leave behind a chalky residue.
How To Debadge A Car Like A Pro – A Step-By-Step Guide
Does that make you want to begin this little DIY project? Our guide on how to remove badges from car will help you take off those emblems safely so you can drive label-free or install your custom one!
The process consists of five steps and should be done in 20 minutes. Please note that it’s only applicable if the emblems you want to remove are attached using glue. Some models – such as the Honda Talon 4 Seaters – use metal or plastic clips to secure their badges, and in that case, I’d recommend letting a technician do the job. Without the required equipment and skills, you may spoil the paintwork, causing your wallet to suffer.
Alright – let’s get started!
Step 1: Assemble The Supplies
Of course, we are not peeling off the emblem from the car’s surface! To properly debadge an automobile, gather the following equipment:
- A heat gun. If you don’t have one at home, a hair dryer is acceptable.
- A floss or fishing line
- A pliable plastic scraper
Other than those, you will want a microfiber cloth and a bottle of adhesive-remover gel. Not too many supplies, right?
How To Debadge A Car – Step 2: Apply Heat To Emblem
Next up, you need to apply heat to the badge’s surface. This is to soften the high-quality adhesive. A heat gun is perfect for this job since it can quickly melt down the target area’s glue.
Without one at hand, you can try using running hot water or a hairdryer. These alternatives require more time to make the glue soft, though.
Heat the whole emblem, border to border, using the heat gun. After a while, the adhesive will break down. The glue needs to be heated to a certain point to get loose, so if you see no difference, keep at it.
Sometimes you still find it hard to take off the emblem without ruining the paintwork. In that case, apply some glue remover to the edge. The adhesive will then be softened enough to remove the badge.
Step 3: Lift The Emblem With Line
Now that you’ve dealt with the adhesive let’s work on the badge. This is where a fishing wire or dental floss comes in handy. If you don’t have any of these, a professional trim removal or a credit card will work, too.
With a length of fishing wire, reach the emblem’s rear and peel it off using a sawing motion. Do it carefully will cut through any remaining glue backing while leaving the paintwork intact. Remember not to rush it, or you might risk damaging the paint.
During the process, keep applying the heat every 30 secs to soften the adhesive. The removal process will go more smoothly if you have someone else to apply the heat while you take off the emblem.
How To Debadge A Car – Step 4: Heat And Detach The Adhesive
Alright, the badge is down! But there would be some leftover glue on the vehicle’s surface, which are annoying. Don’t worry – apply heat to them again and make them even more malleable.
Afterward, use a pliable plastic scraper (or even your nail, if you dare) to slowly remove the remaining glue from the car’s exterior.
Another way is to apply an adhesive remover on the targeted area and let it rest for a few minutes, then use a microfiber cloth to wipe the remaining. Some recommend using a plastic razor, but it’s not my top choice since you would want to avoid scratching the exterior with it.
For this step, experts would clean up the leftover residue with an eraser wheel. This works wonderfully, but for amateur customizers, the cost of single-use is not worth it.
How To Debadge A Car – Step 5: Final Polish
The outcome is nearly flawless at this point, but if you are a perfectionist, you will notice some tiny scratches or swirl marks.
Any blemish brought by the debadging process can be eliminated with some low cut/aggressive polish (I’d go with Chemical Guys!) Clean them off using a microfiber towel, then give the area a thorough rinse to remove any trace of the adhesive.
Professionals also recommend polishing the area where the emblem was attached. To add an extra layer of protection, you can use wax or sealer.
And… voilà – you are now a proud owner of a refined, smooth car! Whether just removing the brand emblem alone or completely taking off all the badges to give it a one-of-a-kind appearance, you may customize your ride to any degree with this guide.
How to debadge a car without damaging the pain – An easy guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Removing Emblems From Cars Legal?
Yes, it is.
I’ve received this question several times, and if you just begin venturing to car customization, debadging a car is totally legal. In fact, the removal of an automobile’s external badge doesn’t affect its safety or legality.
The thing that marks a car’s identity is the Vehicle Identification Number (or VIN). Even if you eliminate the traces of its branding, its identity can still be recognized using this number. Removing the car’s VIN is against the law, but it has nothing to do with the debadging process.
Will It Affect Resale Value?
On famous automobile forums, the debate is still going on about whether or not debadging will lower a car’s resale price. Most people agree, nevertheless, that a car’s value only drops slightly, if at all, when all the logos and branding are removed.
Why so, you ask? Well, the emblems can be re-attached easily if the new owner desires. Therefore, customization like this is not irreversible.
In addition, most automobile buyers don’t pay little attention to the car’s emblems. It doesn’t affect how the car functions or if the exterior is in good condition. As a result, one’s choice to purchase a vehicle is not influenced by the issue of debadging.
Can You Debadge A Leased Car?
Yes and no.
Technically, you can still debadge a rented automobile, as long as you re-attach the emblems before returning. However, most dealerships wouldn’t encourage this. When you return a debadged lease car to the dealership for service, you might face troubles if they spot such customization.
So, for safety, it’s best to go through the lease contract before you remove the emblems. If still unclear, you can reach out to the car lot. When the dealership agrees with badge removal, get a written confirmation to prevent potential problems.
Can You Install A Custom Badge After Taking Of The Brand’s Emblem?
Of course, you can.
Of course, you can.
As soon as you clean off all the glue, use painter’s tape to draw a straight line. Then, prepare your new emblem and attach it to the vehicle. Hold it in the area for a few minutes to ensure it sticks thoroughly.
How to install a customized car emblem?
“The Cars We Drive Say A Lot About Us”
That’s a quote from Alexandra Paul, and truth be told, I agree with it 100%. More than a mere vehicle, a car is a symbol of our pride and personality. From the model to the fun auto parts we install and the way we decorate, it speaks loudly about who you are as a person. Hence, you may hate to see the manufacturer’s symbol or any traces left by the previous owner.
This guide on how to debadge a car provides the quickest way to reclaim your ownership of it. Most cars look wonderful without the boring emblems, so don’t let the fear of ruining the paintwork hold you back anymore. It’s time for a car makeover!
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