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Help! Dealer put stickers on used MINI - how to safely remove them?

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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 05:45 AM
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Help! Dealer put stickers on used MINI - how to safely remove them?

I just got my 2006 MCc and there is a dealer sticker both on the back window glass and on the boot. I really want them off. The salesguy said use a power washer or pressure spray, but I'm a little skeptical.

What to do?
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 05:47 AM
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just peel them off. glass use a razor blade and some glass cleaner. you can heat up the one on the paint. If they just put them on theyll come right off

a little adhesive remover will take off any leftover gunk
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 05:51 AM
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You can also safely use Goof Off, Goo Gone, or WD-40 to remove the leftover glue.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 05:52 AM
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Thanks. I'm a little leery of scraping with a razor blade and scratching the glass though, to be honest. They might have been on a little longer than a day or two.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 05:52 AM
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Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
You can also safely use Goof Off, Goo Gone, or WD-40 to remove the leftover glue.
Are all those safe for the paint?
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 06:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Ladidah
Are all those safe for the paint?
Probably. 3M also make an adhesive remover.

What I have used many times for removing stickers is to hold a hair dryer close and heat up the sticker and the area, then slowly lift and peel, directing the heat between the sticker and the paint. It works really well.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 06:13 AM
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The heat treatment works, and there are other things like goo gone to get rid of extra adhesive. Just remember that there was probably not wax under the stickers, and whatever you put the goo gone/etc on will probably strip away any wax on those areas, so give your MINI a bath afterwards :D

I think the razor is fine so long as you're not gouging into the glass.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 06:14 AM
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Originally Posted by AustinS
Probably. 3M also make an adhesive remover.

What I have used many times for removing stickers is to hold a hair dryer close and heat up the sticker and the area, then slowly lift and peel, directing the heat between the sticker and the paint. It works really well.
Thanks! By the way, I LOVE your car. It looks like the one I built on MINIUSA as my dream car. I love that blue!
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 06:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Ladidah
Are all those safe for the paint?
Yes. Just use a microfiber cloth to wipe away.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 07:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Ladidah
Thanks. I'm a little leery of scraping with a razor blade and scratching the glass though, to be honest. They might have been on a little longer than a day or two.
You can get a wider razor scraper at most hardware / home improvement stores. The blade's a couple of inches wide, and it makes removing any stickers much easier. I use one all the time for removing registration and inspection stickers. Always use a fresh blade to get the best results.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 08:40 AM
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I think you're all missing the point. You go back to the dealer, and tell them to remove their graffiti, without a scratch. Otherwise you will be charging them a monthly fee for the space they're using for advertising purposes.

You never see that kind of crap in CA. License plate frames are one thing, you can easily toss those. When I go back east, or to the south I am amazed at how many people allow the dealers to deface their cars like that.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Gromit801

You never see that kind of crap in CA.
BMW/MINI of San Francisco does.

Jim
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 09:16 AM
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they sure do,
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 09:25 AM
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From: West French Camp, CA
Originally Posted by jimz68
Originally Posted by Gromit801

You never see that kind of crap in CA.
BMW/MINI of San Francisco does.

Jim
Never seen it. Any dealer that does that would be instructed not to, and if they did, they'd be keeping the car and canceling the sale.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Gromit801
I think you're all missing the point. You go back to the dealer, and tell them to remove their graffiti, without a scratch. Otherwise you will be charging them a monthly fee for the space they're using for advertising purposes.

You never see that kind of crap in CA. License plate frames are one thing, you can easily toss those. When I go back east, or to the south I am amazed at how many people allow the dealers to deface their cars like that.
Stickers. I'd rather take them off myself than trust the dealership to do it. I don't feel like correcting their mistakes on my paint.

And if they put one of those metal tags on the car... I'd probably go to prison for choking someone to death.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Gromit801
I think you're all missing the point. You go back to the dealer, and tell them to remove their graffiti, without a scratch. Otherwise you will be charging them a monthly fee for the space they're using for advertising purposes.
We bought the car in Colorado, and my SO drove it back to WI. He wasn't upset by it; I was. It really wasn't feasible to drive back to get it removed.

The good news is I brought it to a car wash and the water wands did take them off easily. No marks!
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Ladidah
Are all those safe for the paint?
WD40 is safe, i have gotten rid of stickers glue residues many times before, on cars and on sport motorcycles fairings, never damaged the paint.
 
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Old Mar 19, 2009 | 03:51 PM
  #18  
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At least it isn't the kind they RIVET to the car.
 
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by jfchamp
WD40 is safe, i have gotten rid of stickers glue residues many times before, on cars and on sport motorcycles fairings, never damaged the paint.
+1 & as a bonus WD40 removes road tar nicely.
 
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Old Mar 20, 2009 | 04:51 PM
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Depending on the sticker, you can use a hairdryer. I used to do that all the time when I worked at the dealer.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 12:36 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB
I'd probably go to prison for choking someone to death.
I would too. Those are awful. I'm glad my dealership didn't do that when I bought my car.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 01:19 PM
  #22  
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To be fair, this was a *USED* car dealer, not a BMW/MINI place. Other car brand dealers probably don't know how ana* most MINI owners are.
 
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Old Mar 24, 2009 | 08:00 PM
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"Other car brand dealers probably don't know how ana* most MINI owners are." ...and we simply care a lot about our MINIs too; and here's hoping for an early summer Up Nort in WI. Ladidah, be sure to stock up on the sunscreen, and perhaps some toothpicks or dental floss to clean those nasty skeeters out from betwixt your teeth when you're out motoring with your top down!...
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 10:06 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by bigsoup52
"Other car brand dealers probably don't know how ana* most MINI owners are." ...and we simply care a lot about our MINIs too; and here's hoping for an early summer Up Nort in WI. Ladidah, be sure to stock up on the sunscreen, and perhaps some toothpicks or dental floss to clean those nasty skeeters out from betwixt your teeth when you're out motoring with your top down!...
Oh, I know! Last weekend was pure bliss. I drove around quite a bit with the top down and soaked up the sun. This week has been pure torture...it was snowing this morning!
 
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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 11:11 AM
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HAIR DRYER

Get out your hair dryer and heat up the sticker. It will come off of the paint without hurting it. Just peel slowly and keep the adhesive hot enough to pull free.
On the glass you can use a single edge razor blade to scrape it off.
Ronnie948
 
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