O.k. all you 'show and shine' experts - what is the best way to remove those decals dealers put on the back of your car?
The ones my guy uses are more like a billboard, I have asked him not to put one on my '8', but I assume he will 'forget'!
I have been trying on old cars with various solvents, but they seem to be mighty tenacious! And of course I want to not peel off my new Velocity Red!
Thanks in advance - S

If the car has one when you go to pick it up, tell them to take it off..

Or goo-gone.... But it's still tough.

I start by gently heating the decal with a hairdryer. This loosens the adhesive so the decal peels off in one piece. On the residue I've used bug&tar remover, or the stuff Hercules mentioned would probably work, too. For stubborn residue I've also used nail polish remover and a cotton ball, though you'd probably want to follow up with a good wash.

Make it clear that you won't accept the vehicle with dealer advertising attached. It's pure vandalism and totally unacceptable. It's not like you get a discount for promoting their firm for the next 4 years is it!

As it was said before, use a hairdryer to heat up the glue and remove the decal very slowly. You can keep the hair dryer on the decal as you are removing it. The glue that is left on the car will come of easy with the assistance of WD-40. This works great on any gummy glue. This is one of the many uses for WD-40.
Be patient!!

JayDee

Originally posted by B-Nez
I start by gently heating the decal with a hairdryer. This loosens the adhesive so the decal peels off in one piece. On the residue I've used bug&tar remover, or the stuff Hercules mentioned would probably work, too. For stubborn residue I've also used nail polish remover and a cotton ball, though you'd probably want to follow up with a good wash.

I agree everything except the nail polish bit. If you use end up using that you should get a professional polisher and send them the invoice!!! In here, they only stick it to the rear view window so that's ok

There is a natural citrus based product called DeSolvit. It works great on many things, but it was designed to remove gummy stickers from a variety of items. I have used this to remove a number of things from the finish of my cars without any damage. It's not easy to find. Target has it occassionally, but I can always find it a a True Value Hardware store.

I told my dealer that I wasn't interested in the advertising and they agreed not to put any of their advertising anywhere on my '8'.

Then I started thinking that I know they'll forget and I'll have to have them remove it, so I told them that they were to do NO P.D.I. (Pre Delivery Inspection) to my 8 - and that I wanted to peel off the plastic. They were cool with it. So now I'll get to ensure they don't do anything I don't want them doing. Applying the advertising, touching all of the buttons on the dash, licking the shifter, etc...

I took a test drive with one of the dealers in a Mazda 6. And they were driving it hard to try to show off it's engine. I just wanted a feel for the car, I wasn't intersted in redlining a brand new engine. The engine smelled so bad after we got out. I have fears that when my rx8 comes in some jack a$$ will try to have his way with her. :(

Originally posted by tripwire
I told them that they were to do NO P.D.I. (Pre Delivery Inspection) to my 8 - and that I wanted to peel off the plastic. So now I'll get to ensure they don't do anything I don't want them doing. Applying the advertising, touching all of the buttons on the dash, licking the shifter, etc...

You're a tough customer, but thanks for creating this thread. It reminded me to make the same request at my dealership. They were pretty unhappy but followed my wishes. They did ask if they could put their license plate frame which I let them do. I'm gonna replace it anyway. That, and I said they could give me a balloon. Nothing else. If I hadn't mentioned it I'm sure I'd be a rolling billboard right about now.

Put al of your PDI instructions in writing and deliver it to the Sales manager of the dealership. Have him acknowledge receipt and include in your letter that you have the right to refuse delivery and get yoru deposit back if they don't adhear to your instructions. (You can word it so as not to be harsh, simply stating your reuirements after all, you are the customer.):o

I'm so glad Mazda South is here in town - I have absolutely no problem with their PDI guys. I've specified no dealer decals (though I doubt it would've grown any anyway) but I'm more than happy to sport a Mazda South plate frame.

My dealer gave me my car as I wished, totally wrapped. I did not need anything in writing, verbal was good enough for them. 600 miles on the odometer so far.

My dealer put the dealer decal on the back end (similiar to the RX-8 decal). They were closing when I got it and the guy wasn't there to remove it. I went back later with no problems, no questions asked. Well, they did ask if I wanted ALL of them removed (RX-8, mazda symbol etc) ... heh. If thats not enough, try making a compromise. Tell em youll allow it on the license plate frame, but not the car itself. Finally, I believe its a law in many states that they have to remove it if asked.

Originally posted by eccles
I'm so glad Mazda South is here in town - I have absolutely no problem with their PDI guys. I've specified no dealer decals (though I doubt it would've grown any anyway) but I'm more than happy to sport a Mazda South plate frame.

I told Mazda North here in Austin to leave off the dealer medallion, and they "forgot." (Or maybe just forgot.) But when I pointed out they were very quick to remove it. Fortunately, they use those plastic "stick-on" medallions, and the thing came off fine.

Originally posted by eccles
I'm so glad Mazda South is here in town - I have absolutely no problem with their PDI guys. I've specified no dealer decals (though I doubt it would've grown any anyway) but I'm more than happy to sport a Mazda South plate frame.

Unfortunately, these same guys stuck a "South" emblem under the Mazda logo when I wasn't paying attention. At least its chrome and of the same quality as the "Mazda" and "RX-8". Its not bad, but I'd take it off if I knew how to do so without harming the underlying paint (its not the simple little decal).

I'll mention it to them at the first oil change...

I'd do it sooner rather than later. Don't want that stuff bonding with the paint over time. You could probably get them to flash your ECU to the latest revision (if you need it) at the same time. The decal that was put on my car looked like crome, but wasn't of course. It was a "Roger Beasley Mazda North" logo. It was huge, so off it was gonna go.

After the decal is off, this stuff (http://www.griotsgarage.com/search.jsp?searchtext=3m) will take off ANY residue completly and safely.

My dealer sticker was one of the stencil types (individual letters) from Sandy Sansing down here in Florida. I peeled it off with my finger nail when I was washing it. No gule residue, paint scuffs or anything!

I was fortunate enough to pick the one car on the lot that didn't have any dealer badging on it. It turns out they ran out of them and didn't have enough to go on my car. I asked that they do not put one on my car and the didn't.

Ferman Mazda, North tampa.

my friend order a 2004 cougar loaded and told them not to put the dealers prep on the car. when he went to pick up his car they had stickers on it ,he refused to take the car . they had to get all the stickers off the car and have it detailed