Hi,

I was thinking of removing the badges of my TL, opinions?
If i do what is the best method for this, and what about putting them back on for if i sell?

Also looking for suggestions on what would be some good cheap mods i can do as i have decided to keep this car for longer than originally planned (because it is a gun). I have a Black TL es with 18's stock height stock exterior all round.

I was thinking wing, VRX front bar, new exhaust tips, tinting etc, leather, bit lower, etc.

Also can i install any driving lights in the standard es front bar, if so how much would i be looking at fully installed?

Any recommendations will be much appreciated.

Thanks crew.

yeah debadge, TLs generally look better without them - Free

Tint definitely, 35% minimum (tho any darker and you will be illegal) - $250

Suspension - Lovells/Kings lows, or superlows if you dont mind a minor ride difference (will be stiffer) - $500 if stock shocks fine

Lukey Muffler, give it a bit more growl - $200

No wing!... just check other threads, magnas look heaps better without them!

Tinted tail lights (check ebay) - $250


All up, around $1200 and it will totally alter your stock car... from there i reckon look at changing the front bar etc, but start with the basics :)

Cheer mate,

So what's the best way to de-badge? and re-apply if needed?

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52021

have a read up on the different methods :)

Start by using your nails to get the badge loose then work a piece of fishing line underneath until it comes, but best to do it in the heat of the day so the glue has loosed a bit otw speed it up with a hair dryer.

Cheers will get amongst that some time soon.

As for putting them back on - from my experience, I doubt you will ever put them back on, and most of the time, modern badges break when you take them off anyway.

Good luck.

I use a screwdriver (risky i know but it works) to "lift" The badge off the paint.
I found with fishing wire i would take all the goo off the BADGE and leave all the goo stuck on the paint!
With a screwdriver it lifts it off the paint with the goo still attached.
The use bug and tar remover to remove and soften the left over gunk on the paint.

I usually use a chainsaw to start with. Then clean the remaining metal with some fluoroantimonic acid. Usually comes up alright.

I usually use a chainsaw to start with. Then clean the remaining metal with some fluoroantimonic acid. Usually comes up alright.

That method led to the sale of my last car.

That method led to the sale of my last car.

Yeah i though the old 'Tutorial' on here was a bit dodgy.... meh.

i took mine off!! it was quite easy just used a plastic spatula with some hot water, came right off then a bit of bug and tar remover to get all the sticky stuff!
i think it looks way beter debagded!

I asked this Q in the original post of tis thread, just though I'd revive it. Which one's/ how do i go about adding driving lights to the stock front bar of my TL?

Also i had a search for tinting tail lights but couldn't work out whether i should spray the tint on the inside or outside of the plastic? I'm guessing outside, how many coats til it's illegal?

cheers

i took mine off!! it was quite easy just used a plastic spatula with some hot water, came right off then a bit of bug and tar remover to get all the sticky stuff!
i think it looks way beter debagded!

i used a plastic spatula as well, worked a treat.

Your cars new so you wont have any colour difference, mine had a little but with a good polish you cant see it.

Also i had a search for tinting tail lights but couldn't work out whether i should spray the tint on the inside or outside of the plastic? I'm guessing outside, how many coats til it's illegal?

cheers
Completely different questions to your original post, couldn't you have just made a new thread...

Tint goes on the outside of the tail light... As soon as you apply it, you're degrading the effectiveness of bulbs inside and reflector, so your insurance company and the transport authority will have a fit. That said though, it's only illegal if you get caught. Plenty of people have midnight tinted tail lights and don't get hassled.

Cheers, might leave that for later.

The question i was referring to from my original post was about driving lights (fog lights whatever they are) and whether any fit in a stock TL front bar.

Thanks for the replies :)

Fog lights driving lights can be fitted somewhat imperfectly into a stock bar. VR TLs I've seen with factory lights I think. I preffered what you were thinking in your first post. an entire VRX front with VRX lights when you already have a sable black car would look great. i think the VRX fronted TLs look the best of the Boulay fronts.

for your fog lights your gonna need the ones from the VR's or the veradas
but if you plan on getting a VRX front bar i would hold off on the lights until you get the bar
VRX's have different fog light housings to the VR's

OK cool, any idea on how much the VR/verada one's are?

I think your down to the usual chase. Mitsubishi, wreckers and E-bay.

hey vegas, did you end up debading your car? Put up a pic if yes, i'm thinking about doing it to my TL

cheers

Yeah i took the magna and the es badges off, there's a pic in the post your ride section on the last page. I think its looks tops, and recommend it.

So, have any of you de-badgers got a spare chrome tri-diamond lying around?:lurk:

I left mine on. There's always a couple on eBay for around 10-20$ posted.

I find the easiest method to debadge a car is to first heat up the badge with a heat-gun (or hair-dryer), then prise it off with a plastic tool (anything plastic and smooth won't scratch your paint), then to clean off any of the remaining glue with a spot cleaner, some thinners, or whatever your preference.

when ever i de-badge a car at work i first use prepsol ( wax and grease remover ) to sofen up the glue, Then use a plastic bog applicator to prise the badge of the panel. I Then use a tool made by 3m think its called pinstripe remover, Just go's into a drill chuck and takes off double sided tape and glue in next to no time without scratching or burnig paint.( GREAT TOOL ). Then i just give a quick hand polish over the area and ya done. Ps you should be able to buy these tools from most automotive repair shops if that fails just stop at a panel shop and ask were they get theres from as they are used by most panel shops. Hope that helps ....cheers brett:D :D

just debadged my car a couple days ago, since im in adelaide and we just finished a record heatwave it was pretty damn easy! :P

After it had been sitting in the sun all day i just carefully pulled of the badges with my fingers and the glue stuff underneath i just pulled off too! Then i just dabbed some goo remover stuff on the little outline of where the glue was, gave the car a wash and looks like the badges were never there! :D

Completely different questions to your original post, couldn't you have just made a new thread...

Tint goes on the outside of the tail light... As soon as you apply it, you're degrading the effectiveness of bulbs inside and reflector, so your insurance company and the transport authority will have a fit. That said though, it's only illegal if you get caught. Plenty of people have midnight tinted tail lights and don't get hassled.

I can see the insurance company walking away from you if someone runs into the back of you with them tinted.

Yeah i'm not going to tint them just in case.