Removed clear bra from 997

[FC]

While it wasn't fun, it was not the apocalyptic struggle some make it out to be. No paint came off despite some, um, spirited pulling of the film. I suppose that confirms the car has its original paint.

A combination of steamer & hair drier did the job. Though I must say at no time did I get any surface nearly as hot as they would be after a long day out in the summer sun.

There is a trace of adhesive here or there, but I'll take that off tomorrow along with properly flaying those areas that were wrapped (rest of car is already clayed).

I'll finally be able to give the car proper, single guy with lots of free time type of polish and wax.

But just removing the wrap makes the car look much better. I also removed the factory clear wrap beneath the intakes because they looked like hell. I suppose I ought to replace those.

[Nick M3]

The 993TT has cracked factory shielding. I'm not looking forward to removing that.

[lip277]

My 997 has a cracked nose too. Not looking forward to that either.

[John V]

It comes off a lot easier with a vinyl remover disc attached to a drill. No way in hell would I try to go about it by peeling it off.

[FC]

It comes off a lot easier with a vinyl remover disc attached to a drill. No way in hell would I try to go about it by peeling it off.

Not sure what you mean by the disc attached to the drill.

Anyhow, I used the steamer to allow me to peel off a corner, and hit the whole general area I was a bout to remove. After that the hair drier helps.

It would have been FAR easier had someone been hitting the areas ahead of what I was removing while I used two hands to peel it out, but oh well, I was alone.

Went into the garage this AM to get something and it really looks a lot better without it. The film had a vegetable oil in the bottle color to it. The OEM fender pieces looked like hell. The are also much thicker than the clear bra.

[John V]

http://www.amazon.com/Follex-ERW-6-Decal-Eraser-Wheel/dp/B00BMU9CEM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434461538&sr=8-2&keywords=decal+eraser

My buddy has been removing the clear bra from his '04 STi, installed (by us) in 2004. There wasn't any way to peel it up.

[FC]

Wow. I had never heard of that.

My film cafe off quite easily all things considered.

Now i have to carefully remove the few traces of adhesive and the outlines of the film that have built-up grime and wax.

If I ever do this to a car, I am doing the whole panel.

[John V]

Those wheels are the way the professionals remove clear film. At least it's how the pro did our Mazdaspeed a few months back.

Side note, the newer self-healing films are incredible. I did the Boxster in the new stuff and my guy did the Mazda with it... it's way easier to work with and doesn't develop the micro-scratches that the old films did. Good stuff all around.

[blee]

Someone backed into my truck while it was parked at the airport, then disappeared without leaving a note. I swear...

Anyway, the damage is minimal, but the XPel on that panel is now damaged and I'm thinking about peeling it off to see the extent of the paint damage. The plastic is deformed, but I wonder if I can avoid the insurance hassle anyway.