My dealer has a new fit I'm looking at possibly buying. Unfortunately it already has several accessories installed that I'm not interested in:
- window visors
- door guard strips (the horizontal ones)
- tailgate garnish

Question:
If I buy this car and try to remove these items, can the paint be damaged?
I really like the simple clean looks of an unadorned new fit.
If I can get it for a decent price and remove these unwanted items, I'll get it.
But if the paint gets peeled off, etc from the adhesive I will pass.

Thanks

 

Have the dealer remove the unwanted items as part of the sale. The dealer probably has some minimum payed kid in the detail shop just sitting around waiting for something to do.

 

Yeah, same thought here... I even pinged him yesterday asking if they could remove 'em but no response yet.

I'm just worried about if my paint would be damaged...?
Especially that rear tailgate garnish protector..

--?

 

^ second that. i tried to remove mine myself and ended up with bloody hands and broken visors.

 

--Seriously???
Are the visors THAT hard to remove?
(or are you just being funny ? I haven't had my coffee yet!)

 

its the 3m tape they use, i was stupid and didn't heat it up. and just tried to rip it off.

 

Ahh! -Ok got it


How do you heat it up prior to removal, use a hairdryer?

 

I'm hoping it's an easy job. I've had half the hardware fall out on mine and the driver window visor hums at more than 60. At least they were free (no, not a five finger discount either, just a really nice guy)

 

hair dryer or heat gun, but be careful with the heat gun.

 

Cool. I'll try the hair dryer method.

So was your paint nice and perfect still, after you removed your visors?

 

The visors don't stick to the paint - just part of the window trim.

 

Monofliment fishing line will do the trick. Just spray the tape with WD-40 and a 2' piece of fishing line get it inbetween the tape and what ever your tring to remove in a sawwing action. Then use the WD to remove the rest of the adhesive w/ a terrycloth rag. The warmer the weather the easier this will work.
GL
PS don't use a heat gun too hot around painted parts and will blister the paint like NOW!

 

hayden: Thx for the info on the trim vs paint



Awesome, thx for the great tip!

-- what about the 'Body side moldings'? same deal?

 

The acrylic tape on the moldings is tuffer to remove but will come off the same way. The residue left is quicker to come off w/ a plastic wedge like a vinyal applicator and alot of wd-40. I've seen people use goof-off on Utube but I think it could harm the paint.?
Mike

 

I've used goo gone on some paint and it was fine. OP - Google first though to get more stories. Be sure and clean it off good and wax afterwards.

 

Perrenoud Fit & Hayden:
Thanks for the excellent info. I'll try the wd-40 first and if no go, will google and/or try goofoff.

Nice forum btw

 

I peeled off the rear bumper piece. No harm to paint. Just pulled slowly.

 

Thankz so did you buy the Fit?

 

Darnit no. Dealer wanted too much.
Tried to talk them down but their lowest price is too near the price of a new 2011 Fit Sport!

Darn, and I really wanted SSM instead of Alabaster...