The method
- Wash the panel so nothing scratches while you work.
- Warm the film with a heat gun or a steamer until it is pliable, never hot enough to touch the paint.
- Lift a corner with a plastic edge, never a blade.
- Pull slowly at a low angle, keeping the film warm as you go.
- Remove adhesive residue with an adhesive remover made for automotive paint, then wash again.
Where it goes wrong
- Cold film tears into strips and leaves adhesive behind.
- Too much heat softens clear coat.
- A blade at the corner scratches the paint.
- A resprayed panel lifts with the film. You will not know it was resprayed until it happens.
- Very old, brittle film comes off in pieces and takes hours per panel.
When to bring it in
Film older than its warranty term, any panel that may have been repainted, or a full-body removal. We remove, decontaminate, inspect the paint and, in most cases, install new film the same visit.
