Painted reflector installation fail

[msmching]

There's many installation guide online here and on YouTube.

For newbies like me, do not trust how easy it was to replace those reflectors as shown on YouTube lol.
Especially the IND's video, Take out the liner, pry it and pop it out. Ain't that easy to take it off. I have 2018, not like the reflectors on the car for years. Even with heat gun, it's no pushing/popping it out, it's tearing it out lol.

And never do them at night without lightings.
I used the heat gun (first time user) and I overheated the spot too much without knowing the paint is burnt already. Even the OEM reflector kinda melted.

Well, at least the the other side was good. (After learning the expensive lesson)

Embarrassing myself here but that's the point of forum... hoping there won't be a 2nd person making the mistakes

[BzsBimmer]

Dang bruh. Speechless

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Now you have permanent brown reflectors.

[NYBulldog]

Bro WTF mannnn. Sorry, I bet your are pissed. Takes balls to make a post like this too. Hope you get it resolved promptly.

[knightarmor]

Sucks man. Good learning experience. I too found it more difficult to remove these things than I thought it should be.

Get you bumper fixed and move on.

[ellipsis212]

OP thanks for sharing your experience. I also did painted reflectors and the fronts didn't require heat but FFS I thought my thumbs were going to break off. Not easy on your first go.

Rears were easier but scratching the surrounding area would have been extremely easy with one false move.

If I were you I'd have that side fixed up whatever the cost just to put it behind you and in the win column despite the struggle.

[x.shell]

Damn. Sucks. Oh well, time to get the Euro bumper! No reflectors!

[Poiseuille]

mighty stout of the OP to provide the rest of us with this warning. this may be the best recent example of why we spend our time in here. kudos to you mate!

[Nomana]

I have no idea what's going on
BUT I love you car. Dope!

[gatorfast]

Damn, sorry OP.

There is a long thread on here about the reflectors with the majority of people agreeing it is a difficult and tedious process to swap them out.

[Alvinized52]

Damn bro... i almost thought you had vinyl wrap that melted at first glance. i dont remember this being that difficult when i did mine. Mine was done in the dark too. I didnt use a heat gun for sure since i dont have one. Good luck....

If this were me....if possible, I would consider just totally having a good body shop flush it out and completely delete the reflectors.... since whole bumper may need to be repainted any way for a good solid color match.

[Wmf80]

Agreed on the difficulty. Thought my thumbs were gonna fall off. I used a blow dryer and pushed on the Orange reflecter w my thumbs..I did have some experience w my f30. I attempted to do the rear w a pryer and saw a very little chip and stopped it right there. Wasn’t worth it.

[golfinz]

Sorry to hear! But there is no need to heat up the reflector. You have to work the back side of the reflector to get the tape loose while pressing on the front of the reflector. Was a pita but with patience, it eventually comes off.

[Fender150]

I would go buy a new fender, i wouldnt be able to live like this

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by Fender150

I would go buy a new fender, i wouldnt be able to live like this

Fender, it's not the fender but the bumper. So he has to buy a new bumper not a fender Fender.

[SeatownF80]

at least it looks good from far away lol

[Poiseuille]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Fender, it's not the fender but the bumper. So he has to buy a new bumper not a fender Fender.

........thud

[msmching]

Originally Posted by SeatownF80

at least it looks good from far away lol

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Damn, sorry OP.

There is a long thread on here about the reflectors with the majority of people agreeing it is a difficult and tedious process to swap them out.

Originally Posted by Alvinized52

Damn bro... i almost thought you had vinyl wrap that melted at first glance. i dont remember this being that difficult when i did mine. Mine was done in the dark too. I didnt use a heat gun for sure since i dont have one. Good luck....

If this were me....if possible, I would consider just totally having a good body shop flush it out and completely delete the reflectors.... since whole bumper may need to be repainted any way for a good solid color match.

I always search YouTube video for installation guide, if not, then I'll get on here to look for one. That's why, I looked at couple of them on YouTube, which is basically, push, pull and pop it goes. And also with the heat gun as well.

Just so happen to have a friend who keep his heat gun in the trunk everyday. Or else, I'll be doing it without one too.
Completely fill that spot may be nice but well, I am unsure if I will keep the car after the lease.

Honestly, I am not sure if I will get it fix anytime soon since i do not have a 2nd car to use. And well, it is visible but not that visible like a huge damage. I used to be crazy like some of you guys Every little thing, fix. But ever since I start working for a living, (not using my parents money anymore lol) and driving around more often in Chinese areas...... more or less, you will get dents and scratches out of nowhere. It's endless amount of fixing needed.

Originally Posted by wreckedmyf80

Agreed on the difficulty. Thought my thumbs were gonna fall off. I used a blow dryer and pushed on the Orange reflecter w my thumbs..I did have some experience w my f30. I attempted to do the rear w a pryer and saw a very little chip and stopped it right there. Wasn't worth it.

Originally Posted by golfinz

Sorry to hear! But there is no need to heat up the reflector. You have to work the back side of the reflector to get the tape loose while pressing on the front of the reflector. Was a pita but with patience, it eventually comes off.

I messed up my driver side, but passenger side, I don't really need a heat gun anymore. I used my pocket knife and worked from the back by sliding and cutting the tape out.

It also sucks that you can only start peeling it off from the top part, there was something blocking the rest of the sides. (Bumper brackets or something)

Originally Posted by SeatownF80

at least it looks good from far away lol

If I don't have this post and just post up pictures, no one here's gonna find out lol.

[Fender150]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Fender, it's not the fender but the bumper. So he has to buy a new bumper not a fender Fender.

bumper my bad lol

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by Fender150

bumper my bad lol

Roger Roger

[peeej]

ouch this hurt to look at

[Bluer2]

I dunno. I think a body shop might be able to fix that and cover it up. Sand that bitch down, bondo, repaint whole bumper maybe. Not sure you need a new bumper yet.