09-24-2018, 02:05 PM | #23 |
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I have SO and got so frustrated with installing the fronts that I passed on installing the rears. Rear red reflectors are close enough to SO after that experience!
On the fronts, I used a hairdryer and plastic pry bar because I feared heat gun would do what it did to OP. Painful install for sure. Last edited by afisherunc; 09-24-2018 at 02:24 PM.. |
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09-24-2018, 02:40 PM | #24 |
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Yikes. I just got my reflectors in and my approach was going to be the following (though it will probably take longer than most...):
a) Take off wheel and whole wheel well liner b) Try to push the reflector out going from the bottom to the top using some elbow grease and a plastic prying tool c) If that becomes too frustrating after a few minutes, I've got a heat gun d) Put on low setting and, from the back, try to loosen up the adhesive. Again, going from the bottom to the top. Hopefully this will work without me wanting to jump off a ledge.
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09-24-2018, 02:47 PM | #25 | |
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I find pocket knife helps a lot by scraping the adhesives away before you start yanking it off. |
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09-24-2018, 03:24 PM | #26 |
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ouch, when I did mine one side came off pretty easily, other side took a little more elbow grease.
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09-24-2018, 04:40 PM | #28 |
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If you're not comfortable or experienced with a heat gun, use a hair dryer on the highest setting. I found that it didn't take much heat to remove mine.
Also, do not try to reach in to the wheel well liner like the IND DIY says. Take the extra 5 minutes and remove the wheel and liner. It's just a couple of bolts and will allow you to focus more on the removal. This is especially true if you have the cameras above, which further restricts your movement. |
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09-27-2018, 08:34 AM | #32 |
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09-27-2018, 06:54 PM | #33 | |
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I had an incredibly hard time with the first reflector on my 2016 M4 (my post is above, somewhere in the late summer of 2016) and I had already done my wife's 335is coupe in 2011. The second side was easier because I knew how much force to use and I started with the heat gun the second time. My wife's M3 is due in the next 2-3 weeks and I'm dreading the painted front reflector install. This time, I'm jacking up each side and removing the wheel so I can get inside the wheel well for more leverage, definitely using a heat gun (carefully!) and pry tools. Note to OP: You should have used the heat gun on the inside of the wheel well...
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09-27-2018, 07:01 PM | #34 | ||
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I will ditch the heat gun and use hair dryer instead if I am going to do it next time. If I am not wrong, a heat gun on the back will still go wrong for the paint.... |
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09-27-2018, 07:06 PM | #35 | |
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Sorry it didn't work well for you...
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09-27-2018, 07:33 PM | #36 |
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I have been on instagram since that day.. checking for pictures, hoping to find someone's car that has vinyl on that area to give me an idea what I can do lol!
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09-28-2018, 12:04 AM | #37 | |
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I feel like it’s almost like covering up a really bad tattoo haha. |
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09-28-2018, 07:54 AM | #38 |
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The area is no longer flat, so covering it up with a decal is not going to work. And it's a bad idea on such a nice car. I would just get it fixed.
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09-28-2018, 08:36 AM | #39 |
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Same here, I just removed 2 or 3 bolts in the fender liner and pushed them out. I'm baffled that people have trouble at all.
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09-29-2018, 03:05 PM | #42 |
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You can do that but its not necessary at all IMO. A hair dryer (instead of a heat gun), some strong thumbs, and some patience is all you need. Push in from one of the corners on either the top or the bottom and wait for it to eventually break free. Once it does its much easier to keep pushing until the rest of the reflector separates from the adhesive.
Last edited by gatorfast; 09-29-2018 at 03:12 PM.. |
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09-29-2018, 03:11 PM | #43 | |
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09-29-2018, 03:31 PM | #44 | |
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