Removing visor airbag stickers
08-30-2010, 03:03 PM
#11
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A few in-progress photos
These photos are from yesterday evening. The end result looks great but I have not had a chance to snap photos of the completed visors in daylight lighting. There is no trace of the isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol smell. The visors were dry and the smell gone after an hour or two tops.
I would have used 100% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol if I had some but the 70% seemed to have worked well enough. It took about 20 minutes per large mirror side sticker (rough estimate since I didn't really keep time). The non-mirror side stickers went even faster.
I tried peeling the stickers without the isopropyl but the sticker would break too easily and it seemed to be taking alcantara with it. The isopropyl dissolves the adhesive after a minute or so but only penetrates about 3 or 4 mm from the edge of the sticker so you have to reapply with the cotton ball repeatedly as you peel the sticker back. A cotton swab might have worked better but I didn't think of it at the time. I'll post the finished pics soon.
I would have used 100% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol if I had some but the 70% seemed to have worked well enough. It took about 20 minutes per large mirror side sticker (rough estimate since I didn't really keep time). The non-mirror side stickers went even faster.
I tried peeling the stickers without the isopropyl but the sticker would break too easily and it seemed to be taking alcantara with it. The isopropyl dissolves the adhesive after a minute or so but only penetrates about 3 or 4 mm from the edge of the sticker so you have to reapply with the cotton ball repeatedly as you peel the sticker back. A cotton swab might have worked better but I didn't think of it at the time. I'll post the finished pics soon.
Last edited by ModestW12; 08-30-2010 at 03:32 PM. Reason: missing word
08-30-2010, 04:47 PM
#12
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Confirming two years later it all...
looks good. Place where the sticker ever was is barely perceptible. Removed all of them from visor. Much cleaner, non taxi cab look.
09-08-2010, 03:07 PM
#13
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Finally some pictures two weeks after completion
Here are some pics I shot yesterday evening. Since it was getting dark I had to use a camera flash and as a result traces of the sticker outline show up more in the photos than seeing it in person. I never notice them when driving/occupying the car.
09-08-2010, 05:23 PM
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11-06-2010, 09:11 AM
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First sticker took 25 minutes. First attempt stingy with the alcohol. Also working from above didn't let gravity bring the alcohol behind the sticker but toward the floor.
Then once I started working with gravity and treating the alcohol like it was only .89 a bottle like a cold knife through butter. I did get a little help on the passenger sticker. The right corner hadn't been touched since the car left the factory.
Then once I started working with gravity and treating the alcohol like it was only .89 a bottle like a cold knife through butter. I did get a little help on the passenger sticker. The right corner hadn't been touched since the car left the factory.
02-09-2011, 03:51 AM
#20
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I haven't received my '11 Avant yet, but I am wondering if the removal might be even easier if you remove the sun visors from the car first, and do the whole thing on your kitchen counter. I imagine popping off the plastic cover at the hinge will give access to mounting screws? Not sure how the electrical connection for the mirror light is handled though.