Removing Silver Accent Stripe?

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Sergio

New member
Joined
Apr 24, 2019
Messages
4
Just picked up a new 2019 i3 and am loving the car. Mine is Frozen Blue with the silver strip that goes along the roof line on each side of the car.

I've searched but can't seem to find an answer - is the silver strip removable? It feels like a sticker or something? Getting the windows tinted and feel like the look would be a lot cleaner without it.

PFA

2018-bmw-i3.jpg


Thanks!
 
I doubt it is a sticker, just a plastic body panel. Several people have the contrasting panel car-wrapped, to match. You might check with a car-wrap place in your area, and see. If it IS a sticker/wrap, they can tell that, and will know how to remove it without damage.
 
I expected it to be a separate panel, but it clearly isn't. If you compare it to cars w/o the strip, its obviously the same part - it could be painted on, but mine looks a bit buggered in one corner which made me think it may be some kind of vinyl accept. Agree about checking with a place the wraps, was just going to make sure I couldn't heat gun it off first ;-)
 
A member in the Facebook group mentioned removing the silver decal. They wrote:
Alan Sluka - Here’s black with the silver stripe removed in case you’re still on the fence about it.
Kurt Edelbach - Sweet. Did you use any heat to remove it, or just peel it off? Any residue left?
Alan Sluka - Heat, still left residue. 3m adhesive remover and a credit card did the trick.


Here is a direct link to the comment thread if you happen to be a member.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BMWi3/permalink/2067967149943802
 
I was wondering the same... I just picked mine up from the dealer Monday 4/29 night and noticed when I got home-- a piece had been chipped out of the silver stripe just above the driver side window. It's a 45 minute ride from dealer to my house and the chip looks almost torn/ripped out.. so i can't even tell if it was a some loose gravel or a rock. I'll try and snap a pic later. Definitely a decal that looks very sticker-ish but there isn't any visible adhesive on the paint where the chip is missing. It actually looks kinda cheap because it looks more like a rip/tear than a paint chip.

Looks like it should be fairly easy to remove... I prob wouldn't try myself though.
 
I removed the strip a few days ago.

The stripe comes off very easy with mild heat, but separates from the adhesive. The best bet is to spend some money on a 3M adhesive eraser wheel - took the adhesive off in no time.

BUT.

Be VERY careful. It WILL burn through your paint if you aren't careful. Go slow. Use light pressure. Take your time. It will still be MUCH faster than any other method.

I also tried 3M adhesive remover spray which lots of google results praised, it was no good for the heavy lifting by itself, and discolors trim if it gets on it. Ok for cleaning up after the wheel does most of the work though.
 
I removed the silver stripe today from my 2018. Peeled it off with heat- not simple. It came off the A-pillar real easily, no residue even. Passenger side went ok, left some residue. Driver's side took a long time, came off in a million pieces, super brittle. Apparently the previous owner must have parked the car with that side facing the sun.

I then used the 3M Eraser wheel with my old Dewalt drill, ~1400rpm or so (mid-speed on a 3-speed box, 2200 was too fast for me). All went well except for one spot... I thought I missed some glue finishing up, hit it again, and burned a dime size hole through the paint before I realized what was happening. It's top center above the passenger window, so super noticeable when you get in. Car looks WAY better without the stripe, though, even with my screw-up.

Which leads me to my next question- what color black is the touch up paint for the roof and rails? The car is Capparis White. I"m turning up Fluid Black and Jet Black on searches, but not sure. I just got the car a few months ago... as a lifetime Honda/Acura guy, it's been a fairly big adjustment. I do like it though!
 
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