Taking off carbon fiber rear wing lip

Evo23IG · 07-16-2014, 11:53 PM

Hey guys, I recently bought a 2011 BMW 135i in white. It was had carbon fiber rear lip that has dried out and cracking, I want to take it off. I tried to heat it up and use floss & fishing line with nothing accomplished. Any suggestions.

Sixle · 07-17-2014, 12:42 AM

If it used 3m tape, heat will work eventually....if it was applied with betalink then you may need to get it professionally taken off. It may come off and you'll likely need to repaint. Betalink is the oem recommendation for the spoiler but its permanent.

Chandon · 07-17-2014, 01:31 AM

put a microfiber cloth under, pull and "saw" it out, comes off easily
only hard part is getting rid of the excess tape

fboutlaw · 07-17-2014, 02:06 AM

I'm actually going to go the other way on this. If you want to break an adhesive off, freeze it. Dry ice will get it to a low enough temperature you should be able to break the bond and peel the thing off in chunks.

If that's not working, citrus oils will dissolve the adhesive, but it does take a bit of time.

e82m_van · 07-17-2014, 03:26 AM

If heat + floss/fishing line didn't work, i'm guessing it's stuck on there with betalink... in which case it won't come off easily..

FactorX81 · 07-17-2014, 07:00 AM

3m adhesive remover just don't over do it.

Evo23IG · 07-17-2014, 09:24 AM

Thank you for the suggestions, I wish I knew what the previous owner used to put on with. I will try a few things today.

highbrowed · 07-17-2014, 06:37 PM

If you are ballsy, use a super thin stainless steel wire wrapped around 2 small wooden dowel rods (think garotte).. just make sure you stay flush with the spoiler and dont touch the paint. It'll leave all the adhesive on the car, so follow up with 3m adhesive remover doing it in small patches. Finish off with goo gone to remove any fine leftover traces.

potxoli · 07-17-2014, 08:41 PM

I found I could not take off the original trunk lip with floss and heat, but the microfiber towel method work. I had to go through 2 microfiber towels since eventually the 1st one ripped to shreds half way through. This was with the OEM tape.

chris82 · 07-18-2014, 08:24 AM

Try braided fishing line. It's not smooth like a monofilament so it will 'saw' the adhesive if you go back and forth.

07-16-2014, 11:53 PM	#1
Evo23IG Private First Class 6 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M4 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Taking off carbon fiber rear wing lip Hey guys, I recently bought a 2011 BMW 135i in white. It was had carbon fiber rear lip that has dried out and cracking, I want to take it off. I tried to heat it up and use floss & fishing line with nothing accomplished. Any suggestions.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

07-17-2014, 12:42 AM	#2
Sixle Private First Class 17 Rep 143 Posts Drives: CR 135i N54 6MT Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	If it used 3m tape, heat will work eventually....if it was applied with betalink then you may need to get it professionally taken off. It may come off and you'll likely need to repaint. Betalink is the oem recommendation for the spoiler but its permanent. Last edited by Sixle; 07-17-2014 at 12:57 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 01:31 AM	#3
Chandon Major 99 Rep 1,102 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (1)	put a microfiber cloth under, pull and "saw" it out, comes off easily only hard part is getting rid of the excess tape
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 02:06 AM	#4
fboutlaw Cone Cruncher 31 Rep 534 Posts Drives: Dinan 135i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cupertino, CA iTrader: (3)	I'm actually going to go the other way on this. If you want to break an adhesive off, freeze it. Dry ice will get it to a low enough temperature you should be able to break the bond and peel the thing off in chunks. If that's not working, citrus oils will dissolve the adhesive, but it does take a bit of time.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 03:26 AM	#5
e82m_van First Lieutenant 100 Rep 341 Posts Drives: AW 1m Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (3)	If heat + floss/fishing line didn't work, i'm guessing it's stuck on there with betalink... in which case it won't come off easily..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 07:00 AM	#6
FactorX81 First Lieutenant 29 Rep 363 Posts Drives: 2010 135i, 2014 Ford Escape Ti Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	3m adhesive remover just don't over do it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 09:24 AM	#7
Evo23IG Private First Class 6 Rep 102 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M4 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Thank you for the suggestions, I wish I knew what the previous owner used to put on with. I will try a few things today.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 06:37 PM	#8
highbrowed Boost Addict 335 Rep 1,244 Posts Drives: 135i 6MT w/ N54 Delete Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: South Florida iTrader: (4)	If you are ballsy, use a super thin stainless steel wire wrapped around 2 small wooden dowel rods (think garotte).. just make sure you stay flush with the spoiler and dont touch the paint. It'll leave all the adhesive on the car, so follow up with 3m adhesive remover doing it in small patches. Finish off with goo gone to remove any fine leftover traces.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-17-2014, 08:41 PM	#9
potxoli First Lieutenant 138 Rep 353 Posts Drives: 2016 SO F80 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: boston iTrader: (2)	I found I could not take off the original trunk lip with floss and heat, but the microfiber towel method work. I had to go through 2 microfiber towels since eventually the 1st one ripped to shreds half way through. This was with the OEM tape.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-18-2014, 08:24 AM	#10
chris82 Brigadier General 827 Rep 3,856 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: NY NY iTrader: (8) Garage List 2009 BMW 128i [9.80]	Try braided fishing line. It's not smooth like a monofilament so it will 'saw' the adhesive if you go back and forth.
	Appreciate 0 Quote