How to remove the dark opaque liner glued on window glass? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ericnguyen · #1 08-16-2003, 06:17 PM

Dear friends:

I have an old car in which the previous owner glued some dark opaque film on the interior side of window glass to reduce sun heat. However, some of that film has been peeled off. Now I want to remove it completely but it seems hard. Is there any substance or way to remove it?

Also, what's the best way to remove the clear coat without causing much damage to the actual base paint coat?

Thanks a lot.

Best regards,

Eric

bjcsc · #2 08-16-2003, 06:53 PM

Eric:
I had to remove window film from my BMW 2002 when I bought it. Use a razor scraper to lift up enough to grab onto and just rip it off. If it is on your rear window, watch out if you have a defroster grid. In order to avoid damaging the grid, I'd cut the film horizontally in between the wires and only peel in the same directions the wires run. Once you have it all off, you can scrape most of the remaining adhesive off. Adhesive remover will get any bits you can't scrape, but would make a complete mess if you try to use it exclusively.

I have no idea about your clear coat question, but would think that anything that will remove one will remove the other.

BoostnBenz · #3 08-16-2003, 08:10 PM

You may have to spray on some ammonia and let it soak on the window tint (right from the grocery store shelf), then I believe you wrap it up in plastic so the ammonia doesn't escape into the air and just let it set for a couple hours. It'll work much better just on the adhesive layer but if you can't get this off it should work over the tint itself as well with much more time. This is almost what you need to do on the back window, on the sides you should be able to scrape most of the adhesive off so it should be a lot easier. Just be careful not to scratch your glass while doing so.

I'm not sure what the safest way to remove the clearcoat is. If it is metallic you can't sand the paint without doing damage to it. (if it isn't you may be able to try wet sanding with around 1500grit)Then your only option would be to polish it off with meguiars #1. No matter which route you take to stripping the clearcoat the problem is how do you know when your going through to much paint as well? I don't know how attainable this would be, most places would tell you just to repaint it.

psfred · #4 08-16-2003, 08:24 PM

Why do you want to remove the clearcoat?

If it is peeling, the only real solution is to prep and re-spray both color and clearcoat.

You can greatly improve the looks by simply buffing out the mess left when the cleacoat peeled off, it's normal paint and will take a nice shine if done right.

Keep it WELL waxed afterwards to prevent more damage.

Peter

rdetoy · #5 08-19-2003, 12:14 AM

This is an absolutely miserable job to do properly. Pros call the process 'sweating' the old tint off and it's really hard to DIY this job as welll as a pro. This is particularly true on the rear window where it is way too easy to damage the heater grid. In order to get the glass completely clean, check with a couple of tint shops and get quotes to have it done. I'm willing to bet you'll be happier with the finished result.

ericnguyen · #6 08-19-2003, 06:09 PM

Dear friends:

I agree with rdetoy that "sweating" the old window tint off is a terrible job, especially if the old tint is very old and brittle. I had tried bjcsc's way but to no avail. Hopefully, BoostnBenz's method will work OK.

Dear psfred: the reason why I want to remove the clear coat is because the clear coat got peeled off from many areas on the hood, causing it to look like a "leper". If I can remove all the remaining clear coat from the hood, it will look much better with just the base coat (and I will try to wax it often too).

Thanks.

Best regards,

Eric

#7 08-19-2003, 07:34 PM

Be very careful with a razor blade on any glass. It will scratch the glass.
At the body shops they use fine steel wool to rub off paint overspray from glass. Try it to get the old stuff off. Might work.

Richard Eldridge · #8 08-19-2003, 09:29 PM

Try rubbing cheap rubbing alcohol (70% isopropal), Spray it on with a spray bottle, let it soak, then use a scraper with a sharp blade. I'm not sure about using the scraper on the back window. You could mix this with ammonia the alcohol doesn't get it.

MEK (Methyl ethyl ketone) is death to all adhesives, but it's extremely nasty and poisonous., and will dissolve plastic and won't do your skin any good, either.

I used it once to remove the phoney wood that had baked on an old Dodge Colt wagon iin the Florida Sun for eight years. It took three days and two dozen razor blades.

Good luck!

BoostnBenz · #9 08-19-2003, 09:45 PM

Yes Old Deis, that is a cheat for getting even more adhesive loose per swipe, but sometimes gets a little more messy. You can use #0000 steel wool, I actually just used it to clean the crud off my back window in the 83, it works great just for cleaning, but even better for getting gooey adhesive off.

When I'm scraping glass I like to always be sure it is wet with something. Typically this will stop it from scratching. Only use the scraper on the very top and very bottom of the rear window, the risk of hitting a line is to much, everywhere else try that steel wool.

I've never heard of using rubbing alcohol on it, but I suppose that makes sense. The window tint places always use ammonia, it is the adhesive's enemy. Just like when they say you have to use tint friendly glass cleaner, it has no ammonia in it.