First time poster. Please forgive me if I break any rules.

So I've owned my 2011 G37xS since last july and I just got around to taking the metal oval dealership badge off of the trunk lid. I don't know why I waited so long, but today when I was detailing the car I decided to go for it. It's 90+ outside today, so I didn't even need to heat up the badge. All I had to do was slide some dental floss behind it and it dropped right off!

This is where I ran into an issue, however. I cleaned off the excess adhesive with a 20:1 diluted solution of 303 Multi-Surface and water. Mostly all of the adhesive came off relatively easy, but I was left with what looks like stained paint from the adhesive and dirt over time, which infuriates me. I've since tried Goo Gone, letting it sit for 5-10 minutes and still, no change. When I run my finger over the spots, it just feels like normal exterior paint.

Please help! I have no idea where to go from here and I don't want to do anything that could ruin the paint. I've attached pictures of the affected area and the back of the badge, bellow. Thank you for your help!

 

Try Goo Gone or Tarminator (bug and tar remover). Push come to shove, you could try very light wet-sanding with 2000 grit wet and dry sand paper, and then compound and polish.

 

Definitely don't wet sand that. At all. And eraser wheel would take that off no problem if you have access to one, or know anybody that works at a body shop that you could give a 6 pack to for their services. You'll probably want a light polish in that area as well.

 

Definitely DO NOT wetsand. I got mine off with meguiers scratchx and a microfiber.

 

I mentioned wet-sanding as the last resort. In my experience, Tarminator bug and tar remover does superb job of removing any spots where clear coat hasn't yet been damaged, which hopefully is the case here. It even removes the wax, so you will need to reapply wax on that spot.

 

Agreed with Codeflux here.. try a bug and tarnish removed. In my experience googone and a microfiber and some spirited rubbing got the rest of the good off from those type of emblems.. I think I ended up using my bare fingers (not fingernails!) with the goo gone and that somehow allowed it to roll off.

 

Thanks for the replies. The problem is that the black marks aren't raised or tacky to the touch. It's simply a discoloration of the paint/clear coat.

Would clay bar, followed by polishing, take it out?

 

They may be raised or could be etched into the clear. Use the removers as advised, then if needed, some sort of leveling product should do it.

 

Do no use goo-gone. I believe it is not clear coat safe.

 

I should add a correction to this. I used goo gone with no problems.. DO NOT user Goof Off.. some people interchange these two around. Goof off will def ruin your paint/clearcoat.

See this thread.

https://www.myg37.com/forums/car-car...at-it-did.html

 

Any before and after pics of when you did it?

 

UPDATE

So I washed the area and clay barred for about 30 mins and nothing happened. Even after clay barring, the spots feel exactly the same as the other unblemished paint around them. At this point I'm afraid that the paint is turned, unless someone else has an idea that may help me out.

 

Meguires cleaner and wax worked for me on all 3 G37 S coupes I have owned...White, Blue and now Graphite....

 

Clay barring is only to remove surface contaminates. This is definitely below the clear if still there. Get some Meguiars Ultimate compound and Ultimate polish (Just because they are readily available and come in 8oz bottles) they are based on the SMAT from Megiuars M105 and M205 I believe. For something like what you're doing, that and some MF hand buffing pads may do the trick. Moderate pressure and don't let the compound dry out. You should be able to work down the clear enough to smooth it out. You'll have some swirls, so use the polish (on a new pad) and buff out the swirls. Then get some sealant to protect.

 

If you're not somebody who would be power polishing their car again after this, see if you have a detail shop around you that would cut and polish just the trunk for like $50 or something.