GTE: Removing black coating on tailgate

[Davo]

How do you remove the big black plastic coating on the tailgate around the numberplate?
Its in bad condition on mine, and I want to replace/remove it.

[NickWebb]

use a hair dryer or heat gun but i wouldn't replace i would just leave it off as they look much better with out them

[Davo]

Yeah, I was thinking of leaving it off if the paint is good underneath. I will try some heat - cheerz mate.

[mavvmad]

Leave it on or renew it mate its one of the things that really sets the back of it off in my book.

[Davo]

hmmmm mixed opinions

Without it, the car might look newer/cleaner, but it is one of those things that gives the GTE its unique looks.

However, either way, I would have to buy a new one because someone has decided to scrape a load of it off

[Andrewmatthes]

i was considuring that, but where my car had blow over spary job before i bought it, the colour were slightly different, i would of needed to blend it in..

same applies for the sun bleaching the colour of the tail gate as well..u may find u are just exchanging the colour of the stripe for another!.

[NickWebb]

i recently had that black crap taken off the back of my car and i think it makes the car look a lot more modern although i did have to get the boot resprayed because when the car was origi****ly painted they didn't bother taking the black strip off first

[Davo]

Originally posted by Andrewmatthes
i was considuring that, but where my car had blow over spary job before i bought it, the colour were slightly different, i would of needed to blend it in..

same applies for the sun bleaching the colour of the tail gate as well..u may find u are just exchanging the colour of the stripe for another!.

Yeah, especially with red! The trailgate is a good colourmatch for the rest of the body, but as you say, underneath it might be a deeper richer colour - decisions decisions.

[Ravi B]

T-cut?

[tomstickland]

I used to think that the GTE should have the black bit on the back.
After pressure washing a bit of it off I decided to replace it.
I had the new vinyl from Vauxhall.

But once I'd removed it I though the car looked better. More area of Red made the back look smarter.

[Davo]

Originally posted by Dr Evil
T-cut?

Yeah, T-cut works most of the time - I am not so sure it will restore my roof, but we will see - havent given it a go yet.

Tom, how much was the stuff from Vauxhall - just incase I decide not to go for the clean look and just replace it?

[tomstickland]

it cost, er, dunno £15 or something.

I might still have it in my garage.

[Pete R]

Sprayed mine on with satin black , much neater job and nobody would ever tell I had it all red but prefer the black strip on.