It was 30 degrees outside (has been for a while). I just used a blow dryer (as per the recommendations on this site .. wow! the search feature actually works) heated up the "ACURA" and the "TL" and just ripped them off. The remaining 3M foam tape easily came off. I just washed and waxed the area right afterwards.. looks perfect. I wonder if the warmer temps cause people to have a harder time getting the goo off, b/c I had no trouble at all.

 

I have debadged a few and mostly in warm temps .. never really had a problem with the residual "goo" . Most of it I just roll off with my thumb then a little WD-40 on a very soft cloth to remove whats left. Then a little ScratchX and wax.

 

Did mine in warm weather....no prob either.

 

I wonder if the feeling of having a de-badged TL is what women say when being braless..... , free...

 

What is the purpose of de-badging? I bought my TL used and noticed that the bades were gone, so I paid $30 to re-install. Didn't realize it was "uncool" to have badging. SO, Am I nerd?

 

I'm with you on that Yadalloh, I bought used and it came with the smoked badges.
Plus, "TL" looks good.

 

I just like the clean look of only having the aspec badge on the back of my car .. just a personal preference. Nothing "nerdy" about leaving badges on your car

 

They sell smoked badges at the dealer? How bout straight black badges?

 

Neither. You have to get them custom black chromed or find em that way.

 

i have still yet to see a 3rd gen with a completed shaved rear... anyone???

 

wait, so you can just slide the badges off after you heat it up?
couldnt the heat or something mess up the paint?

 

I like people saying is that a TL? what is that? And then they hear the Magnaflow and the AEM roar as I take off and then they look and say what was that...But that is just me...of course I debaged mine and the first thing my dad said wow that is the way the car should look.

 

I saw a black TL in san mateo area with smoked/gunmetal badges. It looked really good.

 

Personally I like the fact that there are no letters telling anyone ( who is not into cars) know which type car I have, my sister in law whom is a DR. ( a genius IMO) thought I had a RL...lol...and when a RSX pulls on me and I catch up and pass him, well they tend to think about it twice before going neck in neck...

 

I debadged mine within the first 2 hours of owning it....

 

the only functional reason i can think of is when you wash/wax/polish. easier to do when there are badges aren't in the way...

other than that, strictly cosmetic...

 

well it was mainly a thing for racers to confuse unsuspecting challangers into thinking they had smaller engines....not knowing they might have had V8 as opposed to the V6 that was offered. as its most common for any car....it was very popular dealing with MERCEDES as well as BMW's

 

also the other way around^^^^^

 

lol thats just ricey....and imagine the outcome

 

Some think it is dumb, but I do love the really clean look of the back of the car without the badges. Took my 06 home and as soon as it was in the garage the badges were gone.

 

I'm a tech for Benz, I've seen a countless number of cars that come through with incorrect badging. The most common are people with 500's removing the "00" and adding a "5" and "AMG" on the other side. It's a $60,000 upgrade to the unsuspecting eye. I guess most people can't tell at a glance unless you know what to look for. At times they actually ask the service writer if the tech's can do it. It's hilarious to see "Cust/States remove S500 bagging and install S55 AMG bagging" written on a work order.

 

about time!

 

i heard debadging will give you 25 extra horsepower

 

 

I was told about 25.9hp... :rippedoff

 

haha, yeah I just experienced this the other day. A bmw (new 3 series) came up on my left side and we were neck and neck. I slowed down to check his badges, only to find that they weren't there but then noticed his skinny width tires........sayonara byaaatch! Eat TL dust.

Same thing with a debadged 525 but standard rims.......smoked him. And also with an older 3 series that was debadged and had M3 rims but no M3 body kit.....smoked him. Don't know why some beemer owners can't keep it on the real, but maybe that's just here in CA. I took off my "acura" badge but left the "TL" badge on so they all could easily confirm to themselves that they're eating TL dust LOL!

 

The only problem w/ my debadging:

There is a difference in the shade of the paint under the badges when the car is out in the sun.. you can vaguely make out the shadow of "ACURA" and "TL." However, in any other lighting, you cannot see this, and you really have to w/in about two feet and at a certain angle (not straight on) to see it.

 

At first you will notice it, but give a good polish and then a good coat of wax and all shades will be gone...

 

HEK... thanks for the advice.. will do that today.

 

Yes...this is exactly what it needs if you havent done this already. Wash and wax the area real good and it will fade to nothing. That is the effect of the areas not being exposed to the same sunlight and oxygen, ect...it will go away most likely with just a polish.