So this just happened.... = /

[Bernie Fen]

That’s my plan, please post when it’s done. I saw someone on the forums with a white one that doesn’t have a badge and it looked sick.

You bet! I think it'll look sick - something about people trying to guess WTF it is excites me. Even when rocking the Kia badge on, I've had 3 people almost got into an accident while looking at it. Eyes on the road bruh.

 

[Bernie Fen]

There are three things I would tell people when removing the badges, if they follow all three they will not damage their paint.

First, don't use a heat gun, ever, a hot day is adequate, you can use a hair dryer as well.

Second, use painters tape all around the badge, if you skip this you will scratch up your clear.

Lastly and most importantly, DO NOT PRY THE BADGE OFF. I've seen a couple videos where people separate the adhesive at the edges then yank the sucker off, do NOT do that. The adhesive on the back is incredibly strong and if I had to guess, that's part of the reason people are losing paint. The bond to the paint in some cases is stronger than the paint bond to the primer, the weakest link will always break first. There is adhesive in the middle that you will never reach with just fishing line, you need something skinny, thin, and plastic to push in there to break up the adhesive. Once you have cut/broken up all the adhesive, your badge should come off with very little effort. If you're gripping it tight and having to yank on it you're doing it wrong.

Regardless, it's just money to get it fixed. I have 5k on mine and already had to get a fender fixed and the front bumper recleared, stuff happens. Having no badge on the front I think will look great.

Definitely learned my lesson the hard way.. clearly wasn't thinking straight yesterday. Still a bit ticked off about it. Could have spent that $800 for something else or saved it. Can't do nothing about it now, least til I win a lottery all of the sudden lol.

 

[Callum]

You bet! I think it'll look sick - something about people trying to guess WTF it is excites me. Even when rocking the Kia badge on, I've had 3 people almost got into an accident while looking at it. Eyes on the road bruh.

That was actually my next suggestion. Get the holes filled and repaint the bumper. It would look killer on that color.

 

[Bernie Fen]

That was actually my next suggestion. Get the holes filled and repaint the bumper. It would look killer on that color.

yea that's what the shop will do. We'll see what the finish job look like and will post a pic for sure.

 

[Callum]

yea that's what the shop will do. We'll see what the finish job look like and will post a pic for sure.

The plus side, is if you don't like the way the no badge looks, you can always snip the posts off and add the badge back! It's a win/win.

Shit happens, for a reason. Gotta take all that stuff with a light heart. I know I try when things go wrong.

 

[Bernie Fen]

The plus side, is if you don't like the way the no badge looks, you can always snip the posts off and add the badge back! It's a win/win.

Shit happens, for a reason. Gotta take all that stuff with a light heart. I know I try when things go wrong.

Yea that's what the technician said but I think i'll definitely go for the clean look. Thanks bud, just that I've never been in this situation where I had to shell out unnecessary $$$ due to my stupidity. Shrugging it off and move forward. Will keep everyone posted.

 

[oddball]

Don't sweat it. Shit happens. I've been a car junkie for decades and I made the exact same mistake on my front bumper. The paint on that plastic bumper is just extremely delicate. I just got the touch up pen and dobbed it on there. Still obvious, but good enough for now.
I also realized that when some people say "high heat" they don't mean "high heat". Sure, I knew not to bring out the acetylene, but figured it needed the real heat gun.
Nope.

 

[Bernie Fen]

Don't sweat it. Shit happens. I've been a car junkie for decades and I made the exact same mistake on my front bumper. The paint on that plastic bumper is just extremely delicate. I just got the touch up pen and dobbed it on there. Still obvious, but good enough for now.
I also realized that when some people say "high heat" they don't mean "high heat". Sure, I knew not to bring out the acetylene, but figured it needed the real heat gun.
Nope.

thanks bud. Yea we live and learn.. I certainly did. My next investment would be a touch-up paint. I'm also thinking of applying a clear bra on since I just got the car and wanted to protect the front bumper from them rock chips. I'll see if I can get a good deal from the shop.

 

[Callum]

Yea that's what the technician said but I think i'll definitely go for the clean look. Thanks bud, just that I've never been in this situation where I had to shell out unnecessary $$$ due to my stupidity. Shrugging it off and move forward. Will keep everyone posted.

It's not stupidity. It's trying something and learning from it. It could have been worse, somebody could have gotten injured...not that a badge swap is dangerous, but just saying

 

[Soca Boy]

You bet! I think it'll look sick - something about people trying to guess WTF it is excites me. Even when rocking the Kia badge on, I've had 3 people almost got into an accident while looking at it. Eyes on the road bruh.

Yeah, same thing here.

 

[MerlintheMad]

To you who are opting out of any badge in front at all: consider the license plate. It doesn't make a lot of aesthetical sense to take the badge off and still have an ugly plate. If your state will ticket lack of a front plate as a first offense then don't bother removing the front badge. If you can get away without a front plate, then that is very cool; and a badgeless look is definitely very clean and natural. The other option is to use the towing hook port to hold the license plate; and then remove it anytime you get to without worry. In other words, the option is theoretically there to go "plateless"; and maybe you can on a nice long road trip out of state or to a meet or somewhere.

 

[DaBears4Lyfe]

I’ve said it a few times, and I’ll say it again.

DONT USE HEAT ON THE STINGER.

I used a heat gun and so did several others. Your message should be IF YOU USE A HEAT GUN KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY USE IT! Its not as simple as just heating up the area, you need to gradually heat it up with solid motions not just leaving the heat gun point at it from a few inches away.

This sucks op but you gave it a shot. Hopefully a new badge will cover most of it after you use some touch up on it?

 

[Bernie Fen]

To you who are opting out of any badge in front at all: consider the license plate. It doesn't make a lot of aesthetical sense to take the badge off and still have an ugly plate. If your state will ticket lack of a front plate as a first offense then don't bother removing the front badge. If you can get away without a front plate, then that is very cool; and a badgeless look is definitely very clean and natural. The other option is to use the towing hook port to hold the license plate; and then remove it anytime you get to without worry. In other words, the option is theoretically there to go "plateless"; and maybe you can on a nice long road trip out of state or to a meet or somewhere.

Yea right now, there is no plates or bracket installed on my front bumper which was a huge plus when I got the car from the dealer as most Stingers on the lot had plate brackets installed. They did offered to install the plate brackets but they'll charge me $70 bucks for it as they'll need to drill a hole and all that and i'm like WTF!?.. naw naw. So i'm glad I had left it the way it was. Here in VA, its required to have front plates displayed but I have yet to get pulled over *SUPER KNOCK ON WOOD*. In the event that it happens, I'll just say I just got the car and making my way to the dealer to have it installed. So I'm going with the clean badgeless / plateless front look til I hit a wall.

 

[Bernie Fen]

I used a heat gun and so did several others. Your message should be IF YOU USE A HEAT GUN KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY USE IT! Its not as simple as just heating up the area, you need to gradually heat it up with solid motions not just leaving the heat gun point at it from a few inches away.

This sucks op but you gave it a shot. Hopefully a new badge will cover most of it after you use some touch up on it?

Thanks for the feedback and I appreciate everyone's comment and support here. Naw, not even a touch paint can cover the damage that has already done. Took it to a nearby body shop to get the paint repaired. Will keep this post updated as soon as possible.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yea right now, there is no plates or bracket installed on my front bumper which was a huge plus when I got the car from the dealer as most Stingers on the lot had plate brackets installed. They did offered to install the plate brackets but they'll charge me $70 bucks for it as they'll need to drill a hole and all that and i'm like WTF!?.. naw naw. So i'm glad I had left it the way it was. Here in VA, its required to have front plates displayed but I have yet to get pulled over *SUPER KNOCK ON WOOD*. In the event that it happens, I'll just say I just got the car and making my way to the dealer to have it installed. So I'm going with the clean badgeless / plateless front look til I hit a wall.

Utah is required too (I learned that here; but I've only lived here my whole life). But it is not a first offense: you can't be pulled over and cited for no front plate; but the cop can cite you in addition to a first offense violation for not having a front plate. I'm taking my chances.

 

[Bernie Fen]

Utah is required too (I learned that here; but I've only lived here my whole life). But it is not a first offense: you can't be pulled over and cited for no front plate; but the cop can cite you in addition to a first offense violation for not having a front plate. I'm taking my chances.

I guess it all depends on the officer... some officers may let you get away with it... gotta watch out for the rookies though.. definitely taking my chances til I see some Christmas light special *knock on wood* .. with that in mind, I also went ahead and bought me a tow hook plate mounting bracket ($23 shipped) online specifically for our whip.

 

[Bernie Fen]

AND SHE'S BACK!!!! looking SEXIER than ever with the clean look front! Check the pics and let me know what you guys think Also, if you're a local DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) Stingers and looking for a professional body work for a great price - check with the guys (Joey, Chris or Sean) at MAACO of Springfield, VA. Highly recommend them! Not only they do body works and paint repairs, they also do performance parts install. These guys are legit. Pictures doesn't do justice

 

[MerlintheMad]

Very, very, very right. I hope you never have to use that towing hook license plate mount.

 

[app_master]

I'll admit it man, that looks gooooooooood !
Your nightmare has turned out really really well. It will actually be a shame to mount a license plate back on there somewhere.

 

[BBB]

Looks nice and clean - I prefer a front E badge though, which I think brings a more focal point to the front end. It's as if the front badge centres the entire front of the car. But it does look good!