Emblem Skins--Anyone Done Them?

[MerlintheMad]

im saying that if the car was waxed and the person doing the waxing got wax on the kia badge, it's important to use bug and tar remover or really clean the emblem before sticking anything on. you might not realize there's wax on there and whatever you stick on will last longer if there's no wax between the surface of the badge and the surface of the 3m tape.

Right. Before sticking tape on either surface, I'd be doing a final cleaning of the surface with alcohol.

 

[stinger541]

Yikes, okay thanks. From the sound of things on here, skins are not a good idea. My car is a lease, so changing the emblems is not an option and I did not want to do that anyway. Was hoping the skins would be a good alternative but it would appear not.

 

[stinger541]

Here are my wheels/front, though I was more emphasizing the front stinger script in this photo. They were quick and easy...

[photo=medium]2216[/photo][photo=medium]2217[/photo]

Is your front Kia badge a skin or a whole new emblem?

 

[Kia Stinger]

Yikes, okay thanks. From the sound of things on here, skins are not a good idea. My car is a lease, so changing the emblems is not an option and I did not want to do that anyway. Was hoping the skins would be a good alternative but it would appear not.

They actually are a great idea - you just need to thoroughly clean the emblem surfaces you're applying them to. If there's wax on them, which happens quite often at dealerships before you buy the car, that wax needs to be thoroughly removed before applying the metal skins. There should be no issue with these emblems sticking and staying on. For extra piece of mind, you could use an adhesion promoter - which I could supply for you if you order them...

 

[MerlintheMad]

Yikes, okay thanks. From the sound of things on here, skins are not a good idea. My car is a lease, so changing the emblems is not an option and I did not want to do that anyway. Was hoping the skins would be a good alternative but it would appear not.

I can't speak to the wheel hubs or steering wheel skins. But the hood and back badge skins are good. Mine held up through the winter. The "five or six feet away" rule passes. And there is nothing lifted at all on the rear badge skin. I could remove the hood skin and reattached it, but it looks good enough (still) and I won't bother (yet). If/when I do that, I'll be pinching the skin just a tad, to make sure it lies perfectly flat all the way around, before inserting fresh 3M tape.

 

[stinger541]

I can't speak to the wheel hubs or steering wheel skins. But the hood and back badge skins are good. Mine held up through the winter. The "five or six feet away" rule passes. And there is nothing lifted at all on the rear badge skin. I could remove the hood skin and reattached it, but it looks good enough (still) and I won't bother (yet). If/when I do that, I'll be pinching the skin just a tad, to make sure it lies perfectly flat all the way around, before inserting fresh 3M tape.

Pics would be great!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Pics would be great!

As you can observe, the front skin has lifted along the long edges. But from five, six feet away you would never notice. If the skin is squeezed a bit (on this earlier batch), the long edges fit better. So if/when I reattach it, I will hand form it so that it lays flatter along the edges. The quality of the finish on these skins is very good. These went through winter.

 

[Kia Stinger]

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As you can observe, the front skin has lifted along the long edges. But from five, six feet away you would never notice. If the skin is squeezed a bit (on this earlier batch), the long edges fit better. So if/when I reattach it, I will hand form it so that it lays flatter along the edges. The quality of the finish on these skins is very good. These went through winter.

You know you could try adding a small amount of alcohol onto the area where it's not sticking - and that might get it to sit flush again. Just let it dry naturally before applying pressure on that area...

 

[MerlintheMad]

You know you could try adding a small amount of alcohol onto the area where it's not sticking - and that might get it to sit flush again. Just let it dry naturally before applying pressure on that area...

Tried it. No go. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to dry, but alcohol dries pretty dang fast. I think the tape is just too dirty after over half a year.

 

[WayCoolJr]

I installed my overlays today. All of them came out well, except for the hood badge. It seems to stick up more than others (that have posted pics here). Plus it seems smaller. Did I do something wrong?

 

[Revvdmedia]

I installed my overlays today. All of them came out well, except for the hood badge. It seems to stick up more than others (that have posted pics here). Plus it seems smaller. Did I do something wrong?

What you used on the front appears to be a badge that is intended to be a complete replacement of the Kia badge (remove the Kia badge, install this one), it does not appear to be a badge overlay. I've used both overlays and replacement badges, I'm certain you have a replacement badge over your stock badge...

 

[WayCoolJr]

What you used on the front appears to be a badge that is intended to be a complete replacement of the Kia badge (remove the Kia badge, install this one), it does not appear to be a badge overlay. I've used both overlays and replacement badges, I'm certain you have a replacement badge over your stock badge...

Just lovely.

 

[ballistic]

Just lovely.

did you buy them at this link? KLexus Badge/Emblem Set - Kia Stinger dot com

 

[WayCoolJr]

did you buy them at this link? KLexus Badge/Emblem Set - Kia Stinger dot com

Yes...looks like I bought the wrong stuff

 

[Revvdmedia]

Yes...looks like I bought the wrong stuff

If you did the same on the back, you can likely remove these emblems and start over, although maybe with new badges. I would never suggest using heat on the factory badge, but I think you could remove the badge you put on top of the Kia badge by heating with a hair dryer. Basically, do your best to apply heat to the top badge without getting the bottom too hot, then carefully remove the top badge. Once done, if there is residue, use some Goo Gone and wipe the adhesive off. Mask around the factory badges.

Just my 2c.

 

[stinger541]

yes, these do not look right....it looks like a badge on top of a badge. the overlays are just emblems/skins, they are flat and just stick on like a thick sticker.