After seeing a lot of crazy ways of removing bump strips and trying quite a few ways over the years. I found one method that was the best/easiest way to do it. This question gets asked all the time and some of the suggestions people would just take forever. Baring in mind I've only done this on mk2/3 Polos but I would imagine the process is the same for a 6N. Or any other car with bump strips that are just stuck on.

Warning: If your car has had a respray by someone who is a bit lazy you could be in trouble! Some people just mask off the trims when really you should remove them, paint the panel then re-stick them. This can have a couple effects on your car. You could remove the bump strip and there is a defined line where the bump strip was. Its possible to flat these back and polish them out, but it leaves another possible problem. The paint work underneath could be a different colour to the exterior paint work. I had this problem with one of my cars. Was two different shades of red! So your removing them at your own risk!

So here is what I've found to be the best way over the years.

First off you want the remove the bump strips. Many people suggest boiling the kettle and doing this. I did this once with my red car and it quite swiftly turned pink. Had to polish it all the time cause the paint just seemed to fade quite quickly and badly in that spot. So don't use boiling hot water, either heat up the water a bit in the kettle and then use it. Or just let the hot tap run for a bit until water is nice and hot. Put the water into a jug or something that makes it easy to pour out with one hand.

Pour the water onto the whole strip that you want to remove. Then working from one edge just lightly press down on the trim and pour warm water on it. You should start to feel it peel away, keep pouring water on it and move a long the trim. Keep pouring water on it to un-stick the glue.

This method works really well on mk2/3 Polos because the rub strips are quite big, therefore its easy to get a hand on them. For smaller trims you might be better off using something like dental floss or an old credit card to unstick it. Just be careful you don't use anything that could damage the paint underneath

Once the trim is removed it will most likely leave you with some black sticky tape stuff. You can use thinners or petrol to remove it, if you have an eternity to spare. I would suggest buying a Fudge Wheel (no really, thats what its called). Its a small rubber wheel thing that looks (and smells) like a piece of fudge. They cost about £5.00. Halfords don't sell them unfortunately. Anywhere that a paintwork/bodywork specialist should be able to get you one. Or have one in stock ready to take away!

Before you start removing the sticky stuff make sure you've dried off the car.

All you do with this is attach it to a drill. You will need a reasonably powerful drill to use it. Something most people will have in there household. If you don't, go buy one. They always come in useful! All you do with this is let the drill do all the work and rub the wheel over the black sticky stuff and it should remove it with ease. The best part is it won't damage your paintwork so long as its used correctly. I think you'd have to be pretty lame to damage the paint with it cause they seem pretty idiot proof.

Once you've done that, give the car a quick wash and make sure you've got all the sticky bits off. When I did this on my mk2 it took about 5-10 mins to remove the bump strips themselves. Give it a quick dry, then it took another 10-15min more to get the glue off.

Before:

After:

If you've got any questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them. If you do it, would be good if you take step by step pictures. Its something I never did so I only really have the before and after pics. Would be good to show some step by step stuff.

GOOD GOD GREAT READ!!!!!! nice one mate, saves all these topics now anywayz!

just to add, these fudge wheels can be purchesed from frost iirc.

Edited 22 May, 200818 yr by POLOMON

good a use for the £600 milwaukee drill av just bought

GOOD GOD GREAT READ!!!!!! nice one mate, saves all these topics now anywayz!

just to add, these fudge wheels can be purchesed from frost iirc.

hey man, I cant find where to a buy a fudge wheel anywhere on the internet, can you help me out with a website or something,

cheers

is this the right tool because i removed my bump strips and the black stuff came of but the is a small clearish resadue it does come off if i pick at it for hours but wanted a quicker wanted a quicker way thanks liam

it sais in the above thread if you read!

A FUDGE WHEEL! PURCHASED FROM FROST!

does anyone know were i can get a fudge wheel in belfast/northern ireland?

just a general bodyshop place or even a parts store?

does anyone know were i can get a fudge wheel in belfast/northern ireland?

just a general bodyshop place or even a parts store?

if your stuck you can always try ebay mate,

Heres a link for you

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__eraser-whee...scZwheel?_rdc=1

Thanks dude, got all sorted now so can get off the bump strips.

i can vouch for this :) fudge wheel ftw ..thanks for this :)

Ga

Done mine with fudge wheel, worked very well :)

Fookin brill used the fudge wheel work realy well

got it off ebay .... thanks :)

Just did it with thinners and card only - second time I've ever used my blockbuster card!

That was just for a bump strip that had come off already - should I get the rest off?!

Edited 14 May, 201016 yr by Spade

I don't know if i was going at this like a total tard but i did it and it took bit of my paint off and left a sticky shit thats worse than the glue i was trying too get off in the first place. I eventually got it off with WD40 i don;'t rekomend but if it worked for every one else then i must have done something wrong :(

does anyone know were i can get a fudge wheel in belfast/northern ireland?

just a general bodyshop place or even a parts store?

if your stuck you can always try ebay mate,

Heres a link for you

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/items/__eraser-whee...scZwheel?_rdc=1

3.75£ for a fudge wheel thats mint ! last time i looked on ebay they were a 10er !

just bort 1 now incase i need 1

cheers for the link mate

has anyone got a link for one now?

cheers, james

Also called a TOFFEE WHEEL

Also called caramel wheel, cheapest on eBay £4.57 free delivery and on Amazon UK £5.75 free delivery