Any way to remove paint without destroying plastic?

[vixen_w202]

Awhile back I smoked my stock corners pretty dark and I failed to realize I put on the paint so thick that it horribly ran. They look so terrible in fact, I just refused to run them on my car as you could noticeably see the runs when lit up.

However, I lost yet another set of markers, and honestly I'm growing tired of having to buy new sets every time one flies off my car....so I'm probably going to save money and fix my originals.

I'd like to refinish my stock ones and hopefully resmoke them going a lot slower, but first I need to remove my hashed paintjob that's on there.

Is there anything I can use to take off the old paint without eating into the glossy clear part of the plastic and messing them up>>

[anf6789]

sand paper, in progressively finer grits. just like polishing headlights. coarse to take off paint, then finer to get rid of the deeper scratches....or maybe see if you can find plastic safe paint stripper?

[Scary-Larry]

I'm pretty sure there is a way to do it, but I can't quite pinpoint how to just yet.

For the marker part, I think that baking soda and toothpaste on a cloth may take care of it.

For the (spray) paint to be removed... I found this: http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Spray-Paint-off-a-Car. Some people may recommend Goof-Off, but I never had great luck with it before (but it's probably worth a try).

Whatever you do, I do not above all recommend paint thinner because I think that would definitely take the paint and the gloss layer off. Toothpaste is designed not to take the enamel off teeth and I'm pretty sure that it should't take off the gloss coat (which is why I first mentioned it). http://lifehacker.com/375896/remove-...om-any-surface, here is an example of someone using it.

Be careful, because I'm not sure if it will take off the glossy part of the plastic. The person in the tutorial didn't seem to take off the protection coat.

I would like some comments on this recommendation because I do not know for sure if it will work... I don't want you to do it and have it ruin the gloss coat.



P.S.

I commented on the rattling exhaust and back seat problem on: http://www.club202.com/forums/showth...2-lately/page3

[vixen_w202]

The only other thing I was thinking is.....I want to buy another set of ambers, however I can't find any reference to Bosch part numbers or where online besides eBay I can get them. I refuse to buy another amber set on eBay....last ones I ordered came from Romania and they took almost a month to get to me.

[Scary-Larry]

Your specifically looking for the blinkers? Right?

[Scary-Larry]

Would this work?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,11719

or

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,11729

[vixen_w202]

Would this work?

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,11719

or

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,ca...parttype,11729

This actually helps out quite a lot! I still have my driver's side clear corner. So if I order from this place I can save quite a bit of money by ordering the one I need. Thanks a bunch.

As far as the true ones I want, they are full blown amber. Really only seen on the european-spec models. I had a set once, but like I said one of them flew off too on the highway and all I could get in the states was a set of clears....

If I could find them on an online retailer tonight, I'd say screw it and just buy a set of those. Problem is, I can't find them from an actual retailer....which is frustrating. I won't buy another set from fleabay, bad experience.

[Scary-Larry]

I'm really happy to help... and it's the least I can do. I have used Rock Auto before for parts (like brakes) and the stuff is cheaper (even Bosch parts). I'm going to look around to see if I can find a great deal on the euro-spec looking ones for you. Could you just give me a link to a picture to one so I can shop around. I'm not the best shopper, but I'm alright for a 21 year old guy.

[vixen_w202]

These are exactly what they look like.

This is what they look like installed on our cars......SOOOOO much sexier than the clears or US OEM ones by far. Only problem is they're really hard to get a hold of...

[Scary-Larry]

I think I found a good set, but it's in the UK (better than Romania or China). I found both the left and right. The price after converted from pounds to dollars may be around $50 (also estimating that with the possible shipping). If you think its a good find, contact them and see if they can send it to the USA. Here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...at=0&_from=R40

and the two specific pages just in case the search is different for you:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc340&_uhb=1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc2b9&_uhb=1


I'm looking for more (closer and cheaper)...

[vixen_w202]

I think I found a good set, but it's in the UK (better than Romania or China). I found both the left and right. The price after converted from pounds to dollars may be around $50 (also estimating that with the possible shipping). If you think its a good find, contact them and see if they can send it to the USA. Here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...at=0&_from=R40

and the two specific pages just in case the search is different for you:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc340&_uhb=1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc2b9&_uhb=1


I'm looking for more (closer and cheaper)...

I've had bad experiences with eBay, I prefer not to buy from them.

[vixen_w202]

I think I found a good set, but it's in the UK (better than Romania or China). I found both the left and right. The price after converted from pounds to dollars may be around $50 (also estimating that with the possible shipping). If you think its a good find, contact them and see if they can send it to the USA. Here it is:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_tr...at=0&_from=R40

and the two specific pages just in case the search is different for you:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc340&_uhb=1
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mercedes-c...fcdc2b9&_uhb=1


I'm looking for more (closer and cheaper)...

I've had bad experiences with eBay, I prefer not to buy from them.

[Scary-Larry]

I'm still looking, sorry for the wait. If it means anything, I found an amber center brake light lol!
http://vehicles.oodle.com/detail/mer...-www-_-NA-_-NA

[wichipong]

i can point you towards a store i buy em off OEM... bnew in box i think... will cost around 60 plus a piece plus shipping...... or maybe you could get a member from across the pond to scout you and send you a set...

[wichipong]

or maybe you could get cheaper depo ambers...

[Scary-Larry]

I cannot find it from America for some reason. It's so frustrating, I've had trouble with ebay before, with packages coming in like over a month. These ambers have to be in the USA somewhere.

[Scary-Larry]

I was able to find a w202 C55 AMG in London for £4,000 and a E46 BMW Alpina B3 3.3 for under €6,000, but I cannot find a w202 amber blinker on American soil lol. I feel like I'm doing my banking homework...almost as hard. No sweat though, we can figure something out. Let me get some rest, it's about 3:00Am here. I'll look again. Good night

[MikeD]

The only other thing I was thinking is.....I want to buy another set of ambers, however I can't find any reference to Bosch part numbers or where online besides eBay I can get them. I refuse to buy another amber set on eBay....last ones I ordered came from Romania and they took almost a month to get to me.

Wasn't that because of hurricane Sandy and you got them for free as a result?

[vixen_w202]

Wasn't that because of hurricane Sandy and you got them for free as a result?

Yes, but it still was a pain. I understand a hurricane is beyond anyone's control....but from now on if I can I'll try to get stuff from within the US.

[Ali Daei]

When I was doing my tail lights, I bought this stuff called bumper stripper. Its safe on plastic. Although it took off the paint, it was a bitch to clean up.

[DGr1FF]

Are you sure the corners are "clicking" into place? I see no reason why they should be flying off your car on the highway.

[kowalski]

I was able to find a w202 C55 AMG in London for £4,000 and a E46 BMW Alpina B3 3.3 for under €6,000, but I cannot find a w202 amber blinker on American soil lol. I feel like I'm doing my banking homework...almost as hard. No sweat though, we can figure something out. Let me get some rest, it's about 3:00Am here. I'll look again. Good night

hey scary-larry.
found some goodies for ya.
just email them and ask if they ship to USA?

http://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_odkw=...nkers&_sacat=0