Smooth Side a Mk2/Mk2b Punto

Hi all,

After reading the two previous guides on how to smooth side a punto I thought I would give it a go but soon discovered that I didn't have all the information needed, I have tried to give all this other information to everyone reading this! Enjoy!

Before I start I will give you some detail about the bumper strips. There are 4 altogether (a big one and a little one on each side) and all of them are made of plastic, but each is firmly stuck on with two adhesive strips and nothing more. When they are off they leave no holes or dips etc (see pics). Next, how to take them off!

First of all you will need:
1. A sponge
2. WD40
3. fishing line
4. Boiling Water and Bucket
5. Patience!

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This is what the Punto looks like before we start anything...

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And this is the area we will be working on...

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Step 1

With the boiling water and sponge soak one side of the car for a few minutes on the bumper strips (highlighted in red), the idea is to heat the glue of the adhesive so the strips can be pulled off. (An alternative idea is to use a hairdryer to heat the adhesive, but as I haven't used this technique I cannot advise you to do so either).

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Step 2

use the fishing line in between the door and the plastic bumper strip and pull back an forth. Lever the strip SLOWLY until it starts to part with the door. Get a grip of the strip with your hands and pull at it SLOWLY. I cannot advise how much better it is to do this slowly, if you rush this part the adhesive will be stuck to door and it will take forever to get off!

This is what you will be left with if you take is off slowly... just a bit of dirt.

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Just clean the dirt and its done! but if you rush it you will be left with a sticky adhesive strip...

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Step 3

To get the adhesive off just spary it with WD40 and leave to set for 5-10mins, then you should be able to scrap the adhesive off with your nails.

And thats it! Job Done!

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Before and After

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Last tips

Make sure you remove the strips slowly!!!

If the worse comes to the worse and you don't like the outcome you can stick the strips back on with some more adhesive!

If I've helped you out feel free to give me a huge thumps up thanks!

Fostar · 21-04-2008

yeh good guide, pretty much the same as debadging (a cinq), i used petrol and a rag to get adhesive off as i ran out of WD, if u using petrol tho dont rub too hard, as it can act as a paint stripper if you do !! Good guide tho Ash

Ash1711 · 22-04-2008

Originally Posted by Fostar

yeh good guide, pretty much the same as debadging (a cinq), i used petrol and a rag to get adhesive off as i ran out of WD, if u using petrol tho dont rub too hard, as it can act as a paint stripper if you do !! Good guide tho Ash

Thanks, your Cinq is nice

Regards,

Ash

planty1986 · 08-05-2008

hmmm might give that one a try cheers

dougcraven · 11-05-2008

good guide perfect method....wish id of found this before i did it!!

I did the same, poured the boiling water on and pulled the strip off left all sorts of crap on the car and took hour and half to get the rest off!!!!

Ev0 · 05-06-2008

Nice Guide I did this yesterday to my punto after reading this. I used a hair dryer one side and boiling water the other. IT was definatly better to use water. Looks good and costs Sweet FA.

Charlotte · 28-06-2008

Still got some glue left on my car

Any idea how to remove this? I've tried WD40, water, and tar remover

Thanks

Matty132900 · 10-07-2008

you could try T-cut, i used T-cut when i took mine off and worked a treat!

Rich-murray · 1 Weeks Ago

has anyone above who has done this decided they preferred having the strips and put them back on? thinking i might take them off if i get some good weather.

Rich-murray · 1 Week Ago

Really good guide, did mine today, the dental floss didn't do much for me but the rest was spot on and the results were great

Ash1711 · 1 Week Ago

looks nice mate, in my original guide i dnt say use dental floss or fishing wire but someone changed it! lol

La Rossa · 4 Days Ago

Originally Posted by Charlotte

Still got some glue left on my car

Any idea how to remove this? I've tried WD40, water, and tar remover

Thanks

As said above...Petrol small amount on rag, rub lightly, wash fully.
Polish and buff with wax .... done

View Poll Results: Do you prefer the Punto with or without Side Strips???
With side strips	9	24.32%
Without side strips	28	75.68%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

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The following 5 users say "Thank You!" to Ash1711 for this useful post:
Fostar (21-04-2008), oatz13 (27-05-2008), Rich-murray (21-04-2008), Shorty_Butler (01-06-2008), THE_DRIVER (01-05-2008)

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