Auto body repair & detailing: Clear Bra applied to car, paint surfaces, glue residue

Question
Hi Ernie,

I am looking a used 2004 Silver Audi to purchase.  I've noticed that it has had a clear, appears to be adhered to the paint front end mask or bra applied to the car.  have you had any experience with such a thing?  The clear mask appears to be a tad yellowish so i think in a little bit of time, it would need to be removed.  Are these types of adhered mask easy to remove?  Do they damage the paint or the coating on the paint?  

Thank you, Michelle

Answer
Michelle,The product on the Audi is a clear film made by the 3M company.As long as the vehicle was not refinished before it was applied you should not have any problems.To aid in removal, park the car in direct sunlight to help heat the adhesive,start with a corner and pull the sheeting on a forward angle.Don`t try to peel it back over itself because you will be working against the adhesive.A hair dryer held about 6 inches from the panel will also help.Work on a small area at a time,and for any glue residue left,use an adhesive remover from your local parts store.Now for the bad news,you are going to see a variation in the paint surfaces and probably a definite line where the sheeting stopped.Wet sanding and buffing might help to even out the surfaces a little,and being that the car is a light color you might not even notice.Good luck and thank you for the question.