The front of the car is really stunning so I just had to remove the front license plate holder to show it off better. Yes, I realize this puts me in the "ask for forgiveness" club with no front plate in CA. I'm ok with this.
Here is what it looks like without the thing on the front.
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So the front plate is held on by two screws that I don't have the name for in a star pattern. The pattern isn't one of the obvious ones that comes in those kits from Harbor Freight. Thankfully an 11/32 socket gives just enough grip that a gentle push will loosen them and then you can screw them out by hand.
This is the screw:
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Once you take the two screws out you give it a good even pull. There are 3 strips of rubber stickers holding it on.
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Most of it came off when I applied pressure but a little was left on the car. Here is the bumper after pulling it off.
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Here is the back of the plate holder for reference:
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When I took delivery, I told the service team I planned on debadging it and they gave me what was left in a can of the solvent they use to take stickers off. Here is their solvent:
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I was able to get the rubber stickers off with the solvent and my fingernails but it took me a good 10-15 minutes of picking at it. I'm sure it would have gone quicker if I had used something plastic to help it off but I didn't want to scratch it so I just picked at it slowly.
Once it was all removed, i gave the outline of the plate frame a quick wipedown with maguire's scratch X so insure the outline of the plate was gone, then a good polish with a clean rag and BAM. What a looker without the front plate!
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Now for the back. The model S stickers and battery size stickers come off really easily with a long piece of dental floss. It just cuts them right off. I was able to peel the stickers behind these letters off without solvent, they came right off as they are only a few days old. A quick dab with the solvent to get the residue off and now the back is all cleaned up as well.
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Here is what it looks like without the thing on the front.
View media item 115156
So the front plate is held on by two screws that I don't have the name for in a star pattern. The pattern isn't one of the obvious ones that comes in those kits from Harbor Freight. Thankfully an 11/32 socket gives just enough grip that a gentle push will loosen them and then you can screw them out by hand.
This is the screw:
View media item 115142
Once you take the two screws out you give it a good even pull. There are 3 strips of rubber stickers holding it on.
View media item 115141
Most of it came off when I applied pressure but a little was left on the car. Here is the bumper after pulling it off.
View media item 115145
Here is the back of the plate holder for reference:
View media item 115146View media item 115144
When I took delivery, I told the service team I planned on debadging it and they gave me what was left in a can of the solvent they use to take stickers off. Here is their solvent:
View media item 115147
I was able to get the rubber stickers off with the solvent and my fingernails but it took me a good 10-15 minutes of picking at it. I'm sure it would have gone quicker if I had used something plastic to help it off but I didn't want to scratch it so I just picked at it slowly.
Once it was all removed, i gave the outline of the plate frame a quick wipedown with maguire's scratch X so insure the outline of the plate was gone, then a good polish with a clean rag and BAM. What a looker without the front plate!
View media item 115151View media item 115150View media item 115149View media item 115148View media item 115155View media item 115156
Now for the back. The model S stickers and battery size stickers come off really easily with a long piece of dental floss. It just cuts them right off. I was able to peel the stickers behind these letters off without solvent, they came right off as they are only a few days old. A quick dab with the solvent to get the residue off and now the back is all cleaned up as well.
View media item 115153View media item 115154View media item 115152