BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 5-Series (G30) Forum DIY Discussions / Guides / Instructions DIY: Remove Air Bag Stickers From Fabric Sun Visors

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-29-2020, 01:06 PM   #1
tron1043
First Lieutenant
82
Rep
378
Posts

Drives: G30 540i xDrive
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Metro-Detroit

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2013 328i M-Sport  [0.00]
2012 F30 335i  [0.00]
DIY: Remove Air Bag Stickers From Fabric Sun Visors

***FIRST, PLEASE, BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF, OTHERS, FURNITURE, ETC. Also, this worked for me and didn't damage the sun visors, but no promises here that it will work the same for you. Heed the warning below to check your work after the first visor.***

I was hesitant to attempt removing the air bag stickers because the sun visors are fabric. In my F30, the sun visors were wrapped in vinyl, and I used chemicals to remove the stickers.

I didn't want to risk discoloring the fabric, so, after some research it seemed the best option was heat. Specifically, steam. My wife has a ridiculously overpowered commercial garment steamer, so, I gave it a shot. It worked, and there's almost no sign the air bag stickers were ever there. See pictures. Note, on the extreme close up picture of the installed sun visor, the whitish/blue 'spot' in the middle is from the camera lens or something, and it's not on the visor.
-----------------------
TOOLS:
  • Small flat head screw driver
  • A strong steamer
  • Helpful, but don't know if necessary, a bit of finger nail length. (Never thought I'd write that about anything ever.)

INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Insert the flat head screw driver into the notch of the cover where the visor is connected to the car. Pop out the clip, and put it in cup holder or somewhere you won't forget.
  2. Pull the sun visor down, then pull it gently towards you in a small arc.
  3. When the visor comes down, there will be an electrical connection. Push the flat screw driver into the red connector plug and GENTLY, GENTLY push it up and slide the connector out.
  4. Repeat on other side, and remove the sun visors from the car.
  5. Steam the area around the sticker liberally. (For me it took several minutes before the sticker would budge.) I lost track of how much time it took.
  6. WITH YOUR HAND AWAY FROM THE STEAM!!!!, softly scratch a corner of the air bag sticker until it starts to give and roll backwards.
  7. Methodically roll the sticker back, and reapply steam during the process WITH YOUR HAND AWAY FROM THE STEAM. Also, don't rest the visor on your lap or on top of anything delicate.
  8. After you finish the first visor, lightly blow dry the fabric so that it's dry. Do this to make sure you haven't discolored the fabric, and if you have discolored/ruined the fabric, you can save yourself from ruining the other side.
  9. After the stickers are removed and you're placing them back into the car, take the small metal pressure fit clip out. (If you've made it this far, you know the one.)
  10. Put the metal clip into the plastic part of the visor (annotated in one of the pictures) before reinstalling.

TIPS:
  • If the sticker won't move with your finger nail, you need to steam it longer. For the first side, I tried using tweezers to peel the corner back. BAD IDEA. The fabric is so tight against the sticker you're probably going to rip the fabric with a tool.
  • To me, I'm convinced that there is a bead of a different and stronger adhesive around the outline of the sticker. It's extra difficult to remove this part. On the first visor, I removed the bulk of the sticker and found a line of adhesive that was needlessly difficult to remove. For the second visor, I kept the sticker in one piece, and made sure I had peeled back some of the sticker around the entire sticker.
  • Don't give in to the temptation to try this inside of the car. If the weather wasn't terrible by me, I would've probably started the project outside. Regardless of the weather, it would be foolish to do this inside the car.
Attached Images
      
__________________
Appreciate 5
      06-13-2020, 12:23 AM   #2
bludblu
CAR SOLD Aug. 2022
20
Rep
18
Posts

Drives: 540d
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Wow just wow. I am impressed of your result. So so nice. I will try. I have been searching how to get rid of those stickers. Thank you so much for this.
Appreciate 0
      06-15-2020, 01:35 AM   #3
Shatter
Mr. Nobody
Shatter's Avatar
Finland
24
Rep
57
Posts

Drives: BMW
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Finland

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
So much cleaner!
__________________
G30 520d xDrive - 2017
Retrofits: 3AG - 609 - 688 - 6WB - SLI
F22 218dA (2015)
Retrofits: None
Appreciate 0
      06-16-2020, 08:03 AM   #4
Titan2004
Private
28
Rep
79
Posts

Drives: M550i/M50i/488/Maybach/RR
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Philadelphia

iTrader: (0)

I usually cover mine with wide, black vinyl tape. Takes about 1 minute which is about the right amount of time for me on this particular fix
Appreciate 0
      03-24-2022, 07:22 PM   #5
bludblu
CAR SOLD Aug. 2022
20
Rep
18
Posts

Drives: 540d
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: California

iTrader: (0)

Thanks to the OP for this idea. Just did mine with a $29 steamer bought online and with the hair dryer in order to softer the label a little bit. Don't try this if you are not patient. I used a rag and a little brush to wipe out the label, and all this with time and very delicate work, and I washed a little bit as a last step with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol. Dry at the final stage also with hair dryer. See attached pictures.
Attached Images
        
Appreciate 0
      03-27-2022, 06:11 PM   #6
G30 B58
Pace Car Driver
1547
Rep
3,163
Posts

Drives: '22 AW G30 B58 M-Sport
Join Date: May 2014
Location: my garage in PA

iTrader: (0)

IPA by itself works just fine.
Appreciate 1
540iSUP703.00
      03-08-2024, 09:55 AM   #7
ipilcher
Captain
ipilcher's Avatar
384
Rep
899
Posts

Drives: 2024 M3 Compensation
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: North Texas, USA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tron1043 View Post
When the visor comes down, there will be an electrical connection. Push the flat screw driver into the red connector plug and GENTLY, GENTLY push it up and slide the connector out.
I know that this is an old thread, but can anyone expound on this step a bit. (The label-free visors for my G80 are arriving today, and these are the only instructions I've been able to find for removing the visors.)

Maybe it will be obvious when I get the visors, but I don't really understand the part about pushing the screwdriver into the red connector (or what direction "up" is in this context).
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:30 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST