How to remove a carbon fiber splitter held on with molding tape?

[gymtime]

So I ran one of my carbon fiber splitters, that came with the car, into a curb and cracked it. Had to order a new one and it arrived today.

The procedure looks very simple, I took 2 screws out from the broken one but it seems to be held on by molding tape or some kind of adhesive but I can't see it. Do I just yank that baby off? Or is there some trick to it? I don't want to damage the part of the bumper that it is held on to, I tried pulling it off with some decent pressure but it didn't work, I'm only able to lift about half of it off

Not my car but this is the splitter

[s85e90]

Pull hard or heat it up first w/ a blow dryer and get the adhesive soft and it should pull right off.

[GRUESOM3]

Dental floss works really well to get the edges started too while heating it with a blow dryer

[W///]

Start from the sides (closer to the wheels) and work your way forward to the middle of the bumper. It should start getting easier. Then just use goo gone or tar remover to get rid of the leftover tape.

[gymtime]

I can't get it off. I've been working at it for 30 minutes.

I heated it up with a strong heat lamp to the point that it was hot to the touch. The side and bottom part of it has come off but the part holding it from the top won't budge. It's some kind of black looking tar stuff holding it on, not molding tape....I tried working at it with a kitchen knife and no luck, and then a pocket knife. Not sure what to do. It's a really hard area to reach and it's attached to some thin plastic part of the bumper so I can't really yank it off, I can barely wedge my fingers between it to pull

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by gymtime

I can't get it off. I've been working at it for 30 minutes.

I heated it up with a strong heat lamp to the point that it was hot to the touch. The side and bottom part of it has come off but the part holding it from the top won't budge. It's some kind of black looking tar stuff holding it on, not molding tape....I tried working at it with a kitchen knife and no luck, and then a pocket knife. Not sure what to do. It's a really hard area to reach and it's attached to some thin plastic part of the bumper so I can't really yank it off, I can barely wedge my fingers between it to pull

fishing line

[EJT86]

Make sure it's not beta linked on otherwise you'll damage your paint. If it's 3M tape then no need to be gentle with the splitter since it's ruined anyway

[gatorfast]

Sounds like it could be beta link which is a problem. That stuff is more or less permanent as far as I know.

[gymtime]

I'm guessing it's betalink then....what do I do now? Is it impossible to remove? I've managed to saw away at like 1/4th of it with a knife but there's one spot that it doesn't seem to want to cut through. Probably already scratched up the paint bad but it's covered with the splitter anyway

[EJT86]

I believe cleanly it's impossible to remove. I'd say try to cut it off and sand the remaining betalink off it'll ruin the paint but the new splitter will cover it and you be committed to forever having splitters. I'd go with tape for the next one since it's secured with the screws also

[gymtime]

About 3/4th of the way there with sawing it off. Maybe it's not betalink, it seems to cut easy when I heat it up. I can stick my fingers in there and the glue feels kind of soft

[gymtime]

Managed to get it off. Never want to do that again. My fingers are all cut up but at least I managed not to stab myself.

I'm pretty sure it is betalink. It's a soft rubbery type stuff that I can cut off in places but it's so stuck to the paint it looks like the only way to remove it is with some kind of mechanical grinder

I'm just going to cut it down and then adhere the 3M tape to it

[s85e90]

maybe try to get an eraser wheel on a drill in there to clean it up?

[gymtime]

Originally Posted by s85e90

maybe try to get an eraser wheel on a drill in there to clean it up?

Didn't bother. I put the 3M in different spots and the replacement fit on nicely

[dozaiya]

i just asked the exact same question before you but i only got one reply wtf

[peeti]

So all that being said - I have a new set on order (same deal, trashed due to Chicago speed bumps). Reseller said use betalink. Now reading this I am seriously scared of that. My guess is mine are betalink attached now as a dealer did it before I bought the car and that's the official install process. I didn't see screws, but didn't look too close. While I'm not planning on cracking the new set - ya know, shit happens. thoughts?

[dozaiya]

Originally Posted by peeti

So all that being said - I have a new set on order (same deal, trashed due to Chicago speed bumps). Reseller said use betalink. Now reading this I am seriously scared of that. My guess is mine are betalink attached now as a dealer did it before I bought the car and that's the official install process. I didn't see screws, but didn't look too close. While I'm not planning on cracking the new set - ya know, shit happens. thoughts?

you are in for one hell of a ride

[M3PO]

Just say no to Betalink people. This is why. There is absolutely no reason to use it, in any situation. Don't glue shit to your car, duh!

[BLACK OPS]

Originally Posted by peeti

So all that being said - I have a new set on order (same deal, trashed due to Chicago speed bumps). Reseller said use betalink. Now reading this I am seriously scared of that. My guess is mine are betalink attached now as a dealer did it before I bought the car and that's the official install process. I didn't see screws, but didn't look too close. While I'm not planning on cracking the new set - ya know, shit happens. thoughts?

After you've cleaned the attachment points, apply 3M adhesion promoter wipes (06396) to the area before sticking on the CF parts with 3M tape.

[B8bydesign]

Bout to go down this road as well this weekend. With my Challenge lip hopefully arriving soon, was going to begin the process of removing the splitters that the dealer installed for the original owner. Confirmed with the dealer today that they did use Betalink, I'm just hoping and praying not a lot of it. Any tips? I'm not concerned about damaging the splitters, just trying to avoid damaging the paint since the new lip will not cover that area. Plan is to use a heat gun, and nylon wire or fishing line working from the outside in and just taking my time.

[peeti]

Quick update to all.. I replaced my OEM CF splitters with the knock off ones that Turner sells (never shopping there again btw - over 2 months waiting for these with a "almost there", "next week for sure" over and over and then missing the betalink to boot). The issue with the knock offs is that they are shaped plastic with a coat of CF. They may be more durable in the long haul, but they are much more stiff than OEM. So no way I can do this with 3m VHB as the spring factor of flexed plastic will be interesting. So I got betalink at the local dealer and am getting ready to do put these on.

I already removed the old ones. A heat gun and scraping and wasn't so bad, but it did totally trash the area where these were before - so without completely refinishing the bumper cover, I'm always in for some splitters it seems.

As if to add insult to injury, the underbody pan covers that these attach to are destroyed as well. So I am back to waiting as I had to order those to replace. At first I thought I'd just patch the ones I have with fiberglass tape and epoxy - but they are too far gone.