Don't need no stinkin' badges!

[KyooX4]

Actually, I don't want to get rid of my badges, but I couldn't let that line go to waste.

What I want to do is take my badges off and paint them black. I went over them with a black dry-erase marker to see how they would look. Turns out, I think they look great that way (black on silver).So how would I go about getting the badges off and getting them back on? Also, can anyone recommend some auto paint? I'd want a dark, bold black with a clear coat.

Thanks!

[Pwnin O'Brien]

To get them off, you can simply heat each badge with a hair dryer or heat gun. You want them hot enough so they start to wiggle. You then take some fishing line or floss and saw the adhesive in between the badge and vehicle body. I'm not sure about QX4's, but Pathfinders have pins on the badges that go into the vehicle body. If there are pins, you wont be able to saw anymore, and you will have to start sawing from different sides until you can enough free that you can just pull it from the car.

I am currently painting my badges a metallic graphite color (by Duplicolor) and then laying down several clear coats. You can't go wrong with Duplicolor or Rustoleum, but you have to clear coat whatever you're painting with because a regular paint finish won't last long. My Pathfinder is silver and the front grille surround and Nissan badge have already been painted graphite and they look really nice.

To get the badges back on is a different story. A lot of people recommend the 3M heavy duty double-sided adhesive strips, but I don't know how well they stick and if the white color will stick out.

[KyooX4]

Thanks! I suppose leaving them on and taping/newspaper around them is out of the question? What were you thinking about using to put the badges back on? If you do use the 3M you mentioned, could you let me know how that goes. When do you think you will be finishing it?

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Well I had to purchase new badges because one of them broke when I pulled it off (The flimsy Pathfinder badge) and I don't really have a valid reason for replacing the second one, I just wanted to I guess. The new ones have adhesive from the factory.

I suppose you could try painting them on the car if you don't want to remove them, but I would recommend removing them first because it's much less labor than taping the badges and car off. Also, with them off the car you can ensure that the surface is well scuffed and the paint is even. It also gives you an opportunity to clean the paint under the badges, it just makes for a cleaner look.

The one thing that may be a pain when removing the badges, if you decide to remove them, is to somehow mark around the old badges with some removable marker. This ensures that you get the position right when you apply the new badges.

It has been raining here a lot and I've been waiting for low humidity to paint them and clear coat them. I'm hoping they will be finished by middle of next week. Maybe sooner if I get good weather. I'll definitely post pics tho.

[KyooX4]

I got the front infiniti logo badge off and painted it. Three light coats adhesion promoter, four light coats flat black, two light coats clear, then a third medium clear. Looks pretty good. I will put rebadge it later. After that I'll be doing all the rear badges.Does anyone know how to get the 'I N F I N I T I' lettering off the tailgate? It almost looks like it's embedded.

[Qxxx4]

great idea, black on silver...thats going to be so unique! The infiniti badging on the back seems to just be a really strong adhesive, because my last I is a little loose...

Ive always wanted to buy 2 more Qx4 badges and cut the X's and create a custom Qxxx4 logo...hahaha

[KyooX4]

Ok thanks. I'll try taking a hair dryer to them later.

Haha, that would be awesome!

I thought about also painting (black too) the infiniti badges on the wheels as well. Some guy on a tacoma forum did that to his stock tacoma wheels.

[W O T]

Dont use a hair dryer

Grab some fishing line and wrap it around your hands, and just go back and forth, they come off easy, Ive debadged 15+ cars like this, no damage, no heat and takes 1 minute.

My stereo has shooken off a few on the infiniti letters in the hatch. Dealership doesnt sell them. Where the hell can I get them replaced!!!

[Qxxx4]

YEAH great idea with fishing line, ive used that method for other things before, much safer than hair dryer.

WOT...im surprised you didnt debrand your already super stealth qx4. I guess you dont want it to get mistaken for a B2 b0mber hahaha

[Pwnin O'Brien]

So I finally finished my rear badges today! I took a few quick shots. It's a subtle difference, but I'm really happy with the outcome.

[slickroger]

definetly go with the fishing line the heatgun or blow dryer have the potential to warp the badge, thus rendering it useless.

Pwnin O'Brien

looks good did you tint the red reflectors on the bumper

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Yeah, I painted them next to the tail lights so they are the same shade.

[fueler]

looks OEM! I dont know, i might remove my QX4 badge.... opinions?

[KyooX4]

Looks good Pwnin!

I've so far only done the front infiniti badge. Haven't had time to do the rear badges. When I get those done I'll post the pics.

I used a hair dryer and fishing line for the front badge. It was much easier getting the fishing line through after I heated it. I tried to keep going after I had passed a section I heated and it was a little more difficult, so I just kept heating it where it needed it. No warping.

[W O T]

YEAH great idea with fishing line, ive used that method for other things before, much safer than hair dryer.

WOT...im surprised you didnt debrand your already super stealth qx4. I guess you dont want it to get mistaken for a B2 b0mber hahaha

Ya I thought about it, but I really like the look of the Qx4 logo, I even tinted the reverse lights but didnt like it so I bought brand new ones and they look good all bright n white. Im weird

8 more days and I can drive again!!! YAY!!!

ps- anyone know where to get the infiniti lettering? Other than a yard Im stumped, Id pay whatever inifiniti wanted but they dont sell it!!

[fitzx4]

Ya I thought about it, but I really like the look of the Qx4 logo, I even tinted the reverse lights but didnt like it so I bought brand new ones and they look good all bright n white. Im weird

8 more days and I can drive again!!! YAY!!!

ps- anyone know where to get the infiniti lettering? Other than a yard Im stumped, Id pay whatever inifiniti wanted but they dont sell it!!

id offer you mine when i take them off but they are gold and i doubt you would want them look into the topic titled qxxx4 by me its not oem but u could get brand new ones. worth a shot man thats the best i got for ya

[W O T]

Thanks for the offer. And as for that site, they wont fit, the infiniti word on my hatch is embedded into the hatch, and the letters fit inside of the under embossed areas, so it has to be the ones from the factory to replace it. Sucks

Debating just removing them all if I cant find a replacement soon, having 3 missing sucks

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Is this what you're talking about...

http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=0

[KyooX4]

Finished! It's not a professional job, but I'm pleased with it. Here are some before and after pics:

Before:

After (and after rear-ending someone):

Before:

After:

[W O T]

Is this what you're talking about...

http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=0

Ya sweet, #4!! My local dealer said it wasnt made!! $76 USD eh.... I might just have to go ahead and buy that.

thanks

[JHC828]

Looks great!!! I did this a year or so ago on my Pathfinder...


Modified by jcpathy69 at 4:45 PM 7/28/2009