Removing Overspray From Interior Plastic/Panels

[lm71z]

There's minor white overspray on some of the black plastic panels in my 240z. What can I use to remove the overspray without ruining the plastic?

[hls30.com]

careful use of lacquer thinner, and a wee bit of elbow grease!

Will

[DeMoore]

All of my panels were looking a bit shoddy, so I took them all down and gave them a nice coat of flat black spray paint. the texture came out perfect and the panels looked brand new and they all matched in the look of quality.

[racebird1]

Anything you try I stongly suggest you do a test on the back of one of the panels. I have even found that spray nine can leave them dull and whiteish. Some thinners will start to desolve the plastic but if left alone will harden back up to a shinny finish. I dulled one up with cleaner and then had to spray back over it with black vinyl paint to get it back to original finish but it looks good.

[carguyinok]

Thinner could melt your plastic before you know it. Try some armor all and a scotch bright pad. Armor all has oils in it that will get under that paint and help lift it from the plastic.

I have owned detail shops in the past and found that with alittle work this dose the best job without risk of damage.

[zbane]

I heartily recommend this stuff:

Motsenbocker's Lift Off #5

Available at Lowe's, Hope Depot, etc. in the paint chemical area. Info about it found here:

http://www.dtep.com/liftoff5.htm

The one I've posted is for Latex paint, but the company makes other removers (spray paint/graffiti remover, etc.)

It is a tad more expensive, but will not harm plastic.

[lm71z]

Thanks for the advice guys. What do you think about using something like Goof Off?

[JohnnyO]

Why not a little acetone on a soft cloth?

[carguyinok]

Odds are goof of could damage your plastic aswell. IMO I would try the armor all and scotch pad 1st. It's also pending on how long that paint has been on the plastic. If it's been on there for a few years you may need and go with a solvent of some kind. But I have found if you leave it set with armor all for alittlewhile and use a MED pad on it the paint will come off with just alittle work. I have even had luck with 409 on hard plastic parts. But on soft parts the armor all will get under the paint and let it just wipe off.

Edited March 8, 2009 by carguyinok

[conedodger]

Thanks for the advice guys. What do you think about using something like Goof Off?

I think goof off works best on latex house paint. As has been suggested, moderate lacquer thinner on a rag and rub... I just did it yesterday to take off 3M 77 spray adhesive. No melting of plastic occured. A little bit on the rag and rub it in, it will evaporate and that will be that... Too much of it and you will rub off the texture on the panel.

[a7dz]

I used SEM Color Coat Landau black (15013) and repainted the ones in this orange car. I bought new door panels and the panels all match and look like new. This paint made for plastics and vinyl.

[carguyinok]

Just make sure that you take ALOT of time in cleaning your parts. Most of the panels I have seen painted look wonderful for the first few months. Then they go down hill from there.

Yes, some people have had luck with a long lasting finish. But, most of what I have seen have had issues with paint chipping and and just falling off over time. Then your stuck with a very nasty mess that looks far worse then what you started with......

The headaches come from years of silicone vinyl,plastic, and rubber shine being rubbed into the parts. It will soak into the plastic and over time come back up in high heat. Once that happens the paint will let go.

As I said I have seen a FEW jobs that have lasted!!!! But only a few......

Please dont string me up or think I am saying it wont work. I am just telling you what I have seen and delt with over the years.

Good luck.