Our subject for this detail was a 2007 Lotus Exige S, fully prepared for track use. The Lotus still had its factory PPF (Paint Protection Film) installed on the front surfaces, lower sides, mirrors, and rear bumper corners. The client requested that the PPF be removed and followed by a complete paint correction.
This factory PPF from 2007 uses a weaker film combined with a stronger adhesive resulting in a time consuming process of peeling small pieces of film away as they leave behind a thick layer of adhesive on the paint. The client had been denied the service by a PPF shop that said they could not remove the Lotus’s PPF.
My method of removal involved using a steam cleaner to heat the adhesive and lift away the film using a plastic razor blade. Most of the film lifted as small pieces. I was only able to peel a couple of larger pieces away at the side skirts.
The film removal process took 2 days and 2 gallons of steam water.
After removal of the film I was left with the thick layer of adhesive still on the paint. For this I used an entire 32oz bottle of RapidTac Rapid Remover to dissolve the adhesive and scrape it off with the plastic razor. Adhesive removal took 1 full day.
It was quite a relief to finally have a clean slate of paint that I could begin correcting. Paint correction took 6 hours to complete.
With additional lightness, the Lotus was ready for the next time attack.
