I have been wanting to debadge my SR5 since I got it; mostly to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics, but I thought it might also look better. I gave it a tug (the SR5 emblem) when I first bought it, but it was warmer then and the badge was planted like a well stuck booger; stuck-stuck. I had a look on this forum on how to remove it, but all I had from the list of needed supplies was the fishing string (no blow dryer), so I let it go for a while.
I was walking to the car yesterday and my fingers were drawn to the badge like a ripe zit - it had to go. It was in the low 40s (the American kind, not EU degrees) and I gave it a little bit of a tug (again, the emblem). I held it for a few seconds and it started to lift up. In about a minute, I had it removed. Not only did I get it off, there was zero sticky residue left behind. No cleaning needed. Pleased with my self, I took a photo.
Thinking about the two attempts and the temperature difference, two things stand out. The sticky tape is much harder when its cold and doesn't tear (allowing you to use more force). Also, the glue didn't seem to adhere as tightly. So, no tools, no mess, and nothing rougher than your skin lightly touching your car.
Maybe it was just a bad glue day at Toyota when mine rolled off the line, but maybe thats not the case and the "hand method" has some merit.
