Need help with peeling window trim film

[FX44]

Hi, I just bought a 07 FX35 and I have the common peeling and deterioration of the film on the window trim. I tried to peel some of it off with a heat gun. Only the top part of the film comes off easy, but the bottom is still tacky. I don’t want to hit it with heat for too long because I’m afraid to burn or melt the rubber on the top and bottom on the window trim.

Any advise on removing the film, maybe a type of sandpaper, if so, what grit?

I plan on Plasti Dipping them also, due to the fact I’ve had problems with adhesion promoter, primer, and paint in the past with other vehicles.

 

[jcarroll99]

I recently removed all of the black vinyl film that runs along the top off the front/rear windows from my 2005 FX35. As odd as it sounds, I found that it was easiest to remove the vinyl outside on a hot, humid day with a boxcutter that has one of those skinny, smaller blades. I just tried to create a slit between the vinyl and chrome trim at the point where the rubber door trim meets the vinyl, and sliced downwards until I could make a little tab which I could then rip off. On days without much humidity, it would be nearly impossible to pull the vinyl apart from the chrome for more than a half inch without it stretching and snapping, but on humid days I found that my method seemed much more effective- I was able to rip the vinyl off in long strips without literally no stretching. My assumption is that all the moisture in the air temporarily weakens the adhesive between the chrome and vinyl. I tried a heat gun at first and had the same experience as you, unfortunately. Hope this helps