Ghostdunks:
As you are from Australia, I'm sure you got a laugh out of my screen name!
As your detailer was able to polish the area where you removed the badges so as to eliminate the color difference, the difference in color behind where they used to be must have been due to the adhesive staining the clear coat. In this case, the color difference can certainly be polished out, as yours was.
But in some cases the color difference of the car vs. the area where the badges were is due to the fact that the exposed areas of the car sun faded, while the paint area protected from the sun by the badges did not fade. In this case, there would be no way to polish out the area so as to blend the colors, without buffing through the clear coat. And in that case, the paint job is ruined. In contrast, on a non-clear coated car, this would be an easy job, because faded paint surrounding the area where the badges were could simply be polished down to non-faded paint.
Because this distinction exists as to why the paint under a removed badge may be a bit different in color from the rest of the car, I have this recommendation. Those who want to debadge would do well to remove only one number or letter, and clean and machine polish the area with a ROB and medium mild abrasive polish to determine whether any discoloration will buff out (or take the car to your detailer for this). If the color difference cannot be polished out, at least it will be obvious where to re-glue the letter or number! |