Project from hell - Trunk Tar

[browntown]

1st: If this is in the wrong subforum feel free to move.
2nd: Trunk Tar blows, this is a big project. Starting to question why I even started, but saw some surface rust going under the tar and it bothered the hell out of me. It's at least a 12 beer job.
3rd: Heat Gun sans Gloves equals scars (see pics)
4th: Starting to realize that taking off the first layer (body color) of tar first eases the job
5th: This is going to be at least an eight hour job. I'm old and have a bad back, but even with the top of the line makita heat gun on high you have to work in small sections and go slow.
6th: It's one hell of a mess, and even though I'll do a happy dance when its all off I still have to mineral spirits the residue, prep, prime, and paint the inner trunk.
7th: I took pics so you can all share in my pain.

[Jordan]

Do this job in the summer and it all peels up by hand and leaves little to no residue.

[Brew]

Sucks for you. Mine came off in like 4 chunks, with no residue left over. No heat gun, just a big pry bar and a hammer.

[Jarvis]

Do this job in the summer and it all peels up by hand and leaves little to no residue.

Seriously, the removal ritual is extremely different from car to car and depending on when you do it. In one E30, all of it came out in 3 large pieces - lifted straight up off the metal. Another took about 45 minutes with a heavy duty scraper.

Anyone planning on doing this should wait for a fairly warm day, open the trunk and leave it directly in the sun for a while. That way you'll spend no more than 10 seconds getting rid of all the tar.

[rwh11385]

Do this job in the summer and it all peels up by hand and leaves little to no residue.

hot summer auto-x parking lot = peeled up easily by hand, with barely any residue...

[browntown]

hmmm. I might try wacking the scraper with a hammer, sounds like it would leave less residue. As for summer, you know how Oregon is Jordan, anyways I'm halfway done, I can't wait that long, got other projects on the big board.

[Dave]

mine came out by hand without residue.

[browntown]

ok, ok I give, just tried hammer + scraper. Not significantly easier. I'll wait for a hot (or at least sunny) day and give it my best. Thank you for the insight. My back thanks you.

[Jparkr]

Why do you guy want to remove this?
are you gonna keep the carpet out or what?

[Jarvis]

Because it weighs 40+ lbs. Carpet can stay.

[King Luis]

Do this job in the summer and it all peels up by hand and leaves little to no residue.

mine was 4 big chunks and into the garbagey

[CGDoig]

Why does BMW manufacture cars with the tar in the first place? Noise reduction?

[///M42 sport]

why do some cars come w/o tar?

[Axxe]

Why does BMW manufacture cars with the tar in the first place? Noise reduction?

Yes. And weight balance. I pulled out my spare at the track, didn't feel a difference in power, but the ass became a bit slippier.

[CGDoig]

How did it feel? I don't think i would like the feeling of less weight on the rears. I mean the m20 has enough power to swing the ass around as it is.