Car Fix DIY Videos

http://clublexus.com/how-tos is the leading Lexus IS, GS, ES and RX resource for technical DIY guides. Want to achieve the look of the Black Pearl emblems, but don’t want to fork over the cash? Watch this video for more info. For the full article, please visit http://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/a/lexus-how-to-install-black-pearl-style-emblems-365657

Want to change the look of your Lexus? Within an hour’s time, you can replace the chrome emblems with stylish Black Pearl versions.
There are two ways to get the emblems. The official Black Pearl Badging from Sewell costs $400.

Alternatively, these are also available on eBay and the forums occasionally. If that price tag is too steep, the other option is to create your own blacked out emblems with Plasti-Dip. Here’s how.

This easy job takes about an hour and costs from $10 to DIY to $400 dollars for the Sewell brand emblems. A professional will charge a few hundred dollars in labor alone.

For this job, you’ll need a small plastic pry bar, hobby knife, can of plasti-dip, masking tape, dental floss, adhesive remover, rags, green scotch-brite pad, and automotive-grade double-sided tape.

Step One – Mark the location of existing emblems

Use masking tape to mark off the boundary where the emblems are, placing it tight against the emblems. Use a pencil to make marks for edges of letters inside the boundary.

Step Two – Remove the emblems

For the badges on the trunk lid, pull out a length of dental floss and wrap it around your two index fingers as if you’re flossing your teeth.
Wedge the floss between the emblem and the body of the Lexus. Move it downward in a sawing motion from top to bottom until the emblem is separated from the vehicle.

For large “L” badges, use a plastic pry bar to pull them away from the body. Badges are barbed for one-way installation.
If you break them off, don’t worry; you’ll be using double-sided tape to secure them later.

Step Three – Remove the adhesive residue

Soak a corner of a rag with adhesive remover and wipe down the area where the emblems were to get rid of leftover adhesive.

Step Four – Coat the emblems

If you are reusing old emblems, clean them in soap and water, dry, and set aside. Scuff lightly with a green Scotch-Brite pad to dull the finish and give some “tooth” for the coating to grab onto.

Open a can of Plasti-Dip, and spray the emblem with a few coats until the desired tint is reached.
Set the emblem on a non-stick surface like wax paper to cure.

Step Five – Apply and trim the double-sided tape

Cut pieces of double-sided tape slightly larger than the emblems.
Remove one side and place the tape onto the emblems. Using the hobby knife, trim off the excess.
If reusing large emblems that had mounting pins, trim tape off around them so pins can help position them in the original locations.

Step Six – Re-install the emblems

Carefully line up the emblem for placement and press into place. If you put it on crooked or out of line, cut the emblem off and try again.

Pull off the masking tape, use adhesive remover one more time to clean up any residue, and you’re now ready to cruise with a new look.