I am thinking about taking my windshield tape off but am a bit apprehensive. I have a few questions:

1) Why does Honda put the tape on the windshield frame? Is it to prevent chipping?

2) I've heard that at times the paint underneath the tape is not so good. How often is this the case and what is usually wrong with the paint.

Thanks!

 

They put the tape there so that the window frame blends better with the roof. Clear-coated black paint would have been nice but I guess the tape is ok.

 

Jay Li had a problem with the paint when he pulled off his tape, and I believe a few others did too. On some, the paint quality underneath was substandard or nonexistent and required paint work to make it look right.

 

I pulled mine off really slow and it came out good. The paint was fine underneath. Just dont yank it off.

 

If you're going to take it off, it's easier to do if you use a heat gun.

 

I've been tempted to strip off the tape to match the windscreen frame to the hardtop but then my sensible head reminds me that it could mean some respraying of the frame if the underlying paint isn't up to scratch.

Has anyone got pictures of a de-taped (but not black!) S2000 with a hard top fitted?

 

My tape is still on.

Some of the people whose paint was poor got AHM to pay for the repaint. Last year AHM published a publicity picture of all the 2001 cars. The Spa Yellow in this picture had a yellow windshield frame. The MY2000 brochure also had a drawing of a red S2000 with a red windshield frame.

I haven't looked carefully at the MY2002 advertising to see if there is any evidence of a body color windshield frame (other than black) but if there is, a MY2002 owner could reasonably ask AHM to correct the paint if one took off the tape.

 

Took the tape off my 01 Spa Yellow. Had a small defect in paint at upper left corner. So far Honda has refused to warranty repair. Both District Service Mgr. and Cust. Service said I had "modified" car. Pointed out showroom poster and Honda web site which show car w/o tape but to no avail. I haven't given up yet, battle still ongoing.

 

I have also removed this tape very slowly and had no problems. The paint underneath was fine

 

I used a heat gun -
With 2 inches left to take off the gun melted the main windshield weatherstrip...

This cost $60 to replace

The windshield broke when the shop went to replace the weatherstrip

That was $400

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!