Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of having a custom bonnet stripes made for a MCS I'm planning to order. I'm also planning to order clearbra for the car as well. Hence a few questions:

- Are there any good folks I can talk to about designing and making the bonnet stripes around here?

- How much would a typical custom bonnet stripes cost?

- Must the bonnet stripes be installed BEFORE or AFTER the clearbra is installed?

- If I supply the custom bonnet stripes, would MoS (Mini of Sterling) be willing to have whoever install the bonnet stripes, install my stripes?

Anything else I should know or take into account as I consider whether to have custom bonnet stripes?

Thanks!

 

as for your questions the first two I don't know, but I have a Proform bra from MoT and the owner and installer of the co. that does all clear bras for Mini and BMW of towson advised me he prefers to place the stripes over the bra so when (and they will) fade they stay uniform. He's from Ellicott City and will gladly do both. I don't have his info right now please check on line. Hope this helps, if I find the info I'll repost. Craig

 

Found if www.proformauto.com good luck

 

Thanks for the info! It looks like a good place.

 

I don't know of any designers around here - but you might want to talk to Speedesign Graphics in MD. They installed mine. I think they do design - but probably do not do a lot of MINI related work. Aesthetic Creations comes to the area occasionally for installation work and he can design long distance. Cooperflags also does custom design long distance, but you would need to find an installer.

My stripes are OVER my clear bra. So I can remove them without having to remove the clear bra if I ever want to. Many people install UNDER the clear bar - because it looks slightly better (less visible line) to do it that way.

I doubt of MINI of Sterling would install stripes they did not sell, but it never hurts to ask!

 

Aesthetic Creations (NAM name dragonflyer) is coming to the DC area for an "install party" sometime in October - 15% off stripes and install. I'm buying my stripes from them. You might want to contact them to get a quote. He's even going to design visor label covers to match the stripes (Hawaiian print). Woohoo...can't wait! Good luck!
Christine

 

Clearbra definately see Rob at proformauto.com

i recommend doing the stripes first and then putting the clearbra on top of that. it looks better in my opinion.

 

I recommend getting the bra on and then stripes. It is a lot easier (and cheaper) when/if you want to change the stripes. (the clearbra is about 4x the cost of stripes)

Getting the bra before pickup I think is ideal. I had mine done at MOS prior to delivery and was so happy I did that. We did the same w/ the husbands mini and he got hit by a rock on the Dulles Toll road on the way home - the bra saved a paint chip. As to the clear bra price - when I was researching it the prices were pretty much the same in the area. I had MOS do mine which uses Roadblock and have been happy with it. Pro Form's material is a bit different and their pattern is different and looks good - but I liked having it done before the car was really driven anywhere.

When I picked my mini at MOS (2 yrs ago) they would install graphics I provided, but it was REALLY expensive.

As to stripes. I had Mike a AC do mine, though locally I would recommend SpeedDesign as well. I have seen some of the good work they do.

 

I had my stripes installed by Zebra Stripes in Chantilly. He does the work for MoS from what I understand. I'm very happy with the quality of the work.

 

Thanks everyone for the very useful information! I'll look around and talk to a couple of vendors here on NAM about their stripes. And like some of the folks here, I'll probably get the clearbra on before I take delivery, as I wouldn't want to get rock chips on the way home for the very first time. Then the stripes can be applied over the clearbra at a later date, if necessary.

When I get around to taking test drive and placing order at MoS, I'll talk to them about having them put on custom stripes--otherwise find an installer to do it after I take delivery.

Again, thanks everyone for the great information! Motor on!

 

IIRC, california tint over at great falls used to do all clear bra installs for sterling.. zebra stripes used to do all stripes..
I had my stripes installed at zebra stripes and they did a great job.
They can do design but it will get expensive.

 

Also, Zebra Stripes had no problems installing stripes bought from other sources. I purchased my stripes from CooperFlags and had him install it. I would imagine he'd be fine with the other NAM vendors as well.

 

Do any of you have pictures of a stripe over bra, or a stripe under bra that i can compare? I am looking at haveing a Clearbra and stripes added soon and I wasn't sure what one to do first either.

 

When we picked out ours it already had the Autobahnd protector installed.
We asked for bonnet stripes.
When we picked it up, the MA told us that they had the Autobahnd installer come in and reapply the bra because they always do the stripes under.
It's been only 4 weeks now, so I can't tell anything about longetivity etc.

 

Here's one with the graphics over the clearbra. The graphics are over the clearbra because I wanted to get the clearbra on the car as soon as I brought it home, but I didn't decide on the graphics until several months later. Also, this will allow me to change out the graphics without having to have the bra removed and reinstalled.

 

Thanks for the picture, ScottRiqui! I had read that you couldn't easily tell there's clearbra--now I can see how hard it is to see--I'm sold! There'll be a clearbra on before I drive off the dealer's lot.

Thanks again!