So how do the bonnet stripes seem to be holding up for anyone that got them? Is there any trick to make them last longer on the car. I really like the look of the white stripes on the hood with a white roof and wheels, but I want them to hold up for a long time because I tend to keep my cars for at least 10 years and I would hate to have the stripes peeling off after a couple of years. They are vinyl, correct? There should be something that you can put on them in order to resist fade and all that isn't there?

 

So does anyone even have the hood stripes, or are they considered a no-no

 

My Cooper didn't come with the bonnet stripes but I will certainly be adding them. Dealer wants $199 to do it but I'm going to check around at some local car customizers to see what they can do. Should be a simple operation. I've read that the vinyl decals can last a long time if they are properly applied.

 

Well, I saw the stripes today in person and I have to say I really like them, so they are definatley being ordered with the car. The sales guy had them on his car and they were sweet. I asked him about there longevity, and he said by the time they start coming off, it would be time to paint the car anyway, seemed to make sence to me.

 

I've ordered the Rogue Engineering Shadow Stripes for my Dark Silver S. Should look great.

 

That will look tres sweet

 

yea...the stripes look good in the beginning...but later on the car will have a two tone color which isn't very nice looking...

 

Has anyone looked at other options besides the bonnet stripes that come with the mini? I saw them on a mini at the dealer and thought they were OK, but for me they were too wide and didn't like the angling toward each other at the front of the hood- seemed to diminish the natural lines of the mini.

I think either narrower and straight lines on the hood, or maybe some thin pinstriping on the sides could be a great touch-- has anyone else been thinking of this? Would you just call some detailing places?

Has anyone seen minis in europe or pictures of minis with other than the bonnet stripes or have the wide, angled, bonnet stripes been a signature for the Cooper?

Thanks

 

Take a look at the stripes from Rogue Engineering. Pretty attractive, and extend onto the boot lid as well. URL is
here

 

Oops, sorry.

Correct URL is http://www.rogueengineering.com/]

 

Jeez, bad fingers tonite....

http://www.rogueengineering.com

 

Thx! Is this the right URL? I wasn't able to access site--

 

The address for Rogue Engineering is http://www.rogueengineering.com/ You may need to enter it manually, but that's the correct URL.

Look for the "MINI Products" at the top left of the page. Their "shadow" stipe looks pretty good on the dark silver.

 

>>Has anyone seen minis in europe or pictures of minis with other than the bonnet stripes or have the wide, angled, bonnet stripes been a signature for the Cooper?

I'm leaning toward the double down the center option (White on BRG). I was wondering about the angle of the bonnet stripes myself, and found that they are angled to mimic the stripes on the hoods of the old Minis. THOSE stripes were at that angle becasue they followed the lines of the Bonnet itself. Since there are no cut lines in the hood of the MINI Cooper, There is no reason for that angle other than as a visual quote of the original.

 

I had my bonnet stripes put on angled, to follow the lines of the fenders. We laid them down straight first to see how it looked, and it didnt look right. the curves of the bonnet made the lines look like a mistake.

 

I'd say it depends on the color of the car/stripes.... Mine (still on order), has the white stripes, but I'm also getting the white roof and white rims. I think the stripes definatally add that little extra something to the car. I'm just kind of dissapointed that you can get official stripes on the regular MINI Cooper. I like(d) the idea that they were only available on the S. Oh well...

Rocketboy_X

 

I went for the stripes from the UK branch of Minimania, they are more like the original mini ones:

 

Try Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com (without the last /) - worked for me!!

 

my liquid yellow cooper came with black stripes to match the roof and side mirrors.. do recommend that you get it... initially did not like it, but got used to it and started to really like it afterwards...







Arnold

liquide yellow cooper 2002

 

FYI,

I had the british flag from mini accessories put on the roof of my red and white Mini S. Although all the dealers had one in stock none of them would put it on. They all referred me to "their" body shop. Each of the body shops I called said they had never put one on...but they wanted to charge $250 bucks.!!! What a joke.

Note - the accessory catalog says it covered under warranty if installed by BMW Mini.

So, I found a guy locally that does custom car work and he put it on. He did an outstanding job. My concern of course was the wind and washing and waxing it lifting up a corner of the stupidly expensive flag. Being a professional he used a thin bead of laquer and sealed the all the corners. After all this it still was half of what the bonehead body shops wanted.

I have noticed that I still have to be very careful when washing it. So, be careful with your decals. They are not as bullet proof as you might hope.

 

It's probably not a good idea to go through automatic washes either. they're bad for your car! just wash it at home.

 

We have installed many hood strip kits and they looked great. They are very easy to install. Don't let the task of installing them push you away. Simply mix a solution of warm water and some dish soap, spray the area generously that you wish to place the decal, place the bonnet down onto the soapy water and slowly squeegee out the water from the center of the decal to the outer edge. We stock the hood bonnets and are currently running them at well below national retail price.
Classic Mini Price National Retail Price

hood bonnets cooper $25.80 each (2 needed) $39.25 each (2 needed)
hood bonnets cooper S $27.67 each (2 needed) $42.00 each (2 needed)

Buyer pays shipping and any applicable tax.
We stock CD changers, roof decals, wheel packages, driving lights, car covers.... All at huge discounts below average.

 

I had the MINI stripes installed on my car for free (with sport package). Then I had them removed, because the MINI stripes are 1/2" too short, so they don't cover the full length of the hood. Plus the dealership lined them up with the back edge of the hood so there was a gap between the end of the stripe and the chrome grille.



So I had custom stripes in the same pattern made up by a local sign shop that go the full length of the hood. It cost me $30 for the stripes and $45 for the install.

Here are some pictures.







High res pictures available in the link in my signature.

 

The new stripes look great. You did not mention if the original too-short stripes were factory installed? or Dealer installed?

 

My original stripes were Dealer installed. I have seen all possible ways of installing those to accommodate this 1/2" gap by various dealers:

- lined up at back edge, 1/2" gap at front (mine)
- lined up at front edge, 1/2" gap at back
- 1/4" gap front and back

BTW, it's the same part number for the MINI stripes whether or not they are dealer installed or factory installed. I have yet to see how the factory install balances the gap.