So I'm thinking of changing the bonnet stripes on my '08 MCS from the white angled to the sport (parallel) stripes. I've only done 2,800 miles on the car and it's parked in the garage all the time so I'm hoping the red paint wont be faded. I only bought it this January so hopefully the dealer didn't have it sitting in the sun for all of 2008, but I really have no idea.

My question is from a detailing perspective. Is there anything I should do to the paint before I have the dealer apply the new stripes?

 

yes, remove all wax in the area before applying new vinyl.

after install, let the vinyl dry 24hrs (preferably in the sun for a day or under a heatlamp) and then apply wax.

 

So Ken, just a regular wash and clay to remove the old wax?

Maybe I could use my flashlight on it at night to speed up the curing process

 

clay sometimes does not remove the wax all the way, so take some rubbing alcohol and wipe it down.

yah, flash light and do it in a vacant parking lot.

 

And don't have the dealer do the install. Do it yourself for less than a 1/4 of the price!

 

Remove the stripes and use some prep solvent to clean up any left over glue. Prep solv will remove any wax as well.
Get the new stripes wet with some soapy water and install them. Use a squeegee to work out any bubbles.

 

I'd buff the paint after the stripe removal first using a PC. This will even out the difference between the perfect paint underneath the factory stripes and the portion exposed. It's not always so much a matter of color fading as it is the clear coat not being as clear due to contamination or just being sand blasted from driving it.

 

Yah, that might make the aligning easier too since there will not be a ghost line where the previous one was.

 

I agree, it's pretty easy to do. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...placement.html

 

Mark,

I was surprise how stuborn your stripes were to get off. I saw some Youtube vids where it was just a dryer and some peeling. I called the dealer yesterday, cause I was wondering as an '08 model how long it sat in their lot (baking in the sun). Well it was buily July 2008 (not sure if thats the start or completion date). Dealer got it Jan 19th, 2009, and I bought it Jan 21st.

Since it's parked in the garage at all times, and has only got 2800 miles, it's had relatively little exposer to the elements. I'm hoping the stripes will come off nicely without any fading, etc. I don't have a PC, just some clay, Amigo, and elbow grease.

Am I in for a tough time?

Thanks Richard, Ken, Twister and AJ !!!

 

One other question, does clean up with isopropyl vs rubbing alcohol make any difference? I dont want to damage the paint. I have lots of isopropyl around the house