Need some advise here please. My stripes have faded so bad that everyone always asks what wrong with your stripes. I tried peeling them off, only to have them come off in tiny pieces, could take days at that rate. Is there anything that I can use that wont hurt the clearcoat? I removed the ones off the roof with Brake cleaner, but I am not sold on using that on the bonnet.

Thanks

 

I removed mine without trouble by first parking in the sun for about an hour to warm them up really well. I started peeling from one corner and the stripes came off quite easily.

Are these MINI stripes or aftermarket?

 

If you can't sit it out in the sun, use a hairdryer as your heatsource.

Later

 

I am not sure as I bought it used, but I would have to say aftermarket as it is the viper style stripes rite down the middle.

Even in the sun and good and warm they just come off in lil tiny pieces...and my fingernail is killing me! The problem is that the vinyl has deteriorated real bad & probably harded up a bit. Funny thing is though, the stripes run under the clear bra & they look brand new underneath! I will have to remove the clear bra as well so i can remove the rest of the stripes. The other thing I noticed is that with the area I have removed it looks as if it damaged the paint underneath. I dont know how, as the clearcoat seams fine, but the basecoat seems flawed. This is a pure silver car with silver stripes, go figure...

 

I'd bet that you are looking at residual 'stuff' that was trapped under the vinyl or vinyl adhesive residue.

Try using a good paintwork cleanser or even a swirl-mark remover to bring the paint that was under the vinyl back up to snuff.

 

... or some good ole 'bug & tar' or 'goo' remover for cars.

 

I wonder if engine heat would warm up the bonnet as well as the sun? I know using the sun is commendably energy-conserving, but might the mechanical process be considered a free byproduct of driving the car? Trying to think of alternatives for those of us who experience overcast summers--most of this summer in fact.

 

3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover is *awesome* stuff and might help you out. You can usually get it at an automotive paint or marine supplier that carries 3M products. They may have a consumer-grade version at your local auto parts store.

It's designed not to harm paint underneath -- was originally designed to help remove old masking tape that had cemented on to things. But it removes most other sticky things, too.

If your stripes are fairly porous you may be able to apply a bit to the top and let it soak down to the adhesive layer -- this may not be possible with vinyl, but did work on old masking tape.

Also, be sure to use outdoors or in a well-ventilated place unless you're looking to kill off brain cells.

HTH,

-=- D. J.