So I'm thinking this is going to be my last big mod. I am terrified by the permanency of it, however, here is my reasoning.

The black stripes with chrome pinstripes have become part of Clara's "identity". Everyone who knows me and knows my car locally (MINIacs or otherwise) comments on the stripes and especially the chrome. They're pretty unique, I like them, and they go with the whole monochromatic thing we have going on.

The problem with the vinyl is the black printed on the chrome deteriorates very rapidly. Like in a couple of months. NOTHING I do to them makes them look better for very long. And no one appears to be able to make them any other way.

I'd like to hear from some people who have gone this route. Any regrets? What was the approximate cost? I know just the custom shop to do it, and I wouldn't be doing it until the summer.

 

Well, if you paint, you'll just be painting the black and laying chrome next to it, right? Why not do the same with black vinyl? Plain black, not black over chrome. A lot less permanent and a lot less expensive. Just a thought.

 

+1

 

Use black vinyl and then put the Chrome vinyl on the black vinyl. Then you won't have to deal with the two edges being next to each other but on top of each other.

As far as painting goes, my dad had side stripes put on his 1966 nova yesterday by our pinstripe artist. I think he paid him $600.00. A body shop would most likely charge less but not THAT much less.

 

Tough call, Mel. I think painting them on might just be worth the expense.

I've already been tossing the idea around for the next time I buy a new MINI. The vinyl is easy to remove and re-install when they go bad, but they're also a bit of a pain when it comes to detailing... wax catching on the edges, having to be careful with the buffer on the edges of the vinyl, the vinyl water stains very easily, etc.

If you have a stripe design you know you'll be happy with long term, not a bad idea to have them painted on.

 

Yeah, I'd personally go for black vinyl stripes and then use silver pinstriping... Even if you have to re-do it twice a year, that's gotta be MUCH LESS cost than painting on the stripes. And it's removable down the line. The black vinyl will last for years if you use quality stripes (Aesthetic Creations, etc.).

 

The problem with the vinyl is that that is some seriously pinpoint work. I can install the normal stripes myself...I'm not sure I could successfully install itty-bitty pinstripes and properly line them to the stripe. Which would then involve an installer...more $$$, plus having to redo them every year or two. And my understanding is that they can't be made that way - Mike at AC is the only one who gets my drift on these, and printing them is the only way he does them.

My AC stripes are black printed on the chrome, and they just are not lasting well. I love how they look but they are a complete PITA, not to mention that if I want them to look perfect, they'd need to be replaced once every 3 months, roughly.

 

outmotoring stripes are super easy to maintain. no smearing like the
factory black stripes when spray waxed.

and they appear painted on, not vinyl look.

 

Another option - Mike at AC made my last set of BlimeyStripes with a clearbra layer - so they're laminated with the clear over the printed stripe, and they still look PERFECT several months later... I'm betting they'll last virtually forever... same thing would work with black/chrome printed ones...

 

Aren't they using a UV ink? What you're doing is pretty common. Print on the vinyl with a UV stable ink, or have a UV clear coat added.
http://graphics.tech.uh.edu/student_...bilities01.htm

 

Well what the hell...that's exactly what I need. You just solved my problem!

 

Blimey's idea is probably the way to go, but if for some reason it doesn't work out have you tried laying black vinyl on top of the chrome, instead of painting the black on the chrome..

 

The inks and vinyl seem to be UV stable... the problem I've seen is the adhesion of ink to the vinyl... it's fine under normal circumstances... but first rock hit you get on the stripe and POOF - missing ink where the rock landed... so they get pretty beat up over time. My black-printed OEM stripes did the same thing. Solid vinyl (non-printed) stripes wouldn't have this problem... but if you want multicolor and don't like the look of layered vinyl...

 

Even my white stripes suffer from rock chips, and the black pins are very sensitive to polishing (did that twice to to prove it).
I like the clearbra concept, just remember that you will have a double thick layer and the edge would be more pronounced.
I wonder if you could paint the black stripe, lay down the chrome pin and then clearcoat over everything. I'm sure you would still have a raised surface over the pins, but the mylar is very thin and would be about even with a painted stripe so I don't know.
Painted stripes are very nice IMO.

 

OK time to chime.

If you want to keep the fresh NEW look. the over laminate is the best way to go. it adds a 3 years to the stripes and it's a chip gaurd too. Made for dirt bikes to protect form mud a rocks scratching up the gas tan and rear fenders. lThey also use this stuff of Go Carts.

When you got your stripe Clara the laminate was not yet avalable. For some reason they still have not been added to the website but I will make sure that happens right away.

A temp fix for you is a product called F21 fom Turtle Wax.
It's a vinyl and leather protectant with UV stop. I use this on my dash in the MINI and it lasts for a few months before I have to use it again. It also bring the shine back into the printed stripes. Use that until your ready for some new stripes.

 

Yeah it's not even really chipping or fading that's bugging me - they actually "streak" more than anything else...and nothing fixes it, except an application of Black Wow which fixes it temporarily but is a real PITA to get on and off the stripe safely without getting it on the paint. And that only lasts a couple of weeks.

And the printed stripes are REALLY sensitive to buffing, and I mean REALLY. I darn near burned a hole through one of my boot stripes in the spring.

Sounds like I need the laminate stripes.

 

ML- try the outmotoring stripes. no streaking no staining. it's like
part of your paint. i know they only offer the standard ones but heck,
it looks great.

 

Laminate is the way to go but for now try using the f21. You'll be really surprised. it's worth 6 bucks to try it. and you can use it for you interior as well.

 

Yeah, I really *need* the chrome stripe though. Can't do without it.