www.MightyStripes.com have gotten a lot of questions as to how do you or how hard it is to install a set of Our stripes or graphics on your Mini cooper.

So we have decided to post up our directions sheet so everyone can see just how easy it is to install them.

ANYONE CAN DO IT IN a few short hours! It SUPER SUPER Easy!

We hope this helps some of you out and maybe you will come and purchase from us since we are here to asist you in any way we can!
Also of note here all of our stripes will fit all year Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S models so if you have an o3 Mini or you have a new 07-08 Mini all of our stripes and graphics will fit your car!

We use only the highest quality automotive vinyl available

Prepare the surface. Application surface must be cleaned of all wax, oil and grease. If you desire to remove the MINI logo, do so by applying heat to the logo, which will soften the adhesive then gently pull back the logo while applying heat. Ensure no adhesive is present on the application surface.

Position striping as a test fit, being careful not to stretch the vinyl. The ideal installation temperature is 70-75 Degrees Fahrenheit. Install these stripes in the shade, avoiding excessive heat and cold.

Prepare a soapy solution using 3-4 drops of Dawn dish detergent to 1 quart of water. Do not add too much soap, as this will inhibit adhesion. Position striping and remove release liner exposing adhesive. Be sure the "hazy" top layer of pre-mask remains on the decal…this will prevent scratching the decal and aid you in removing all the air bubbles.

Wet the back of the exposed striping and the application surface liberally. Press striping onto the application surface removing some of the solution.
Position the stripes where you want them. Take a step back to eye up the alignment. Re-position as necessary using measurements from reference points on the MINI (i.e. the MINI logo or the washer jets)

Once properly aligned, go over entire stripe with a soft cloth and squeegee to ensure bond and that no air bubbles are present. Slowly and gently remove the pre-mask.

Check your work the next day. If you find air bubbles, pierce them with a pin and gently work the air out of the area with your squeegee.
To ensure a permanent bonding, allow at least 72 hours in direct sunlight before washing or waxing.
Follow the same instructions when applying the stripes to the roof and boot ensuring alignment is maintained with the bonnet.

If installing border accent stripes, it is important they be installed dry and press them down firmly with your thumb or squeegee once there placed where you want them on your Mini

 

So is the so called "pre-mask" on the part of the stripe that faces up? I know it seems obvious but i want to be sure.

 

Pre mask or Transfertape is the protective cover that is used to transfer the stripes to the car and hold them in postion. Some stripes dont need pre-mask so its not there to remove. Plain or standard stripes dont have pre-mask.

And yes to answer your question this is the part that faces up when your installing the stripes. The side facing the car will be the back side of the stripe or graphic and has the glue on it.

Hope this helps and thanks

 

Yes, that is perfect. Thankyou.

 

welcome

 

This thread gets my vote for a sticky, since discussions on self-application of stripes comes up ALL the time.

 

There is a sticky already for a DRY INSTALL of stripes at the top of the forum. it rdetails installing boot stripes, but the technique is exactly the same for bonnet stripes. I've used the technique detailed in that thread (with lots of photos) for several pairs of boot and bonnet stripes, and all came out 100% bubble and wrinkle-free.

MightyStripes "wet" technique is just as effective - I've used it for blacking out my grille in black vinyl for instance, with awesome results - but for simple applications like stripes on the boot or bonnet ONLY (i.e. not on curved grille or bumper pieces) the "dry" technique I've outlined will work just as well. My last set of boot stripes went on in less than 30 minutes, not including the time to remove the rear badge, and they look fantastic.

Also note that it is not necessary in my experience to "wet the rear surface liberally" - doing so (again, in my experience) greatly prolongs the time that it takes for the glue to adhere, since it can't grip until the moisture evaporates. While the vinyl can slide, it can also bend slightly, allowing air to travel under the material. I personally only LIGHTLY MIST the surface when using the wet technique, and then slide the vinyl through that mist, causing it to make a very thin film. You'll feel is start to slide. Evaporation can be speeded by using a hair dryer on the LOWEST SETTING - just play the warm air back and forth over the vinyl, keeping the dryer at least 6" away. Watch the material as it dries for bubles and gently smooth them with your squeege outwards towards the edges if any form - this motion will push any remaining moisture out from underneath.

Just an FYI - hope it helps.

 

Thanks for the info... my AC stripes are in the mail!

 

Wet Install is far easier than a dry install for most 1st time installers. The reason is this, you can move the stripe around and get it right where you want it as you install it. With a dry install 9 times out of 10 the stripe will be messed up if you try and place it and then dont like it and remove it to re-install it.

Wet is and has always been the way to install stripes and graphics. Much easier.

 

Just bumping this back to the top since I had a PM about it I thought others may also be looking for the info
Just trying to help everyone out

 

DRY Install !!

I've installed two sets of boot stripes and one set of bonnet stripes and all three times I used dry-install method.

Having never tried wet, I can't really speak of it but why would anyone want to mess with wetting it down, sliding the stripes around, and waiting for it to dry :impatient when you can forgo the soapy water and be all done in a matter of minutes ?

Six stripes and I've never had a bubble that required popping with a pin. And they all look pretty darn good, too !

 

some secret talent you got there, CRPWJ...

i could never do a dry install unless it was a small sticker or
a rear spoiler or something.

 

Ken, it's soooooooo easy, even YOU could do it if you tried !!

 

yah, yah...

nono, im not going to take that challenge when my stripes come in.

 

Really nice job on the strips...I'm thinking changing mine to stripes also

Bergie

 

Great looking MINI !

Thinking of changing your bonnet stripes to match the boot ?

BTW.... my CR Cooper's name is "Bergey".

 

Nice looking mini and nice install. We used to tell people to do it dry but 95% of our customers had issues with it. One ripped the stripe and many had a lot of bubbles and wrinkles so wet is easier for 95% Of people out there.

Thanks for your imput on the subject
www.MightyStripes.com

 

Just keeping this near the top since it dosnt make for a sticky

 

mightystripes- does your stripes come with that real sticky adhesive
protective cover enough to peel the stripe's adhesive off its backing,
or less adhesive strength?

i got a set of another manuf set (actually for my buddy who needed just
one side replaced) and we had the hardest time removing that protective
liner without stretching the stripe itself out of shape. also, the protective
cover was so stubbornly thick that it made squeegeeing pretty tough.

 

There is another trick to removincg transfertape (The cover over the stripes or graphics)
Once you have them in place and the dry for 20-30 min. you spray the soapy solution over the top of the tape and resqueegee them. this will loosen the glue from the tape and make it come off super easy and pull up on the graphic or stripe

 

so your protective cover is paper? the one we worked on was a pretty
thick plastic so it didn't soakup any of the solution.

imho, it was a pita.

 

Yeah, I know AC uses a thick plastic cover on their vinyl graphics. I can't imagine trying to pull that off using the wet install method. Even using the dry method, I'm afraid of it pulling up the vinyl along with it. You have to pull back at a sharp angle for best results.

 

Correct we use paper transfertape (Best kind there is) so you can install them wet. Think plastic tape is not intened for automotive use its for flat sign graphic installs and banners :(

 

Hey, Mike !!! Did you hear that ??!!??

 

that is good to know, cause i've done several stripes and they all
turned out nice without much hassle but this particular one was such a
pita to install. :impatient

i think even the dealer stripes come with a paper protective cover
(if i remember correctly) and those are a breeze to install.