I tried the tape and have since tried a couple other types of tape.. All 3m but nothing looked right.. I am a perfectionist on this car..Too new to look ratty.. I have done everything but the handles and the beltline with plastidip but it is starting to chip since its bug season.. Plan to take all the little pieces to the body shop for some good matte black paint and de glossed clear-coat.. But what has everyone done on the beltline that looks good... PICS

And while were at it.. Door handles too.. Planned to plastidip them too but seeing the grill and headlight surrounds makes me think that the wifes rings and carelessness will lead to pealing..

Help me make up my mind..

 

Not sure why you had a problem with the tape. Was it an actual belt line black out kit like the one from Outmotoring.com or other vendor or just some electrical tape ?

I don't think the PD will last. It will easily scratch off IMO and seems like a ton of taping and masking off will be needed.

I had the black kit and it went on perfect no issues. Then purchased the same vinyl tape in dark silber to match my MINI's finish. It was same as the black with a top cover strip to peel off after and so far so good.

 

Got the kit from outmotoring and didnt like the way it looked.. Too shiny..

Think i may get ahold of lyle and see what i can get from him.. I dont want to do the damn door handles though.. Looked into doing that this weekend and looks like a boat load of work.. Guess i will just have to do it all at the same time and have all the parts painted, then do the beltline with some other kind of vinyl..

anyone ever taken the stainless or aluminum or whatever that stuff is out of the rubber trim and painted it?

 

Did you remember to peel off the top protective clear layer the tape is flat black under it .

I did my door handles with PD. With gentle use they do not scratch off. But mine is begining to peel from the inner edge.

 

yeah,, i stood back and said that is too shiny. then pealed the top layer off and said "now it looks like electrical tape" It just didnt look right.. Perhaps lyle will have a slightly different gloss..

 

I watched Lyle install his CF tape on the beltline trim at AMVIV...looked *very* nice.

 

Aesthetic Creations.

 

When they sent me mine, the color was good, but the strips were too short for the front windshield section of the beltline, forcing me to use 2 pieces. Kind of tacky to have the seam.

I ended up just taking it off and leaving the whole beltline chrome to match the tiny bit of chrome left on the JCW scuttles.

 

If you really want to paint them, they all pop out.

 

try this: http://shadowlinetrim.com/index.html

had my BMW E92. trim is great in either gloss or matte. they're long enough that u wont need 2 pieces to the belt line

 

speaking of which, is there some trick to getting the protective layer off? I've gotten it to peel off of just about half of my belt line, but the other half for the life of me I can't get to peel off! What is my malfunction? Any ideas other than just standing around trying to peel it for hours?

 

Thanks! I think I'm just going to leave it chrome though.

 

Vinyl tape really is the most practical solution. You'll spend a fortune getting the metal beltline trim painted, and then it's just going to chip with no end in sight. If you drive your MINI a lot, chips are inevitable either with tape or paint so just get used to it. I have learned to accept it and I'm just like you. Have patience with the touch up paint too!

 

Cool!
I had the silver window trim on my BMW vinyl'ed and it held up for the 2 yrs i had her. hopefully that website can come in handy for those who want to diy it.

 

...nice.

Mike from Aesthetic Creations also sells his own version of black out tape now....give him a call too and see what he has to offer. Hope you find what your looking for. Keep us posted.

 

Lyle did my beltline 20 months ago and it still looks new. I ordered the kit from Aaron @ outmotoring first but never installed it b/c I thought it looked like cheap tape.

 

Sounds nice. Does Lyle sell it in kit form ?

 

Search for pics of wikedgolf's MINI, she had her beltline painted red on an AB R53.

I've used electrical tape and not riased suspicion, just have to be willing to devote $0.98/year and about 30min/6months in taking time with it.

 

We have had this issue with some of the front betl-line trim pieces as well. It is not the width of the tape, but actually the width of the belt line on the car changing. The upper rubber seal on some MINI's is raised in some areas .

 

I covered my seam with one strip across the front....only to have the windshield replacement guru cut it some months later......

 

There is Plastic Dip That You Can Use, But I Bought An Expensive Electrical Tape From OSH ($5) And It Perfect! Try It

 

I think a big issue with anything you put over the chrome trim is this.......... cleaning it perfectly. I cleaned the front grills/trim with brake cleaner and have had no issues to date with peeling or chipping of the Plasti Dip.

 

I hope you took off the grills to do that!

 

I too clean all parts with brake clean before painting with plastdip.. The parts are pretty clean to begin with, just to remove any wax or oil the Brake clean works great..

Someone posted that the trim can be removed and painted??

Anyone know anymore on that..?