Thinking of cleaning up the look of my front end by making it less busy. Thought that maybe I should take the stripes off since I have the hood scoop and this 50 badge. Does anyone know how much horsepower I will lose if I remove my stripes?

But SERIOUSLY, has anyone removed their stripes? I am worried I may take the clear coat or paint off if I try. Also, I'm curious if stripes look better or clean looks better?

Here's mine:



Here's what I may do:


Thoughts? Keep the stripes? Ditch the stripes?

 

I think the R56 looks pretty good naked. You won't hurt the clearcoat, I'm pretty sure you just need to get a hairdryer on there to warm them up a bit and they'll peel right off.

 

i took the stripes off my 03 R50 and the only issue i had was faded paint, haven't found a solution other than repainting the hood (yours being new probably won't have that issue)

 

I love the stripes on your ride.
And I'm not just saying that because I have a really similar looking R56.

I don't dig the naked look of the R56 at all.

 

I have been thinking about doing that, but I keep going back to keeping them. In fact I just ordered some flat black sport stripes that go on the bumper, so I think you know what my answer is...

 

My $0.01 x 2, keep em. I had nasty discolored silver stripes and I removed them for some C/F stripes with silver edge pinstriping, makes the car I think. I did boot n bonnet, rolled it down across the front bumper and it looks good, kinda mean and with the intake and hood louvers, you can really hear the blow-off valve so everybody knows its not a Justa.
I think they look naked bare, the Coop to me is just a car that begs for some additions, it just looks right. I see a lot of other cars here in the Bmore area w/ stripes and most of them look just ........... ridiculous. Maybe its just me. Course most of them dont have any racing history either, let alone 4 Monte Carlo rallyes. (yea, they lost 1966 on a technicality, sucky, whiny, poor sports ..........)

 

I had my stripes "removed" but I don't really recommend my method... my hood was damaged by flying road debris and I had to get a new hood! I decided to go for a different look and not have stripes put back on the new hood.

 

I like the clean look of no stripes.

 

my hood already had significant damage and is fairly warped. when i replace the hood i will reapply the stripes

 

I say no stripes, the R56 looks good when it doesn't look so busy. My ride has never had a stripe on it, and it's gonna stay that way.

 

I don't think removing the stripes on a Silver MCS will leave you with visible fade marks. Darker colors would be worse.
On my Red car, I changed the stripes from stock bonnet stripes to Viper stripes at about 10k miles. I can see where the old stripes were, but only in very bright sunlight under very close inspection...in other words, not that big a deal.
Use a hair dryer to warm up the vinyl, then carefully pull them off. Clean off the stripe's "footprint" with some adhesive remover, then clean and rewax your hood.
Having said all that...I think the black stripes on the Silver look great. But, if you want a cleaner look...go for it. You can always have a new set put on, if you decide you want the old look back.

 

I'm a stripes kind of guy. The MINI looks good with or without stripes, but stripes work very well. They tie the black roof in with the rest of your car.

But it's your decision, and who cares what anyone thinks.

A hairdryer on "high" or a heat gun on "low" should help you peel those stripes off. Goof-Off, Goo-Gone, or even WD40 will help remove any adhesive residue. Just don't use any tool, other than a fingernail, to try lifting the vinyl up. Give your MIN a good wash and wax afterwards.

 

Having had about every stripe possible, I opted for no stripes this time when I repainted Oscar.

Now that I have, I like the clean (er) look.

I do have one suggestion. Paint your headlight, taillight trim rings and bumper mouldings the color of the car.

On your particular color, it will look HOT!

Here’a a better deal. Send me your chrome pieces and I’ll paint them for free! I’m dying to see that color mini with matching trim.


Had your style stripes on a previous mini.



Played with something different on the new mini.



Reversed the striping... fat to thin.



Went back without stripes.



Went with viper stripes.



And last but not least, left the front end alone...lol.



So go with whatever makes you happy but if you do decide to go the route of no stripes and want your trim painted, let me know.

BTW, if you remove your stripes, go to a bodyshop and have them use a stripe remover. You’ll remove the stripes much easier with no damage.

You can use a smaller one like this.



or a bodyshop would use one like this. (except with a rubber wheel instead...lol)



Mark

 

Thank you guys! Your input is highly regarded and appreciated!

Mark,

Your car looks great; you did an amazing job with your rebuild and paint! I like your thoroughness! What made you choose Porsche orange rather than Lamborghini orange?

So... I really should not just try peeling these stripes off? We have a family vinyl graphics and supply company business (since 1930) and my brother who is the CEO said I shouldn't have trouble just peeling them if I used heat and adhesive remover... I suppose I was hoping to do it on the cheap. But, I REALLY don't want to wreck my paint job so I'd rather do it the right way. Do you have any idea how much it would cost if I were to bring it into a body shop?

Speaking of paint, that is a great offer to get my chrome trim painted... Thanks!! I kind of like the chrome! Am I horrible? I think I'd need some convincing to paint that too. I just thought the chrome is kind of classy. Maybe because its the Camden edition. Should we paint it?
Thanks for your time!

 

I have thought about removing the vinyl and having the stripes painted, maybe some amount of ghosting or something similar. Anyone seen something like that before?

 

My MA said they remove stripes all the time, as long as you don't wait too long (weathered and sun-baked).

But I really like the stripes!

 

mine were a pain to get off due to sun baking and weathering.

 

I apologize, I should have been more clear. The stripes on your mini (assuming BMW stripes) are of a good quality. They should peel off if done slowly and with heat. (make sure you grab the stripe at the base near the hood, don't grab it by the end)

IF they start breaking off and just don't seem like they're coming off easy, THEN get a stripe remover. In either case, you shouldn't damage your hood/paint if done with some finesse.

As far as the chrome, not a problem, if you like it, stick with it. I just know that color will look hot monochromatic.

Anyway, just trying to help, make sure you post pics of it done.

Mark

 

I know it's an older thread but just wondering... I got a dark silver 2007 Cooper S with white stripes and I was thinking of taking them of as I begin to grow more towards the "clean" look! However as it's a 2007 I'm afraid the discoloration will be pretty visible, is there anything I could do about that?! I was thinking some rubbing compound perhaps?!

 

if you figure that out i'm interested in what you come up with. mine's an 03 with serious discoloration (although only noticable in overcast sunlight) i'm going to try washing and a good buffing. (might as well since the transmission is toast lol)

 

If you remove the stripes, buffing, polishing or wetsanding and buffing will not help the discoloration unless the color is single stage.

With basecoat/clearcoat, the “color” discolors and buffing the clearcoat doesn’t clean up the faded paint.

Sorry, wish there was a better answer but it is what it is....


Mark

 

Thanks Mark!

Makes perfect sense as well!

Guess I'll just wait with the removal until I can redo the whole car...

*wishing I had a body shop as well*

 

Hey, Florida ain’t that far...lol. Remember one of our mini customers drove from Alabama for some work.


Mark

 

There are plenty of body shops all over Florida or you can take the drive and see Mark in NC.

 

Haha I know, drove by Charlotte back in December so I know roughly where to find you :P

Next winter I'm planning on redoing the whole car, carbon doors, full weld in roll cage etc. so at that time I'll be in contact! Saving $$ until that time