So I am looking into getting stripes for my 2008 mini cooer s r56. I saw that I had 2 options buying stripes from the dealer or buying them from an after market company such as http://cutritefx.com/mini-cooper-rally-stripes.html or http://www.mightystripes.com.

Other than the price difference between the two, are there any differences? Are aftermarket stripes the same quality as factory ones, which one will last longer, does one damage paint more than the other, which one is more removable if I want to remove them, which one is less likely to fade, and which one is less likely to not peel?

Which one do you recommend? Have you or anyone you know installed factory or aftermarket stripes? If so what were there thought on quality, looks and etc.?

Thank you! Happy mortaring!

 

Either should be OK. When ordering get them laminated, a clear outer layer for extra protection from bug damage. I'm on my second set of aftermarket strips and very happy with them. The first ones weren't laminated and in a couple of years had white bug scars all over. New ones, laminated, have been on for well over a year and look like new. I got some of the last ones from Aesthetic Creations but either cutrite or mighty will have good stuff. Vinyl is vinyl so there should be little difference from one to the other. Stripes won't damage the clear coat at all. If you ever want to take them off they peel off easily with heat from a hair dryer but don't expect them to be usable again.

 

Do I request the company to laminate them for me?

 

Lamination should be an option you can elect to take, at least it was with AE. I'd make inquiries of both companies, scour thier websites, ask quiestion if you have any about availability, style choices and if they offer the bonnet stripes laminated. Mightystripes has a email link in the upper corner of their home page and cutrite's is a contact us at the bottom of their home page. Don't be shy about asking all the qestions you may have. Really too bad AE got bummed out of the MINI stripe business, they were great to work with.

One other thing you need to find out is the installation process options. There is the dry and the wet method. The wet method is more forgiving as you can squirm the vinyl around a little before finishing it down. You just have to squeegie real careful to get all the air bubbles out.

 

Are there any other mini cooper stripes companies you recommend me looking into?

 

I went thru my data base and only found the ones already mentioned. Here's another idea, mine is a town of only about 12K and we've got a little shop on the edge of town that does custom vinyl work including stripes of any sort. You might take a look in your yellow pages and see is there someone in your area that does that kind of work. Vinyl shops are kind of like screen print shops you never know where one will be hiding. If you find a local one you can get the one on one detailing just the way you want it but cutrite and mighty are still good choices.

I did read on one of them that they recommend not to wax the stripes. The guy at AE told me waxing was OK but not to polish over them. After I got my new ones laid on I gave them 4 good coats of carnuba. They've been on a little over a year and still look like new.

 

Thank you very much for your help!

 

I agree with Fly'n Brick about custom shops. They are always tucked into some corner and often hard to find but a good one can do just about anything you can think of. I'm getting ready to change my stripes also and have found a shop in a small town about 2 miles away.

 

You understand, of course, as one forum wag once pointed out, "Without pictures, it didn't happen". So..we will be watching for the eventual proof that your search was successful as you proudly show off your 'you-a-fied' MINI.

 

Damn skippy!

 

Vinyl Styles used to be an advertiser on NAM, I bought a set from them but changed my mind and did not install them. Let me know if you want some flat black stripes with pinstripes.

Mike