would the bonnet stripes wear off after a couple of good washes or are they long lasting?

 

I have black stripes on a Yellow MCS and I have noticed that the black is wearing through in a few places where bugs have hit. We've only had the car for 4 months. I believe the problem is the plastic stripe is acutally white with black ink on it. The ink appears to rub off fairly easily when being cleaned.

 

Give it about 5 minutes once the sand and gravel get laid down on a snowy morning and you'll have little chips in the bonnet stripes.

 

I'm coming up on a year and they hold up fine. Yes after a long drive, I did get some dings but it's expected. They are white and the black pinstripes have survived fine no fading at all.

 

I've got the black ones and I'm noticing that they are holding up fine after 3500 miles. I use Mequiars Quick Mist detail spray religiously to keep the bugs off the front of the car and I have been using a product called DuraGloss car shampoo to wash the car. I have not waxed it yet, but plan on doing so so soon.

What kind of cleaner are you using to make the black ink come off?

 

I’ll have to think it depends on the color, where you live and weather conditions. I’ve had my white stripes on a year now and they look great. I’m in the pan handle area of Florida that has heavy sun in the summer and light or mild winters. Road conditions are good with little construction. How they hold up will depend on your area.




_________________

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. - Frank Zappa

 

An option is to have your bonnet stripes painted on, by a professional body shop.

I was going to say "permanently" painted on, but even painted bonnet stripes can be changed in the future. I went to a pro body shop that specializes in painted graphics (not vinyl sticker graphics) for show cars. Showed them a mini with the vinyl stripes. They said they could paint the stripes on (in virtually ANY colour, even add pinstripes down the side of the stripes, or whatever idea I can come up with) for about $200-250. This includes new clear coat coverage on the bonnet after the new stripes are painted on using a template (and/or masking technique), which they would create as part of the $200-250 price.

Painted bonnet stripes have depth and detail you can't get from the vinyl ones. Plus they don't "wear out" like vinyl ones...they can of course get chips and scratches like any paint. Yes, the painted stripes cost a lot more, but they last indefinitely, and yes, you can get them changed in 1, 2, 3, 4 years or whenever you want....just have them repainted.

I saw a commercial for Maaco and at the end of the commercial the announcer said "We do stripes, too!" I haven't gone to Maaco for an estimate, but I would think their price would be cheaper or similar to an independent pro body shop. If you are seriously considering bonnet stripes, but don't want to go the vinyl route, it's worth a shot to check this option out.

Rock On,

-Joe

 

"I saw a commercial for Maaco and at the end of the commercial the announcer said "We do stripes, too!" I haven't gone to Maaco for an estimate, but I would think their price would be cheaper or similar to an independent pro body shop. If you are seriously considering bonnet stripes, but don't want to go the vinyl route, it's worth a shot to check this option out. "

Hey Joe,

Two words for you: Maaco Sucks.

I thought you were going some where with this professional body shop thing, but you railroaded it by ending with the idea that Maaco is a professional paint/body shop. Maaco is like the McDonald's of the Paint/Body Industry. They're only good if you just want to give a 16 year old a new 300.00 paint job for their beat-up camaro. Trust me don't go to Maaco. I know from first hand experience.

Ofcourse they are going to be cheaper than an independent bodyshop–THEY DO NOT TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT RIGHT. Just remember, you get what you pay for.

-Jake

 

Mine lasted a couple of weeks. The second or third time I washed it the water spots ate the black off. I guess either something in the car wash soap reacted with the stripe. Or maybe it was the water droplets focusing the sunlight like a laser beam. Or maybe a combination of the two. Whatever the cause my black stripes have the outlines of white water spots on them. I'm gonna just let it go and get new stripes painted on (as is suggested above).