Just curious how many people have mini with bonnet stripes. Can they be removed if I dont like them. ordered Dk silver white top ?bonnet stripes

 

I took delivery of My CR/W Cooper in June without stripes...didn't really like the ones offered. Saw some similar to rogue engineering's shadow stripes, and fell in love. A friend at a sign shop made a set and put them on. They are awesome!! Just enough to be seen, yet not overbearing. In the night they almost glow under lights. They're truly sweet...lol. There's a pic of them on page 54 of the member gallery...bottom row.

 

I had the bonnet stripes put on by the dealer, but they did a lousy job, bubbles etc. My husband removed them. It is just a decal that peeled right off and he used a rag with gasoline to get up the gummy stuff. We left the stripes off for about a week, but my mini looked naked without them. The dealer gave me replacement stripes and my husband put them back on. Much better striped. :smile:

 

I really dislike the fact that the official MINI stripes are 1/2" too short Plus $85 is too much $$$ of the vinyl.

here's my suggestion
-If you're getting the sport package, it's free to get the stripes. They can always be taken off if you don't like them.

If you decide you want to keep stripes on the car:
I would go to a local sign shop and have them make custom stripes for you. This is my car below and it cost me $35 for the material and $40 for the installation. The stripes are custom fit, and go the full length of the hood. Plus they wrapped the stripes at the leading and trailing edges so it's finished off nicely.

Why MINI can't make stripes the correct length for their own cars is beyond me


The MINI Stripes


My custom stripes (note the difference in the width between the stripes)


My inspiration for going with a wider spacing


My MINI as it is today

 

In the show room they didnt look too short. Where are they short?

 

Well, there is a 1/2" gap. I have seen ALL three of the following ways dealers have tried to cope with that.

1) 1/2" gap at the back edge of the hood - stripe aligned with front edge of hood
2) 1/2" gap at the front edge of the hood - stripe aligned with back edge of hood

Here's the MINI stripes on mine installed in this manner (note how the stripe stops BEFORE the chrome of the grille)



3) 1/4" gap on the front and back of the hood (this is the way the factory installed ones come).

 

I think the stripes look great. I'm actually trying to get my dealer to add black stripes to my black car, sort of like shadow flames, or shadow stripes, but so far no deal! Since they do come with the sport package, maybe they can give them to me and I can add them myself. Get the stripes.

 

I definitely don't want to sound like an advertisement but we carry the 4 reusable static cling (bonnet stripes, two front and two rear) for $25.00. They are a little longer than the stock and can be trimmed to fit individual needs. The forum is great and we're proud to be a sponser here.

Paula Alibrandi
Finish Line
http://www.minicooperparts.com

 

I would suggest ordering them with the car. The factory seems to do a better and more consistent job on installation. That is what I did and they look good, and they are essentially free as part of the package anyway. If you don't like them they can be removed easily. Also, I have seen pix of stripes from Rogue Engineering and they are very cool, the ones I saw were a shade different than body color and very stylish.

 

I like the hood stripes in the MCS not the regular Cooper.

I would agree to either get them installed from the factory or get good aftermarket alternatives.

 

I personally don't mind the factory stripes. I have an Indi Blue cooper (Click the yellow "Sprog" link at the bottom of my post to view) in which I bought the stripes from the dealer with my vendor's liscence (20% off with no tax! Woohoo!) and installed them myself. There is a small gap, yes, but it doesn't look half bad. I mean, consider that the bonnet is the only place with the stripes, so its not like its a uniform look all around. But that's just me, I like how they made 'em.

 

I put the black/white rule S stripes on my silver cooper and they were long enough to fold under at both ends. If you don't want them to be too short on your S, get them custom made afterwards. Most graphics/sign companies can do it. CarVogue.co.uk does great quality work too! Their vinyl is higher quality than the MINI stripes. Definitely stripe that baby! It looks awesome!

_________________
Pure Silver/Black Cooper: Premium & Sport Package, Profile Leather, Tinted Windows, PIAA Rally Lights, Bonnet Stripes, and Silver Union Jack- I call her Dr. Emma Peel! GRRR BABY! VERY GRRR!!!

 

I would agree that the CarVogue stuff is nice after having seen a roof treatment in person. Does anyone have the Bonnet Stripes from CarVogue? Pictures please.

 

in regards to the bonnet stripes being too short, i emailed mini on this issue a couple of weeks ago because i have seen minis at dealerships with the bonnet stripes that were too short. I also know someone with an MCS that got the stripes and they were too short as well. Since i have already ordered my car, I was getting a bit nervous about this. MINI said that the bonnet stripes are put on at the factory so when a dealer gets the car they are already on the vehicle. They also told me that the stripes extend the length of the bonnet, from top to grille.

Also, if you look closely, the white bonnet stripes have a black outline (not sure about the black stripes) to them and that is from the factory as well. Be very careful about this because the dealers are putting on their own stripes to sell a car! 9 times out of 10 the aftemarket stripe they put on are not long enough and look like they got them from PEP BOYS. You are better off ordering a car because it will come to you the way you want it to look without your dealer adding any aesthetic things to it.

 

The White with Black Ruled stripes and the Black with White Ruled stripes are the ones for the Cooper S.

If you order your MINI with the bonnet stripes they are now factory installed. However, I was at Schomp MINI today and the factory installed MINI stripes are still too short. They are installed with about a 1/4" gap at the front and back of the stripe. They are simply too short.

Also, if you like the look of the Cooper S stripes with the black lines, remember that the MINI stripes have the lines printed onto the vinyl. If you get a sign shop to do them for you they can still do the stripes and then do the 1/4" black ruled lines in a seperate piece of vinyl. I think this is better because the color isn't printed onto the stripe, it's black all the way through.

IMO, your local sign shop is your best friend for bonnet stripes. You can get custom stripes for about 1/2 the price that MINI would charge you for them, plus the stripes will fit your hood. :smile:

 

>>I definitely don't want to sound like an advertisement but we carry the 4 reusable static cling (bonnet stripes, two front and two rear) for $25.00. They are a little longer than the stock and can be trimmed to fit individual needs. The forum is great and we're proud to be a sponser here.
>>
>>Paula Alibrandi
>>Finish Line
>>http://www.minicooperparts.com

Are the bonnet stripes from http://www.minicooperparts.com available in either white or black? When I try to order them from the site I never get the option to choose the color (and it doesn't specifically say they are white). Also, given the bonnet contour differences between the S and non-S, can these stripes be used on either? Are there any pictures that show how the stripes look on the back (boot)? Thanks.

 

It's all about....choice.... :smile:

NO WAY...I'd ever put racing stripes on my MCS....

NOPE....

NEVER....


Peace,
D

 

When my dealer took me around back and showed me a just delivered and available red "S" with factory stripes I just about peed my pants I thought it was so cool. "Thats too fun" I think were my exact words.
In the ensuing 48 hours before delivery I worried they were too racer boyish and my wife (who loved everything else about the car) was on the fence about them. They are just stickers though, so we knew they could be removed.
Almost 3 months later now and loving the car and the stripes. Saw a red one last week without stripes and it looked bland.
It all depends on what you're after I guess,

CRS

 

I am like 1Lesssuv on this issue. I had a PS/B Cooper with no stripes. I had decided to trade for a MCS. My dealer Century MINI had a MCS become available. We walked around back to take a look at it. I already knew that it was DS/B all 3 packages and Lapis Blue leather. This combination was great. When we rounded the corner I noticed it had stripes. My first thought was to have them removed. The sales staff was glad to remove, but asked me to leave them for a week and see what I thought. I too thought they might look sort of boy racer and I am 49 years old. When I got the car home my wife liked them as did others that I showed the MINI to. I have had the car a month and I love the look. The good thing is, I can always remove the stripes.

It would be boring if everyone had stripes or did not have stripes. That's what makes the MINI so much fun, so many different looks. There is a picture of my car in the gallery on page 80. :smile:

 

i say definitly stripes. a mini just ain't a mini with out them. i got the stripes with the sport package but the more i look around and see other people and the custom stripe they have gotten i am going to the print shop and definitly going to get new ones put on.

 

Something you may want to consider: If you decide to remove the stripes at a later date (and I'm not sure just HOW MUCH later with Mini paint) you may find "ghost stripes" remaining on the paint. I experienced this with factory tape pin stripes on a GM car not too many years ago. The ghost stripes would not rub out with any amount of compound. I would suggest people make up their minds whether to keep or not keep the stripes as soon as possible to avoid this potential problem.

 

I've awaiting a LY/B MCS (now on a boat, mid-Atlantic, November Club member). Bonnet stripes for sure - it's the only way to go with LY IMHO!!

I'm going further - rally numbers on the doors. Dress her up and Rock 'n Roll!

_________________
=R=
My Sharona (Nov. Delivery): LY/B MCS, Stripes, Premium & Sport Packs. Cold Pack is included in Canada, eh?

Got ATTITUDE? Get http://ShitDisturber.com. THE email with Attitude! GO Leafs GO