I am curious if anyone has taken off the factory stripes and, if so, what was the condition of the surface around where they had been?

I've always understood from body shops that new paint/clear coat needs to cure a minimum of 30 days before applying anything so I wondered if the factory application of the bonnet stripes so soon after the production of the car affected the paint or clear coat in some way.

 

I haven't yet, but will be having my removed soon to make way for Cooper Flags checkboard center stripe.

I don't suppose anybody knows of a good place in San Diego for stripe installation/de-installantion?

 

there is a huge differnece between factory paint and a re-paint paint. Factory paint is heat cured and is ready for the world about the time it leaves the plant. Re-paint paint uses a catalyst to cure the paint and that is why it needs to cure. Th repaint may be dry to the touch and feel dry after a couple days but can continue to cure and release solvents from the paint for a couple months before it is completly cured. It will all depend on the poainter, the paint, and the reducer speed...and finally the weather. If eveything is as it should be ( on a repaint ) 30 days should cover it.

On your new mini th epaint was cured before the stripes were applied so there should be no problem unless the car was out in the sun for a couple years before you remove the stripes. They should come off fairly easy with no dammage to the paint.

 

I removed mine after a years time without difficulties. I also removed the Invica shield at the same time...no problems encountered.

 

Well, that's good to know the stripes left no marring in the clear coat or whatnot (I wouldn't expect the Invisisheild to since it's installed later on).

I guess the only issue then would be if they did any repainting at the VPC from damage in shipping and decals were put on over that.

 

Ahh...but then you'd have a warranty issue as you haven't repainted.

 

I've heard that after a long time (a couple of years?) that you can see the stripes have prevented the paint beneath them from fading along with the rest of the car. So there's a faint difference where the stripes were.

Don't know how long this takes or how severe it is, but I'd guess it depends on several factors like which color, how much time the car was exposed to the sun, wax or other protectants, etc.

 

Tan lines

 

Are they hard to remove? Do you need to heat them up?
I'm thinking of changing mine too!

 

they come off best when warm, are we talking stripes or clearbra ? stripes just make sure its a warm sunny day or get a hair dryer and lift a corner and slowly peel the stripe off.


If clear bra peel up a corner and then pull it at a similar angle to the panel its attached to, pull it way ( make it stretch long ) and it will make the adhesive come off with the material, hard on the hands but comes off easiest this way.

 

Bet red and blue are the easiest colors to see the slight fade.

regards,
Red

 

You are probably right, esp red - I understand that red is the most volitile of the pigments in general (although they have improved the fading properties of it in automotive paint dramatically over the years).

 

That's true. After just 7 or 8 months in AZ heat the car faded rather quickly. Wax helps alot. It the summer in AZ we need to wax our cars at least once a month.
The good news is when you take the stipes off and then professionally wax and buff the car you can't really even tell after that.

If you don't live in AZ you don't have too much to worry about unless you deal with similar tempetures.

If anyone is thinking of getting some new stripes I love doing custom stuff. Like my Hawiian Stripes

 

Wow - those are fantastic! Wait till my daughter sees those! (She's got Hawaiian stuff all over her Camry - hula boy on the dash, longboards rear window decal, etc.)

Almost makes me wish I had a blue Cooper! Or red! (Can't really picture 'em on BRG, though.)

 

I hope this will give you an idea.

 

NiceThanks for the work

 

Dude... Is that a sticker on the back of the Silver S with the large white stripe? I talking about the "Actual Size".. Or is that some type of photo shop?

I love it! I want an "Actual Size" Sticker!!! How much?

Devilmini

 

That's a decal. a friend of mine fills orders for those regularly. On this forum he is "dragonslayer" not to be confused with me.


PM him and he can send you one.