I'm thinking of putting rally stripes on my new MCS. I didn't get them put on at the dealer (which were included with the car if I wanted) because I don't like the way the factory ones look. I think it's the white stripe on both sides that I don't care for. Any suggestions on which ones to get? Also are they very difficult to put on yourself?

 

mine are factory. but borders removed. you can get a simple black
one for like $25. www.outmotoring.com should still have them.

they are easy to apply. check out the interiors/exteriors forum.

 

I feel you on that, I bought the stock bonnet stripes, and was unpleased with the look of them. I feel that a 5 year old with a crayon could do a better job at getting them straight. I have done a little costum graphic work in my time, if you would like to see them please contact my email address or just pm me, and I will pass them all to you. These arn't to scale BUT the sould be easly reconfigured and resized at your local vinal shop.

 

See the "SHOW us your MINI Stripes" thread for some really good ideas on stripes.

Personally, I would love to see your MINI done with black stripes with the chrome pinstripes on the edges.

And if you pay someone to put on your stripes, you are wasting your hard-earned (assuming) money. They are eeeeeeeeeeasy to install !

 

I wouldn't go that far, graphic installation is not an easy craft

 

the ones at the dealer that I saw... they didnt tuck in the stripes and cut them, they just cut them just before the grill, and on the back of the bonnet. I didnt really like that that much. well stripes are easy to put on yourself, and you can put them on anyway you want

 

Aesthetic creations has ALL KINDS OF STRIPES, and you can apply them yourself. Search this forum for "DIY Boot Stripes" for a really simple How-to with photos. Installing your own is SO much more satisfying. I've done a few sets of boot and bonnet graphics now, and if you just have a little patience and a ruler you can get great results very easily.

Good luck!

 

I would go that far if you're talking bonnet or boot stripes. Otherwise, okay... variable degrees of difficulty, for sure.

 

I would be refering to the full stripe kit, ones that go from nose to tail. I have been an installer and designer for 3 years now, and to make shure it is done propperly isn't as easy as one might think. Tribal designs are the hardest, layout wise. Stripes that are completly equal are not easy, it takes alot of time and determination, other wise you are going to end up with a ricetastic pices of crap.

 

I've got a dark silver MCSCa with the black bonnet stripes... it looks fantastic! I had them applied by the dealer when my car arrived at the dealer after I had taken a look at a few without stripes. I was aprehensive about the white at the edge too, but it really makes the stripes pop.... Just my 2 cents though...

 

Difficulty really depends on the stripes you get. Stock stripes are easy becaus they are pre cut to fit a certain way. Viper stripes and racing stripes are a bit harder to install be cause they don't have a set pattern.

If you are looking for something different from the norm than I can creat something completely custom for you. Just check out my site and see what you like.

 

Thanks for the help everybody. Dragonflyer your stuff looks great. I saw a picture of a car similar to my color that had almost "ghost" stripes. They looked to be just a shade lighter color than the car. It looked awesome. Is that something you could do? I haven't fully decided on stripes or not yet but those have appealed to me the most. Thanks again.

 

The material you are reffering to is Frost. It looks amazing on any car. It had amtalic flake in it so durring the day the vinyl is very ghost like. At night it reflects the street lights and and shows up a milky white color.

That would look awesome on your car in something like a racing stripe, Shelby Stripe or viper stripe.

 

I got stripes from Dragonflyer, and they're awesome.

I put the side stripes on myself, but I messed up the bonnet stripes and had to order new ones. He gave me a good price on the second set considering I botched the first set, but it was still money that didn't need to be spent. I got the second set installed by a tuner which also did tint & graphics, and the bonnet still ended up with a tiny flaw in it. No one know's its there but me, but it's still an imperfection in my book.



Don't try to install bonnet stripes yourself unless you're:
a) Not worried about spending more money for new stripes or a fix
b) Experienced
c) A vinyl expert
d) All of he above

 

Yes! I know what you mean. I just spent $70.00 on a set of OEM stripes and they look like *****, some bubbles toward the grill area because of the contour there. Also one is over lapping the bonnet by a few millimeters. I regret doing this myself. I think when the car goes in for the 10k service, I think I will pay to have them done again by the pros.

 

What is the technique for applying these where you can remove them easily and reapply them? Don't you spray water on the car first and then lay them down if you want to have the option of peeling them back off and reapplying? Then you squeegie the water + air out from under them instead of just the air? Does this sound right??

 

$70 bucks on stripes! Mine are only $50 and they are better quality than the OEM. But just to give you some reassurance the bubbles will come out on their own after a couple weeks. Not much you can do about the over lap part. The plus side about the OEM stripes is you can buy just one to replace the one you goofed up on.

That is one way to do it. If you use a little baby shampoo mixed with water than you can move the stripes around on the bonnet before finally tacking it down. Once you have them in place then you should spray them with Alcohol /water mix.

Make sure you give the stripes a couple hours before you go driving when doing a wet apply.

 

I got mine from MINI Pirates in the UK. I fitted them myself with the wet method and it wasn't that hard. DragonFlyer has some nice stuff there.

Best method is as DF said. Spray the bonnet with light soapy water mix. Then as you go to apply the sticker apply a little water/soap to it. This will allow you to slide them around to get them in place. Work the bubbles out and then a spray of alcohol and water. I also used a little heat (hair dryer) to help in the process. Not hard to do at all.

 

Remember to check out Ed of CooperFlags too.

I got the GT3's installed on the bonnet and boot... they look awesome!

I watched the install... seemed to be a bit fiddly to me. Taking off the trim on the boot ... on the bonnet, removing the vents and the trim... came out really clean looking.
I didn't really want to remove the CooperS badge or the chrome Moritz badge, but doing so looks really sharp... I'm VERY happy with the clean look Bertha has now.

 

I have a buddy that makes signs for cars and he'll make me some stripes. How many inches across should I have him cut them? I was thinking 4 inches, but I'm looking to find out what the standard is.

 

Stock stripes are 4.5 at the tome and 5.25 at the bottom on Cooper S stripes.

4.5 all the way through on Cooper stipres.

Feel free to get them from me if you like too.

 

If you want to fix that bubble take a pin (like a very small sewing needle) and pop it and rub something soft over it to smooth it out, the hole will be miniscule and look better than the bubble.

 

Oooo, that sounds amazing. Really peaks my interest. Any chance someone has a shot of that on DS?

 

How much?

 

there're also removable magnetic stripes that look pretty good. has anyone tried these?

i'm gonna get stock-looking bonnet and boot stripes from cooperflags 'cuz i have a gift certificate. how're the cooperflag's stuff? what's you guys' opinion on regular white vs reflective white?