I'm getting ready to order my MINI Cooper (hopefully next week) and have to decide to add stripes or not. It's a Cooper in Indi Blue with white roof/mirrors/wheels and the white stripes (good band by the way) would look killer. My question to those that have them is, how are they holding up? I thought they were painted on but when taking a test drive noticed they're a sort of vinyl that's applied to the car. I'm afraid of them breaking down in the hot summer sun, perhaps cracking, as well as looking like crap after a few years from washing/waxing.

I realise none of you have had your cars for a few years but I'd like to hear how you're caring for your bonnet stripes.

Thanks,
Bill

 

The MINI stripes are vinyl whether they are factory done or dealer installed.

I have two problems with the MINI stripes is two fold:
1) THEY ARE TOO SHORT. - are you reading this MINIUSA?
The MINI stripes are 1/2" short of covering the entire hood. Why the official MINI stripes are TOO SHORT is anyone's guess. Basic sloth and laziness if you ask me.

2) They are expensive - $85 just for the parts if you get them seperately. If you went to a local sign shop (like I did), you can have them make you a set. My local shop charged me $30 for the vinyl (white with the 1/4" black ruled lines) and then charge me another $45 for installation. So $75 total (where for $85 I'd still have to pay to get the MINI ones installed) and here's the thing: the custom stripes cover the entire length of the hood.

BTW, I haven't had any problems with my vinyl so far.
_________________
Dave
MINI COOPER S

 

I too have an indi blue cooper S on order, with white roof and mirrors, and in spite of my initial disklike, white wheels. I decided not to go for the factory stripes because they are too short and they don't go on the hatch of the car. I think I'm going to go for the stripes here because they are long enough, cover the back, and i think look at little better all around.

 

i got aftermarket vinyl stripes for $100. They cover the entire bonnet, unlike the dealer/factory stripes. As for cracking/wrinkling/fading, don't worry about that. This is modern stuff. The stripes I got have a lifetime warranty against anything like that happening. I have gotten a few rock chips in them, but that would have happened if they were painted on as well. If I decide to change or remove the stripes, it's easy to do with vinyl.

 

The Rogue stripes are sweet. I like them MUCH better than the MINI bonnet stripes. That said, I'm still getting a Stripe-free MCS...

 

Where can you get aftermarket bonnet (and boot) stripes that are similar to the factory option (in that they follow the shape of boot-line) but are the right length up front and include the rear? I would rather not have my new MINI look like a Viper-wannabe.

I was all set to let the dealer install "near factory" bonnet stripes on my yellow MINI w/ black roof when he informed me that it would be $40 per stripe (like you can buy only one!) and then another $75 for installation. That, along with all the excellent information I have received reading MCO gave me the strength to "just say no"!

There must be an Internet site to buy "OEM like" bonnet stripes that fit front to back and included the boot. Any help?

 

As I've said before, your local sign shop is your best friend for bonnet stripes.

They can make you whatever you want (4" wide white stripes with a 1/4" black border on either side for instance). They can stripe the bonnet or the bonnet and the hatch. Be a little creative, or replicate the MINI stripes.

My stripes cost me $30 for materials and $45 for the installation. That's the only way I have seen to get exactly what you want.

 

I like my official stripes.. and the little gaps don't bother me none...

Rocketboy_X

 

I was thinking about the stripes, but since I have an S, they didn't look right on the ones I saw because of the hood scoop. I thought they looked great on the regular mini, very classic like the original mini...guess the S hood just doesn't lend itself to the stripes to give it the classic looks of the rally car of years ago...oh well, no way to get around the scoop unfortunately because of the air needs...

 

If you get a Cooper, the Cooper S stripes are plenty long enough, there's no gap, plus the line/rule bordering the stripes looks great! I don't know if the factory would install S stripes on a Cooper though, so you might have to get it done after you take delivery. Also, take it to a qualified vinyl graphics installer if you want it done right.

 

>>I was thinking about the stripes, but since I have an S, they didn't look right on the ones I saw because of the hood scoop. I thought they looked great on the regular mini, very classic like the original mini...guess the S hood just doesn't lend itself to the stripes to give it the classic looks of the rally car of years ago...oh well, no way to get around the scoop unfortunately because of the air needs...

I'm on the other side of the fence on this one... i think a cooper looks fine w/or w/o the stripes, but the MCS looks like it's lacking something w/o stripes... but of course, that's whats fun about MINIs, you get what you like... :smile:

Rocketboy_X

 

I wonder, has anyone gotten their stripes actually painted on? Wonder what that would cost?

 

My salesperson messed up my order and well didn't order the stripes (in addition to auto-sensing wipers... grr...). I was worried that the factory ones were paint... glad to hear they aren't. After pulling some teeth, the dealership fixed the stripes... but I may never get automagic wipers. I like mine, at a distance the gap isn't very noticable. However, one thing to consider is that factory stripes can be part of the sports package which is considerably cheaper than actually paying to have the dealership do them. if you get the sportpack and want stripes, have Mini do them, but if you don't then the sign shoppe idea seems like the best.

 

Go to Interior and Exterior mods and look for the show me your stripes thread.

 

I ordered a set from Moss Motors (http://www.mossmotors.com) for $39.95. Should be here in a couple of days. I'll let you know how I like them.

 

My MCS has the Sport Package which comes with bonnet stripes if you chose to have them. I took delivery w/o stripes. Since you can choose with or without stripes, can I go back to the dealer and have the stripes installed?

 

I think the stripes look great on white roof colored cars. The IB/W looks really good.

There are gaps on the oem stripes, but very small in reality, only noticeable if you look in detail.

The vinyl seems to be very good and shines nice with wax, just have to be careful wiping the wax off the edges.

From what I know you can get the stripes installed at the dealer at any time, and you can also remove them if you get tired of them

 

<evil grin>

having recently spent the better part of a day removing bonnet/roof/boot stripes from my car.. don't ever think that they're *easy* to remove. They're put on there to stay there for YEARS and get grumpy when you try to take them off.

Should you decide to remove them, though, remember that heat is your friend.. if you're doing it in 40 degree weather like I was, a hairdryer is SO much your friend. The heat softens the glue/adhesive enough that you can peel it back for a distance (slowly or it'll snap and make you curse terribly!). Not too hot or it'll make it too soft and it just stretches and then snaps in a gooey mess (that, again, develops a wonderfully diverse vocabulary). I'd imagine that a nice sunny day would help too. Might also want to have the car pretty clean so you don't end up grinding dirt into the paint at the same time.

Probably not a good idea to use the hairdryer in the rain, though. People look at you funny.

 

Just a word of caution when buying stripes for your MINI. There is a slight difference in the bonnet/hood length between the Cooper base and Cooper S models. So, when you buy - make sure you're buying for the correct MINI.

Learn more on Mini Mania's stripes here - https://new.minimania.com/Racing__Ho...3_MINI_Coopers

 

Very good point. And always like seeing threads from 2002 getting bumped. Can’t do that on a Facebook forum