I need to replace the silver hood stripes on a 2009 R55 (should be the same as R56).

Can anyone point me to a well fitting quality source?

Thanks!

 

OEM?
https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-.../hood_stripes/

Aftermarket?
https://rockymountaingraphics.com/pr...ooper-clubman/

Or... You could check out a local vinyl shop and get some strips to trim yourself. Probably be MUCH cheaper than pre-cut.

 

The ECS stripes don't fit my base clubman, just the S clubman. Correction: ECS says that the S and base stripes are identical and will work.

Also, any advice on removing the old stripes? Will it likely take the paint off?

 

Gentle heat should help, it won't take the paint off. Emphasis on GENTLE. The paint will likely be slightly faded everywhere but where the stripes were.

 

Hello,

Just have to select the correct MINI

2009 Clubman Cooper (non S)

https://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-.../hood_stripes/

I have done them before many times. The factory stripes are hard and brittle with age. You need to park in the sun on a hot day. Its too cold in the winter. Unless you have a heat gun and watch the paint.

Park the car in the sun in a warm shop, plenty of windows, and it helps a bunch.

 

Just ordered factory silver stripes from ECS.

Thanks for the tips on removing the old stripes.

Can you give me as much advice as possible about installing the new ones?

I'm thinking that I'll put down tape on either side of the old stripes before I remove them to help locate the new stripes.
I saw that a guy online sprayed water with just a drop of dish liquid in the water bottle underneath the new stripes after he had removed the adhesive in order to allow some wiggle room in aligning the stripes. He then squeegeed them.

The helpful person from ECS said that he had done a number of these. I'm hoping you can give me as much detail as possible so I don't mess this up.

Thanks!
​​​​​​

 

aftermarket

Genuine MINI stripes

Aftermarket ones are softer vinyl and they apply the same way just not with much soapy water and then you use a good puddy knife to get all the bubbles and air out.

For the genuine MINI ones they are a harder material vinyl and dont stretch much and they are applied after spraying the hood with a light soapy mix of water. Line them up and use painters tape then peal back and make sure the water on the underside is there.

Then puddy knife the air and bubbles till smooth. Top down.

I have done aftermarket and the Genuine MINI strips on both my MINIs. Aftermarket stripes will have more stretch and are thinner then the Genuine MINI stripes.

Genuine MINI stripes are also pre cut very exact and they never overlap the ends of the car.

If you dont think you can do it on your own, most dealers or decal shops can do it.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks so very much for the fast and comprehensive reply!

Do you have a specific recommendation for the soapy water? What kind of soap? How much soap?

 

Hello,

Glad to help.

Some people just do a drop of dawn or similar to a small bottle. Think mine was like 10 oz or something close. You dont want it car wash soapy.

 

This was really interesting, thanks for including the links to the videos