Hey guys! I have a dumb question... I hope someone has the answer.

I've done some searching and wasn't able to find the answer to the question I was looking for - so I'm very sorry if this has been answered elsewhere! I'm also sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

BUT! On to the story/question:

So when I bought my MINI new (in 2009), I had a roof decal applied to my car. It was on a we-owe, which was part of the terms of purchasing the car but installed two weeks after delivery.
Well, last year an excessive heat wave damaged my roof decal and burnt it. It was a Union Jack, but by the end of it... it looked kind of like a Black Jack.
Actually, here's a photo:

Sooooo... yep!! I removed it shortly after, but unfortunately it left a nasty dark tint underneath the blue and red portions, so I kind of still have a "Union Jack" but not really. MINI denied getting the decal replaced under warranty as it was damaged by an "outside source" (IE, the sun).

WELL, I was told by a body shop that the paint should even out after a buff and letting it sit out in the sun for a while.
I got my car professionally detailed, buffed, etc. It didn't do anything to aid it.

After a while I noticed that portions of where the decal was are starting to turn white (as in, WHITE WHITE, not getting slightly lighter)... and are strangely in the shape of very defined fingerprints. So now not only do I have dark blue/black tinted markings on my roof, but I have white fingerprints all over it, too! I can supply a photo if need be.

With that being said... does anyone know what I can do to fix it? Will painting my roof be the only way to bring it back to health? Is there ANY way this can be covered under warranty?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!

 

I think you already answered the question. The only way I can think of to make it look right is paint it..

 

Take a clay bar to the roof to clean the paint really well. The decal shouldn't damage the paint like that.

 

Oh, before I forget, this is what the roof looks like now:


(strangely enough, the fingerprints aren't coming off either)
I was afraid you guys would say that. I'll try to claybar it one more time, but I might just give up and repaint it. :( I've always wanted a black roof, anyways.

Any idea on if there's any sort of warranty on paint? My baby's a little over 4 years old.

 

It looks looks dry adhesive, I would try something like Meguiar's adhesive remover.

 

Automotive grade vinyl should never leave behind crap like that. Are you in louisville btw?

 

That is adhesive, quality vinyl would never do that, that is why you are seeing finger prints. I would try a NanoSkin pad on a random orbit with plenty of lube and I bet it would take it off.

 

Yes, try an adhesive remover first. WD40 is a no joke mild adhesive remover that won't damage paint. If that doesn't work, I'm afriad you're looking at getting the roof repainted.

 

That's what I was hoping you guys would say! I always thought that the decal was... not the best quality. I'll definitely try some of the suggestions hopefully this weekend.

And borderwave2, I'm... close enough to Louisville, haha. It's not far from where I live at all.

 

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=189453_0_0_



3M/Adhesive remover

 

tread carefully with that 3M stuff its powerful and I damaged some plastic trim a couple years ago. Try Goo Gone too, stuff works wonders, it removed permanent marker written on my bumper behind my license plate in less than 5 seconds without affecting the paint.

 

Update: Tried WD-40 last night, it was completely ineffective. :( Gonna try Goo Gone next. I'm thinking I'll have to repaint the roof.