Stripes questions - dealer vs aftermarket - different shapes?

[langdang]

Hi all,
Just joined, and asking questions already.
Have a 2002 Mini Cooper and want to add standard type bonnet stripes.
I tried a cheap vinyl set from eBay, but found it difficult to get them fitting right near the grille.

The eBay set came as normal rectangular strips, which ended up as parallelograms once I had trimmed them to fit.

The problem as I see it is that there is a compound curve, (Bonnet curves in more than one direction at the same time) as you get near the grille. With a straight strip you get a wrinkle as you try to form the vinyl around this curve.

Are dealer stripes "pre-shaped" to account for this, ie have they got a slight curve in the stripe which ends up looking straight when applied?

Or am I just doing something wrong when applying the eBay stripes?

Anyone know how much for a set of stripes from a dealer or otherwise in Cork/Limerick/Kerry areas of Ireland?

Thanks in advance...

[CrazyPhil]

Bonnet stripes are shaped to allow for the 'curve' of the bonnet line.

For first gen ONE/COOPER are different to S.

For 2nd gen ONE/COOPER have a straight shape and length - DIESEL is slightly longer and S is even longer, thinner and shaped.

So not all MINI bonnet stripes are the same.

We produce our own, on sale from £8 a pair in our Christmas sale !!

We fit them too

thing to remember is how long you want them to last - some suppliers and (ebayers) will use a chep end of the vinyl market and last 2-3 years.

Our vinyl cut stripes are 7 year exterior material and our printed are 7 year with a 7 year over laminate for extra protection - as we sell them all over the world !!

Phil

[langdang]

Order placed, thanks for the info.
BTW, had a look at some of your work - amazing!

[langdang]

Received (attributing length of time to international Christmas post volumes etc)
They look the business anyway, there's an obvious shape to them rather than the generic eBay rectangular strips.

Phil - one question, we're having pretty cold but fairly dry weather at the mo.
Unlikely too see much over 5 degrees C for the rest of the week - will that affect putting these on? Use a hairdryer to add some heat to help the adhesive?

Or wait for temps to rise above 10degreeC?( this will be accompanied by rain no doubt, but will be able to do this job in a shed over Christmas if I have to)

[CrazyPhil]

best results are when it is warmer so unless you can get into a garage space I would wait until at least 10 degrees - sorry but the vinyl will not stick properly if its so cold.