DOH!! New MCS has stripes

[Sharkey]

As our EB/B '04 MCS is waiting to board a ship stateside, we realized that--contrary to our specs--he was born with bonnet stripes. I know some love stripes, and agree that they look great on some color combos, etc., but we *really* don't want 'em on our MINI. Dealer says "no problem, we can remove them with zero risk to the paint". Being, erm, well OK, really anal, I'm now hyperventilating with thoughts of swirl marks/cob webs, or, gasp, imperfections on our (very first) new car. Question: anybody have any experience removing factory installed bonnet stripes, and if so, was their any consequences for the paint?? Much obliged for any info!
Obsesively yours, Sharkey.

[ButtonIt]

I can't see there'd be a problem, providing the dealers take care and do a proper job. They are only stuck after all.

[Sharkey]

Quote: Originally Posted by ButtonIt

I can't see there'd be a problem, providing the dealers take care and do a proper job. They are only stuck after all.

True, they'd be stuck with the car if it was a mess, but we'd be stuck having to re-order...besides being anal, I guess I'm also impatient...gee, starting to think I'm hard to please
Sharkey

[Paul]

I agree with Mr.It, they should come off no problem at all.

[Sharkey]

Thanks guys. Any idea what a propper job entails (how do they remove them)? I asked the dealer "so, what do you guys do, warm the stripes with a hair dryer and just peel them off?" to which he replied "well, no, it takes a little more than a hair dryer". Which, naturally, sparks visions of, what, flame throwers and, I dunno, pheumatic angle grinders in my head. I had previously even requested that the dealer not wax our MINI prior to delivery since most people unwittingly apply/remove wax ala Karate Kid, which causes swirls in paint. Now I'm imaginging pre-emptive chemical warfare being declared on my virginal bonnet paint. OK, deep breaths...calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean...

PS. Paul, can you move this thread to the 'exterior' forum for me...seems I posted it here by mistake

[ButtonIt]

Woah man, don't get worked up about it If the Dealer makes a mess, then the Dealer provides a brand new bonnet (hood). When it arrives make the dealer aware that you will not tolerate a bad job and you'll hold the dealer (or even the salesman) responsible.

[Sharkey]

Really, I can hold out for a brand new bonnet if necessary. Gee, hadn't considered that. Hmm...blood pressure decreasing...pulse slowing...

[chughes163]

I cant see any problem at all - they have been on a matter of weeks at the most...hmmmmm....mixed with your american sunshine it could heat the glue i guess......hmmmm....if there were ANY marks they would probably polish out no problem together with a layer of wax...hmmmm....on second thoughts, they may need to respray the bonnet but thats all.......... just teasing...they will come off fine

[Sharkey]

Thanks for adding grist to the mill chughes163 ...Just on my way out the door to get some valium (super size, maybe)

Seriously tho, I do worry about the fact that the paint was so fresh when the stripes were applied. And what about problems with paint match of a new bonnet (if needed)? Oh god...I'm going for a walk now.

[chughes163]

I suggest you have a nice toke on a cigarette (or a pack if your really that stressed!) - that will chill you out!

Relax - its the dealers fault and they will just order you a new bonnet and spray that if its bodged up - I would be sweating if i were the salesman, not the customer!

Chill out and just enjoy the drive

[NEMINI]

why get worked up over something that isn't even a problem?

[Sharkey]

Quote: Originally Posted by GMINI03

why get worked up over something that isn't even a problem?

Hey G03,
While I see your point, what I'm really trying to do here is find out whether this is or isn't a problem. While I can hope/imagine/speculate that it's not, some empirical info from people who may have actually had factory stripes removed would provide a better basis to judge. E.g., if several people said "did this on my car with no problems", then no worries; but if people say "don't do it, since this mucked the paint on my car", then we need a new plan (get dealer to pre-order new hood, reject car and re-order, learn to live with bonnet stripes, whatever). Sure it's obsessive, but like I said, it's our first new car, and would like to at least start with an unblemished purchase.

Cheers, Sharkey

[NEMINI]

I can appreciate all that Sharkey as the MINI was my first new car, and first major purchase of my life.
The paint is pretty much baked on these days, thats why brand new MINI's can be parked outdoors. Also IMO if the fresh paint were weak our cars couldn't be safely covered in cosmoline transported across the ocean and washed off so quickly in their young lives. The dealership will probably use a heat gun to carefully remove the stripes, chemicals will not be used except for perhaps some alcohol or something to remove the last bits of glue. I've removed graphics from cars before, its a bit of a pain in the ass, getting the glue on your fingers and such but I have never damaged the paint. Being that the stripes are pretty new it should be even easier then my experiences.

[Sharkey]

G03: thanks for the kind words and good points. Yer soothin' my troubled mind
Now if only I had some data...
Cheers, Sharkey

[moorlockx]

Mine was 2 months old when I took a hairdryer to it and peeled the stripes myself. Took about 10 minutes and a quick rub down of the bonnet. You can't even tell the stripes were ever on it.