[MD1]

I've standard MINI black stripes on my F56 - my car in midnight black and so often looks dirty down to dust and I sometimes use some good quality waterless cleaner just to remove said dust. I sprayed a small amount onto the bonnet and some of it caught the stripes and they're now 'stained' I've tried cleaning the stripes using polish etc but still they're marked - I fear new stripes will now be the order of the day but it seems crazy that they won't withstand a simple clean???? Gonna have words with the dealer as to me they are not fit for purpose if you can clean them????
Thoughts lovely people...

Cheers
Michael

 

[johnan]

Sorry to hear that Michael.

I have used waterless "showroom Shine" 3 or 4 times since I got my car and the stripes are OK. When first applied it looks like it could leave a stain but it seems to buff off as expected.

It is the only polish I have used on the car.

The carnubax wax in it is best kept away from the black plastic trim areas though.

I have not tried any other makes so they may be different.

John

 

[MD1]

Hi there John

Same stuff as me and at the moment the stripes are still marked - seems typical with anything I touch on this F56 it goes wrong

Don't worry I don't go anywhere near the black plastic trim...

Oh well call to dealer on the cards I feel to tell them that their stripes are !!!!!!

Michael

 

[midnightf56]

If it makes you feel any better 2 weeks after having my viper stripes applied I stupidly went and jet washed the car and it ripped the bonnet one off! I felt soooooooooo annoyed. Ordered some vinyl online and re-applied it myself

 

[johnan]

If it makes you feel any better 2 weeks after having my viper stripes applied I stupidly went and jet washed the car and it ripped the bonnet one off! I felt soooooooooo annoyed. Ordered some vinyl online and re-applied it myself

That is a good heads up to those of us who use pressure washers and have stripes on our cars!

 

[Lonelycupid]

Just out of curiousity: how does black stripes on black look?

 

[pjsjr13]

this is the only pic I have , too lazy to get off the couch

 

[donnaj1dlh]

Argh .... waterless cleaner fills this Obsessive Compulsive detailer with fear!!

Anyhoo...... have you pictures of the stripes? How bad are they? Personally I wouldn't use an abrasives on them, since they're only vinyl. Haven't actually come up with an alternative though......

 

[MD1]

I need to take some pics but so cheesed off with things not going right with the car..... tbh Donna it was the first time of using it on the F56 - used it a lot on my all black clubby with no issues and with a black car it helps save time rather than always washing the proper way (as I do every weekend)

I think the only answer will be to replace them but I'm gonna push hard for the dealer to replace them FOC as to me if they can't be cleaned they're not fit for purpose??

 

[MD1]

Just out of curiousity: how does black stripes on black look?

here we go...

 

[donnaj1dlh]

Ah I thought you'd gone for aftermarket stripes, not MINI ones (my memory is terrible!). I do have a bird lime stain on one of my stripes but it's only really visible at certain angles. I remember the first time I closed the bonnet, I got palm marks on them too, that took ages to fade, so grease/oil stains too. They're a pain in the hoop.

So what else has gone wrong with the car?

Personally though, I'd avoid that spray on cleaner stuff. Paint these days is so easily marked compared to cars from years ago - due to what they're NOT allowed to put in it! You will find it swirls your paint. VO is a lot more forgiving than darker/metallic shades though. At least if your car remained dusty you wouldn't see the marks on the stripes.............

 

[MD1]

hopefully the marks will fade - if not I'm back to the dealers to get them replaced I guess!

 

[johnan]

I have used Showroom Shine for many years on my new cars and classic MG and it gives the best result of any of the products I have used over all the many years I have had cars to polish.
With the new Mini though because of all the black plastic parts I tend to spray it onto a microfibre cloth first rather than directly on the paint around those areas, to avoid wax overspray.
I gave the bonnet a polish today and there was no problem with the stripes. As you say hopefully your marks will disappear without dealer intervention.

 

[MD1]

I'm beginning to think my stripes are duff lol One has a flaw on it that the dealer knows about so I'm gonna appeal to their good nature (doesn't hold ones breath) and get them to change both but will wait until the cars had a proper clean in the hope the marks disappear! Cheers John

 

[kenl]

This is one reason I opted to not get stripes. This is not a criticism of MINI as I think it would happen on all vinyl stripes, they mark easily.

Having said that, most marks are not visible unless on very close inspection.

 

[stripe fitter]

Hi guys.
As a professional vinyl fitter & having done so for last 27 years & also as a time served vehicle refinisher for the previous 10 years, You need to understand that vinyl is a soft material that is easily marked even by dust! Cleaning your car using modern chemicals is a no no! As is using pressure washers ANYWHERE near vinyl stripes or graphics. Only way to avoid scratching your stripes is to hose the car down thoroughly before washing with soapy water by hand a panel at a time starting with the roof & working your way down, rinsing from top to bottom as you go otherwise you will be spreading the dirt with the sponge, cloth or wash mitt all over your precious paintwork & stripes, which in turn causes tiny (or large) scratches.
Imagine polishing an ebony table top with a scouring pad, That is what you are doing to your paintwork!
Just to give you an idea how sensitive vinyl is to being marked: When fitting stripes the cleaning instruction labels are cut off my microfibre cloths as they can scratch the vinyl!!!!!!!!!
Be careful guys (& girls).

 

[uke]

Hi guys.
As a professional vinyl fitter & having done so for last 27 years & also as a time served vehicle refinisher for the previous 10 years, You need to understand that vinyl is a soft material that is easily marked even by dust! Cleaning your car using modern chemicals is a no no! As is using pressure washers ANYWHERE near vinyl stripes or graphics. Only way to avoid scratching your stripes is to hose the car down thoroughly before washing with soapy water by hand a panel at a time starting with the roof & working your way down, rinsing from top to bottom as you go otherwise you will be spreading the dirt with the sponge, cloth or wash mitt all over your precious paintwork & stripes, which in turn causes tiny (or large) scratches.
Imagine polishing an ebony table top with a scouring pad, That is what you are doing to your paintwork!
Just to give you an idea how sensitive vinyl is to being marked: When fitting stripes the cleaning instruction labels are cut off my microfibre cloths as they can scratch the vinyl!!!!!!!!!
Be careful guys (& girls).

Thanks for the tip. Now I'm freaked out and will only wash my car using an eyedropper, purified water, Dr. Bronner's soap, and free-range, organic, gluten free sponges!