Most liked posts in thread: Roof flag is fading.......

I'm a FNG

 

Are you wanting to remove yours?

If so you can easily remove them with a warm engine heating the bonnet first..... Start a corner and pull the vinyl slowly at a 90 degree pull to the surface.... Or apply a little heat with a hair drier just to soften the adhesive....They are real easy to remove when new.... As they get old and start cracking the vinyl, it become more if a chore... Any remaining adhesive can be removed with Goo Off or WD-40....

 

Go get a product called 303 from a auto parts store. You can also find it sometimes at a boat shops. It a UV product. I've used it on my car's decals since 05 and they look as good as new. I just spray it no and wipe it down with a microfiber towel about every 2 weeks.

 

Huh? Are you asking a question about a 3 year old post?

Yes, you can replace OEM strips they are just vinyl stickers.

 

Opps lol my bad

 

A car painter friend hates vinyl stripes, when he stripes a car, he buries the painted stripes under a clearcoat. You can see his stripes, but you can't feel them.

Dave

 

As often as I like to change the look painted stripes are not an option for me.

 

Heat is the key! Then a wax and grease remover to take care of the glue remnants.

 

Paint over Stickers. Chili Red paint looks best! :devil:

 

PM Richard (Octaneguy). I had a girl detail my MINI locally, and she was able to clean up my vinyl stripes so they were looking like new. I think she trained with Richard in CA, so he might be able to pass on some tips.

 

It depends on what has caused it to be faded. Is it faded because of contamination? Is it faded because of the sun..i.e. the UV protectant has failed and the inks are being affected? Sometimes improving the color is as simple as applying a wax. Sometimes it's as simple as putting on a vinyl dressing. Sometimes you actually need to polish it very gently to remove any oxidation, then wax it. Whatever you do, you want to be gentle.

Remember the roof is the highest point of your car and takes the most beating from the environment. Keeping it protected is absolutely essential to prevent the fade in the first place. I'm not familiar with the factory flag but if it's UV coated, I would feel it and see if the surface is bumpy and if so, claybar it to remove any environmental contamination, then wax it. As long as it's UV coated, you won't hurt the inks underneath.

Richard

That must be Ashley

 

Haha thanks for the additional info...have you tried just putting on a vinyl dressing? It's most likely faded due to the sun beating on it all the time, lol. I don't know or think a vinyl dressing will help because if it's UV protected, anything we apply or do to it is just affecting that coating and especially since you've already done the Amigo and Epic thing. Similar to improving the clearcoat on a car to make the underlying paint look better, we really need to focus on improving that coating.

Sometimes you need to just polish the graphic with a PC and a white pad. Swirl by hand may not have enough "ooomph" to improve the coating, but doesn't sound like a PC is available to you.

Sorry, but replacement might be the only option. Improving stripes is different from printed graphics.

Richard

 

Les,

How long is your graphic been getting beat by the sun?

 

I have an 07 with the factory flag. Colors are still vibrant. I have been washing and applying hydro pretty much every 2 weeks since I bought her.

 

Reds fade, I use to be a painter and red paints outside in the sun always faded so quick. Guess same goes for red vinyl even when uv protected.

 

That is good to know and I'll keep that in mind.

Jim