Factory Bonnet Stripes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tommm
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My 2021 Iconic has the "MINI Yours" leather steering wheel, which has a grey Union Jack logo.

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There seems to be so many variations of whats shown on the wheel, it would be nice if they could get their act together, and decide once and for all.
I know the badge on the wheel is only a small thing, whether its a plug decal, union jack etc, but it just sets it off I think. It just breaks up a big grey ring with piano black inserts, which is what the steering wheel is really. If it was an aesthetic or minimalist gesture, then why do some have a badge and others don't?
Hey ho... BMW will have their little ways! :)
 
My Level 3 UK steering wheel. I’m glad there’s no Union flag on the wheel as I’m personally not a fan of that symbol (I can live with the tail lights since I don’t need to look at them) but I would’ve liked the yellow Mini plug logo. I’ve also seen the Mini Yours half Union flag shield on the wheel, possibly in German models. You’re right though @Akanaten some consistency would be good.

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My salesman said factory installed bonnet stripes are $150 addon (as far as he knew), but that if I wanted to add them he'd confirm.

I don't think I will since I don't want to deal with potential peeling or worse still, bad install from factory. The factory installed vinyl on my i3 started to peel and was a complete PITA to remove.
 
methorian said:
My salesman said factory installed bonnet stripes are $150 addon (as far as he knew), but that if I wanted to add them he'd confirm.

I don't think I will since I don't want to deal with potential peeling or worse still, bad install from factory. The factory installed vinyl on my i3 started to peel and was a complete PITA to remove.
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Would that be the silver vinyl trim over the top of the doors? I considered removing that from our i3 when we got it but I read so many stories about how tricky it was to remove that I’ve left it as it is. It’s less than 5 months old now and showing no signs of peeling so hopefully it’ll stay that way.
 
SpeedyRS said:
Would that be the silver vinyl trim over the top of the doors? I considered removing that from our i3 when we got it but I read so many stories about how tricky it was to remove that I’ve left it as it is. It’s less than 5 months old now and showing no signs of peeling so hopefully it’ll stay that way.
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Yeap. I really disliked the look and one corner had started to peel, so that was enough for me to remove them.

It was definitely a PITA, and I did end up scuffing some rubber trim and then ripped the small gasket between the a-pillar and roof trim.
 
methorian said:
My salesman said factory installed bonnet stripes are $150 addon (as far as he knew), but that if I wanted to add them he'd confirm.

I don't think I will since I don't want to deal with potential peeling or worse still, bad install from factory. The factory installed vinyl on my i3 started to peel and was a complete PITA to remove.
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Of course, the i3 came from a different factory. The MINI organization has considerable experience applying bonnet stripes. Even if they haven't been installed at the factory before now, the stripes and the installation procedures were developed by the company, not their dealers.
 
insightman said:
Of course, the i3 came from a different factory. The MINI organization has considerable experience applying bonnet stripes. Even if they haven't been installed at the factory before now, the stripes and the installation procedures were developed by the company, not their dealers.
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Very true. I'm still hesitant with-out examples of factory installed examples to see. I'd rather just hold off and get something custom added later if I really want.
 
i think we all need a reality check. Stripes or decals have been on cars as long as i can remember. Remember the puking chicken? "FORMULA", GT-350, HERTZ, etc across the rockers? Hockey sticks on the sides of mustangs? That was all over 45/50 years ago. Lets not forget the stone guards I removed from a few 944s.

cravenspeed has stripes for $50, a $5 mulligan and instructions on where to measure and lay them out. Amazon has stripes for $40 and up.

Letting the factory put them on is no big deal. When fresh they come off easy. On the other hand, It took me a solid ten hours to get the 12 year old clear bra of my sedan. I used the 3M eraser wheel, heat, WD40, goo gone, pressure washer with thin nozzle, steam, sore fingers, etc.

When it was done, there were micro scratches in the clear coat from my plastic scraper, and a line across the hood from where the expert at the dealer who installed it cut. Yes the professional that applied the clear bra on a car that stickered at 55k in 07 cut into the clear coat before it left the lot. That cut gathered dirt as the bra shrunk. That's why I want factory. I assume, and could be wrong that they don't use a blade to trim while the local shops may.
 
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insightman said:
The MINI organization has considerable experience applying bonnet stripes. Even if they haven't been installed at the factory before now, the stripes and the installation procedures were developed by the company, not their dealers.
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I've never had peeling issues with factory/dealer installed stripes, and I was driving a 2008 Clubman S until two years ago. My current 2014 Clubman S has over 100,000 miles and no problem with the bonnet stripes.

Before my SE, I drove a 2015 Hardtop S that had 3rd-party stripes which I bought used. I wanted the PPF added and my dealer actually removed the stripes to apply the PPF, and it wasn't a big deal. I actually didn't bother putting stripes back on on that car, it had its own look.
 
Aren't they just for the R series? I'm not sure if the length might be an issue for you?
I was tempted to get some for mine, so will be interested to see how they look. Not sure yet whether to go for 2 stripes or 1 centre one!
 
Akanaten said:
Aren't they just for the R series? I'm not sure if the length might be an issue for you?
I was tempted to get some for mine, so will be interested to see how they look. Not sure yet whether to go for 2 stripes or 1 centre one!
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I contacted the company through Amazons bot. A person got back to me. They are one piece, clear between the outer stripes. They said to send a reply through amazon when i order them with my model. So i did. Will keep you updated. For $30 USD it is worth a shot. My wife is not keen on the white edge on the factory stripe. The only thing white on the whole car.
 
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