Pinstripe removal

[lawrence1]

Can pinstripes be removed? A car i am looking at has a painted on pinstripe. Waiting on confirmation whether it is cleared over or just painted on top of the original clear coat. Can i finely wet sand it off and then polish the panels without ruining the paint?

I had an m3 that had this done but it was an early single stage dakar yellow car so no clearcoat to worry about. I had to polish it off and it came off but some paint had to be removed in the process.

What say you experts? What should I look for one way or the other?

Really appreciate your help and any input you can offer.

This is a deal breaker if i can't take it off.

 

[Ntrepid]

It really depends on when the pinstripes were applied. If they are on the clear coat, they should be able to be removed by a detailer using compounds they use to do a paint correction. If under the clear coat, you may want to leave it alone or risk reapplying clear. Either way, there is an element of risk in removing them.


Robert

 

[Bogeyman]

It wouldn't be under the clear coat unless it was a repaint.

I have carefully removed them with 2000 grit and then polish out.

It may leave a slight color difference but hardly noticeable.

 

[Klink]

I have bought billions and billions of Benzes with pinstripes. Like you, I hate them with the fire of ten-thousand suns (the stripes, not the cars).
I have never had the slightest trouble removing the stripes, both painted and tape. How? Beats me. I give a good detailer the car and some money and they are gone (the stripes, not the car, or the detailer, though they CAN be prone to go "whereabouts unknown" with some degree of regularity)...

 

[LWB250]

Can pinstripes be removed? A car i am looking at has a painted on pinstripe. Waiting on confirmation whether it is cleared over or just painted on top of the original clear coat. Can i finely wet sand it off and then polish the panels without ruining the paint?

I had an m3 that had this done but it was an early single stage dakar yellow car so no clearcoat to worry about. I had to polish it off and it came off but some paint had to be removed in the process.

What say you experts? What should I look for one way or the other?

Really appreciate your help and any input you can offer.

This is a deal breaker if i can't take it off.

Depends.

There are painted pinstripes, the most common, and there are tape pinstripes.

The tape pinstripes are, for the most part, pretty simple to remove with minimal effort and a can of 3M Adhesive Remover.

Unfortunately, nearly ever Mercedes I have ever owned that was built pre-2000 had the awful painted pinstripes that the dealers put on them. These seemed to be at their apex in the 1980s but certainly appeared long after that time. These can be removed yourself with some effort or you can pay a professional to remove them. I suggest a professional, as they're far less likely to do any damage, although some might ask for a hold harmless in the event things don't go well.

I have successfully removed these off of W126 chassis cars using - hold your breath - oven cleaner!

It does work, but there is some risk in using this method and it's not fun as you're working with some rather caustic chemicals.

My apologies for the venue where this is hosted, but the source material is relevant:

https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w1...-diy-repair-thread-wheel-22.html#post14081946

The one thing I would caution people about when it comes to removing these is that no matter how light the paint color of your car, the "shadow" left by the presence of the pinstripe will probably be noticeable and is unlikely to fade over time.

Dan

 

[Klink]

The one thing I would caution people about when it comes to removing these is that no matter how light the paint color of your car, the "shadow" left by the presence of the pinstripe will probably be noticeable and is unlikely to fade over time.

Dan

True that. BUT they have still GOT to go...

 

[LWB250]

True that. BUT they have still GOT to go...

Absolutely. Along with the chromed factory wheels. Someone should have beaten the people that did this on and about the head and face.

Dan

 

[RicardoD]

Can I add the chrome wheel arch lip covers to the list? Urgh.


Pinstriping, Oh yeah....

 

[nocfn]

Its that Fletcher Jones guy...

 

[Bogeyman]

I know this is mostly on the older stuff, W113s, R107s but that black crap they spray on the undercarriage to protect (cover up) it.
Whoever invented that stuff should be sprayed with it himself.
Sort of a modern day tar and feathering without the feathers.

 

[LWB250]

I know this is mostly on the older stuff, W113s, R107s but that black crap they spray on the undercarriage to protect (cover up) it.
Whoever invented that stuff should be sprayed with it himself.
Sort of a modern day tar and feathering without the feathers.

That's Würth "High Build Undercoating". Wicked good stuff when applied properly. The flip side of that is once it's breached, it's over. Then it becomes a liability.



There is also Würth Stone Guard which is the stuff that was used on the rocker panels. Good stuff, too.

Dan

 

[Klink]

Can I add the chrome wheel arch lip covers to the list? Urgh.

Oh, man! Those eyesores are so high on the list that you must have missed them. Just scroll up a little...

 

[ace10]

Is it strange that I don't terribly mind a nicely applied set of pinstripes?

Meaning color, width, length and location.

I wouldn't seek out a car with them, but I certainly wouldn't put their removal anywhere near the top of the list of to-do's.

Chrome wheel arches are at the very top of my loathesome automotive accessories list.

I'd like to add another one that has appeared over the past few years on Mercedes... the backlit grille tri star. #Barftastic

 

[LWB250]

Can I add the chrome wheel arch lip covers to the list? Urgh.


Pinstriping, Oh yeah....


View attachment 82187View attachment 82188

I will say that the first time I saw the pinstripes with the logo and tristar in them I was sort of intrigued. I liked that embellishment. Discreet, yet tasteful. That stuff on the hood around the badge? Pimpy is the only adjective that comes to mind, sort of like the Firebirds with the, well, "bird" on the hood. Ugh.

Dan

 

[Klink]

I'd like to add a one that has appeared over the past few years on Mercedes... the backlit grille tri star. #Barftastic

About as subtle as a chain-link jock strap they are. But just try selling a new one without it. I dare you, just try. More than once we've had customers DEMAND THAT WE REMOVE THE RADAR SENSOR FOR CRUISE CONTROL AND CRASH AVOIDANCE(!) so their car could be fitted with that crap! Yes, we refused.