Comments on: MINI USA Introduces Sport Bonnet Stripes

By: alexandra

alexandra — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:00:36 +0000

HELLO I JUST GOT MY MINI COOPER S THIS WEEKEND. I’M TOTALLY LOVING IT. I BOUGHT THE CHILI RED WITH BLACK ROOF/MIRROR CAPS AND BLACK BONNET STRIPES. I’M LOOKING FOR BOOT STRIPES THAT MATCH THE FACTORY BONNET STRIPES. ANYONE KNOWS WHERE I CAN GET THOSE?

By: whiteroofradio.com » Woofcast #55

whiteroofradio.com » Woofcast #55 — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:10:17 +0000

[...] Gabe gets the leather dash (you can actually see it here), MiniCarParts.net has a new contest (win $1500 worth of prizes from them!), and MINI introduces new bonnet stripes. [...]

By: Gabe

Gabe — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:34:48 +0000

Didn’t mean to be – sorry. Just extremely busy. I don’t have anything larger of the pepper white.

By: petsounds

petsounds — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 00:19:37 +0000

Gabe -- appreciate the effort, but was actually talking about the Pepper White.

You seem a tad saucy today.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:20:21 +0000

Oh I didn't know you wanted wallpaper. Here you go.

By: petsounds

petsounds — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 21:16:02 +0000

LOL Gabe, the popup javascript photo is not much bigger..not exactly 1920×1200. ;) I guess it would make a sweet mobile phone wallpaper though!

By: MillieTheMini

MillieTheMini — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:39:34 +0000

Gabe, or anyone in the know,

does anyone know if the JCW GP decal that is found around the hood scoop, may become an item that we can buy, or something that someone may make a version of?

I like the look of that particular decal, it makes the hood scoop look more like a flaring nostril, and accentuates the scoop without the need for stripes, or changing the colour of the hood scoop part itself.

An additional comment - while the black wheels look great contrasted against the Pepper White of the MINI, I think black wheels with a machined or chrome lip look even better. Against a white car, they just have the right amount of 'pop' without getting too 'blinged'!

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:20:44 +0000

Click each image for a larger view.

By: petsounds

petsounds — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 17:18:24 +0000

The pictured MINI is sweet, and I normally don't care for Pepper White that much. Is there a bigger version? Would love to have as a desktop.

Nice job on the stripes, MINI. Tasteful (for a change).

In response to others' comments about MINI stripes, the normal MINI stripes may be high quality (whatever that means, they are vinyl), but they are a pain in the arse to keep pristine. Mine yellowed over just a year's time and I had to spend several hours to restore them to their original white.

By: Gabe

Gabe — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:33:35 +0000

I think that’s just the chrome with a funky reflection.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:24:39 +0000

Did anybody notice the Black around the lights? Wonder if that’s going to be a option too?

By: jaMEs

jaMEs — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:15:37 +0000

IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve been toying with the idea of putting stripes on my car for a while now, but since I have a black/black Mini, IÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ve been told that putting white stripes on a car with no white roof would look silly.

Adam - as far as black/black w/ stripes - i have an AB/AB and put on the jet black stripes w/ white pin. The jet black stripes highlight the bluish tint of the astro black.

maybe i'll try the black viper stripes when i get tired of mine.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 14:41:34 +0000

Does anyone know if MINI will offer these in silver, to match the silver roof/side mirrors?

By: mo-mini

mo-mini — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 13:19:08 +0000

The sloping hood and aggressive front end that personifies the MINI (ie 'leading with its chin')means it is more susceptible to rock chips, etc than most cars. If you have stripes on your bonnet, it will take a pounding, too.

You can do a couple of things:

Don't sweat it and simply change out the bonnet stripes when you think they no longer look pleasing to you. I highly recommend cooperflags.com for replacement or custom stripes. They have cornered the market here in the Lower 48 and ship all over.
Have the clear bra installed from the get-go and protect your bonnet. Invisishield is the MINI authoritzed product. Ventureshield is another excellent alternative (venturetape.com), too.

I have seen alot of MINIs over the last 3 years and I have to say I have been impressed with how well the vinyl stripes have held up compared to what other manufacturers have offered previously.

Again, you have choices which is what MINI is all about.

Happy Motoring, mo-mini

By: Olen

Olen — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 23:43:47 +0000

So if I ordered hood stripes “from the factory” as part of my sports package, could i request to have my dealer put these on instead?

By: Chad

Chad — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 19:57:43 +0000

I agreee, Todd, some people (like me, for example) would rather have the price of stripes, etc. added in to the final price of the car.

A question I haven't seen addressed: are they only available as a dealer-installed option or can they be factory installed (thereby saving on the dealer install price)?

By: Todd

Todd — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 04:11:04 +0000

The description states that the stripes are made out of ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œhigh quality foil.ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã‚Â The implication is that these are made out of some type of metal foil. ArenÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢t the current stripes vinyl decals? “foil”, I believe, is just a British term for this type of material. It’s the same vinyl the stripes are made of. Take a look at any of the install pdfs for othe MINI graphics and they’re referred to as foils also. I, for one, applaud MINI for joining the party – late or not. And the price seems quite reasonable but remember, the price does not include installation. I know a lot of people like to “mod” their MINIs after the fact but I would guess that about half of MINI buyers would rather roll everything into the price of the car at the time of purchase- given the option. It really comes down to convenience – if MINI offers what you want even though you can save a few dollars by waiting and taking your car elsewhere, you wouldn’t have it rolled into any potential loan and it just wouldn’t be as easy to go the aftermarket route as it would be to get at the dealer. It’s not for everybody but I’m sure we’ll see some of those factory stripes on the roads soon because someone’s bound to like them.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:45:19 +0000

Kind of funny that the term “Viper stripes” is being used. The retro-inspired Viper of the 1990s only had stripes to help it look something like an original AC Cobra of the 1960s. And lots of cars had twin “racing” stripes long before the Cobra did — they go back a long way.

By: dickdavid

dickdavid — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:22:12 +0000

Too bad they don’t have Astro Black roof graphics or a complete set of silver.

By: Josh Wardell

Josh Wardell — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 21:43:22 +0000

Interesting they do not list separate numbers for the S, but shouldn’t there be a break for the hood scoop? I guess they just expect the installer to cut them.