Cost to remove painted pinstripes? - CarForum.net - Car Forums, Automotive News and Community

ziggy13 · 02-18-2013, 02:54 AM

I'm looking to buy a 2006 Civic. Everything about the car seems fine... except the absolutely hideous pinstripes. They are painted on over the clear coat. There are swirled designs on the hood, sides, and trunk in neon orange and purple, while the car is red (see attached pic). They seem to be weirdly faded in certain spots but I tried scratching them with a fingernail and couldn't get them to budge.

I told the dealer that I wouldn't be willing to buy it unless the pinstripes were removed or the price was reduced to allow me to get them removed myself. While I've seen stuff online about doing it myself using oven cleaner, sandpaper, etc, how much do you think it would cost to get a pro to take them off? In other words, how much discount should I be looking for from the dealer?

legoman786 · 02-18-2013, 11:01 AM

Over the clear coat? Not a whole lot. I know guys who will do it for $50 and a case of beer.

If the dealer knows these kinds of people too, they won't budge from the final sale price.

Mr Car Guy · 02-18-2013, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy13

While I've seen stuff online about doing it myself using oven cleaner, sandpaper, etc,

Whoa cowboy!

Oven cleaner and sandpaper!!! NEVER!!!

That will destroy the paint.

Most stripes like that are just thin strips of colored vinyl. In most cases you can use a heat gun, or hair dryer and just warm them up and peel them off. I had strips on my white Jimmy and that is what I did. Some detail shops use a special buffing wheel, much faster. It took me about 30 minutes to do it by hand.

If they were painted on it would be much harder to do a clean job, they would need to be buffed or possibly sanded. Then the paint would need to be buffed and polished. I doubt that they are painted on.

ziggy13 · 02-18-2013, 01:53 PM

They're definitely paint, not vinyl.

That's interesting that it would be so cheap to do it. I got the impression from the sales guy that I wasn't the first person to hold off buying it because of the ugly pinstripes, so I wonder why they haven't just taken them off yet. It's a pretty extensive pinstripe job, maybe they were just hoping someone would be into it.

02-18-2013, 02:54 AM	#1
ziggy13 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2 Rep: 10	Cost to remove painted pinstripes? I'm looking to buy a 2006 Civic. Everything about the car seems fine... except the absolutely hideous pinstripes. They are painted on over the clear coat. There are swirled designs on the hood, sides, and trunk in neon orange and purple, while the car is red (see attached pic). They seem to be weirdly faded in certain spots but I tried scratching them with a fingernail and couldn't get them to budge. I told the dealer that I wouldn't be willing to buy it unless the pinstripes were removed or the price was reduced to allow me to get them removed myself. While I've seen stuff online about doing it myself using oven cleaner, sandpaper, etc, how much do you think it would cost to get a pro to take them off? In other words, how much discount should I be looking for from the dealer?

02-18-2013, 11:01 AM	#2
legoman786 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 571 Rep: 15	Over the clear coat? Not a whole lot. I know guys who will do it for $50 and a case of beer. If the dealer knows these kinds of people too, they won't budge from the final sale price. __________________ 2005 Chevy Aveo. Wife needed a car. Bleh.

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Cost to remove painted pinstripes?

02-18-2013, 01:53 PM	#4
ziggy13 New Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2 Rep: 10	They're definitely paint, not vinyl. That's interesting that it would be so cheap to do it. I got the impression from the sales guy that I wasn't the first person to hold off buying it because of the ugly pinstripes, so I wonder why they haven't just taken them off yet. It's a pretty extensive pinstripe job, maybe they were just hoping someone would be into it.