mile2424

I have always loved the Martini Racing livery and now that I have a white car, I was thinking a Martini Stripe may look the part on the Spyder. Thoughts?

Only1Buck

I personally would not as I prefer a simpler/cleaner look

GTgears

Here's a little something so you don't have to imagine how it might look...

mile2424

ya my main concern is the how the transition would look when the top is up.

drcollie

Just an FYI: The 3M vinyl will change the paint, and should you decide to remove the stripe a year or so down the road, you will have to repaint the panels where it was applied.

If you like it, go for it!

I have factory stripes on my PD2 Boxster and like 'em....

Marine Blue

How does it change the paint? Does the dye migrate into the paint or does it have to do with the different levels of UV hitting the paint underneath?

drcollie

Its the UV and/or possibly a chemical reaction to the paint with the adhesive. What happens when you pull off 3M tape after a period of time is the underneath will be slick and vibrant, and the surrounding untouched area noticeably different. Rubbing Compounds, machine buffing and the like won't restore it. I know, I've tried! I run a lot of 3M Tape graphics on my commercial trucks, and from time to time we want to change the lettering, and we cannot get the shadow of the old sticker off, unless we repaint.

Several years ago I put some ///M Motorsport stripes on my E36 M3 and left them on for about a year. Decided to remove them, and couldn't get the effect toned down at all (Avus Blue car). I had to have the panels repainted.

So if you decide to go that route, you can leave them on for a month or two with no ill effect, but eventually they will shadow and you have to consider them permanent.

Here's the ones on my car, that will stay on since they are factory and part of the limited edition Design Edition 2 package.

Duane

Marine Blue

Thanks for the feedback Duane.

To help establish the cars environment can you specify if the M3 was garaged or if it sat outside alot? Was it washed/waxed regularly?

Did you try claying the areas around the stickers to determine if deeper contaminants were causing the change in color?

I'm not really arguing your statement but I think it would be helpful to have a point of reference.

Also what kind of polishes/compounds did you use?

Thanks again for the input, I think it can be very valuable to those considering doing something like this.

drcollie

My commercial trucks are always outside, my cars always garaged! And I tried everything up to and including the most abrasive rubbing compound on the M3, with no result. I think if you consult with the graphics pros in the industry, you'll find they will tell you a repaint or another re-stripe would be the only solution. Good luck!