This is kinda of an odd post, but I've got a white pinstrip on my EM2 that came from the factory. I dont know a whole heck of alot about body and paint, but is there any way to get this stripe off. The reason i ask is because on one side its fading and on the other side its perfect. Obviously is looks flippin retarded. Any comment of suggestions? thanks much ya'll!
Cheers!

 

OP is it paint or tape?

paint can be removed with a compound, then buffed with a finer polish to remove any scratches left.

tape can be removed with a hair dryer or if it's bad enough, a pinstripe eraser



when you are done a good adhesive remover like de-solv-it or prep sol will be required, and you should probably buff the area with a fine polish once it is clean.

 

I want to say its a tape because it peels. but a hair dryer will work? like it wont cause any problems to the paint? and then an adhesive removed to get the stickyness of im assuming right?

 

if you use a hair dryer or an actual heat gun, be real careful not to stay over one spot for too long. you can do some serious damage to your paint if you get one spot too hot. your best bet with a tape stripe is a stripe eraser like in the picture above. it's by far the easiest way to remove a pinstripe. even with the eraser wheel you really have to be careful not to heat up the area too much. don't run it fast at all or you risk burning through the paint.

 

be careful with the eraser too. to high of speeds on the same area will start to burn through the clear coat and maybe the paint

 

OP you'll be fine with trying the hair dryer, just make sure the surface doesn't get too hot to the touch.

people use heat guns to soften the paint when rolling fenders and get it WAY hotter than you need for this application. it's worth a shot.

but good point made about the eraser and heat; very little pressure and speed.

 

yeah i work at a body shop and i would say the eraser wheel is by far the best and easiest way to remove pinstripe. you dont even have to go fast with it. just enough to get friction to remove it. or if you cant get your hands on one. just use a hair dryer as said before and peel it off. then you can use like a wax and greas remover to take off the sticky residue.

 

Anyone ever try WD40?

 

is the pinstripe squeaking or is it rusted and needs to be broken free? lol. that's what WD40 is for. it has no properties that would suggest that it would do anything to a pinstripe.

 

wd-40 is actually a decent bug and tar remover. i don't use it anymore, but for years i'd use it to remove that sticky black stuff that ends up on your rockers. i'd remove it then wipe the area with a soapy sponge.

now i wouldn't, but i'm sayin'.

as far as what it would do to a pinstripe, i don't see it lifting the stripe to attack the adhesive.

 

As everyone said, if its already peeling, get your fingers ready and peel it off little by little till its all gone. Then even rubbing alcohol would suffice to get the residue off the panels, then a good buff and it should be just fine.

I am thinkin if one side is faded and the other isnt, then the vehicle was in a previous accident where the new pinstripe was applied.