Vinyl stickers???

bman6074 · 12-30-2008, 08:15 AM

What are the long term effects of a vinyl sticker on your car? How long should you leave it on? Can it be left on forever or at least till it gets destroyed?
I have a vinyl sticker on the side skirts; have had it there for about 3 months now. Just don't want it to ruin the paint or cause premature rust somehow.

BlackjackMulligan · 12-30-2008, 08:45 AM

First off, the side skirts aren't metal so you don't have to worry about rust. They will eventually leave marks from the letters if it's left on for a long time as the paint will be protected under the lettering and unprotected otherwise. Also, I would assume that the skirts would take more of a beating from road debris than other panels, exacerbating the difference.

You should be able to alleviate this by using a quality polish though.

bman6074 · 12-30-2008, 08:57 AM

Thanks, I did polish and wax the side skirts before applying the sticker. I also wax them on a regular basis to help protect the sides of the car as like you said they take more of a beating.
I may have to take them off for the winter and reapply new ones for the summer.

larryn · 12-30-2008, 08:59 AM

BlackjackMulligan is 100% correct, and I'll add that the useful life of the vinyl is usually 2-3 years, before it starts to show age, or can dogear.

As you've seen at autocross (where that pic was taken, it seems :smile: ), I have those black tii stripes on my AW car. I'm also in a dilemma to keep 'em or remove 'em, because I do not want solar discoloration of the rest of the car, and not where those stripes are.

Right now I'm banking on BMW's paint to have a bit more intestinal fortitude than the discoloring in 4 months that I've had them on for. :wink:

One thing that I've been told is that if I do want to remove them, do NOT remove them in the cold, where I would risk lifting the paint. Only remove the vinyl with a warm surface, and with a heat gun or hair dryer softening up the vinyl a bit.

bman6074 · 12-30-2008, 09:14 AM

Thanks Larry for the heating tip.
Yea the pic is from the autocross at Devon’s. I more concerned being on the side skirts that the road grim during the winter will etch the paint around the sticker leaving the look of letters there when I take them off.

12-30-2008, 08:15 AM	#1
bman6074 Major 103 Rep 1,254 Posts Drives: 14 M235i and 07 Lotus Exige S Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Vinyl stickers??? What are the long term effects of a vinyl sticker on your car? How long should you leave it on? Can it be left on forever or at least till it gets destroyed? I have a vinyl sticker on the side skirts; have had it there for about 3 months now. Just don't want it to ruin the paint or cause premature rust somehow. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

12-30-2008, 08:45 AM	#2
BlackjackMulligan Most interesting Roadster 69 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: '01 Z3.0 Roady;'10 C300 Sport Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Boston 'burbs iTrader: (5) Garage List 2010 Mercedes-Benz ... [0.00] 2001 BMW Z3 3.0 Roa ... [0.00]	First off, the side skirts aren't metal so you don't have to worry about rust. They will eventually leave marks from the letters if it's left on for a long time as the paint will be protected under the lettering and unprotected otherwise. Also, I would assume that the skirts would take more of a beating from road debris than other panels, exacerbating the difference. You should be able to alleviate this by using a quality polish though. __________________ I can't complain, but sometimes I still do........Life's been good to me so far. - Joe Walsh
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-30-2008, 08:57 AM	#3
bman6074 Major 103 Rep 1,254 Posts Drives: 14 M235i and 07 Lotus Exige S Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Thanks, I did polish and wax the side skirts before applying the sticker. I also wax them on a regular basis to help protect the sides of the car as like you said they take more of a beating. I may have to take them off for the winter and reapply new ones for the summer. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-30-2008, 08:59 AM	#4
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	BlackjackMulligan is 100% correct, and I'll add that the useful life of the vinyl is usually 2-3 years, before it starts to show age, or can dogear. As you've seen at autocross (where that pic was taken, it seems :smile: ), I have those black tii stripes on my AW car. I'm also in a dilemma to keep 'em or remove 'em, because I do not want solar discoloration of the rest of the car, and not where those stripes are. Right now I'm banking on BMW's paint to have a bit more intestinal fortitude than the discoloring in 4 months that I've had them on for. :wink: One thing that I've been told is that if I do want to remove them, do NOT remove them in the cold, where I would risk lifting the paint. Only remove the vinyl with a warm surface, and with a heat gun or hair dryer softening up the vinyl a bit.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-30-2008, 09:14 AM	#5
bman6074 Major 103 Rep 1,254 Posts Drives: 14 M235i and 07 Lotus Exige S Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0)	Thanks Larry for the heating tip. Yea the pic is from the autocross at Devon’s. I more concerned being on the side skirts that the road grim during the winter will etch the paint around the sticker leaving the look of letters there when I take them off. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote