Stripe washing/protection

[Weazer]

The Mach will be my first car with stripes are there any tips and tricks to washing and caring for them? Any products that can be applied to protect them?

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[Jason304]

If they’re like the strips on my GT350, go easy on them. They scratch really easy.

 

[wilkinda65]

Question for those that have done PPF. My installer says he will have to cur the Expel around the stripes due to them being gloss and flat. Who has done it and how was it done?

 

[Matthewstorm]

I am also very interested in this thread.

 

[Atlas1]

Question for those that have done PPF. My installer says he will have to cur the Expel around the stripes due to them being gloss and flat. Who has done it and how was it done?

My car isn’t here yet but my installer said he would cut the film around the stripes. Putting the xpel over the stripes is a no go as it will change their appearance and damage them when the film has to come off. Other than ceramic coating the stripes won’t have protection. The nice thing is they can be replaced much easier than the painted surfaces if they are ever damaged.

 

[dhborden]

I ceramic coated mine with Armor Shield IX, no change to the sheen or flat finishes on the stripes and water sheds off like it was a duck!

 

[Charlemagne]

I second ceramic coating (the whole car, no PPF for me).

 

[dhborden]

I second ceramic coating (the whole car, no PPF for me).

Yep, I coated the entire exterior - paint, stripes, glass, lights, and plastic. Today, I will coat the new rear window louvers before they go on the car. As soon as I get the chance to take the wheels off, they'll get acid washed and then coated.

 

[hbash]

Yep, I coated the entire exterior - paint, stripes, glass, lights, and plastic. Today, I will coat the new rear window louvers before they go on the car. As soon as I get the chance to take the wheels off, they'll get acid washed and then coated.

How did the stripes come out? Did the big Mach 1 strip on the hood lose any of the matt finish?

 

[dhborden]

How did the stripes come out? Did the big Mach 1 strip on the hood lose any of the matt finish?

No change to the matte finish or matte plastic. Coating the powder coated louvers right now and no change there either. Works exactly as Armor Shield says it does. This is my third car with Armor Shield IX. The key is the prep.

 

[ChitownStang]

I Ceramic coated mine with Sonax CC36 kit and it worked great.
At $1000 for just the hood and front bumper, I may skip the clear bra. The guy who quoted me did say they would cut around the sticker, FYI.

 

[wilkinda65]

Down here in Florida and several other gulf coast states we have to deal with lovebugs twice a year. Those duckers will ruin the front bumper. Their blood is caustic. I’m not sure ceramic coating will protect the bumper/paint as well as PPF does

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