I have a dark car with tan pin striping. I've got a couple of breaks in the stripes. Is there a safe adhesive/stripe remover I can use to remove the current stripes - leaving the current paint? I plan to follow with new stripes. Or is this process so taxing that I should attempt to doctor the problems with my current stripes by filling in the breaks with new striping (presumably hard to match color on 15 year old stripes?).
Thanks.

You can remove the stripes. Benzmac did it last weekend on his new (to him) 1996 E300. Unfortunately, I do not know which adhesive remover he used. 3M makes a good one.

__________________
Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

I used a hairdryer on mine. I just run the dryer about 6 inches inn front of my hand, and started pulling; it came up with no left over residue.

__________________
http://www.larryblunk.com/sig.jpg

Yes that's what I think of pin stripping.
I had my 1987 300E Base coat/clear coat painted this past spring of 2000.
As policy pin strips were applied.
I looked at those ugly things for a year.
This last week the strips were pulled, scrapped and peeled OFF.
The best tool I foung was a plastic putty knife sharpened to a square edge. This gave me the sharpest edge of anything and doesn't harm the paint. A knife edge DON'T cut it; it just slides over the tape.
With the strips OFF my Benz is BEAUTIFUL again.
I can see the lines and curves in the body, how each curve blends to another line.
I can't imagine why pin stripping is put on such a beautiful flowing body design.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from no strips Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo

Thanks Donald. My '81 has painted stripes are basically faded off. It's Astral Silver - and I can see your point. But my 124 is so dark... The midnight blue is remarkably darker than the navy kind of dark blue that I've seen on current model E320's. It basically reflects no light. So I get a limited sense of contour or shaping from seeing the body alone. The pinstripes provide essential accents.
I got spooked abt using the hot dryer & doubted I could lay down a straight replacement... so I've got a body shop lined up to do the work, $50. Oh well, I'm calling it part of my Valentine-spiff-up-her-car gift: pinstriping, new factory mats, new lug bolts (w/ caps), 3-step detail, tire/wheel/interior/glass detail, glue down some loose upholstry - she gave me extension to Saturday.

I'm with you about using heat. It makes thing gummie.
I know to each his own where taste is concerned.
You do what make you enjoy your Benz.
Not what others do. After all the question was how to remove pin strips and not me trying to influence you to my reasoning.
Her Valentine Gift will well appreciated.
My floor mats are the originals I bought new when I bought my W124030 new in 1988. They look as new, a slight fadding at the drivers side but no wear.
Do Her a favor and get the best you can afford, money savor down the line.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo

Don - you can come up to Iowa and wax my Benz any old time, but you cannot take off my pinstrips...understand?

For those of us who like them, I like painted better than tape strips.

Ha Ha gotcha this time.
Ofcourse painted art is much better than cheapo tape.
I imagine the paint shop knew my El Cheapo suffix on my name and did accordingly.
Painted graphics DO compliment the contour of those colors that hid same; but my Cabernet Red Metallic Clear coat(fancy name for marron) lines are hidden by the strips.
More new Benzes have strips than don't, so strips have something going for them.
Happy Trails Beep Beep from stripped Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo

Dear Dr. T.
I have a pain in my that-a-way!
If I could, which way is I-oh-way?
Happy Trails Beep Beep from this-a-way Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo my-oh-way

Just come on up to cold, windy I-o-way, Don! LOL...but I must tell you before you come this far that most of my patients bark or meow!

Dr T. I am nothing more than the show fur for a Chocolate Labrador.
She is 11 years of age and weigths in at a Tidy 124 lbs. and occupies the rear seat fully.
The fartherest North from Houston for me and mine is Branson, Mo. We have property there along with the other silly willies that purchased same some 10 years ago. The lot is worth less today than the purchase price. Smart dealing Huh?
Happy Trails Bark Bark from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo reastate typhoon

Don,

Tidy sounds like quite a dog. We have two chocolate labs...great dogs. Combined they weigh about 124 lbs! One is real young and a small lab.

Good real estate decision, just bad timing? So, is now a good time to buy real estate in Branson? I figured it was too late now. But, maybe you were just too early????

Keep smiling, Don, you have a good sense of humor that I enjoy very much!

Dear Dr. T. do you make house calls?
Chaca, my chocolate Lab is in need of having her ana--- glands expressed.
I only allow the very best to perform such an intimate procedure.
I have my box of large rubber gloves and my finger finds those little pea shaped stinkers.
Happy Trails Peooh from Houston.
Donald, El Cheapo(do it my way)

Doc,

I have a question for you. Is it normal for Bulldogs to lower their heads and run into things. My Bulldog Mack, finds great pleasure in running into our walls ar home. (Being their 1 inch sheetrock over frame he puts holes in the wall, and occasionally hits a stud) He once rammed the T.V and blew it up. He's sooo much fun! His favorite ride is the 300E.

__________________
"Damn the torpedos, four bells full speed ahead"
-Admiral Farragut




-1987 300E Smoke Silver
-1997 S320 Black on Black
-Soon To be E55 AMG
-27 foot Grady White Offshore Sportfish.

Alex you know the history of your lovely wall banger?
Bull dog, catch the criter by the nose and throw it to the ground.
All you have to do to take the hostle feelings from your B.D. is to buy him or her a pet bull.
See how simple it was for me to solve your problem?
Don't hesitate to call Dr. Don any time I can be of assistance.
Happy Trails beep Beep from Houston!!!
Donald, El Cheapo