OK....here's my CL



I do not like the pin stripe.....I think it detracts from the natural lines on the car and splits the car in two.

Problem is....mine is painted on

I talked with one of the bigger bodyshops here in Des Moines yesterday and they told me it IS possible to remove it with a very fine grit wet sander and to buff out the paint underneath to even it out.

Question is....is it worth the time and money to remove it?

I haven't taken my car over there yet to get an estimate, so I don't know what it will cost.
Plus, I don't know if they can give me a guaranty that the paint underneath won't be damaged in the process.

Anyone with bodyshop knowledge much appreciated

 

To be honest with you, i hate pin stripes. I had a jeep grand cherokee before the cl and i had a pinstripe. It was gold and i had it painted black, right over the existine stripe. Maybe you could have a ghost white pinstripe done over yours? I think it was like $220 for my stripe, i got it covered under insurnc though, so i am not too sure.

 

I think Pinstripes suck too. I think I'm going to remove mine (it's the stick on kind). If you are planning to keep the car long enough to justify the cost, I say do it. Most new cars have done away with the stripes and gone for the clean look.

 

I saw a Cl with that same type of Stripe. I don't really care for it either. At the LEAST get it off of the trunk. I have a white CL and the stripes only go to the rear quarterpanel.
I was told that putting a little Oven cleaner on a rag and carefully applying it to the stripe only will soften it up enough to scrape/rub off. Then hit it with some good cleaner wax and reg wax and it should be fine. Only thing is that the paint underneath the stripe may be really bright and clean looking which then makes it stand out from all the rest of the "weathered" paint.
(this was told to me by the bodyshop that fixed some side damage when i asked if they could just take all the stripes off too)

my painted on stripes are starting to flake in some spots....

 

i know what you mean about it splitting the car in 2.....when i bougth my cl it had a gold pinstripe down it (also a white cl) and, no offense to dust.........but i HATE gold. So i went at it with a razor for a good few hours (mine was sticker)...anyway, took it off......and tho i didnt have rims, drop, or spoiler.......when it was off, it felt wierd when i looked at the car.......so for a few months i drove around w/o the stripe, but then one day decided to go on ahead and put on another one (this time silver)....and i feel alot more comfortable with it back on.......maybe with a spoiler it looks diff........but once youre used to the stripe there, you might feel aqward with it gone........i dont think its worth the trouble or cost to get it removed..........it really doesnt look bad with your cl.....save the money for other mods, JMO

 

I generally dont like the stripes on the CL but yours doesnt look bad at all. I would however remove it from the trunk and do some sort of little design to end it right before the tail lights. Nice car by the way, like the rims and vtec sticker

 

what cls have the pin stipe? mine doesnt have one i have a 97 3.0 and mines primrose. is it only on the white and green cl's?

 

i had one on my 97' black 2.2...i took it off with a razor blade...it was a sticker just like D5's....it wasn't hard to do..i just had to be careful...at first it looked different lookin at the car...but i'm used to it now....none of my friends noticed it cuz they didn't say anything bout it...and my mom didn't even notice it and she had the car for 4 years before i had it...

 

What body shop are you going to? Please dont say Acheson

 

It was Scotty's Body Shop...Eric, can you refer me to a better one?

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

It may just come down to how much it costs. I plan on keeping the car for probably a couple more years, so I'd like to get it done as long as it's not an arm & a leg.

 

Its up to you, do what you need to make you feel good. I think it looks good on the side but I would remove the back part.
Also I liked your comment on the 200 shot on the Gallery. Ha!