Removal of Painted Pin Stripes?

[FireTiger]

Freaking Pinstripes

Man, I hate these damn things also. Now I’m worried after reading this. These stupid dealers and their add ons nobody wants. I have these stupid pinstripes on my new 4Runner. I was hoping it was going to be a simple “peel away” removal process. Glad I saw this post. I’ll add my success or failure on attempting removal.

 

[ObrienActual]

Man, I hate these damn things also. Now I’m worried after reading this. These stupid dealers and their add ons nobody wants. I have these stupid pinstripes on my new 4Runner. I was hoping it was going to be a simple “peel away” removal process. Glad I saw this post. I’ll add my success or failure on attempting removal.

I see your in SC. I had purchased from Scott Clark Toyota outside Charlotte. Believe they were striping everything. I am thinking lacquer thinner will take right off but I am concerned about immediate / long term damage. You watch some YouTube videos with guys soaking rags in thinner and the stripes coming off but ruining a paint job over a can of $5 thinner on a $40k truck is crazy. I am going to call the dealer and see if I can track their striping guy for recommendations. I’m sure there has to be a safe alternative (if not lacquer thinner).

 

[ElectroBoy]

Years ago in college I rented a cheap apartment in a bad neighborhood. I was worried about my expensive cherry red bicycle attracting attention so I spray painted it with a muddy flat brown krylon paint. It looked like hell but never was stolen. After college I took some nail polish remover, the old formula that contained some acetone, and it came right off. It took a little bit of scrubbing and several applications but if all was removed with no harm to the underlying paint.
Maybe try a little bit of an acetone based nail polish remover on a q-tip and see if that works. I wouldn’t use full strength acetone. But probably your plan to contact the dealer is the safest bet. Let us know what you find out. Good luck.

 

[Keith M]

I'd drive it by a body shop or two and get a recommendations on a DIY solution if there is one. Actually with the lower driving activity right now, shops may have capacity so get them to give you a quote.

It could be that mechanical removal with spot blended clear coat is your only solution.

 

[FireTiger]

I almost purchased at Scott’s Toyota when I was shopping around for my current one but got a great deal on one that hadn’t moved in months at one of the Fred Anderson dealers. Yeah, I got really good at intense 3M adhesive remover on our former Subaru STI that those stupid side strips on the doors. Crap load of work but had 3M adhesive remover, serious elbow grease, super hot SC summer day and then I used a clay bar, polish and wax afterwards. It was 90% near perfect but in the right light, you could see some sun fade faintly from where the strips were. Always pissed me off. I should have had the dealership remove the stripes when I bought it like my neighbor did on his off road pro. It’s perfect so the dealers do know something to remove these stupid stripes and allow it to look as good as new. I’m apprehensive with this midnight metallic paint and don’t want to risk screwing it up. I will definitely post something once I ask around some more.

 

[Akmambarunner]

I have been looking for a thread like this as well. I have stripes on mine that is painted (yes it is painted) as well. I would definitely like to know a safe method of removing these stupid stripes as it looks pretty feminine. From what I read Smooth Max Graffiti remover, acetone, easy off oven cleaner would work.

 

[jbtvt]

Paint thinner would almost def not fu your clear. I've used xylene to clean overspray before, many times, never had an issue and that's much harsher than PT. Less harsh than lacquer thinner and I'd hesitate to use that personally, but would try if lesser solvents failed. Test a small spot first obv.

 

[Akmambarunner]

Ok final verdict use lacquer. It was very simple. Place it on a rag and wipe it but have a follow up rag to get the excess and do it in a circular motion. I washed it right after through the car wash to get any extra that may have been left on it. Highly recommend.

 

[FireTiger]

Removed mine today with great success. 3M lacquer remover and a rag. Then washed and waxed. Much happier with them gone.

Before:

After:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jimday1982]

I see your in SC. I had purchased from Scott Clark Toyota outside Charlotte. Believe they were striping everything. I am thinking lacquer thinner will take right off but I am concerned about immediate / long term damage. You watch some YouTube videos with guys soaking rags in thinner and the stripes coming off but ruining a paint job over a can of $5 thinner on a $40k truck is crazy. I am going to call the dealer and see if I can track their striping guy for recommendations. I’m sure there has to be a safe alternative (if not lacquer thinner).

Purchased a 2020 TRD ORP from Scott Clark yesterday that has a black, painted, godforsaken pin stripe on it. Matter of fact, it looks EXACLY the same as the OP's.

Dealer would not remove it, so after reading through this and a few other threads, I'm going the oven cleaner route (Easy Off).

Just did a 3" test section and it came off after applying a little force with a Q-Tip. Followed that up with a generous dousing and wiping with Optimum No-Rinse and all seems well.

Gonna give it a week before doing the rest just to be on the safe side.

Will report back if I notice any issues.

 

[ObrienActual]

After going to two body shops, ended up using 70% proof rubbing alcohol. Came right off with minimal pressure. Followed with water and wax.

 

[mteolus]

After going to two body shops, ended up using 70% proof rubbing alcohol. Came right off with minimal pressure. Followed with water and wax.

So it was painted. LOL

 

[jimday1982]

My neighbor saw me struggling with the oven cleaner and came over with a bottle of "Goof Off".

That stuff is pure magic.

With just a little on a microfiber, it came off with almost zero effort. Entire truck was done in 5 minutes.

 

[MUMNSTR]

I need an update! What ended up working? I have a 2014 with painted pinstripes exactly like yours and they are coming off in spots and I’d love them gone!

 

[ObrienActual]

I used a 70% proof isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

Others have had success with oven cleaner and other chemicals noted in thread.

I followed with a soapy water mix and a wax. Very little alcohol on a microfiber cloth went along way with light pressure.