2011 Highlander - Pin Stripes Removal

[SHYUperman]

Hi all,

Just purchased a new 2011 Highlander the other day for my wife. Got the Blizzard Pearl, but it has "Toyota" pin stripes on it (see pics below).

Is this a dealer installed option? I ask because I want to remove them, but, worried if it's above or below the clear coat. I haven't seen any other Blizzard Pearls with them, so I think it's installed on top of the paint so I can use a blow dryer to remove them.

If anyone has any insight it'll be appreciated

Thanks for your help!

[sweeneyp]

I can't help on how to remove them, but I can tell you that it is probably on top of the clear coat. My 08 has them (it came with them when I got it used, but its definitely not a factory option). When I wax my car, I get that residue leftover catching on the edges of the stripes so I'm pretty sure its on top. You should be able to feel the stripes raised when you run your finger/fingernail over the edges of it.

[SHYUperman]

^ Yeah it's raised when I touch it, I just wanted to make sure before I start removing everything.

Thanks!

[TrailDust]

You might want to shoot a private message to arabianobsession, who is a Moderator here on TN. She works at a dealership, and may be able to tell you if that's a dealer option and if there's an easy way she's heard of to remove pinstripes.

[deadrx7conv]

If you purchased it new, it should be listed on the sticker, or dealer add-on sticker.
Look around where it says paint sealant, fabric protectant, or other silly overpriced dealer add-ons.
http://blog.findthebestcarprice.com/...dd-ons-extras/

My parents, in Florida, had to purchase their newest car in RI, because ALL the southern dealers marked up the MSRP with garbage add-ons. Some unscrupulous dealers were even charging for a maintenance plan that was already free: http://www.toyota.com/toyota-care/

[eyeball96]

Since its new you should be able to pull them right off without much difficulty. Especially tomorrow around 1 or 2 pm

It suppose to be even hotter tomorrow

[soupcxan]

This is a dealer installed addon - my first action would be to remove them as well, the lines themselves are not so bad but that gaudy toyota logo in the middle is terrible. Do it before the paint starts to fade and you get a "tan line" underneath the stripe. I have heard you need to leave them out in the sun on a hot day, then use a plastic razor blade to peel them off.

[SHYUperman]

Thanks for all of your help.

I ended up taking them off last night (took about 1 hour). Used a hair dryer and goo gone (after having the car sit outside for a couple hours).

[AXMACD]

Those southern dealers can take a base Highlander and turn it into a Limited with all those stupid options

I looked online a bit before I bought mine.. a base with leather and no power drivers seat? come on, don't try and tell me that's factory leather.

[AVConsult]

Funny you mention that; my '08 is a base with leather, manual adjustment. Excellent workmanship. My '02 had leather seats and sunroof added at point of entry (Gulf States Distributors). All OEM parts. I'll bet my '08 went through the same.

Gulf States, so I've discovered, buys vehicles by the thousands. They have contractors who apparently "trick out" the more popular vehicles out before dealers get them. Someone said it's cheaper to buy the base models and option them with popular items (leather, dimming mirrors and compasses, pinstriping, upgrade wheels, third row seating, security systems...) than to order the upscale models or packages.

[matt0420]

I never understood why dealerships put these pinstripes on. Seems that on every forum I go to theres a thread about how to remove them haha

[TrailDust]

Been my observation that a lot of dealerships back east, especially the northeast, love to put their own dealership badging on cars they sell. Now that would piss me off, and I'd demand the dealer remove the badging before I bought the vehicle...and I'd inspect the vehicle before accepting it to make sure some dillweed didn't use a putty knife to pry it off....

[sweeneyp]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Been my observation that a lot of dealerships back east, especially the northeast, love to put their own dealership badging on cars they sell. Now that would piss me off, and I'd demand the dealer remove the badging before I bought the vehicle...and I'd inspect the vehicle before accepting it to make sure some dillweed didn't use a putty knife to pry it off....

same in the south, every car has a dealer logo on the back here. I bought mine from a cadillac dealership used and I have a big chrome tag on the corner of the tailgate saying "Andrew's Cadillac"...still gotta get that off lol. But I did keep the pinstripe, it doesn't have the toyota logo, just 2 white pinstripes on a black car, I think it looks pretty good on mine (I think haha) and hasn't fallen off yet

[84Cressida]

Dealers make tons of money on those add-ons like pin-stripes, chrome wheels, bedliners (which can be factory ordered too), leather in a car that didn't have it, you name it.

[matt0420]

Originally Posted by TrailDust

Been my observation that a lot of dealerships back east, especially the northeast, love to put their own dealership badging on cars they sell. Now that would piss me off, and I'd demand the dealer remove the badging before I bought the vehicle...and I'd inspect the vehicle before accepting it to make sure some dillweed didn't use a putty knife to pry it off....

That is the absolute worst! I can't understand how so many people seem to be okay with dealers sticking their logo's on the rear of their cars.

Every car that I've bought, I tell them no stickers/badges/decals/ on the rear of my car. I always say you can put a licence plate frame (which I remove once I get home), but never any badges!

For my HL I actually had the sales manager write "no dealership sticker" on my purchase agreement because he seemed to "poo-poo" my request when I asked him to make sure they dont put one on my brand new truck!