I just bought a used 2000 SSEi. The previous owner had 3 small areas pinstriped. It is pinstripe paint, not a decal/sticker. Each area is about 3 inches square...it is a star that is painted on the car. The pinstripe paint is dark gray. The car is black.

Can this stuff be removed without damaging the paint? I don't want to have to repaint these areas. If the pinstripe paint can be removed, what product will remove it.

Also, I have no idea how long it has been on there.

yes it can be removed.

A) some good strong thinners (lacqur thinners) might take it off (depending on what type of paint was used) *this will NOT hurt yout clear coat*
B) if "A" doesnt work then a water sanding and polishing(High speed)will be nessesary, but i recommend you take it to someone that has watersanded and polished a car before (it nothing like buffing)

then rewax the car, because bot techneques will remove the old wax

hair dryer and some patience. they come right off. Mine were 16 years old when I took them off.

Potato....they are painted on

oh snaaaap. then its going to get interesting.

You guys are the greatest! Thanks for your quick help!

So wait, did you get them off, and if so, what did you do? Give back to the club! Share the knowledge!

I was gonna say high speed buffer should just take it right off, but I'd probably let a shop do it rather than mess it up.

I'm just trying to figure out why someone painted a 3" star on the car

Good luck, show us some before/after pics.

Try a buffer if thinner doesn't work. I just bought one and didn't tape off the stripe on my Cutlass. It started to thin the stripe pretty well after just a few minutes on the quarter panel before I decided I didn't want to take that much time polishing it off and taped off the rest. It'* a orbital buffer (Porter Cable) and is pretty much idiot proof.

I did not try to remove any of the pinstiping yet. Hopefully, I will be able to get to it this weekend.

IMO, they ruined a good black paint job. I will try some thinner and I do have a dremel with a small buffer wheel. I'll advise how it goes.