Just bought a 2010 SS Import and have a couple of questions

[DNAudus]

Hi all,

I've just bought a 2010 Camaro SS Coupe after renting a 2012 convertable in the states this summer and falling in love with it.

I've never had a car with stripes before and wondered if anyone had any tips on maintaining them... do I polish them with the rest of the car or back to black or leave them alone?

Also, I'm pretty sure both side mirrors should be dimming with the rear view mirror but my passenger side mirror is definitely not dimming. Is it supposed to?

My car was imported new by Bauer & Millet in 2010 but they've stuck what look like Halfords side indicators on the front wing and they look naff. They have also disabled the rear red lights on the wing, which I'm sure they needn't have done as I had a 5-Series with them on a few years ago. What have other people done?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers,

Damian.

[RickGM]

First of all welcome to the Clan Damian.
I'm not going to be much help in answering your questions other than telling you that my 2013 SS has the light in the rear spoiler (edit - rear window and it's a brake light ).
I'm sure others on here will have answers but if not try a post on the main forum where there are thousands of forum members. Also check out the post on the UK forum about the"meet" in 2013. Cheers.

[RickGM]

Oh, and love your car !

[MS3DALE]

Hello,Welcome to Camaro5!!

I can answer your first two questions...

1. On the stripes,I see you have the low gloss Black stripes,you do NOT polish the low gloss stripes.

2. Only the driver-side mirror dims,the passenger-side does not dim.

Heres a bulletin on the stripe appearance.....



Service Information

2011 Chevrolet Camaro | Camaro VIN F Service Manual | Document ID: 2741583
#PIC5589: Cloudy Or Hazy Appearance Of Low Gloss Stripe Kits - (Nov 15, 2011)

Subject:Cloudy Or Hazy Appearance Of Low Gloss Stripe Kits

Models:2010 - 2012 Chevrolet Camaro
Equipped with GM Stripe Package

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Condition/Concern:


The low-gloss stripe kit may have a cloudy or hazy appearance. The application of a polish or wax onto the surface of a low-gloss stripe may result in this condition that seems to disappear when the stripes are wet and then reappear as the stripes dry. This condition is much more likely to be noticed on darker colored stripes and does not occur on the high-gloss stripes.

Note: The PDI sheet does have a Special Inspection Note in regard to vehicles with stripe packages. It reads - Do not use polish or wax on the stripes, this will distort the appearance.
The stripes have been fully tested for exterior exposure and results verify that the surface appearance (color and gloss) will not change unless a foreign substance has been applied.

Recommendation/Instructions:


If polish or wax was applied to the low-gloss stripes, the polish/wax product will have to be removed in order to restore the original appearance of the stripes.
Important: This process will also remove the wax from any other surface it contacts. The car will have to be waxed again, this time without applying wax to the stripe surfaces. Do not use polish or wax on the low-gloss stripes, as this will distort the appearance.
Important: Use of other wax remover products may damage the stripes; this damage would not be covered under GM warranty.
To avoid damaging the stripe material, the wax removal should be done by using Dawn® dishwashing liquid soap. Place a couple drops of Dawn® dishwashing liquid soap in a bucket of water, then using a sponge and the soap solution, wash the stripes to thoroughly eliminate the wax from the small "crevices" of the matte surface.

Note: The success of this method is dependent upon the type of wax that was used and type of solvent, if any, that may have been introduced in any previous attempt to remove the wax. Solvent based removers will damage the stripes.


WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION

© 2012 General Motors. All rights reserved.

[redleader]

Where are you Damian?
I'm I'm Leeds.
I also got my 2010 from Bauer & Millet.
James.

[DWEW]

I would tape off the edges of the stipes when you polish your car with some 3M tape to make sure you avoid getting polish on them. A wipedown with a diluted IPA solution or CarPro Eraser would remove any polish or wax residue safely in the event you did get anything on them.

I've got Gtechniq C1 & Exo on my paint an stripes but they are expensive but they do offer a more reasonably priced product C1.5 which costs about £10. This is safe for matte finishes and is a very good product.

[RickGM]

Post #2 corrected from rear spoiler to rear window and it's a brake light. Also, not sure why the flashers have been added (under the Camaro badge on you photo) - there's only the one's in front of the wheel on mine.

[DNAudus]

Thanks all, I'll make sure I stay well away from the stripes when I polish (or use tape). It's good to know that there is nothing wrong with the passenger side mirror.

I'm in Cambridge but I bought the car from Rogers of Brock just north of Preston. I have to take it back to Bauer & Millet for any warranty work, but I guess I have to factor in fuel as it may be cheaper to fix little things at the Camaro centre down here. You might see me up in Leeds every now and then though, as my company has offices up there.

I think the reason I have the side repeaters is because the UK model has them in the mirrors but mine has nothing. I have a brake light in the rear window but it was the red LED's just above the rear bumper on the wings that I was wondering about. Rick, are they switched on with the lights on your UK car?

I'm supposed to be in Vegas on the date of the meet but the flights aren't booked yet so if anything changes I'll be there.

Oh, by they way, I love this car! I was in London today and parked next to an Aston DBS and an Audi R8 Spider, but it was the Camaro that people were taking pictures of :-)

Cheers,

Damian.

[21willwood]

Damian,
I have an imported 2010 SS/RS Camaro which had to have side blinkers placed on the side as well. This is a MOT requirement and if your side mirrors do not have indicators then they have to place them on the side. I had the shop place an LED strip right above the Camaro badge and it doesn't look to bad. However, in order to make this happens any garage will have to alter the rear lights.
Will

[DNAudus]

I'll definitely leave them where they are as there's already holes drilled in the wing, it's just the quality of the lights dont fit the car... they look like they should be on a chav'd up Saxo. All of the conversion stuff with the lights has been sorted and it's had it's SVA Certificate issued.

[RickGM]

Originally Posted by DNAudus

I think the reason I have the side repeaters is because the UK model has them in the mirrors but mine has nothing. I have a brake light in the rear window but it was the red LED's just above the rear bumper on the wings that I was wondering about. Rick, are they switched on with the lights on your UK car?

Cheers,

Damian.

It's amazing what you learn about your car when people ask questions! Firstly I think you're spot on re repeaters in the wing mirrors (which you don't have).

Secondly, the orange lens to the front of the wheel that I referenced in my earlier post appears to be just a reflector. Ditto in the rear wing just in front of the rear wheel.

Finally, the red lenses which on mine sit in the black panel just above the exhaust pipes appear also to be reflectors. I've just been out and tried the lights and these do not illuminate. (and now I'm p*seed off because my android tablet won't let me select a file to upload showing the lenses - will follow from my pc shortly!)

[RickGM]

Here we go !

[redleader]

"I have to take it back to Bauer & Millet for any warranty work"

I believe that once a USA build leaves the USA any warranty is Void.

I don't bother with that, my local performance car specialist knows more than B&M and have done every service and MODz check to a pro level and it passed the first yr 3 MOT test week :-) They said it was like new!

All the mechanical parts are available in the UK.
Only custom styling needs an import.

[stray bullitt]

Originally Posted by RickGM

Here we go !

The red lenses in the lower rear valance are reflectors. However on my import the lenses on the sides of the car are side marker lights, which I think are a good idea to make you stand out at juctions, and roundabouts . I don't think EU law requires side markers, and so they may just be reflectors on yours.