Thanks in advance for your thoughts or experiences...

SMA8L

I removed them and did not replace.... very clean look... made a belt buckle out of it.....pimpin

Should be no problem for an experienced installer. I have seen clearbra on many cars and they can cut around just about anything. Saw it on a buddy's Range Rover - they were able to cut each letter out of the clearbra to put on the hood around the RR letters.

I don't have a R8, but I do have a Range Rover and it is fine around all of the letters on the hood.

The old ones will be removed, clear bra installed, then new rings put on.