Anyone ever Vinyl-wrapped a car?
 

It's probably a giant waste of money, but damn if I don't want to do this really bad. My car isn't even super fancy or anything, its an '05 G35x sedan. Might just be earings on a pig at this point.

But I think this matte midnight-blue looks badass:


I also like the black trim on the grill and door handles, with the tinted-out headlights.

What does the cost usually run for something like this? Does it hold up in all weather? Car washing?

I don't even remember the last time i washed my car.

I should really just get a new exhaust system instead, as she's been getting a little throaty lately. I hate being responsible.

FYP

I hear ya, but black is just a bitch to keep clean, and would be hot as hell in the Texas summer.

I prefer the matte look, as well.

http://i61.tinypic.com/2qlvcxy.jpg



The above is my weekend car - That's the Black Sapphire Mettalic.

Do they use plastidip or do they actually drop each panel into a vat with the vinyl cover on it?

I dig the black on black look with the rims.

It's not a dip, its a wrap with vinyl sheets. They hand-wrap it in the sheets.

http://www.autopro-motorsport.co.uk/...2eb401c85e7a7d

Dude **** that. I have a hard enough time getting the screen protector on my phone.

haha, i know what you mean, and I had the same thought.

I think its expensive because of the man-hours.

How many coats of clearcoat do they put on it? Imagine a small rock tearing a hole in that thing...pretty much ruined.

Also a good question; and I don't know the answer.

335 off to the right (which was a rocket) - It's the one I traded for the M about a month ago or a tad longer - I still have that Silverish Gold 135 as well - that's my car for daily transit - considering the M gets only 11 MILES PER GALLON!!!


http://i60.tinypic.com/2dsrfvm.jpg

You could say the same thing about paint. If you're going to drive something on a daily basis, it's going to get ****ed up. No real way around it.

I saw a 70 olds toronado done up in a dark blue with vinyl. Looked pretty good, must've been pricey. That exact model was what I used to drive. Had a 455 in it.
I tuned that bitch up. She was quick for a boat. Had every option they offered. Got about 9 MPG average.

http://car-from-uk.com/ebay/carphoto...ebay877359.jpg

I can get a small paint chipped fixed pretty easily and for a reasonable amount of money.

Can they cut out and patch the vinyl without it looking like a patch job? Or do they have to replace the whole wrap?

I love those cars, they had that crazy longitudinal V8 front wheel drive setup. Think some Eldorados had the same thing but other than that there's never been anything else like it.

If there's a way to repair chips in paint to a factory quality finish for a reasonable amount of money I'd like to hear about it.

Ain't that some shit?

F******* screen protectors.

There isn't. Just the paint pens.

Yep. First car to win some aspen mountain challenge in the late 60's. The ****ing tranny... (Sorry, trans-gender) weighed around 500 lbs. The thing was a beast but man it was a soft ride.

You used my original name :toast:

http://gifstumblr.com/images/thanks-...ing-me_918.gif

never done one, but ive seen some good looking wrapped cars. if you have the patience, grab yourself a roll and go to town!

If you do end up trying it on your own, get a heat gun.

Wrapping a car is not a novice do it yourself project. I've been involved on wrapping race cars, we do it with no soapy water. If you get a wrinkle and pull the vinyl up you've stretched the vinyl and made it more difficult to lay flat.

It's a bitch and NOT cheap. Not really a DIY IMO.

My son and I are gonna wrap our 2008 dodge ram qaud cab this spring.

He wants it camo with a florescence orange bottom. Should be fun.

I suggest buying 3M adhesion promoter and wiping every edge before laying the vinyl in those places it helps keep edges stuck down. If you want some more tips I can help you.

Alright. Pm me your info and I will contact you and let you know what we are thinking.

I've wrapped PARTS of my car. I did my rear valence and I've done some rear view trim pieces with 3M DiNoc. It's pretty easy to use and it's stayed on there for 4 years so far with no problems. Now I don't know how well it would hold up to areas that get full sun or areas that get pelted with road rocks.

It's the compound curves and tight spots that are the issue. Grab a heat gun and a snickers. Order twice what you think you need and dont cheap out in the material.

Material costs are close to 1k, it's not cheao but when done right using decent stuff it looks great.

Yeah, I've experienced that for sure. I covered parts of my dash and interior with the carbon or aluminum DiNoc as well. Some of the curved areas are literally impossible to get without wrinkles or distortion of the material. I had to be really careful and just marry two pieces together in inconspicuous locations. In this picture, I did the flat area of the dash, the strips below the windows, the strip above the glovebox, the aluminum glovebox button, the gearshift surround, the aluminum gearshift surround, and the aluminum shifter button.

A few spots bubbled in the sun, so i had to redo those areas. I don't know why they didn't stick properly - I guess I didn't clean the surface well enough. I didn't use the recommended primer either though.
http://i.imgur.com/hVfKrVk.jpg