Has anyone vinyl wrapped an entire car before? Any tips/tricks? I have 3m 1080 series samples in the mail now, seeing how matte plays with different waxes and care.

From what I understand most of the money charged goes into the tedious labor of applying the wrap to the car, which makes it pretty expensive if you don't DIY. A lot of patience and a heat gun seem to be the key tools, along with a methodological approach.


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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I've never heard of someone waxing a vinyl wrap.

I looked into this a bit. It's important that the car's finish be good - any dents or bubbles underneath will show through.

-J

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

There are some specialty waxes, mainly to help with extra protection. The turtle wax ice I've used in the past is very matte friendly as well, I am more curious as to how the chemicals interact (if at all)


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__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

This seems to be the trick, and what makes it so time consuming. Luckily in my case it is on a 3 year old car so no rust issues.


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__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

No, so let me know how you make out!

My son is going to be stuck driving our Odyssey around for awhile (timing belt, front end work, tuneup, cat converter last year so I'd like to get my money out of it plus there are lots of airbags!), so I have thought about letting him murder it out with a matte wrap and paint the rims along with a rack mount carrier for his kayak and let him decal it up to take at least some of the "dork" factor out of it.

It'll be up to him to build the bed and add the shag carpet.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

An acquaintance wraps cars professionally. He did a CHROME W212 recently. It was ehhh special.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

*reading about chrome wraps*


*thinks back*


Why hello there.



That's about all the commentary I have on this subject. Also, want to see pics!

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

How much does it cost to wrap an entire car?

A couple thousand for regular wrap. A lot more for chrome.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Ok, that looks like crap.

If you have a shop do it, yes. 2-3k seems to be the running rate depending on your car. For my car (135i) the raw materials should be a few hundred bucks, but several days worth of work. And yeah, that chrome looks absolutely awful.

I'm going for the brushed metallic or "frozen" look.



I have blue samples on order but I'm not sure how they will look. Matte metallic white w/black wheels also in the running. I guess the look I'm really going for is more of a satin color.

Would be like this without the black splitters.


This is the color I am hoping for.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Unfortunately money can't buy good taste.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Justin bieber almost ruined the fisker karma for me with a chrome wrap (he obviously ruined the looks of his car). Sadly, the Karma has one of the nicest paint palettes I've seen on any modern car, very deep paint.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Ive seen full wraps in person. Usually looks great from fifty feet away. Up close, there are stretch evidence and stress relief cuts.

A five year lifespan is another consideration.