vinyl wrap

[tomjones]

anyone use vinyl wrap instead of paint pros / cons any ability to do a stripe?

[Papa]

A wrap requires the same prep as paint if you want a good result. The shape of the car will be very challenging to get a wrap to look good. It can be done, but it is going to be difficult and likely cost nearly what paint would cost. Finally, you'll get about two-three years out of it before you need to do it again, so any savings you see now will be given back later. Just my $0.02.

Here is an example:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4EhnSx4czE

Look very closely when he gets close to the car with the camera.

Dave

[kirby]

I am planning on wrapping my current build. I have a friend who owns a wrap business and he is saying 7 years (with UV protecting layer in the print) if it is stored outside.

I am planning on wrapping because I have young kids and the wrap will be more forgiving to little scratches etc than paint. I don't want to have to holler at my kids every time they are in the shop and get near the car. The point of the car build is to get them IN the shop. FWIW I was quoted around $3K for the wrap and it DOES require a primer coat.

[Dgc333]

This question came up on the other forum. This is what I posted there when I looked into it:


I talked to one of the highly respected wrapping companies in Massachusetts. While he would love the opportunity to wrap my 33 he said the following;

1. The curvature of the body would result in seams in the wrap that would be visible. Modern vehicles have body seams that can be used to hide seams in the wrap.

2. The wrap material does not adhere as well to body filler as it does to paint so he could not give his normal 5 year guarantee with the filler on the seams of my body. Primer is also not the best surface to apply wrap to, glossy paint is the best.

3. The surface the wrap is applied to has to be perfect or the defects will show. He also said regardless of the color of the wrap, variations in color of the vehicle will show through. He said the sanded/filled seams on my 33 would show through compared to the black gel coat and be very noticeable. He showed me his personal Audi. It was a silver car and he had wrapped it with a light irradesent green (really sharp). Anyway, he had a good ding in the passenger door that he filled and primed with a light grey primer which he wrapped over. Most folks wouldn't notice but once he pointed it out you could see the repair through the wrap.

4. He basically said I would need to finish the body work and paint the car in order to get a good wrap. His recommendation was to paint the car and if I want to change it up in a few years come back and see him.

5. With this outfit a complete car wrap with a single color wrap is $5k to $6k and more if you wanted graphics printed on the wrap.

[Rdone585]

Tom, the info here is spot on. The cost versus quality and longevity just isn't there. Also, when time to remove it... there are often issues that require special attention to get it all off without damage to what underneath. I'll have Rob give you a call so you can talk other details. He knows a few good vinyl wrap people in town and has learned a lot.

[Hudsonct]

Tom, the info here is spot on. The cost versus quality and longevity just isn't there. Also, when time to remove it... there are often issues that require special attention to get it all off without damage to what underneath. I'll have Rob give you a call so you can talk other details. He knows a few good vinyl wrap people in town and has learned a lot.

Disagree a bit on cost/longevity. I wrapped a different car, stored indoors and its perfect after 5 years.

Anyway, i am more concerned about the vinyl not standing up to the heat near the sidepipes. Anyone have any idea how hot they get?

Thanks!

[Jphoenix]

anyone use vinyl wrap instead of paint pros / cons any ability to do a stripe?

I wrapped my Coupe-R, looks great from 10 feet. Biggest issue is you need an absolutely dust-free environment. Otherwise, the 50” wide rolls cover the car with no seams - just start it at the stripes. Mine is just temporary as it will get beat up at the track and I plan to do some body mods this winter, then I’ll paint it.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?49412-Coupe-R-build-in-Seattle&p=574185&viewfull=1#post574185

[JMD]

Disagree a bit on cost/longevity. I wrapped a different car, stored indoors and its perfect after 5 years.

Anyway, i am more concerned about the vinyl not standing up to the heat near the sidepipes. Anyone have any idea how hot they get?

Thanks!

I’ve put a temp gun on my sidepipes after several rides and they seem to usually be in the high 200 to low 300 range. They are ceramic coated black, don’t know how that might change with other coatings.