I want to wrap my car...

[328iFun]

So I figured out what I can to fix my dreaded mis-matched paint problem. I've been looking at a few cars that been vinyl wrapped and I think they look pretty good. It's definitely something I can do myself - in my garage. It seems that may be similar to window tinting or the same general concept...

Since I have a hardtop I'm thinking about doing the body in a pearl white with the hardtop and pillars in black. I also have a set of nice wheels that I'll spray with black plasti dip as well. Think it will look good.

I just have to figure out how much vinyl I need to order. Any clue?

This is the theme that ill be going for but in black and white.




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[bimmerrob10]

i think u should buff the older paint and see if it comes closer to the q panel color before u go with that ..

just my 2 cents though

[328iFun]

i think u should buff the older paint and see if it comes closer to the q panel color before u go with that ..

just my 2 cents though

Ill give it a shot.

[flyfishvt]

Before you try this wrap don't you think it would be a good idea to try it on something small with a few contours to it? A large glass vase or find an old fender at a body shop. I'm sure its not as hard as a paint job but you're dealing with tons of contours and angles. Talk to people who actually install it for a living and ask their advise. Most people who are good at their craft love to talk shop and give advise.

Add another vote for buffing it out. Take pics and post them in the Detail Forum. Those guys work magic on old paint.

[swrmotorsports]

Wrapping your car will cost about 2000-3000 almost what your car is worth and about the same price as a paint job

[low36]

Wrapping your car will cost about 2000-3000 almost what your car is worth and about the same price as a paint job

Agreed. Wrapping a car is not something you can just do in your garage and have it look good. You would be better off learning how to paint.

[328iFun]

Wrapping your car will cost about 2000-3000 almost what your car is worth and about the same price as a paint job

Read the original thread. I don't plan on paying anyone to do it.

My car is worth quite a bit more than 3k as well.

[UnderCoverGuy11]

I recommend plastidipping the whole car. When I get around to buying new panels theyll probably be mismatched in color and until I decide to pay the ridiculous amount for painting a door and fender, I could spent like a 1/6th of that in plastidip

[328iFun]

Agreed. Wrapping a car is not something you can just do in your garage and have it look good. You would be better off learning how to paint.

I think this guy begs to differ

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376442

[Kody]

I think this guy begs to differ

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376442

Wow that actually looks ALOT better than I thought it would.

[low36]

I think this guy begs to differ

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=376442

Maybe, but that car has a smoother surface and needs much less work to wrap. Either way, good luck with it.

[328iFun]

Maybe, but that car has a smoother surface and needs much less work to wrap. Either way, good luck with it.

The e90 would be more difficult because it has more lines is more curvy apposed the the boxier e36

[sneakysnake]

The E36 definitely seems easier to wrap than the newer bmw's

[red88ix]

Read the original thread. I don't plan on paying anyone to do it.

My car is worth quite a bit more than 3k as well.

Not after you wrap it in contact paper, er vinyl. And fyi, my office is next door to a company that vinyl wraps commercial vehicles. I have seen alot of their work and have seen what it takes. Hope you have serious skill and abundant patience.

[sneakysnake]

If you are at all competent and get some advice there is no reason not to try wrapping your car, it is just that your car so do it if you think you can.

[unbugai]

Try it... if its 120 in material like that guy says you really have nothing to lose and at worst you strip it off and repaint..... i see it as a why not situation.... ill give it a try someday

[Kody]

If you decide to do it, good luck OP. Show us some pics when you're done!

[328iFun]

Buffing didnt work. Buffed it over and over again with no result. The paint on the new door and fender are simply darker...

Ill be ordering some vinyl when I get the money, Ill probably just go with the same theme as the yellow and black convertible that I originally posted.

[flyfishvt]

So how durable is this stuff? What happens with rock chips and parking lot dings? Wont they look a lot worse than if you had actual paint on there?

[sjpgoalie]

Eh. Guess you've only got money to lose, right? It's definitely not going to be as easy as an E90. The boxy exterior with sharp lines is the exact reason it is going to be a bitch. E90s are so much smoother and you can actually wrap around contours, rather than stretch and fold. I do not understand why people would do this to an E90. It's like wanting porcelain to feel like cheap plastic. Doesn't make sense and it looks so damn cheap (and I'm not usually one to say that), but to each his own. Make a nice big thread with pictures.

[hagrde36]

Man, theres a lot of negativity here. Go for it. Ive been contemplating wrapping my car for a while now and just havent looked into it too much. Its deffinatly not going to be 2000 to do it. Maybe if a vinyl shop does it, but even that seems ridiculous. I see it costing 500 tops. Good luck and keep us updated.

[sjpgoalie]

It is not cheap to have a shop vinyl your car. People anticipate it to be a cheap alternative to paint. Not the case at all. I see my pizza costing $5 tomorrow, but it seems my vision is skewed, dimebag.

[blackongrey]

what he did with that e90 was sick, I'll have to do that one day

[r33p04s]

enough talk order the vinyl and get to wrapping!

[MPuds682]

+1 for vinyl wrap. Take your time and do a write up!