[stimpy]

The cost is absolutely ridiculous for the coupe so my next option is Vinyl but I had some questions regarding it.

#1 - Should I buy it from here?
http://www.bmwshadowline.com/

#2 - I don't want to install it - I assume a place that wraps cars in vinyl can do this for me correct? Any idea what they would charge?

#3 - What's the durability of it? Can it keep up with rain, detailing, washing ,etc?

#4 - If I decide to remove the vinyl at a later date, will the chrome underneath be completely fubar due to whatever they use (glue?) to attach the vinyl?

[lul77]

i have vinyl trim so i can answer a few of these

1. don't buy it from them. any place you go to have it done should have vinyl already. a lot of times the vinyl that's pre-cut is too small or isn't the right size.

2. i paid 120 for my trim wrap. and they guaranteed their work against bubbles or peeling

3. the guy told me it'd be good for 3yrs or more. after that it might start to peel. i have no problem with it so far and i live in nj where i have snow and ice to deal with

4. the guy told me if i remove the vinyl the chrome will be fine, just clean any adhesive off and then use a cleaner to make the chrome shine more

[ToadHollow]

I recently had this done as well. The guy used his own vinyl (identical to the shadowline) and charged $150.00. It looks ABSOLUTELY flawless!

I was told he spent nearly 4 hours on the car .........

[lul77]

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

I recently had this done as well. The guy used his own vinyl (identical to the shadowline) and charged $150.00. It looks ABSOLUTELY flawless!

I was told he spent nearly 4 hours on the car .........

4hrs?! damnn. i stayed there with the guy bc i'm really anal and watched him do it. took him like half the time

[stimpy]

Great info! How did you guys go about finding an installer? I assume I'll just call some companies that wrap cars in vinyl - is that the way to go? What did you ask? "I need some chrome trim on my coupe wrapped in black vinyl"?

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by lul77

4hrs?! damnn. i stayed there with the guy bc i'm really anal and watched him do it. took him like half the time

Yeah, this guy was real anal ......... more than me! ....... and he was sure to be perfect with the job. The car is currently in a body shop so I wasn't able to stay the duration.

I miss my car so much I can hardly stand it ........

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by stimpy

Great info! How did you guys go about finding an installer? I assume I'll just call some companies that wrap cars in vinyl - is that the way to go? What did you ask? "I need some chrome trim on my coupe wrapped in black vinyl"?

The body shop owner turned me onto the guy who ended up doing the job. Apparently he repairs/installs trim on the high end cars for dealers in the area. I had initially checked with tint shops etc. for installation and noone wanted to touch the car. Some said the trim needed to be removed and some just didn't want any part of it. I had purchased the "shadowline trim" for the install and when the installer attempted to use it ..... the vinyl would continuously detach itself from the surface (the trim had been thoroughly cleaned with rubbing alcohol before install). A waste of money for that particular trim.

Check with some body shops in your area for a reference to a good installer that they use/recommend. Let 'em know you have aluminum trim that you want to have covered in a flat black vinyl. They'll know what you're talking about ..........

By the way, where in Chandler do you live???? I used to live off of Mesa Drive and Chandler Blvd. area .......... worked @ Intel Corp.

[stimpy]

Thanks for the info man! I'll call some body shops tomorrow.

[ToadHollow]

Anytime

[stimpy]

Man it is not easy to find someone. Every body shop I call refers me to someone who may do something like that...

I call them up and they have no idea what I'm talking about but ask me to swing by so they can take a look.

#1 - I don't want to go driving all over the damn place

#2 - I don't want someone who hasn't done it before to try it on my car :P

[ToadHollow]

If you haven't already checked ........ tint shops or anyone who installs automotive clear bra.

Really surprised the body shops aren't hooking you up. In hindsight it may be best to let whatever bodyshop your BMW dealer uses take a look at it and see if they could recommend someone. My dealer's recommended body shop recommended the guy who ended up doing the install .......

[Turbo>NA]

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

I recently had this done as well. The guy used his own vinyl (identical to the shadowline) and charged $150.00. It looks ABSOLUTELY flawless!

I was told he spent nearly 4 hours on the car .........

150$?

Pm me, I got my roof vinly for cheap and they offered my window trim for 50$.

[shift330]

Originally Posted by stimpy

Man it is not easy to find someone. Every body shop I call refers me to someone who may do something like that...

I call them up and they have no idea what I'm talking about but ask me to swing by so they can take a look.

#1 - I don't want to go driving all over the damn place

#2 - I don't want someone who hasn't done it before to try it on my car :P

If your out in Chandler you're not far from JnF. I'd go there. I've taken my BMW there twice and I live all the way out in Goodyear. His prices will beat anyone's and he does good work. In fact, I plan on taking my wife's lexus over there for a new front bumper sometime soon.

[E92murdered]

where do you live im in san diego? and would love to get my trim done? and the trim is supposed to be done in flat black?

Originally Posted by Turbo>NA

150$?

Pm me, I got my roof vinly for cheap and they offered my window trim for 50$.

[E92murdered]

can you please post some pics would love to see it!

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

Anytime

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by bmwowner619

can you please post some pics would love to see it!

Here are a couple of pictures of another member's car w/ the vinyl trim ..... matte black. I don't recall whose car this is ...... hope he/she doesn't mind the post! I won't have access to my car until Thursday .....

[E92murdered]

thanks for the pics definetly post when you get your car back. as for the vinyl trim did you get flat black?

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by bmwowner619

thanks for the pics definetly post when you get your car back. as for the vinyl trim did you get flat black?

Yes, flat black ........... I wanted to get away from the "shine" around the windows and figured the gloss trim wouldn't have sufficed for the "look" I wanted. I've seen my car a couple of times since the vinyl was installed and I can't believe how nice the overall effect is.

Will definitely post some pics once I get the car back. Changed a few other things as well .........

[E92murdered]

nice sounds good! one more thing as for putting vinyl on the window trim it is done with all the trim on the car correct? and ahah the feeling of getting your car back after a couple days is just great

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

Yes, flat black ........... I wanted to get away from the "shine" around the windows and figured the gloss trim wouldn't have sufficed for the "look" I wanted. I've seen my car a couple of times since the vinyl was installed and I can't believe how nice the overall effect is.

Will definitely post some pics once I get the car back. Changed a few other things as well .........

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by bmwowner619

nice sounds good! one more thing as for putting vinyl on the window trim it is done with all the trim on the car correct? and ahah the feeling of getting your car back after a couple days is just great

Yeah, in my case the car has been in a bodyshop for just over a month now. I've had withdrawals like you would not believe.

When I was pricing the trim install those who were unsure were telling me the trim would need to be removed ........ recommending a dealer do it etc.. The trim is extremely susceptible to bending if removed improperly. Thinking they were really just blowing me off.

Somone who knows what they're doing and has the patience to see it through can easily do the install with the trim intact on the car. I didn't have the patience nor the time. God I'm looking forward to having my car back ........

What I changed ........... matte black vinyl trim/RD LED angels/carbon8 CF M3 style hood/Hamann CF front lip/CF roundels all around. Oh, lest we forget the "latest greatest" software update from BMW.

[E92murdered]

wow congrats on all the new mods definetly post pics. and thanks for all your info.. and i will def have someone else do my trim im the same way. and a month without your car.. you might even sleep in it when you get it back ahah

Originally Posted by ToadHollow

Yeah, in my case the car has been in a bodyshop for just over a month now. I've had withdrawals like you would not believe.

When I was pricing the trim install those who were unsure were telling me the trim would nedd to be removed ........ recommending a dealer do it etc.. The trim is extremely susceptible to bending if removed improperly. Thinking they were really just blowing me off.

Somone who knows what they're doing and has the patience to see it through can easily do the install with the trim intact on the car. I didn't have the patience nor the time. God I'm looking forward to having my car back ........

What I changed ........... matte black vinyl trim/RD LED angels/carbon8 CF M3 style hood/Hamann CF front lip/CF roundels all around. Oh, lest we forget the "latest greatest" software update from BMW.

[ToadHollow]

Originally Posted by bmwowner619

wow congrats on all the new mods definetly post pics. and thanks for all your info.. and i will def have someone else do my trim im the same way. and a month without your car.. you might even sleep in it when you get it back ahah

First thing it gets is a coat of Dodo Juice .......... and then I'll tuck her in ...... Yeah, I sound pathetic ....... what can I say.

Anytime man ....... glad I can help if just a little bit.