wrapped my car - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

djaemac · 04-19-2010, 01:00 AM

I vinyl wrapped my car flat black. This was just a random project i decided to pull the trigger on.... I had no experience whatsoever on vinyling anything. I just watched a few vids on youtube and got some advice from friends who do vinyl stickers. Here's a few pics of the process and outcome...

Hate it, Love it...It was my first time... it took me 1 week and a day to complete....did a panel a day after work =)

oh, and for the record... I didn't pay over $3000 bucks that most people pay to vinyl their car....

I paid about $120 for all materials... and i did all the work myself, with some help from my fiance from time to time

=) enjoy

DIY!!!!

so this will be my little DIY since there's not really much to mention =)

THINGS YOU NEED:
Vinyl (about 25 yards give it take..also depending how much you mess up)... measurements for the vinyl i got were 25 yrds and 48 inches wide....

2 qts of application fluid for the vinyl

I used a felt squeegee so it wont scratch the surface of the vinyl.

I also used a heat gun from Harbor Freight... $10 FTW!!!!

1 XActo knife and scissors

AND LOTS OF PATIENCE!!!!!

I fully detailed the car prior to vinyling including:
- Full car wash, Clay bar'ed the car, and waxed just to be sure the car was flawless.

It is important to make sure there are no specs of dust, bugs, dirt, or anything that would affect the vinyl application onto the car...

Applying:

1. Start with the easiest parts first (for me, it was the roof, trunk, and hood)

2. Cut the vinyl to the size of the section you are going to start on and make sure you cut an oversized piece just in case for stretching the vinyl.

3. Spray the application fluid all over the area you are about to vinyl, and peel off the backing of the vinyl and apply it to the section.

4. Be sure you squeegee the vinyl slowly because if you're too rapid, that may cause creases and lots of air bubbles; this is where the heat gun comes into play. With creases, just lift the vinyl back up and heat the area which you creased, stretch the vinyl until there is no more crease and reapply the vinyl. ALWAYS SQUEEGEE FROM MIDDLE OUTWARD...

5. The vinyl may keep coming up at the edges, this is due to the application fluid. Let it dry and you may continue to squeegee the vinyl down.

Now for the curvy areas!!!!

This is where you may need some help from a person or two...

FOR THE BUMPERS:

1. do not use application fluid when vinyling the bumpers or the most curvy areas of the car. If you do, it will be a Bi*ch to apply it.

2. Use A LOT of stretch and heat for this application

3. Start middle outward; squeegee the middle area of the bumper on, and have someone pull on the vinyl away as you heat the vinyl and squeegee it down. Do NOT over heat or overstretch the vinyl as it may lose its flat black appearance.

FYI: There will be a lot of bubbles on the sections where you do not spray the application fluid. NO WORRIES! try to get the bubbles as small as possible, and when you're done, let the car sit out in the sun and the bubbles will magically disappear!! (with the help of a needle from time to time) =)

when starting this project, you'll learn more and more as you keep vinyling sections of your car.

I learned as i went, and you all will too! (if you decide to tackle this)

Try vinyling a piece a time. I vinyl'd a section a day because that took all my patience in a day..

In the end, you'll be satisfied. This is a pretty straightforward DIY, so if there's any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Thanks again everyone!!!!!

<B>UPDATE!!!!!!!!</B>

VINYL REMOVED ON NOVEMBER 12, 2010

VINYL HELD UP VERY WELL. MINIMAL TO NO GLUE RESIDUE. PAINT INTACT AND LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT.

ALSO ADDED PICTURES OF THE CAR WHEN IT WAS EGGED LAST MONTH. VINYL HELD UP THROUGH THAT, TOO. I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT I HOPE THEY ROT IN HELL..HAHA...

THE CAR IS NOW BONE STOCK AS OF TODAY!!!!!

ENJOY!!

Lexi · 04-19-2010, 01:03 AM

nicely done! and cheap at that!

but then a question pops up, what's the point of choosing a color at bmw anymore when you can just... do it yourself

PhantomMaxx · 04-19-2010, 01:03 AM

Cool. How long do you plan to keep it on?

Tee212 · 04-19-2010, 01:05 AM

looks like you had fun doing it, did you wrap up the door jam also?

djaemac · 04-19-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexi

nicely done! and cheap at that!

but then a question pops up, what's the point of choosing a color at bmw anymore when you can just... do it yourself

thank you =)

very true about picking colors....i guess its all preference now..

djaemac · 04-19-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhantomMaxx

Cool. How long do you plan to keep it on?

maybe a year or so. The vinyl i chose last up to 4 years...

djaemac · 04-19-2010, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tee212

looks like you had fun doing it, did you wrap up the door jam also?

it took alot of patience...LOL..

no, i just left 'em blue

Zero.7 · 04-19-2010, 01:12 AM

Great job...especially considering you didn't have any experience in this area at all.

Eric the Ricer · 04-19-2010, 01:12 AM

Very clean job man. Now get a deal on a bulk supply of materials, and change colors every few months!

ramtin325i · 04-19-2010, 01:21 AM

Great job but you should of blended it with the color. Matte hood, roof and trunk would of looked sick!

ABSAUTOBODY · 04-19-2010, 01:22 AM

what happens when you carwash!?!?

alexanderlt · 04-19-2010, 01:36 AM

Thats so bada$$! Where'd you get all the stuff for it?

bmw-hoya · 04-19-2010, 01:38 AM

Dayyyymmmmm! Looks good!

BMW-NC · 04-19-2010, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ABSAUTOBODY

what happens when you carwash!?!?

The car gets clean?

back to topic:
Our vinyl company stickers stay on the car just fine, I wxpect his to do the same....

ABSAUTOBODY · 04-19-2010, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW-NC

The car gets clean?

back to topic:
Our vinyl company stickers stay on the car just fine, I wxpect his to do the same....

=) ty

bsamoul · 04-19-2010, 02:41 AM

Looks really good man. Are you gonna put the side blinkers back on?

lux.sh · 04-19-2010, 02:57 AM

dude I don't care how it looks. Im clapping my hands for you. That is CRAZY.

As a car guy here too, I understand it takes huge amount of determination to do something like that. Props.

p.s: Im a fan of flat-black. good choice.

PUMPD · 04-19-2010, 06:12 AM

Good Job !!! Where can I buy the vinyl ? Can you post a more detailed DIY, with all the things you learned (tips) while wrapping your car.

virtualbong · 04-19-2010, 06:36 AM

I am sooooooo not patient enough to do something like this. Great job!

SpmnE9zero · 04-19-2010, 06:53 AM

GREAT job! This takes more patience than I have these days! I gave up trying to tint my DAMN! windows let alone wrapping the whole car!

MusclezMarinara · 04-19-2010, 07:31 AM

looks hott man great job!

Alpine Whiteboy · 04-19-2010, 07:45 AM

That. Is. F*ckin. RIDICULOUS!...

In a good way of course...

Props to you my man, now start advertising and make some $$$$$$

04-19-2010, 01:00 AM	#1
djaemac Oh haiz Drives: slllloooooowwww Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: 661/619 Posts: 444 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 Nissan frontie ... [0.00] 2005 Toyota corolla [0.00] 2000 Mercedes c280 ... [0.00] 2004 Mercedes CLK 430 [0.00] 2001 Honda d17 turbo [0.00] 2011 Range rover sp ... [0.00] 2010 BMW 335i [0.00]	wrapped my car I vinyl wrapped my car flat black. This was just a random project i decided to pull the trigger on.... I had no experience whatsoever on vinyling anything. I just watched a few vids on youtube and got some advice from friends who do vinyl stickers. Here's a few pics of the process and outcome... Hate it, Love it...It was my first time... it took me 1 week and a day to complete....did a panel a day after work =) oh, and for the record... I didn't pay over $3000 bucks that most people pay to vinyl their car.... I paid about $120 for all materials... and i did all the work myself, with some help from my fiance from time to time =) enjoy DIY!!!! so this will be my little DIY since there's not really much to mention =) THINGS YOU NEED: Vinyl (about 25 yards give it take..also depending how much you mess up)... measurements for the vinyl i got were 25 yrds and 48 inches wide.... 2 qts of application fluid for the vinyl I used a felt squeegee so it wont scratch the surface of the vinyl. I also used a heat gun from Harbor Freight... $10 FTW!!!! 1 XActo knife and scissors AND LOTS OF PATIENCE!!!!! I fully detailed the car prior to vinyling including: - Full car wash, Clay bar'ed the car, and waxed just to be sure the car was flawless. It is important to make sure there are no specs of dust, bugs, dirt, or anything that would affect the vinyl application onto the car... Applying: 1. Start with the easiest parts first (for me, it was the roof, trunk, and hood) 2. Cut the vinyl to the size of the section you are going to start on and make sure you cut an oversized piece just in case for stretching the vinyl. 3. Spray the application fluid all over the area you are about to vinyl, and peel off the backing of the vinyl and apply it to the section. 4. Be sure you squeegee the vinyl slowly because if you're too rapid, that may cause creases and lots of air bubbles; this is where the heat gun comes into play. With creases, just lift the vinyl back up and heat the area which you creased, stretch the vinyl until there is no more crease and reapply the vinyl. ALWAYS SQUEEGEE FROM MIDDLE OUTWARD... 5. The vinyl may keep coming up at the edges, this is due to the application fluid. Let it dry and you may continue to squeegee the vinyl down. Now for the curvy areas!!!! This is where you may need some help from a person or two... FOR THE BUMPERS: 1. do not use application fluid when vinyling the bumpers or the most curvy areas of the car. If you do, it will be a Bich to apply it. 2. Use A LOT of stretch and heat for this application 3. Start middle outward; squeegee the middle area of the bumper on, and have someone pull on the vinyl away as you heat the vinyl and squeegee it down. Do NOT over heat or overstretch the vinyl as it may lose its flat black appearance. FYI: There will be a lot of bubbles on the sections where you do not spray the application fluid. NO WORRIES! try to get the bubbles as small as possible, and when you're done, let the car sit out in the sun and the bubbles will magically disappear!! (with the help of a needle from time to time) =) when starting this project, you'll learn more and more as you keep vinyling sections of your car. I learned as i went, and you all will too! (if you decide to tackle this) Try vinyling a piece a time. I vinyl'd a section a day because that took all my patience in a day.. In the end, you'll be satisfied. This is a pretty straightforward DIY, so if there's any other questions, feel free to PM me. Thanks again everyone!!!!! <B>UPDATE!!!!!!!!</B> VINYL REMOVED ON NOVEMBER 12, 2010 VINYL HELD UP VERY WELL. MINIMAL TO NO GLUE RESIDUE. PAINT INTACT AND LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT IT. ALSO ADDED PICTURES OF THE CAR WHEN IT WAS EGGED LAST MONTH. VINYL HELD UP THROUGH THAT, TOO. I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, BUT I HOPE THEY ROT IN HELL..HAHA... THE CAR IS NOW BONE STOCK AS OF TODAY!!!!! ENJOY!! Attached Images Last edited by djaemac; 11-20-2010 at 12:27 AM. Reason: ADDED DIY*
	Tweet

04-19-2010, 01:03 AM	#3
PhantomMaxx Enlisted Member Drives: E36 M3 & E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bay Area Posts: 48 iTrader: (0)	Cool. How long do you plan to keep it on? __________________ E36 M3 E92 335i : KW Variant 2, VMR CSL 19x8.5 19X10 (from PYSPEED.com), BMS Dual Cone Intake

04-19-2010, 01:12 AM	#8
Zero.7 Colonel Drives: e90 335i Msprt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SOC Posts: 2,247 iTrader: (6)	Great job...especially considering you didn't have any experience in this area at all. __________________ '09 e90 AW 335i M-sport 6-speed Manual BMW PPK 1 with performance gloss black grilles ZMP, ZPP, ZCW, iDrive, CA, Logic 7

04-19-2010, 01:12 AM	#9
Eric the Ricer Lieutenant Drives: 07 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 459 iTrader: (1)	Very clean job man. Now get a deal on a bulk supply of materials, and change colors every few months! __________________ Slammed 335i - Sold

04-19-2010, 01:21 AM	#10
ramtin325i Private First Class Drives: 02 E46 ZSP Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Woodland Hills 818 Posts: 167 iTrader: (0)	Great job but you should of blended it with the color. Matte hood, roof and trunk would of looked sick! __________________

04-19-2010, 01:03 AM	#2
Lexi Private First Class Drives: E90 328i Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada, Hong Kong Posts: 158 iTrader: (0)	nicely done! and cheap at that! but then a question pops up, what's the point of choosing a color at bmw anymore when you can just... do it yourself

04-19-2010, 01:05 AM	#4
Tee212 Banned Drives: yes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Riverside Posts: 4,550 iTrader: (9) Garage List 2010 335 [4.83]	looks like you had fun doing it, did you wrap up the door jam also?

04-19-2010, 01:22 AM	#11
ABSAUTOBODY First Lieutenant Drives: car Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South El Monte, 626 Posts: 332 iTrader: (3)	what happens when you carwash!?!?

04-19-2010, 01:36 AM	#12
alexanderlt Enlisted Member Drives: 2008 BMW 535i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 32 iTrader: (0)	Thats so bada$$! Where'd you get all the stuff for it?

04-19-2010, 01:38 AM	#13
bmw-hoya Captain Drives: Montego Blue 335i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 634 iTrader: (0)	Dayyyymmmmm! Looks good! __________________ "Of course I do. I'm Leonard Shelby. I'm from San Francisco." (Memento) "Look, we are all reasonable men here. We don't have to give assurances as if we were lawyers." (Godfather: Part II)

04-19-2010, 02:41 AM	#16
bsamoul Major General Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Walnut Creek, California Posts: 7,414 iTrader: (2)	Looks really good man. Are you gonna put the side blinkers back on? __________________ -Brian 2X 2006 BMW 325i [Electric Red & Mystic Blue] \| ZPP \| V1 \| Rear Fogs \| M3 Lip Spoiler \| EAS RemoteKey \| BMS Powerbox \| Projector90 Headlights w/ LED AE \| LED plate lights \| OEM Blacklines http://www.tech-shine.com

04-19-2010, 02:57 AM	#17
lux.sh missing two turbos. Drives: fast around corners. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Curves Posts: 4,862 iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW E90 330i [0.00]	dude I don't care how it looks. Im clapping my hands for you. That is CRAZY. As a car guy here too, I understand it takes huge amount of determination to do something like that. Props. p.s: Im a fan of flat-black. good choice. __________________ 06 AW E90 330i ZPP/ZSP/Step/Expired Warranty : Prior Design Front : ACS Rear : ACS Roof : BlackLines : Simota Intake : Carbon Fiber Interior Trim : : MTEC V3 : 24% Charcoal : V1 Hardwired : Solaris Invisibulbs/LED interior :

04-19-2010, 06:12 AM	#18
PUMPD Private First Class Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: S.E. Florida Posts: 141 iTrader: (0)	vinyl Good Job !!! Where can I buy the vinyl ? Can you post a more detailed DIY, with all the things you learned (tips) while wrapping your car.

04-19-2010, 06:36 AM	#19
virtualbong Major Drives: 2007 E92 328xi Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,299 iTrader: (2)	I am sooooooo not patient enough to do something like this. Great job! __________________ 2007 e92 328xi (Jet Black)

04-19-2010, 06:53 AM	#20
SpmnE9zero DENY THE WORLD THAT SURROUNDS YOU Drives: JB 33ZERO Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: City of Champions Posts: 35,563 iTrader: (14) Garage List 2006 330xi [0.00]	GREAT job! This takes more patience than I have these days! I gave up trying to tint my DAMN! windows let alone wrapping the whole car! __________________

04-19-2010, 07:31 AM	#21
MusclezMarinara Banned Drives: VALNCYA Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jersey Posts: 5,026 iTrader: (23) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [5.00] 2009 335i Sedan xdrive [4.67]	looks hott man great job!

04-19-2010, 07:45 AM	#22
Alpine Whiteboy Jerry's Fault... Drives: 2012 Mazda3 S-GT Hatch Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Queens, N.Y. Posts: 9,255 iTrader: (1)	That. Is. F*ckin. RIDICULOUS!... In a good way of course... Props to you my man, now start advertising and make some $$$$$$

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search