Home Forums Sign Making Discussions Vehicle Wrapping can anyone advise on a matt black wrap please?

  • can anyone advise on a matt black wrap please?

    Posted by Michael Szwacki on 3 December 2009 at 20:39

    Hello everyone.

    I’m gonna wrap my BMW this weekend in Scotchcal 85 series matte black.
    My question is:
    Should I trim vinyl straight to the edges of panels or go bit over (car is silver so I’m just scare the silver is gonna be visible) I know I shouldn’t go over but can I?

    Does anyone know how to take the door handle off from BMW?
    Is it any website where you can get mechanical information, how to take something off for example?

    I’m bit busy but I’ll try to finish in this weekend so i#m gonna post some pictures.

    Thank you

    Gian Gavino replied 15 years, 8 months ago 12 Members · 47 Replies
  • 47 Replies
  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    3 December 2009 at 20:59

    if im understanding you correctly. trim "mid-way" between door panels and wrap the excess vinyl around into the car panel. open the door, rub and heat the fold to keep it put. remember before doing anything, these hidden areas should all be spotless and grime free!

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    3 December 2009 at 21:01

    OHHH yeah One more question 🙂

    How is it looks at MOT or contact with police?

    I have read somewhere:
    If it’s wrapped in graphic or even full color it is temporary change. Temporary in motoring dictionary means something what you can take off in 24 hours.

    Is that true?
    or do i have to go to the dvla and change color of my car

    I know it’s silly question but i don’t know answer

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    3 December 2009 at 21:04

    Robert, Is it any special cleaner which I should use?

    I’ve got the 3M preparation stuff.
    I’m looking for the 3M primer but i heard when you want to remove vinyl after some time the primer is staying and it’s nightmare or even impossible to clean.

  • Robert Lambie

    Member
    3 December 2009 at 21:16

    pressure washer, sponge and soapy water…
    drip dry completely. wipe down thoroughly with isopropanol "everywhere" vinyl will come into contact. i.e. behind doors, under wheel arches etc etc
    i haven’t always, but just recently started using the 3M prepping liquid too…

    as or colour change issues with police/MOT etc… i do not know, this is something the customer should look into.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    3 December 2009 at 21:20

    I know this is customers business but this is my car, i’m gonna drive it ever day untill I will sell it.

    Thank you anyway

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 00:09

    I asked DVLA about this a few years ago when I started to wrap my car, I was told that it was classed as a temporary change because it could be removed at any time and original paint was still there to be seen.
    Although there is no need to contact DVLA you should inform your insurance company as they will class it as a change/modification. Might not affect your premium but if you don’t inform them should something happen you can be sure they will try to get out of paying up.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 00:23

    Michael, is this your first wrap?
    only asking because you are asking!
    removing door handles can be time consuming and not always necessary
    depends on what type they are, and if you aren’t to worried about a join under them
    typically a door handle can take about at least an hour, and sometimes more, to remove and refit
    Peter

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 08:26

    Martin, thank you for information. Thats what I though. I’ll let know the insurance company.

    Peter, no it’s not my first wrap. I’ve done few but never color change and I’ve never used black matte. Yes I want to look it perfect so no chance for join under handle. I’ll spend even 3 hours more but i want this job spotless.

    Thank you

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 08:32

    Michael what year and madel is your car.
    I have a contact in bmw, I will ask if he can give some advice on removing the handles

    Peter

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 08:34

    It’s 316 ti compact – 2001

    Thank you

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 08:54

    If you look inside the door edge there will be a screw at the level of the handle (possibly under the rubber seal) remove this to take out the lock barrel and gain access to an internal screw. it needs needs to be loosened but NOT removed, it is a LEFT hand thread, yo should then be able to remove the handle by twisting it out, so not that complex.
    Hope I got that right
    Peter

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    4 December 2009 at 09:05

    OK. I’ll have a closer look later on.
    Thank you very much for your help.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    5 December 2009 at 22:08

    Hello.

    I do apologise but I couldn’t make it this weekend (vinyl hasn’t arrived on time – it’s my fault – I could order earlier)

    Anyway I’ve managed to do roof in Carbon Fiber (3M – CA421) it looks fantastic and I’ve found quite easy to apply.

    Some pictures:


    Attachments:

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    5 December 2009 at 22:12

    I’ll put some better pictures tomorrow.

    Peter, you were right about door handle – it works fine. I’ve got another question: How to remove the plastic panel around gearstick? I’ve found two plastic snapfix on the top but bottom is still well fixed and I can’t puul it out. I don’t wanna break something.

    Thank you

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    9 December 2009 at 20:15

    Peter, I did it – I mean the gearstick panel.

    Nobody comment about my pictures so i presume everybody don#t like it 🙁

    I’ll do whole car after christmas.

  • Andy Payne

    Member
    15 December 2009 at 23:13

    Ithink the reason for the lack of comments is that we cant actually see the finished roof pic, looking forward to seeing the finished result. Quite keen on this subject as \Im thinking of wrapping my beemer with Carbon – yours is looking good so far mate 🙂

  • Jon Marshall

    Member
    16 December 2009 at 09:38

    We did an Audi yesterday with gloss white and 3M carbon roof. The 3M one feels really thick and plasticky but goes on well with a bit of heat and the weave doesn’t shift a lot like the APA one.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    16 December 2009 at 21:19

    Jon, Can you post some pictures?

    Andy – I can’t take better picture at the moment (raining every day:(). Also the car will be finish in black matte, but i’m gonna do it after christmas.

  • Jon Marshall

    Member
    17 December 2009 at 09:45

    Here’s a pic of the finished job;


    Attachments:

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    17 December 2009 at 17:19

    Nice one Jon.

    What vinyl have you used?
    How long did that took you?
    Are the plastic trims on the doors wrapped? Did you took them off?

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 21:31

    Hello again.

    I’ve managed to start my BM in matte black and i’ve got some question to more experience sign makers 🙂

    What squegge are you using for matte vinyls?
    I’ve found very, very easy to scratch vinyl. I’m using simple felt one (mactac) – it is not brand new but when i’m putting more pressure i cab see little scratches 🙁

    I’m finished the bonnet and i’m not really about it – maybe because i’ve done it just by myself and it was hard to keep vinyl flat at bigger areas. Nevermind. I’ll finish the whole car then maybe i’ll do bonnet one more time.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 21:58
    quote Michael Szwacki:

    Hello again.

    I’ve managed to start my BM in matte black and i’ve got some question to more experience sign makers 🙂

    What squegge are you using for matte vinyls?
    I’ve found very, very easy to scratch vinyl. I’m using simple felt one (mactac) – it is not brand new but when i’m putting more pressure i cab see little scratches 🙁

    I’m finished the bonnet and i’m not really about it – maybe because i’ve done it just by myself and it was hard to keep vinyl flat at bigger areas. Nevermind. I’ll finish the whole car then maybe i’ll do bonnet one more time.

    I find using a plastic squeegee with a felt or cotton edge (homemade) the best way to go, but the 3m matt will be OK if you heat the marks out, after application.
    they disappear, but it does take a bit of heat

    Peter

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 22:15

    I do the same sort of thing as Peter, I use a plastic squeegee with a strip of velvet stuck over the edge. I find it works much better for me than any of the felt squeegees you can buy or the plastic squeegees with a soft edge applied or by using one of the sleeves you can buy to slip plastic squeegees into.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 22:27

    I’ve got the Avery one with felt edge but i’m not sure about it becasue they got like 2mm plastic ends.

    I hope scratches will disappear after post heating.

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 22:50
    quote Michael Szwacki:

    I’ve got the Avery one with felt edge but i’m not sure about it becasue they got like 2mm plastic ends.

    I hope scratches will disappear after post heating.

    Michael,
    some "scratches" can be from your finger nails.
    not saying that yours are, but the calcium from fingernails, can look unsightly, they may not be scratches but just marks, but a bit of ISP usually removes it.

    Peter

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    27 December 2009 at 23:32

    Well, shouldn’t really. I’ve used cotton gloves as well. I’ll have look tomorrow and as I said I hope they will gone after heating them up.
    Thanks for all advices.
    Mike

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    28 December 2009 at 23:52

    Peter. Thank you very much for that.
    They all disappear after heating them up.

    Now I need another magic advice:
    When I stretch this vinyl I’m loosing that matte surface – it’s going to more gloss. I can’t avoid stretching on the corners and you can see that from few feet. Please any advice for that?

    Mike

  • Jason Xuereb

    Member
    29 December 2009 at 06:53

    Less heat.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    31 December 2009 at 14:00

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH !!!!

    I’m short of vinyl !!! 🙂

    Not enough for bumpers and I have to wait till next week, booooo 🙁

    Anyway – progress so far:


    Attachments:

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    31 December 2009 at 14:01

    By the way.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

  • Martin Pearson

    Member
    31 December 2009 at 17:20

    Can you wrap bumpers with vinyl ?? I thought they were made of the same low energy plastic that the bump strips are made from and I know people have said not to try and wrap those.

    Oh by the way, Looking good so far Michael, how did you run out of vinyl ?? Was it simply a case of not ordering enough to start with or have you made a few mistakes along the way ??

    Have you sorted the problem with the glossy look on tight compound curves.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    31 December 2009 at 17:45

    Martin.
    Bumpers are sprayed so they should be fine (i’ve done lot of them and never failed).
    Running out of vinyl – yes I haven’t ordered enough. My mistake because I didn’t count how much I’ll need. Friend of mine done vw passat – 4 doors one and he used 13m, my car is smaller, 2 doors and roof is done in carbon stuff so I just tough 10m will be enough. 🙁

    The gloos marks still there – mostly on bonnet that’s why when I’ll order more vinyl I’ll do bonnet again. But Jason advice about less heat also works fine and now I’m doing well.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    17 January 2010 at 18:31

    Hello again.

    Finally i’ve finished my car. I had so much troubles with bumpers and spent on them a lot of time but finally they are done.


    Attachments:

  • Lynn Normington

    Member
    17 January 2010 at 18:53

    looks good Michael, what trouble did you have with the bumpers ?

    Lynn

  • Bob Scullion

    Member
    17 January 2010 at 19:01

    Looks to me like you have done a very good job there Michael. How many meters of material did you use in total?

    Bob

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    17 January 2010 at 23:01

    Bob – I’ve used around 13m black matte + 1.5 carbon fibre on the roof.

    Lynn – It’s just so much shapes on them, a lot of stretching and you have to really be careful with this vinyl – to much stretch and heat and you have gloss marks. I think i would spend half time if I would take them off. Also on the front one i couldn’t take the headlamps off (in this model you have to take the bumper off before :()

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    17 January 2010 at 23:14

    Looks very good Michael,
    well done,
    now you have done your own as an example, what do you rekon you could charge to do a customers car, and would you be able to make a decent profit?
    Peter

  • Nicola McIntosh

    Member
    18 January 2010 at 07:45

    nice job done 😀

  • Ezekiel Ikhinmiwn

    Member
    18 January 2010 at 10:35

    Wow! Very Nice Looking

  • Jon Marshall

    Member
    18 January 2010 at 10:57
    quote Michael Szwacki:

    Nice one Jon.

    What vinyl have you used?
    How long did that took you?
    Are the plastic trims on the doors wrapped? Did you took them off?

    Hi Michael

    The Audi was wrapped with Avery 1900, it took 1 day with 2 fitters. Plastic door trim was colour coded already so just wrapped over.

    Well done on your wrap. Looks good.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    19 January 2010 at 12:53

    1 day – do you mean 8 hours day or full day? that’s pretty impressive.
    I think if I could have some help and take the bumpers off i would finish my car in 2 days.

    Thanks all of you for good word about my car.

  • Jon Marshall

    Member
    19 January 2010 at 13:13
    quote Michael Szwacki:

    1 day – do you mean 8 hours day or full day? that’s pretty impressive.
    I think if I could have some help and take the bumpers off i would finish my car in 2 days.

    Thanks all of you for good word about my car.

    Yes 1 day being 9 hours or so. I don’t think taking the bumpers off is necessarily a good idea. It’s harder to work on them if they are not secured to something.

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    24 January 2010 at 15:24

    Yes, I agree. Better if they are secured to something but I’ve done mistake and I was doing them after I put lights back so it was much harder.

    I’ve done one bumper last year (on the bench) and it really was nightmare to keep it steady.

    Anyway that Audi job is impressive. Have you done any more full color wraps? Have you got any website?

    Ps.
    The door trims on Audi – have you took them off or just wrap over?

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    2 February 2010 at 21:12

    Hello again.

    Martin, I’ve been in local DVLA office afternoon and they said I have to change the color in V5. Well, they wasn’t really sure about it. When I’ve told them i’ve done vinyl wrap on my car they were wonder what the hell is that "some plastic sheets on car" 🙂
    I’ve got number to Swansea and will give them a ring in the morning.

    I’ve seen one website with vehicle wrapping – mostly color change and they saying you don’t have to change in DVLA.

    I’m confused.com

    Mike

  • Peter Normington

    Member
    2 February 2010 at 21:32

    I dont think you need to inform the dvla, its classed as a temporary change, as it can be easily removed, I stand to be corrected though.
    More importantly, you need to inform your insurance company, they may or may not add a premium, but it is considered to be a declarable change to the car, like adding expensive alloys,
    they could decline paying out in the event of an accident if you do not tell them.

    Peter

  • Michael Szwacki

    Member
    2 February 2010 at 22:26

    That’s what I was thinking but I’m kind of man who have to check everything. That’s why i’ve been visiting local office and to be honest they are useless. I spoke to 5 people and last one was the manager of the office, I even show them my car and they still don’t know what to do.

    Still confused.com

    Mike

  • Gian Gavino

    Member
    13 February 2010 at 17:59

    Good and beautiful.
    I too I have a Renault Clio with the matte black. I thought of using the series WrapCast APA do you think?

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