Has anyone wrapped a mini

[Andrew Gamble]

Hi Cheryl..

Depending on what vinyl you’re using, you shouldnt have any major issues with Matt Black on a Mini, but as you rightly point out, the bonnet will be the most challenging part.

Because of the nature of a Matt film it will obviously Gloss when overstretched, therefore far more ‘progressive stretching’ is required, along with very gentle heat, again to avoid glossing. Basically you just have to work perhaps a little more ahead of yourself than usual, and start accounting for the areas that need stretching a good few inches earlier than you would normally. You need to try and leave as much area around the wings/headlight area on the Mini so you have more film left to play with, and try and apply the deepest part first, again so you’re not excessively stretching one particular part of the film so to avoid glossing.

This is where choice of film will help, a film with a air release system will obviously help when applying to deepest parts first as it will help disperse the air in the ‘trapped valleys’ you will create… as you probably know I generally use 3M 85 series for my colour change wraps and personally find this the most user friendly film from an application point of view, and whilst there are alternatives that offer an even ‘Matter’ appearance, I find these highlight the glossing problem!

Also take care when post heating and use a gentle more progressive heat, this will take longer but again avoid the glossing issue. If you do use 3M 85 series then it will require post heating to 100 degrees.

Hope this helps, and I look forward to seeing the results soon!

Andrew.

[Matt Goodwin]

As Andrew says, plus door handles, MAJOR pain to take out and roof Aeriel.

A certain Mr Normington is the man…….

[Andrew Gamble]

Matt raises a very good point regarding the door handles, I personally never ever attempt to remove the handles on a mini, unless the customer/dealer is prepared to remove prior to wrapping I would personally leave well alone and put a fillet in first.
The Aeriels aren’t so bad in truth.. Depending on year of manufacture (as they changed the way they mounted the Aeriels around an 06 plate) you either need to fold down the roof lining from inside (they are designed to do this) and remove with a socket, or remove the Ariel from outside and pop off the plastic base cover and simply cut a hole in the vinyl to slot over the remaining nut, the base unit then covers this neatly.

[Cheryl Smith]

Thanks for the tips lads…
Id get the dealership to remove anything I needed removing so no worries there, its the bonnet grief I could see arising…not used the 3m matt before. ill get some pricing together and see where it gets me….
Cheers
Cheryl
oh who supplies the 3M 85 Series?

[Jon Marshall]

William smith or spandex.

It can be tricky to fit as it marks easily. Were doing a connect van in it tomorrow which should be nice and easy 😎

[Cheryl Smith]

ill make sure ill allow for some practice pieces in the job.
Thanks for that Jon

[James Deacon]

Hi Cheryl I have re wrapped a few of the RS500 fords in this, works well and some small marks can be removed by heating to around 70-80C

[Turk Erhamza]

Little late, but Theron mod-edit please read board rules specializes in Minis and may have some tips for you.