[Agentphish]

For the folks who've done trim wrapping:

Wondering your best advice for the corners/edges and inner rounded trim corners where the vents are.

For the vent holes especially, what's the best way to cut the fabric so you get the most even wrap?

I got my brushed black metallic film and I'm ready to say goodbye to that wood.

Thanks!

[cpie168]

Brushed black metallic sounds sick! Care to post some pics?

[NightStalker]

It's actually more practice than advice/guide.

With a blow dryer you can manipulate the vinyl accordingly.

Do a test sample. Play around with it. Get comfortable

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by cpie168

Brushed black metallic sounds sick! Care to post some pics?

I'm basing my project off this by AlphaOm
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=690972

Originally Posted by RVS 8

It's actually more practice than advice/guide.

With a blow dryer you can manipulate the vinyl accordingly.

Do a test sample. Play around with it. Get comfortable

Cool. I've been watching some videos to physically see some techniques.

I'm really bummed though because the piece of vinyl I was shipped seems to have the grain running the wrong direction to get my long pieces done and have the grain go the proper direction. I'm not quite sure how this could be.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by cpie168

Brushed black metallic sounds sick! Care to post some pics?

I posted pics in the main forum section.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1088779

[krahooligan]

Apply heat and stretch. Also notch the vinyl to help get around bends and not have it bunch up. I did my trim in black and red cf vinyl and roof in 4 d gloss cf. definitely take your time and start from one side to other. Not from the middle.

[cpie168]

krahooligan, red cf vinyl?? Pics please??
What's the reason for not going from middle?

[wdeerfield]

you removed the actual vent from the trim correct? that will make it much easier to wrap those corners. Also, just cut the opening at a 45 to the corners but not all the way to the edge, leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch of vinyl to stretch. you'd be amazed how much it will stretch and be manipulated with a little heat.

for around outside corners, i find its best to get the corner first and work your way towards the flat edges.

low heat from a hairdryer is highly recommended. just dont get too close with it.

ill edit this post later with pics of mine with brushed steel.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

you removed the actual vent from the trim correct? that will make it much easier to wrap those corners. Also, just cut the opening at a 45 to the corners but not all the way to the edge, leaving about 1/4-1/2 inch of vinyl to stretch. you'd be amazed how much it will stretch and be manipulated with a little heat.

for around outside corners, i find its best to get the corner first and work your way towards the flat edges.

low heat from a hairdryer is highly recommended. just dont get too close with it.

ill edit this post later with pics of mine with brushed steel.

Yeah man. I got it all done. I posted pics in the main forum section.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1088779

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

My advice to you is:

-Buy a heat gun; I got a cheap one that was like $20-30. Its a lot quicker than a hairdryer
-Think about what part you are wrapping; I'm a perfectionist so I spent a lot of time on every corner only to realize that most of them aren't even visible after reinstalling
-Take your time; It is a tedious process that you need patience for. Carefully heat an stretch since too much of either can damage the vinyl.

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

Looks like I was a little late to the party lol ^ well for anyone else who cares for .02 its there.

The wrap looks great, good job!

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Yeah man. I got it all done. I posted pics in the main forum section.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1088779

nice work!

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by BoogeyMan'sBMW

My advice to you is:

-Buy a heat gun; I got a cheap one that was like $20-30. Its a lot quicker than a hairdryer
-Think about what part you are wrapping; I'm a perfectionist so I spent a lot of time on every corner only to realize that most of them aren't even visible after reinstalling
-Take your time; It is a tedious process that you need patience for. Carefully heat an stretch since too much of either can damage the vinyl.

Now that I've done it, all of these are good advice tips for sure...
Though I didn't need the heat gun. My wife's Conair hair dryer was plenty hot for this job.

I started with the ash tray cover, figuring that'd be easiest and then did the small dash piece to the left of the steering wheel to get the hang of a vent opening.
I felt very comfortable after both of these and jumped right into the center console, which was actually very easy.

For me, the door strips were the hardest ones even though they seemed like they were going to be the easiest.

[BoogeyMan'sBMW]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

Now that I've done it, all of these are good advice tips for sure...
Though I didn't need the heat gun. My wife's Conair hair dryer was plenty hot for this job.

I started with the ash tray cover, figuring that'd be easiest and then did the small dash piece to the left of the steering wheel to get the hang of a vent opening.
I felt very comfortable after both of these and jumped right into the center console, which was actually very easy.

For me, the door strips were the hardest ones even though they seemed like they were going to be the easiest.

yeap, I blame the annoying contours

[notnow]

Majority of the vinyl you get are easy to use, but I've ran into a couple kinds that were extremely difficult to use. I've re-wrapped my interior 6 times now and have went through 6 different brands, the super cheap CF vinyl ones works the best but they get scratched the easiest. Glossy ones are harder to work with, when you "redo" as in peel and apply again it leaves a permanent crease in the vinyl that can be seen under lights.

Cheap china made CF stretched so easily and the air bubbles could be pushed out in one or two tries. 3M/Avery glossy ones are not that bad, they just leave a permanent crease if you try to peel it back off.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by wonton1017

Majority of the vinyl you get are easy to use, but I've ran into a couple kinds that were extremely difficult to use. I've re-wrapped my interior 6 times now and have went through 6 different brands, the super cheap CF vinyl ones works the best but they get scratched the easiest. Glossy ones are harder to work with, when you "redo" as in peel and apply again it leaves a permanent crease in the vinyl that can be seen under lights.

Cheap china made CF stretched so easily and the air bubbles could be pushed out in one or two tries. 3M/Avery glossy ones are not that bad, they just leave a permanent crease if you try to peel it back off.

I used the 3M 1080. Not planning on ever taking it off.

[ferocity02]

Anyone have comments on 3M 1080 vs. Di-Noc? I'd like to do the carbon fiber wrap and think the Di-Noc looks more realistic, but I've heard it's less forgiving when installing.

[kisho]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Anyone have comments on 3M 1080 vs. Di-Noc? I'd like to do the carbon fiber wrap and think the Di-Noc looks more realistic, but I've heard it's less forgiving when installing.

3M 1080 was developed to be easier to wrap. Thus it is also a thinner wrap compared to Di-Noc. So yes, Di-Noc does look more realistic with certain variations such as carbon fiber. However, since it's thicker, it is slightly harder to use. Personally, I think the 3M 1080 is better for anyone that's starting out and wants to do the job quickly or knowingly will change it again 6 months down the road. Also note that, if done properly, 3M 1080 is quite convincing. I've gone through a couple different wraps (all 1080) and each time my passengers thought I bought new trim.

[cpie168]

Would it help to spray soapy water before applying the vinyl and then push out the water with a mini squeegee?

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by cpie168

Would it help to spray soapy water before applying the vinyl and then push out the water with a mini squeegee?

No. Do not use water at all.
Clean the pieces down with 91% isopropyl alcohol, wipe with lint free cloth/microfiber, apply vinyl.