Full Vinyl Wrap vs Paint

[daoutlawz]

Hey guys,

Just wondering whats the cost of fully vinyl wrapping a VE vs Painting it?

Can you do vinyl wrap on your own?

I've seen figures of around the 4k mark for vinyl wrap, seems a bit steep considering the material would only cost around 1-1.5k and only takes a day to or so to install, plus it only lasts around the 5 year mark.

Seeing my car has had a recent barrage of stones hitting it, just seeing what my options are if insurance claim doesn't go through.

[Thunderbird-1]

I'm no expert mate but I know that there is no way you'd want to have a crack if you've never done it let alone by yourself is nearly impossible. Can't comment on price except to say if you went down the path of using Di-noc it can be very pricey depending on the pattern. As wonky would be able to testify to is that the vinyl doesn't hold up very well to scrapes/scratches

[daoutlawz]

Thanks mate, was only considering it if it was a HUGE saving over paint, I haven't had to paint a car in a long time, but I know about 10yrs ago it would have cost around the 4-5k mark to re-spray my VN.

[Thunderbird-1]

IMO mate the only reason I'd wrap my car is if I was going with a matte colour or carbon fibre look both of which would cost a fortune to get painted.. But hey, have a look into it, it might suit your needs :goodjob:

[daoutlawz]

Yeah, thats exactly the look I was going for, I've also seen brushed aluminium which would probably look good in sections..

http://www.rvinyl.com/Brushed-Aluminum-Vinyl-Film-Wraps.htm

[Wonky]

Go and see John Evans at Racepaint in Braeside for a chat and discussion of options/prices on wrapping. They did a Nissan GTR in Di Noc.

[seldo]

I saw a Lexus ISF (that's their M3 competitor) in Sydney recently that had been vinyl wrapped in matt black. I was talking to the guy and he said it took a full week to do the job. Looked pretty tough....but I wouldn't do it to my car.

[daoutlawz]

I saw a Lexus ISF (that's their M3 competitor) in Sydney recently that had been vinyl wrapped in matt black. I was talking to the guy and he said it took a full week to do the job. Looked pretty tough....but I wouldn't do it to my car.

Wow a full week, ok lol, now I can see the prices add up...

[Spoolin]

You wont get even close to a full repaint on a VE for 5K as has been said vinyl is good if you want something different.

The guy's down at Exotic Kustoms in Carrum Downs were the first to do a R35 GTR in Melbourne, looks awesome in matte black and I can vouch for their work.

They also did the Canvas2Kickass promo for Just Cars Insurance.

http://www.exotickustoms.com.au/

[smokey777]

id always be worried for it peeling lol but its probably not like that

[Resetar]

Hope your not looking for it to look like paint because the will never look like paint and will never be as perfect vinyl has to be heat and streched as for brushed silver and Crome it wil only go on dead flat surface and will be lucky to last a year will burn out and is a nightmare to get back of if you have to put this on strongly advise to put another colour underneath it so it won't be impossible to get it back off .

[seldo]

Hope your not looking for it to look like paint because the will never look like paint and will never be as perfect vinyl has to be heat and streched as for brushed silver and Crome it wil only go on dead flat surface and will be lucky to last a year will burn out and is a nightmare to get back of if you have to put this on strongly advise to put another colour underneath it so it won't be impossible to get it back off .You're right - it doesn't look and feel like paint - it's far better! The car I saw was almost too perfect. The finish was silky smooth and absolutely flawless - no orange peel, wrinkle, or minor blemish that you inevitably get with paint finish.
What it's like in a couple of years may be another story, but at present it looked sensational.

[Resetar]

Yes you are right but very few colours will look like this with exception to a few if the right vinyl is used eg.matt black carbon fibre (although because the patern is imprinted most carbon fibre looked wierd on the edges where the pattern is streched).There is some strechy carbon fibre but the glue tends not to last.

[ls1 VN]

V8 Supercars are all sign written with it, they must use someone that knows what they're doing.

[vxssblown]

I do vinyl sign writing at work. Ive done a few cars now (with local business logos on them) the finish is sweet because you can print any colour or design and i comes out perfect. it dose last a fair few years our own work ute has been done for 4 years now and hasn't faded or pealed yet. But me personally would rather paint you just cant beat a decent paint job.

Chears
Trent

[xcesiv]

Di-Noc is an interior vinyl. Alot of wrapping companies are using it on the exterior of the car, but if you fo to 3Ms site it specifically states that it is an interor use vinyl only. If you were to have a problem with the vinyl you are leaving it with the installer to warranty.

As an accredited 3M installer if you use the wrong product then 3M wont warranty the vinyl leaving your $3k-$5k in the hands of the installer.

Di-Noc is alot easier to wrap with that the older vinyls, but size makes it a challenge for the inexperienced.

We now have a new Carbon fibre vinyl that is for exterior use without the need of overlaminated or special adhesives to ensure a perminant bond. Has a life expenctancy between 5 and 7 years. and with care most likely longer.

For the comments of $4k is a bit high for a wrap. You need to take into account the cost of other materials, wastage and risk of damaging a piece and replacement during installation.

Your estimate for materials is a bit low also... for a good Vyinl wrap material your looking over $2500 for a reasonable size car. And this doesnt include any extra expenses if you damage a piece during application and need to replace it.

We have heard quotes as high as $12 000 for a wrap. I beleive someone paid $10-12k for a single colour full wrap earlier this year.

[xcesiv]

V8 Supercars are all sign written with it, they must use someone that knows what they're doing.

All but 1 teams are vinyl wrapped.

i beleive the Vodafone team are a combination of paint and vinyl.

There has been word in the last few months that some teams are looking to head back to paint and vinyl combonations.

not due the quality of the vinyl work and matching the graphics when replacing parts, but some beleive their is a cost to there lap times to the weight of the vinyls used.

[MR 1JZ]

A mate of mine has vinyl wrapped his race car twice now...each time he changes colour he has to spend 3 whole days cleaning glue and crap off it. He never used more than $1000 worth of material doing it though so that would have something to do with it.

[hutchzvu8]

I have done about 50+ wraps over the years.

Wrapping a car is a very tedious job!!!

knowing how much to heat the vinyl, wrapping in weird concurves will throw any novice / inexperienced person off.

Not getting hundreds of bubbles or creases is tough.

Trimming is even more important than the wrap. ( I have seen too many bodge jobs and blade cuts in paint work. )

It doesn't hold up in the weather that well.

Colours will fade so if you want to replace a section down the track, i,e 2 years it will look different.

Car wrapping is really for business's who are happy to change the design every few years. 1 way I have made a car last is to put a UV laminate on top of the vinyl. you can get it in gloss or mat.

I have done cars in 15 hours. It can be removed and cleaned in a day.

cheers

[73.RSR]

If you go for a matt finish and you get oil or solvents on it will it stain?
i.e. tyre shine or engine degreaser on matt black.

Thanks

[hutchzvu8]

A straight mat finish can be damaged so easily.

tire products etc & cleaning will damage the finish. It scuffs so easily!!!

The better option is a mat laminate on top. much more durable.

This will be a product double charge.

If you want a cheap option block back & spray the car yourself

cheers

[seedyrom]

If you want a cheap option block back & spray the car yourself

cheers
here's what the cheap option looks like
Cheap matt paint, hand painted in some parts :)


http://www.oz8.org/gallery/albums/Seedyrom/bmws3.jpg

[BLN215]

Nexis has a range of cast films for vehicle installation now including carbon fibre in black/white/pearl white that are made for exterior use. I got a sample in at work today to try out and it conforms nicely to odd shapes. IMO it'd be a better product then the 3m Di-noc for bonnets/roofs etc if you want longevity.

I'll be wrapping my Calais in matte black vinyl in the next few weeks for something to do :evil:

Here's the back cover of my phone i wrapped today
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/YLDGTS/carbon3.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/YLDGTS/carbon1.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/YLDGTS/carbon2.jpg

[v8dude78]

The guy's down at Exotic Kustoms in Carrum Downs were the first to do a R35 GTR in Melbourne, looks awesome in matte black and I can vouch for their work.

They also did the Canvas2Kickass promo for Just Cars Insurance.

http://www.exotickustoms.com.au/

Saw these guys at the Motor show have to say it looked pretty good :)
Especially the matt black R35 :bow:

[hardaz]

how badly is your car damaged to mack spending the money worth while. Are you getting it done in a stock colour because if you are then i would paint over vinyl.
i was looking at getting my van done (wrap) for advertising purposes but it is very expensive so i just got sections of the van done. i went to race paint and they are extremely expensive compared to some other places. i ended up going to signarama for about 1/5 the price.

[hardaz]

Saw these guys at the Motor show have to say it looked pretty good :)
Especially the matt black R35 :bow:

the gtr did look stunning and its good because if you get over the matt look you just peel it off.

[driftvs]

What the carbon vinyl wrap worth per metre?

[BAS]

I wrapped my M3 in a matte colour, can not recommend. The job was great, could hardly tell it was a wrap but after 6 months or so it starts to look average in places- very slight peeling where the vinyl has been really stretched to get around mirrors/ tight corners, marks that won't come off, etc.

Even if they do last 5 years+, it would be looking that bad you would have long since removed it.

[trevorturner]

had a full vinyl wrap done on The "Flat Top" ute its lasted 4 years now ? edges needed redoing but colour good . The Horizontal surfaces with "carbon fibre Stripes" lasted a year and the dges went . The vertical surfaces look ok and will get a few more years yet ??

[ti0350]

i was going to vinyl wrap the missus's Astra's roof in matt black for sh2ts and giggles but it is going to cost a bit so I'm just going to get a few cans of plastidip and do it with that.

[Woodchukka]

Should be interesting. Post up some pictures when you do it.

[Doco]

you could look for a body shop who uses plasti dip. Goes on like paint, but sets like rubber, and can be peeled off like vinyl. I just posted some plasti dipped rims I just did tonight.

[Solone]

not a fan, one little bit. Paint please.