Vinyl wrap feedback

[ShocknAwe]

Leaning heavily towards wrapping my car for the next few years until ready and decided on a color for a full respray. Toss up between this and painting the new front clip jet black, but we now have 2 black cars and I just cant keep them both looking clean.

Looking at 3M 2080 film. Please feel free to suggest another film if there's something better for me to discuss with my vinyl applicator.

Colors:

- Storm Gray (Gloss)

- Satin Flip Ghost Pearl (iridescent whatever) - also looking for anyone who has experience with the 3M satin flip films, good bad or otherwise.

Will be coordinating with Anthracite EC7 wheels, gloss black Lightweight MotoGP lip and Rieger diffuser, and black chrome IND kidney grilles/indicators. Leaving my roof and wing mirrors black.

[CH400EM]

That "grey" looks really nice. You can't expect too much depth from a 3M wrap, but that storm grey with the black accents you described would look great.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by CH400EM

That "grey" looks really nice. You can't expect too much depth from a 3M wrap, but that storm grey with the black accents you described would look great.

Watched a couple YouTube videos of the storm gray on cars and it's more gray than the photos online seem to suggest. So I'm officially not sure anymore.

The color I'm in love with is Hockenheim Silver. But there's no film color that really approximates that.

[low135]

I like the grey. Make sure you're looking at picture of cars in regular lighting. Shots while the car is being wrapped or done in the shop can be deceiving. I learned the hard way with that Signal Green

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by low135

I like the grey. Make sure you're looking at picture of cars in regular lighting. Shots while the car is being wrapped or done in the shop can be deceiving. I learned the hard way with that Signal Green

Did you see any pics online that you thought were true to color?

[low135]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Did you see any pics online that you thought were true to color?

It looks almost white on a cloudless day. Under some cloud cover the grey really comes out

silly app put them out of order. The Porsche is obviously out in sun, the Honda is under clouded skies. I knew someone that had their car wrapped this (1080 series) and didn't like how it just looked white 90% of the time. He always took pics under cloud cover or indoors.

[ShocknAwe]

low135 thanks. Looks almost perfect. Want something that will be white or gray depending on light. Will see if I can get a sample.

[ShocknAwe]

low135 CH400EM

Adding a new color. Saw this one and it's different, but, I might need it in my life.

3M Gloss Atomic Teal

[low135]

Good looking color for sure. Very similar to Individual Atlantis Blue Metallic

[CH400EM]

With the right wheels, I really like a flashy blue. It's a nice color and I'm glad low135 agreed. I'm personally looking for forest/British racing green that doesn't look too shallow in vinyl form.

Good wraps can be pricey so you don't want to be too conservative and regret it later. On the flip side, unless you're in a position with skills/materials like [low135](contact:271607), you don't want to feel like it isn't professional etc and want to swap it out. The e82 is nice because the relatively small size is very forgiving for flashy colors.. Good luck!

[Dthltm]

I like that pearl white if choosing only between the two at the top.

[ShocknAwe]

Appreciate the feedback fellas.

Any of you have any insight on 3M vs Avery vs Oracal for brand?

Originally Posted by low135

Good looking color for sure. Very similar to Individual Atlantis Blue Metallic

Originally Posted by CH400EM

With the right wheels, I really like a flashy blue. It's a nice color and I'm glad low135 agreed. I'm personally looking for forest/British racing green that doesn't look too shallow in vinyl form.

Good wraps can be pricey so you don't want to be too conservative and regret it later. On the flip side, unless you're in a position with skills/materials like [low135](contact:271607), you don't want to feel like it isn't professional etc and want to swap it out. The e82 is nice because the relatively small size is very forgiving for flashy colors.. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Dthltm

I like that pearl white if choosing only between the two at the top.

[low135]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Appreciate the feedback fellas.

Any of you have any insight on 3M vs Avery vs Oracal for brand?

I've used all of them. 3M is popular for a reason, it's a very good all around brand. Avery is nice but we found that it didn't tack/stick as well initially. We ended up having to use vinyl primer on areas we normally would not have. Oracal is the bottom of those three choices. I used it on my previous car and didn't love it. The metallics really washed out if you had to stretch the vinyl at all. I wasn't a big fan of it

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by low135

I've used all of them. 3M is popular for a reason, it's a very good all around brand. Avery is nice but we found that it didn't tack/stick as well initially. We ended up having to use vinyl primer on areas we normally would not have. Oracal is the bottom of those three choices. I used it on my previous car and didn't love it. The metallics really washed out if you had to stretch the vinyl at all. I wasn't a big fan of it

Very much appreciate this. Extremely helpful.

Heavily leaning towards the atomic teal though I'm wary of losing my stealth status and drawing unwanted attention. We'll see I guess.

Going to reach out to a couple applicators in the area and get samples.

[Setright]

Based on my extensive DIY experience Oracal is easier to shape and stretch and it sticks better around edges.

NOW, that is in the hands of me, an amateur. A professional mounting 3M will get just as a good a result.


So, it's down to price and your fitters preference I guess.


(I don't have much experience with Avery, only one dashboard. It's a little fragile in my hands.)


Oh, and I am voting Storm Grey - matt if they have it

[ShocknAwe]

Ok progress. low135 Setright CH400EM

My installer prefers Avery of the three, owing to better luck getting it to look smooth and less adhesive lining. Interestingly he is encouraging me to go with the new version of Teckwrap which is supposedly a triple layer application. Admittedly his display car looks incredible, tough to tell it's not paint. Which is not my experience looking even at high end wraps with 3M. Looks like a wrap.

Anyone done a ceramic coat on these to protect them? Curious on this instead of the spray sealant.

[ShocknAwe]

Met up with another installer in the area and left with misgivings. His perspective was don't wrap the car with the intent to have it survive 4yrs in my area, I'd be lucky to get 1-2 with the grit and road quality DDing. At $3k+ with protective coating annually that's not happening.

So going to take the car by my body guy tomorrow if I can get time and see what the quote for full paint restoration with filling and blending of old damage would be. Then probably to the detailer for correction detail and ceramic application.

Maybe I'll change my mind again. Heart says wrap but brain says body match paint and clear.

[low135]

Honestly, if your main goal was just to protect the paint overall, I'd say it would be best to correct the paint first and then clear bra as much as you can afford to do. It's costly but well worth it in the end. Clear bra is much thicker than vinyl and will protect much better. I get rock chips in my vinyl from daily driving it. If I didn't have a buddy to do mine with, I wouldn't pay the $3k+ people as for vinyl wrap.

[ShocknAwe]

Originally Posted by low135

Honestly, if your main goal was just to protect the paint overall, I'd say it would be best to correct the paint first and then clear bra as much as you can afford to do. It's costly but well worth it in the end. Clear bra is much thicker than vinyl and will protect much better. I get rock chips in my vinyl from daily driving it. If I didn't have a buddy to do mine with, I wouldn't pay the $3k+ people as for vinyl wrap.

Will look into this. Any thoughts on ceramic coating?

[low135]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Will look into this. Any thoughts on ceramic coating?

There's different kinds, and can certainly be worth it to preserve any finish. I used to hangout at my buddy's shop that did infrared baking of ceramic coating and it's really interesting to see the finish afterwords. It's always just an added layer of protection. They did it on almost every wrap and clear bra they installed

[chris_flies]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Will look into this. Any thoughts on ceramic coating?

Ceramic coating is a great way to protect against small scratches and swirls. It also makes washing the car easier, it looks really cool in the rain with how the water beads up, and it makes clearing snow off the car WAY easier. I have Avalon King Armor Shield 9 on my car and am very happy with it. Easily worth the price of the kit.

Make sure you prep the paint well and get the finish on the paint as perfect as possible because the ceramic coating will seal-in imperfections and takes a lot of polishing to get through. It doesn't fill in imperfections as much as they advertise, but it gives a delightful depth to the finish. My car was pretty dirty in this picture after being in a dusty garage for a week, but it doesn't show up from 5' back.

[Setright]

I see...talking to tradesmen can often lead to new decisions


For longevity, I would also go for the filler, respray and clear protective wrap.

But what does all that cost?

A vinyl wrap might not protect paintwork as well....but a respray isn't protected by anything...unless you spend extra on the clear bra.


Consult your heart, head and wallet