Page 1 of Car "wrapping" (vinyl covering) anyone done it?

My Focus, although mechanically sound and stupidly low mileage for it`s year is a tad lacking in it`s bodywork.
Wheelarches had rotted a fair bit and I`ve ground down, sealed, filled and painted them but my painting skills are rank rotten. 
Looks a bit better than it did though but then I was watching something the other night and have gotten the idea of wrapping it.
I`ve seen plenty of vinyl wraps on Taxis but never thought of applying it to a replacement to paint option.
Not worried about resale implications (years ago, never buy a car with a vinyl roof etc) as I`ll either give it away or scrap it by that time but want it to look a wee bit nicer whilst I have it.

I know I`m up against the "if it gets damaged you might not get the same vinyl" issue too but just want to see if anyones tackled it before and how they got on? 
Loads of the local Racers have had their roofs/bonnets/boot lids done but I`m thinking of doing the whole car to make it look different.

Prices also seem mental ranging from around £75 for 1.5 metre by 5 metre roll to almost £200 for the same on our old friend Fleabay.

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd May 2012, 20:34

a tv show called wheeler dealers wrapped a van, might be on youtube. It was a bubble print I think.
If you just want to do if to disguise a repair, go for it!

Quote:
pat-w says...
a tv show called wheeler dealers wrapped a vanYou sure it wasn`t an old Mini?
That`s where I got the "full car" idea from :D

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

no, they have done a big van as well.
It cost a lot of money to do it, that`s why I remember it. I think it was a VW. I was surprised it cost so much.

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd May 2012, 22:08

I found a video of the van
http://m.220.ro/auto/Wheeler-Dealers-Volkswagen-T3-Transporter-Part-3/fJDr82K2wF/
and
http://m.220.ro/auto/Wheeler-Dealers-Volkswagen-T3-Transporter-Part-4/XlAjtXyyxr/

This item was edited on Wednesday, 23rd May 2012, 22:41

Cool. The one I saw was a mini and it`s 3D carbon effect wrapping.
They paid £680 for it and I thought that was ridiculous because I know the vinyl adverts don`t cost as much as that except for the labour fitting it etc.

Seems the price varies mental on Fleabay but I got a 10m roll tonight for just over 70 quid, so if it`s good then magic, if it`s scheitte then haven`t lost too much in finding out. I could have gotten a smaller size piece to test but then thought if I`m gonna go for it I may as well go, feedback seemed good on them too except for 3, 1 saying it was cheap chinese vinyl  (no crap.. £70 as opposed to nearly a grand?) and brittle when heated... not sure about that comment though as I don`t know of any vinyl (even records) that get brittle when heated unless you`ve gone too far with the heat gun.

Anywhoo, I`ve bought it and going to try n set some time aside to do it when it arrives.
If I have enough I`m hoping (assuming it goes on ok and actually looks decent) to do it "right" by taking the wings off and going round n under, the door seals off, door strikers etc so it would have the same effect as a strip-down respray.

Fingers crossed it doesn`t all go TU :-/

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

Good luck, hope its not too difficult to apply.
What kin of design did you buy?

Quote:
pat-w says...
What kin of design did you buy?Black 3D carbon effect, sorta snakeskin is the best description I could give?

Jimbo : oÞ

"There`s that word again... is there a problem with the Earth`s gravitational pull in the future?"

you are looking at over £1000 average price for a full body wrap... as its non permanent no requirement to notify DVLA!

If you want a cheap solution Matt Black paint and a roller! 

Quote:
marksparks999 says...
If you want a cheap solution Matt Black paint and a roller! That reminds me, I always wanted to paint my car with the same stuff they use on the Stealth Bomber.


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