Vinyl Wrap
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
Vinyl Wrap
Has anyone had long-term experience with vinyl wrap. I have been considering it and found a local shop (central NJ) that does it. Last evening I spoke to a friend who had his done at that shop and he tells me that his is already lifting. I am wondering if it is because this shop does inferior work or is that a common problem with the wrap? Thanks for any info. 
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Has anyone had long-term experience with vinyl wrap. I have been considering it and found a local shop (central NJ) that does it. Last evening I spoke to a friend who had his done at that shop and he tells me that his is already lifting. I am wondering if it is because this shop does inferior work or is that a common problem with the wrap? Thanks for any info.
If the installer knows what he is doing they should not be peeling off. Mine were applied utilizing water and a squeegee. I had a C5 done before this car and I was very pleased with that as well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
I had a clear bra professionally installed 5 years ago on my C6 Z06. I did the nose and the side mirrors. I believe it was a 3M product, kind of a heavy clear plastic. No problems at all with it coming off. It is still clear and has protected the front end from the crap you pick up on the highway. I asked the installer if he could do it on my old Vettes. He said they don't have the pre-cut sections for the older cars and they would have to be custom made.
If the installer knows what he is doing they should not be peeling off. Mine were applied utilizing water and a squeegee. I had a C5 done before this car and I was very pleased with that as well.
If the installer knows what he is doing they should not be peeling off. Mine were applied utilizing water and a squeegee. I had a C5 done before this car and I was very pleased with that as well.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 3
From: Downingtown PA
Clear bra is different than vinyl wrap. Wraps vary widely from shop to shop even though there are only a few brands of wrap vinyl out there. If not prepped and applied correctly a wrap can lift. Even when done right, they can lift.. it's the nature of the beast. That said, on another thread that someone was wrapping his t-tops, wraps are meant to be a temporary solution - a year, maybe two at most. Short term for something different - go for it. Expect some issues down the road. And get in writing how the shop will remove the wrap when it's done and what damages they will cover... remember, trimming a wrap almost always requires trimming on the car itself - there will be small nicks in the paint.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
Clear bra is different than vinyl wrap. Wraps vary widely from shop to shop even though there are only a few brands of wrap vinyl out there. If not prepped and applied correctly a wrap can lift. Even when done right, they can lift.. it's the nature of the beast. That said, on another thread that someone was wrapping his t-tops, wraps are meant to be a temporary solution - a year, maybe two at most. Short term for something different - go for it. Expect some issues down the road. And get in writing how the shop will remove the wrap when it's done and what damages they will cover... remember, trimming a wrap almost always requires trimming on the car itself - there will be small nicks in the paint.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
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From: NorCal
Has anyone had long-term experience with vinyl wrap. I have been considering it and found a local shop (central NJ) that does it. Last evening I spoke to a friend who had his done at that shop and he tells me that his is already lifting. I am wondering if it is because this shop does inferior work or is that a common problem with the wrap? Thanks for any info.
Hans
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 3
From: Downingtown PA
The fleet I manage just had a number of police cruisers wrapped with graphics and we payed $950.00 apiece for them, they came out perfect and have already survived multiple automatic brush style car washes. Ours were done by a national chain, "Vehicle Wraps Inc.". I believe its carries a 3/36 warranty.
Hans
Hans
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
I installed a 14" wide vinyl stripe on my C3. I heard the stories about the 'short life' of vinyl on cars, so I made certain to put a coating on the stripe that blocks UV. So far, it's been on the car for 3-4 years and no lifting or peeling. I re-coat it every few months...so far so good.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
Ironically we were talking about this very same thing at work today. There's a quality local shop in Vancouver; they charge $4000.00 do to a mid-size car with the design of the your choice. Comments are that it looks great from about 12'-15' and further away. But get up close and, well... not so much.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 992
Likes: 28
From: Sutton MA
Wraps aren't meant to take the place of a paint job, they were meant to be a way to cover a vehicle with impact intensive marketing. That being said it's a bargain at that. Not to mention a HELL of a lot of work.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 149
Likes: 3
From: Downingtown PA
As for prices? Varies greatly by region. Bigger market areas generally have lower prices due to competition... and installation quality varies with that as well.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
The fleet I manage just had a number of police cruisers wrapped with graphics and we payed $950.00 apiece for them, they came out perfect and have already survived multiple automatic brush style car washes. Ours were done by a national chain, "Vehicle Wraps Inc.". I believe its carries a 3/36 warranty.
Hans
Hans
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 307
Likes: 15
From: Marlboro New Jersey
Primarily, it will come down to price, although quality is certainly a large factor. If the wraps don't look good up close, I won't consider it. I have been quoted $3,400.00 for the wrap. If paint were 5K, I'd go with the paint but forum members have mentioned 10-15K which is above my budget for paint. I may just leave it as is for now. There are swirls and chips from debris kicking up, but it looks pretty good at 5'. Having read the thread "My car is wrapped" by member bradgto, the wrap seemed like a good alternative to paint, but I'm having second thoughts. Thanks for all the info and advice.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,578
Likes: 38
preparation is huge. I warped my race car myself and anywhere the car wasn't squeaky clean the wrap would want to come off. even the old wax didn't help and needed to be removed. so before you take it anywhere clean the snot out of it, and remove the old wax.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Same issue when getting a repaint.... A lot of that $10-15K is disassembling the exterior "stuff" from the car, prepping the surface, and reassembly after paint. If YOU can do much of that and find a good painter to just do the final surface prep and paint, you can cut that cost in half.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 354
From: Madison Alabama
This is on my "one day, when I have time" list. I've toyed with the idea of just having the front and rear bumper covers done in a wrap. The 33 year old paint on my car is a 9+ but the bumper covers are faded/no gloss and have a couple of chips...a wrap might be a good fix assuming color match. As a bonus, the natural two tone paint line should make application somewhat easier, perhaps?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 8
From: Champaign Urbana IL
Just thought I'd add. The 3M vinyl stripes on the side of my car have been there for 2 years and look good as new. I have had my car outside for 1 of those years. Installed it with no water with the help of my brother. I wouldn't hesitate for a second doing hood stripes or something of the sort. Plus if you don't like it after awhile, simply peel it off.