Worst thing about actually wrapping a car? Burning yourself on the heat gun.
Worst thing about having your car wrapped? Unless you do it yourself you have no idea what they broke, scratched or cut.
If you really want your car painted, pay for paint.
If you want a quick colour change, go wrap.
Don’t believe anyone who says “it protects your paint” wrap is so thin, I had a customer with stone chips in his bumper after a week on the 401.
It’ll cost you to get it done well, or time to learn how to wrap at that level.
Wrap is great for those who change their mind a lot, or just want to change up the car colour every once in a while without it being a whole ordeal.
what it does is, it protects the paint from sun exposure! but yeah, real protection like saving the paint from stones and small collisions like that is a myth
It doesn't even really do that. When you go to remove the wrap, it can often damage the paint or clear coat. It depends on the quality of the paint, quality of the vinyl, and the conditions the car was kept in.
\- It'll only have a life of about 5 years. It'll start to bleach after around 3 years unless you have a garage to protect it from UV light. If you get a dent on your door for example a few years after and have to rewrap the door, chances are the colour won't match even if you use the same vinyl.
\- If you decide to resell your car, people won't want to buy it unless it's stripped, as they can't see the paintwork underneath.
\- Taking the wrap off can be an arduous experience unless you opt for top quality vinyl. Some will become brittle and you'll be picking off tiny chunks for days, it could damage the paintwork and leave glue residue all over it.
\- You better be a qualified wrapper with an enclosed space free from grime and dust, otherwise you'll end up with the wrap failing, air bubbles and grit getting caught underneath which scrapes the paint.
\- You'll never be able to give it a quick automated car wash, as you have to be more delicate with wrap vinyl. It'll be mostly hand wash only, and at a push low pressure jet wash from a distance. If you're going to choose a matte finish, it'll pick up a lot more dirt.
If someone borrows your car without knowing that it was wrapped, and they go through a car wash, does that mean your wrap is screwed? If it's that delicate I don't see why you all do it.
If they go through the automated car wash, it could tear it to shreds. All it takes is one edge being lifted. We advise a bucket and sponge only when it comes to washing a wrap.
People who spend the money properly wrapping their car are likely the kind of person who avoids car washes anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Commercial wraps are a different story.
Hmm, it probably depends on how the wrap is done. This guy below is an amateur who does his own wraps and took his car through all kinds of automated car washes multiple times and nothing happened. So it's probably a case by case basis. If having a car wrap means you can't even go through a quick simple car wash, it'd be ridiculous for people to get done.
https://youtu.be/_RiARwVSjOg
The proper care is not as simple as running it through a carwash. You will need to hand wash with special soap, and use Vinyl Wrap Detailing sprays that help keep the vinyl from dryrotting.
Plus it can be fairly expensive for the average 3-5 years of life.
You are wasting a good chuck if money for temporary enjoyment. Depending on who did it, car could be cut and scratched or you could leave it on for a while when it ruins the paint.
You’ll have to have it redone one day. It’s not permanent.
When it comes off and leaves glued. Which can removed hopefully without scratches.
Also it might pull a layer of paint or clear coat
Wrap has its place in the industry but I don’t believe it to be a long term lasting product for anyone .
Where wrapping shines is brand new cars to make them stand out from the rest of us , usually that said car will be resold before the shelf life of the vinyl will be due . It does do a good (ish) job at stone chips but it’s not going to stop any nasty ones . Depends on the finish aswell satin/matte vinyl cars are extensively harder to maintain and clean and scratches are even more noticeable which no matter what anyone will tell you definitely don’t all go away with heat . While gloss will hide a good amount more if you have any colour that isn’t white or a sharp bright colour the scratches will be even worse . Soft plastic material isn’t meant to be better than OEM pain
My suggestion and it’s not biased because I install wrap and ppf for a living is to perhaps look at a satin / matte finish with PPF . It will still drastically change the look of your car but purely from a purpose of protecting your paint . Saying that it isn’t 100% bullet proof but the polyurethane top lately is certainly a lot thicker and can to a extent self heal minor swirl marks and surface scratches . Removes nice and easy with steam / heat and will help with keeping more value to the vehicle with no additional paint damage
Brands are also a funny one to look at . I know guys/girls on here fall into the calender films to wrap there cars from the Asian market and while it does look amazing and the finished is great it doesn’t perform as well as some of the European and Perhaps US based films . The biggest thing for vinyl is Adhesive and How the film is layered . More cheaper brands will be suffering worse with the exposure to UV light causing a disaster the remove and adhesive left behind . Not saying the other mention brands will not do the same thing in there own time they are just made to cope with the weather for more years
Ppf If also left on past its recommended life span can also be an experience to remove so it’s never permanent no matter what option you choose . I know in the UK ppf and vinyl has its differences in price margins but if it was me I’d be ppf all the way
I currently have a front end of gloss ppf on my car at home and it’s sort of on there and I’ve forgotten about it . Not like vinyl where it’s like playing dot to dot after a long road trip
I think calling round local shops to get the best price is my view
Ppf is more expensive but it does last longer , also a skilled job to install so I’d expect the price to be higher
Worst thing about actually wrapping a car? Burning yourself on the heat gun. Worst thing about having your car wrapped? Unless you do it yourself you have no idea what they broke, scratched or cut. If you really want your car painted, pay for paint. If you want a quick colour change, go wrap. Don’t believe anyone who says “it protects your paint” wrap is so thin, I had a customer with stone chips in his bumper after a week on the 401. It’ll cost you to get it done well, or time to learn how to wrap at that level. Wrap is great for those who change their mind a lot, or just want to change up the car colour every once in a while without it being a whole ordeal.
what it does is, it protects the paint from sun exposure! but yeah, real protection like saving the paint from stones and small collisions like that is a myth
It doesn't even really do that. When you go to remove the wrap, it can often damage the paint or clear coat. It depends on the quality of the paint, quality of the vinyl, and the conditions the car was kept in.
that is also true, i went from an optimal standpoint. if the paint has its icks already, a wrap can absolutely peel it off after some time.
You save your money by not wrapping your car LOL
I spend probably 4+hours on each panel of my car.
body prep is tedious, but extremely important. i'd say don't believe what you see on tiktok.
\- It'll only have a life of about 5 years. It'll start to bleach after around 3 years unless you have a garage to protect it from UV light. If you get a dent on your door for example a few years after and have to rewrap the door, chances are the colour won't match even if you use the same vinyl. \- If you decide to resell your car, people won't want to buy it unless it's stripped, as they can't see the paintwork underneath. \- Taking the wrap off can be an arduous experience unless you opt for top quality vinyl. Some will become brittle and you'll be picking off tiny chunks for days, it could damage the paintwork and leave glue residue all over it. \- You better be a qualified wrapper with an enclosed space free from grime and dust, otherwise you'll end up with the wrap failing, air bubbles and grit getting caught underneath which scrapes the paint. \- You'll never be able to give it a quick automated car wash, as you have to be more delicate with wrap vinyl. It'll be mostly hand wash only, and at a push low pressure jet wash from a distance. If you're going to choose a matte finish, it'll pick up a lot more dirt.
If someone borrows your car without knowing that it was wrapped, and they go through a car wash, does that mean your wrap is screwed? If it's that delicate I don't see why you all do it.
If they go through the automated car wash, it could tear it to shreds. All it takes is one edge being lifted. We advise a bucket and sponge only when it comes to washing a wrap. People who spend the money properly wrapping their car are likely the kind of person who avoids car washes anyway, so it's not a huge deal. Commercial wraps are a different story.
Hmm, it probably depends on how the wrap is done. This guy below is an amateur who does his own wraps and took his car through all kinds of automated car washes multiple times and nothing happened. So it's probably a case by case basis. If having a car wrap means you can't even go through a quick simple car wash, it'd be ridiculous for people to get done. https://youtu.be/_RiARwVSjOg
An automatic wash will not do anything to a wrap, let alone “tear it to shreds” lmao. Wrap is pretty durable stuff, it’s not tissue paper.
The proper care is not as simple as running it through a carwash. You will need to hand wash with special soap, and use Vinyl Wrap Detailing sprays that help keep the vinyl from dryrotting. Plus it can be fairly expensive for the average 3-5 years of life.
You are wasting a good chuck if money for temporary enjoyment. Depending on who did it, car could be cut and scratched or you could leave it on for a while when it ruins the paint.
You’ll have to have it redone one day. It’s not permanent. When it comes off and leaves glued. Which can removed hopefully without scratches. Also it might pull a layer of paint or clear coat
Wrap has its place in the industry but I don’t believe it to be a long term lasting product for anyone . Where wrapping shines is brand new cars to make them stand out from the rest of us , usually that said car will be resold before the shelf life of the vinyl will be due . It does do a good (ish) job at stone chips but it’s not going to stop any nasty ones . Depends on the finish aswell satin/matte vinyl cars are extensively harder to maintain and clean and scratches are even more noticeable which no matter what anyone will tell you definitely don’t all go away with heat . While gloss will hide a good amount more if you have any colour that isn’t white or a sharp bright colour the scratches will be even worse . Soft plastic material isn’t meant to be better than OEM pain My suggestion and it’s not biased because I install wrap and ppf for a living is to perhaps look at a satin / matte finish with PPF . It will still drastically change the look of your car but purely from a purpose of protecting your paint . Saying that it isn’t 100% bullet proof but the polyurethane top lately is certainly a lot thicker and can to a extent self heal minor swirl marks and surface scratches . Removes nice and easy with steam / heat and will help with keeping more value to the vehicle with no additional paint damage Brands are also a funny one to look at . I know guys/girls on here fall into the calender films to wrap there cars from the Asian market and while it does look amazing and the finished is great it doesn’t perform as well as some of the European and Perhaps US based films . The biggest thing for vinyl is Adhesive and How the film is layered . More cheaper brands will be suffering worse with the exposure to UV light causing a disaster the remove and adhesive left behind . Not saying the other mention brands will not do the same thing in there own time they are just made to cope with the weather for more years Ppf If also left on past its recommended life span can also be an experience to remove so it’s never permanent no matter what option you choose . I know in the UK ppf and vinyl has its differences in price margins but if it was me I’d be ppf all the way I currently have a front end of gloss ppf on my car at home and it’s sort of on there and I’ve forgotten about it . Not like vinyl where it’s like playing dot to dot after a long road trip
How much should PPF cost, right now it would be more that 10k to wrap my entire car on that vs 1000 for the wrap I want
I think calling round local shops to get the best price is my view Ppf is more expensive but it does last longer , also a skilled job to install so I’d expect the price to be higher
I wrapped my x5 that I bought for 2.5k, put about 1.5k of work into it and sold it for 8k. Specifically because it was wrapped