DIY'd my first wrap! Cosmos Pink Gloss Metallic KPMF vinyl

[IronJoe]

Didn't see a compilation thread for pink CTs ?

After watching a few videos I decided to try my hand at DIY vinyl wrap. I have had some experience with vinyl wrap on smaller things but this was the first time doing a whole vehicle. I bought a full roll (75ft) of KPMF vinyl from Metro Restyling and got to work right away. I bought a roll instead of a precut kit for two reasons: 1) the roll is about half the price of the precut kits I've seen and 2) the alignment seemed like a pain in the butt from all the videos I watched. I just measured each panel and cut it to size, adding 6" to each dimension to give 3" leeway on each side. It never failed me and I didn't cut a single piece short or come even remotely close to running out.

I pulled the wheel arches and removed the mirrors, that's it. Tsportline's videos were helpful here so I didn't break anything. It took me about 12 hours, full coverage (around the edges) wrap but the second side went so much faster, I bet with the experience I now have it would take 8 hours or less a second time around. I did buy some 3M adhesion promoter sticks that I had to use twice in areas where I wasn't getting good adhesion.

I started with the driver door. In retrospect I think I should have started with the tailgate as it's the easiest to wrap IMHO.

Driver side fender, doors, and rear quarter done. That fender was a bit tricky, my advice would be to make sure your alignment is right after you cut out the hole for the tire/wheel arch. I relied heavily on magnets for this part.
The rear quarter is daunting because it's so big, but pretty easy to wrap. Just takes a little time to work out the bubbles to the edge because it's such a giant piece.

At this point I had one side done, and decided to see if my good luck would hold and I kept going. Next up was the hood and frunk panel. These are both super easy to do but I still wouldn't recommend doing them first because it's the face of the truck. Cut your teeth on other panels before you get here.

I then knocked out the tailgate panel, this one I used a thick Cybertruck font decal underneath for the embossed look. In most lighting you cannot even tell it's there.

The second half was pretty straightforward, I didn't get any pictures of that part of the install as it was getting late. I left the "hockey stick" roofline panel for last, it was a big pain just because it was one very long and skinny piece. It was of course easy to squeegee down but it was unwieldy. I felt like I needed more than 4 magnets for this part.

And with that, I was able to get it done. About 12 hours of labor. I love the color, it looks almost a berry pink in darker environment to a bright Barbie pink in direct sunlight. I did end up going back the next day and wrapping the mirrors - I haven't seen too many CTs with wrapped mirrors so I decided to give it a shot and I like it.

All in all, if you're a decently handy person who's comfortable with DIY, watch some videos and think about giving it a shot! The CT pretty much all flat panels which makes it really straightforward and forgiving. I only needed to use the heat gun for post heating the edges, no heating/stretching the material was necessary for wrapping the panels. Wrapping around each edge is the important part, I left about an inch of extra to wrap around each door edge so I could have lots of good adhesion around edges. Hope this helps someone!

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[Johnelrod12]

Didn't see a compilation thread for pink CTs ?

After watching a few videos I decided to try my hand at DIY vinyl wrap. I have had some experience with vinyl wrap on smaller things but this was the first time doing a whole vehicle. I bought a full roll (75ft) of KPMF vinyl from Metro Restyling and got to work right away. I bought a roll instead of a precut kit for two reasons: 1) the roll is about half the price of the precut kits I've seen and 2) the alignment seemed like a pain in the butt from all the videos I watched. I just measured each panel and cut it to size, adding 6" to each dimension to give 3" leeway on each side. It never failed me and I didn't cut a single piece short or come even remotely close to running out.

I pulled the wheel arches and removed the mirrors, that's it. Tsportline's videos were helpful here so I didn't break anything. It took me about 12 hours, full coverage (around the edges) wrap but the second side went so much faster, I bet with the experience I now have it would take 8 hours or less a second time around. I did buy some 3M adhesion promoter sticks that I had to use twice in areas where I wasn't getting good adhesion.

I started with the driver door. In retrospect I think I should have started with the tailgate as it's the easiest to wrap IMHO.

Driver side fender, doors, and rear quarter done. That fender was a bit tricky, my advice would be to make sure your alignment is right after you cut out the hole for the tire/wheel arch. I relied heavily on magnets for this part.
The rear quarter is daunting because it's so big, but pretty easy to wrap. Just takes a little time to work out the bubbles to the edge because it's such a giant piece.

At this point I had one side done, and decided to see if my good luck would hold and I kept going. Next up was the hood and frunk panel. These are both super easy to do but I still wouldn't recommend doing them first because it's the face of the truck. Cut your teeth on other panels before you get here.

I then knocked out the tailgate panel, this one I used a thick Cybertruck font decal underneath for the embossed look. In most lighting you cannot even tell it's there.

The second half was pretty straightforward, I didn't get any pictures of that part of the install as it was getting late. I left the "hockey stick" roofline panel for last, it was a big pain just because it was one very long and skinny piece. It was of course easy to squeegee down but it was unwieldy. I felt like I needed more than 4 magnets for this part.

And with that, I was able to get it done. About 12 hours of labor. I love the color, it looks almost a berry pink in darker environment to a bright Barbie pink in direct sunlight. I did end up going back the next day and wrapping the mirrors - I haven't seen too many CTs with wrapped mirrors so I decided to give it a shot and I like it.

All in all, if you're a decently handy person who's comfortable with DIY, watch some videos and think about giving it a shot! The CT pretty much all flat panels which makes it really straightforward and forgiving. I only needed to use the heat gun for post heating the edges, no heating/stretching the material was necessary for wrapping the panels. Wrapping around each edge is the important part, I left about an inch of extra to wrap around each door edge so I could have lots of good adhesion around edges. Hope this helps someone!

What is the cost difference between a local shop and DIY?

 

[IronJoe]

I paid $800 with tax for the roll. Most shops in my area charge $5-6k for a wrap job.

 

[devdrone6]

Looks great, need some pics of that Orange beast next to it...nice.

 

[TeslaFANa]

I paid $800 with tax for the roll. Most shops in my area charge $5-6k for a wrap job.

Jesus what's quite a difference. I'm gonna have to try that when mine wears out. Looks like you did an amazing job, maybe you can teach my wife so she can do it while I'm at work.

 

[L3it3R]

Where did you get that thick cybertruck logo? I love that idea and execution

 

[IronJoe]

Looks great, need some pics of that Orange beast next to it...nice.

Thanks, it's a 1989 BMW M3 with a lot of goodies. We like fun colors

Jesus what's quite a difference. I'm gonna have to try that when mine wears out. Looks like you did an amazing job, maybe you can teach my wife so she can do it while I'm at work.

I love your truck, what color is that? Looks amazing!

Where did you get that thick cybertruck logo? I love that idea and execution

Got it on eBay, it was a reflective decal so it's a bit thicker which is good for embossing.

 

[AO-Pete]

Love that little Beemer!

How did you find cutting the vinyl (once installed)? The first wrap I attempted was the same, just bought a roll and it turned out ok, but the actual knife cuts, which can't be seen unless the doors are open, were less than stellar.

That's what's lead me to try to make some pre-cut kits, but every man and his dog is doing that right now, so it might come to nothing. I can tell you though, not all pre-cut kits are created equal, some I've tried (not from any of the well-known US sites) have been awful, and I know they're being sold on eBay and other sites. At least with a roll, and especially with vinyl, you have enough left for do-overs. I lacked a giant table when I started, but now have that, so much easier to handle the material.

 

[REM]

Don't forget the final touch:

 

[UP_Frank]

Turned out nice!

Definitely more interested in the Orange E30 M3 you got there though(;

 

[hypnogem]

i just want to say i AM OBSESSED WITH THE PINK TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ljhughes8]

What is the cost difference between a local shop and DIY?

If search you can get good price. I doing on a budget as a test and my main color dragon blood red was 275 and 81 shipping. My triangle carbon was 143. I just have finish the rest.

 

[jxr006]

I paid $800 with tax for the roll. Most shops in my area charge $5-6k for a wrap job.

amazing pop.. can you share where you bought the wrap from? between all 3 cars, the color combo is fire.

 

[Ljhughes8]

I got it from Ali express . The color is dragon blood red . The hood is triangle cArbon vivvid from amazon. Make use you get some triple 3 spay . Since vivvid is really sticky. Not that I know it sticks and looks good . Other could try it . My truck paid for but I not try to spent a arm and a leg on a wrap
. I also found ppf. But may I try that later. For the price I could wrap it every 6 month and still save compared to some material and by doing it myself. And it a new skill.

 

[Ljhughes8]

Also shipping was quick .order on the 8/22 and got it on the 26.

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