[philgli]

Interested in getting black side mirrors on my alpine white e92. Anyone know if they can be vinyl wrapped and not look like crap? Any other ideas?

[wdeerfield]

Yes they can be. I currently have mine wrapped in brushed steel

[RobertRichy]

Originally Posted by philgli

Interested in getting black side mirrors on my alpine white e92. Anyone know if they can be vinyl wrapped and not look like crap? Any other ideas?

It can be done. Finding someone or a shop that is competent enough is another story. I only say that because I wanted to wrap mine with 4D Carbon fiber and I had 3 shops say that it could be done but not confident in how it would turn out and suggested I not do it. Although a solid color is probably much easier to pull off.

[Ali-E90]

Originally Posted by RobertRichy

It can be done. Finding someone or a shop that is competent enough is another story. I only say that because I wanted to wrap mine with 4D Carbon fiber and I had 3 shops say that it could be done but not confident in how it would turn out and suggested I not do it. Although a solid color is probably much easier to pull off.

The 4D is much thicker, which is why many installers aren't as confident about its results. For most other wraps it should be fairly straight forward.

[philgli]

thanks for the responses. that dude from the video is a pro.

any idea how much this would cost? wdeerfield, what did you pay if you dont mind me asking?

[Darkfox2002]

Dang maybe its just me but i would have removed the mirror from the car the way he was tugging on that vinyl I'd be afraid of the mirror snapping off haha

[shadow191]

It's easier to wrap while on the car. When you're stretching around corners, you have to use a little force and the mirror needs to be held in place. It can be done off the car, but you'd probably need a friend to hold it and it would be more awkward than just doing it on the car. Solid colors are much easier than carbon pattern or even brushed. When stretching vinyl with a pattern, you have to be really careful to not distort the pattern by stretching too much or heating too much.

[philgli]

Originally Posted by shadow191

It's easier to wrap while on the car. When you're stretching around corners, you have to use a little force and the mirror needs to be held in place. It can be done off the car, but you'd probably need a friend to hold it and it would be more awkward than just doing it on the car. Solid colors are much easier than carbon pattern or even brushed. When stretching vinyl with a pattern, you have to be really careful to not distort the pattern by stretching too much or heating too much.

shadow, do you do vinyl wrapping? I see you are in GA...

[shadow191]

Sorry, I don't, not a shop. I've just done a lot of wrapping on my own and used to own a graphics shop a long, long time ago. My car is fully wrapped, but I paid to have that done and the person that did it doesn't wrap cars anymore. I know there is a member here in Atlanta who does a lot of wrapping work, I forget his screen name though. Check the regional forums.

For mirrors, I would recommend just giving it a try. You can't do permanent damage so if it doesn't work, you're out a few dollars in vinyl. The hardest part is near where it folds, that took a few attempts but it's doable with patience.

[Jaronbwall]

Vinyl wrapping complex shapes is no easy task.

[NolanGraphics]

IMO...You should never stretch and heat vinyl that much, the more you stretch, the more you thin the adhesive on the back. I would guarantee that mirror wrap is lifting now. Especially with that Arlon brushed aluminum. A lot of installers over tug and stretch the material beyond its optimal working specs. I've seen this way to many times.

[wdeerfield]

I did it myself. I did one on the car and one off. I recommend leaving them on the car. Hardest part is the section closest to the car. Start with the absolute middle and work your way out. I did the outside first and worked the inside last. Came out ok. To the untrained eye it's fine.

[philgli]

Originally Posted by NolanGraphics

IMO...You should never stretch and heat vinyl that much, the more you stretch, the more you thin the adhesive on the back. I would guarantee that mirror wrap is lifting now. Especially with that Arlon brushed aluminum. A lot of installers over tug and stretch the material beyond its optimal working specs. I've seen this way to many times.

can you give me a ballpark of what it would cost to have them wrapped in a simple gloss black?

[Darkfox2002]

The area isn't very big so if you do it yourself its probably $20 max

[soursamo]

I had mine done and my vinyl guy used a cool trick; he placed a sheet of vinyl over top of a garbage can and used a heat gun to get it super hot. Almost to the point of melting. He then pushed the mirror cap quickly through the center and the vinyl wrapped all around the cap.
Quick trim and it was done.

[codinge90]

Not an easy task to vinyl wrap mirrors. I wrapped my steering wheel trim and other little bits with ease so I decided to try to wrap the mirrors gloss black and holy shit it was a pain! The correct way is to lay the edge of the vinyl on a surface have one person pull on the bottom while you hear the vinyl and stretch it, let it sit cool for a little while and it will stay stretched and then you can lay it on the mirror caps and heat it and it will shrink back to the original size and take shape to all the curves of the mirror. But for a shop to do it, I'd say no more than 100 dollars for both mirrors

[philgli]

Originally Posted by codinge90

Not an easy task to vinyl wrap mirrors. I wrapped my steering wheel trim and other little bits with ease so I decided to try to wrap the mirrors gloss black and holy shit it was a pain! The correct way is to lay the edge of the vinyl on a surface have one person pull on the bottom while you hear the vinyl and stretch it, let it sit cool for a little while and it will stay stretched and then you can lay it on the mirror caps and heat it and it will shrink back to the original size and take shape to all the curves of the mirror. But for a shop to do it, I'd say no more than 100 dollars for both mirrors

thanks for the info. so like a vinyl sign company or do I need to find an actual vehicle wrapping company?

[codinge90]

Originally Posted by philgli

thanks for the info. so like a vinyl sign company or do I need to find an actual vehicle wrapping company?

Vehicle wrapping company, I usually go on Yelp to find them. And call a few places, some like to overcharge. Good luck

[shadow191]

Don't go to a sign company, get a vehicle wrapping company. But a lot of times, they do both these days. PM me and I'll give you the number of the person that wrapped my car. I don't think she does full wraps anymore, but I think she still does work on the side like roofs and interiors.

Originally Posted by philgli

thanks for the info. so like a vinyl sign company or do I need to find an actual vehicle wrapping company?

[dspence44]

WOW.... I now have so much more respect for people who make Vinyl wrapping look easy....

Yesterday I tried doing my mirrors to see how tough wrapping actually is and good lord.. Now I understand why you pay those guys what you do!

First attempt, disaster. Tear it off and start again.

Second attempt, was going great until I got to the section that is closest to the car. Attempt #2 will be coming off and I'll be going for attempt #3! I swear these e90 mirrors have to be some of the worst to wrap!

Do any of you have tips on wrapping the area closest to the car without getting creases in it?

Or should I start with the side closest to the car and finish with the outside of the mirror?

I would appreciate any and all the help I can get!