Trim wrapping question (Carbon fiber)

KiX1911 · 01-13-2012, 04:25 PM

Ok so im pulling the trigger on this and trying it out on my panels (i mean whats the worst that will happen on a $50,000 car

)

So I went to go pick some 3m carbon fiber sheets but these are "fake" carbon fiber, and on one side they have a sticky side...but my question is all the DIY should people also using 3m super 77.

Are there 2 ways of doing this, one with realt CF and one with 3m stuff?

Thanks guys

Brad

AndreyT · 01-13-2012, 04:43 PM

Well, virtually all wraps have always been about fake CF. The warps that people do here are done with textured vinyl film that looks like CF. Some products have the adhesive pre-applied. Some other products require separate adhesive.

While it is possible to do it with real CF, it is going to be a completely different story and a completely different set of skills (serious skills, BTW). Vinyl wrap is much much easier, which is why many people here do it successfully themselves. As for real CF wrap: if you don't have the skills, either find someone who does or forget about it. If you want real CF you might be better off buying the BMW OEM CF trim instead of wasting your time trying to do it yourself. Since if you'll have someone do the wrap for you, it can easily end up costing as much as the OEM CF trim kit.

I remember I saw someone selling real CF veneers here (which you simply lay over your existing trim), which is another way to get real CF. But I don't know whether they are worth it. I'd say that vinyl wrap makes more sense, if you don't want to pay for OEM CF trim.

axis · 01-13-2012, 04:48 PM

There's a DIY here where somebody did it with real carbon fiber and 3m spray adhesive, But a lot of people just use Di-noc vinyl or something similar instead. Since you are not saving any weight either way, and the vinyl is much easier to work with and still looks good, I'd recommend just doing the vinyl to see if you like it. That way if you ever want to get back to stock it is easy to remove. It will also cost a lot less money to do.

edit - I wrapped my steering wheel trim in the vinyl stuff if you want to take a look here - www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569684

KiX1911 · 01-13-2012, 05:19 PM

awesome! Thanks guys, so Axis did you use anything else but the sticky stuff to attach it to your steering wheel? Im worried about the heat lifting up the glue/wrap

Brad

Hartge · 01-13-2012, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killerx

awesome! Thanks guys, so Axis did you use anything else but the sticky stuff to attach it to your steering wheel? Im worried about the heat lifting up the glue/wrap

Brad

One way is not trim it right to the edge when you have done wrapped the facia of the trim, this will prevent any lifting. Also, you can use some superglue on the reverse to keep the vinyl stuck down

Hope this is of some help

ChasVS · 01-18-2012, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axis

There's a DIY here where somebody did it with real carbon fiber and 3m spray adhesive, But a lot of people just use Di-noc vinyl or something similar instead. Since you are not saving any weight either way, and the vinyl is much easier to work with and still looks good, I'd recommend just doing the vinyl to see if you like it. That way if you ever want to get back to stock it is easy to remove. It will also cost a lot less money to do.

edit - I wrapped my steering wheel trim in the vinyl stuff if you want to take a look here - www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569684

+1 CF Di-Noc Vinyl is the way to go! Be sure to heat the corners and edges to activate the adhesive for good adhesion.

http://i272.photobucket.com/albums/j...rior-wide1.jpg

axis · 01-18-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killerx

awesome! Thanks guys, so Axis did you use anything else but the sticky stuff to attach it to your steering wheel? Im worried about the heat lifting up the glue/wrap

Brad

No, I didn't use any extra adhesive but I did leave a little extra and pull it tight and wrap around the edges as shades mentioned.

edirtaynine · 01-18-2012, 03:11 PM

vinyl cf wrap is NOT actual carbon fiber. its just "carbon fiber look" lol. and as great as some of the vinyl cf wraps have come out on some of the peoples cars, no vinyl cf will ever look like an actual carbon fiber (dry or wet) piece.

on that note, the money saved by wrapping it compared to the real cf pieces is a huge difference. its up to you if that savings outweighs the difference in look.

01-13-2012, 04:25 PM	#1
KiX1911 Blah 53 Rep 508 Posts Drives: Awesomeness Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Barrie, ON iTrader: (0)	Trim wrapping question (Carbon fiber) Ok so im pulling the trigger on this and trying it out on my panels (i mean whats the worst that will happen on a $50,000 car ) So I went to go pick some 3m carbon fiber sheets but these are "fake" carbon fiber, and on one side they have a sticky side...but my question is all the DIY should people also using 3m super 77. Are there 2 ways of doing this, one with realt CF and one with 3m stuff? Thanks guys Brad
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01-13-2012, 04:43 PM	#2
AndreyT Major 59 Rep 1,038 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Sedan, Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Well, virtually all wraps have always been about fake CF. The warps that people do here are done with textured vinyl film that looks like CF. Some products have the adhesive pre-applied. Some other products require separate adhesive. While it is possible to do it with real CF, it is going to be a completely different story and a completely different set of skills (serious skills, BTW). Vinyl wrap is much much easier, which is why many people here do it successfully themselves. As for real CF wrap: if you don't have the skills, either find someone who does or forget about it. If you want real CF you might be better off buying the BMW OEM CF trim instead of wasting your time trying to do it yourself. Since if you'll have someone do the wrap for you, it can easily end up costing as much as the OEM CF trim kit. I remember I saw someone selling real CF veneers here (which you simply lay over your existing trim), which is another way to get real CF. But I don't know whether they are worth it. I'd say that vinyl wrap makes more sense, if you don't want to pay for OEM CF trim. Last edited by AndreyT; 01-13-2012 at 04:51 PM..
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01-13-2012, 04:48 PM	#3
axis First Lieutenant 20 Rep 345 Posts Drives: 2019 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	There's a DIY here where somebody did it with real carbon fiber and 3m spray adhesive, But a lot of people just use Di-noc vinyl or something similar instead. Since you are not saving any weight either way, and the vinyl is much easier to work with and still looks good, I'd recommend just doing the vinyl to see if you like it. That way if you ever want to get back to stock it is easy to remove. It will also cost a lot less money to do. edit - I wrapped my steering wheel trim in the vinyl stuff if you want to take a look here - www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569684 Last edited by axis; 01-13-2012 at 04:52 PM.. Reason: added pic
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01-13-2012, 05:19 PM	#4
KiX1911 Blah 53 Rep 508 Posts Drives: Awesomeness Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Barrie, ON iTrader: (0)	awesome! Thanks guys, so Axis did you use anything else but the sticky stuff to attach it to your steering wheel? Im worried about the heat lifting up the glue/wrap Brad
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01-18-2012, 03:11 PM	#8
edirtaynine Major General 87 Rep 6,088 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	vinyl cf wrap is NOT actual carbon fiber. its just "carbon fiber look" lol. and as great as some of the vinyl cf wraps have come out on some of the peoples cars, no vinyl cf will ever look like an actual carbon fiber (dry or wet) piece. on that note, the money saved by wrapping it compared to the real cf pieces is a huge difference. its up to you if that savings outweighs the difference in look.
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