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That color just looks great. I would go with one of those professional Pasti-Dip coatings rather than vinyl if you want another color though. They've come very far and can look just like paint from the videos I've seen.
I'm having a hard time deciding to keep or remove my 3M Black Rose Vinyl Wrap. It brings a different colour to the car and looks clean even when dirty. It was installed around April 2015 so I had it a little over one year. Underneath is Ultrasonic Blue. And of course, I purchased the ISF because it's USB.
Pros
- Black Rose is an unique colour and not everyone has it
- Looks clean when dirty
- Front bumper was repainted and the wrap has been pulling the paint off
- Also the rear fenders were rolled and paint cracked off
- Don't have to worry about keeping my paint perfect, meaning I don't have to polish and I won't mind bird bombs sitting for longer.
- Wrap is also covering stone chips on the hood and two keep scratches on the trunk when body shop installed my trunk spoiler
Cons
- The vinyl material is not perfect, it has an orange peel look and thermal lines from installation
- Some corners are lifting around the trunk and rear bumper
- Front bumper was done in three pieces but the imperfection is noticeable. The corners around the headlight and fog light are also lifting
- I miss the look of a clean USB ISF
What do you guys think?
Zel
I have a hood deflector that mounts with double-back 3m tape. My RX has a vinyl wrap on the hood edge done by previous owner. Can I go ahead and stick the hood deflector mounts directly on the vinyl wrap or surgically cut holes in it so I can mount the tape directly on the painted surface?
I have a hood deflector that mounts with double-back 3m tape. My RX has a vinyl wrap on the hood edge done by previous owner. Can I go ahead and stick the hood deflector mounts directly on the vinyl wrap or surgically cut holes in it so I can mount the tape directly on the painted surface?
i know what you mean about that orange peel from vinyl. i had mine wrapped gloss metallic black and it had a orange peel look.
the two cons about the vinyl from personal experience is like you said orange peel (you aint gonna get a perfect mirror finish with gloss vinyl) and the clean (simple and classy) factor of oem paint finish.
whether u take it off or leave the vinyl on, your isf will look sick.
I would remove only because the ISF blue stands out.
this past Friday a BMW that was also blue, the driver was just admiring my car.
2nd a tech at discount tire asked if the blue on the ISF was a custom paint job. LOL.
Hey, this is your ISF so whatever makes you happy.
I'm actually considering going this route eventually. There's a raspberry blue that's similar to USB, but then it dawned on me what's the point of wrapping to a color I could have just purchased. To ceramic coat my obsidian is a couple grand, and for a daily will still require a lot of work to keep clean. This won't cost much more, will protect the factory paint, and will look different. Add some carbon accents and I think it will look pretty cool.
I think people under estimate the upkeep on vinyl. Having my S2000 wrapped for the last few years it's definitely pretty beat up on my daily and I'm **** about keeping it clean ect. Def see a lot more scratches and vinyl gets stains/etching from sap or bird crap. Still think paint > vinyl but it's pretty nice for changing up the looks for awhile. I'm debating re-wrapping it to make it look as good as the first year but I miss the look of paint. Mine is wrapped Avery Dark Grey Gloss like the M3 posted.
liquidtek - I have the same thoughts as you. I see all the imperfection over the years. I haven't been washing as much as I normally would and you know what, I have a peace of mind knowing the wrap is protecting my paint. Especially over the winter months, I know its the wrap taking the beating instead of my paint.
I agree, here in Colorado there's tons of stones and rocks so at least the vinyl is taking the brunt of it. In the winter months we don't use salt but instead use magnesium chloride which is wrecking hell on my wrap. It's most noticeable on the rear bumper and trunk. Almost looks like the 'gloss' coat on the vinyl got ate away and it's just discolored and and dull.
