I wouldn't think they would bother with paint?

I Know BMW have offered it as it was on topgear (think it was BMW)

But its a c*nt to look after compared to vinyl.

I meant wraps as dealer options, not full paint jobs.

Thatcham's newsletter on future repair challenges only lists the RS 500 as being a factory-fitted vinyl wrap:

It has recently been identified that some vehicle manufacturers are offering matte/satin paint finishes on some of their limited edition models. These include Mercedes, Audi, Bentley and Ford. The Mercedes model range, except for the A, B and M Class, have designo paint options of which some colours are satin finish. They also have a special version of the SL500 Night Edition in matte black. Bentley released the Continental Super Sports at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, with an £18,890 paint option of light grey satin or dark grey satin. Audi RS5 is likely to be available in matte black. Ford Focus RS 500 is offered in Panther Black.

The Ford Focus RS 500 is offered in one colour, Panther Black. The bodyshell is painted traditionally in Panther Black Metallic with a gloss clear coat and then wrapped in a matte film. In repair, it will be painted in the colour and then wrapped by 3M at specialist centres. Thatcham is awaiting information on this process from 3M.

From here:

http://www.thatcham.org/research/pdfs/rese...vol5_issue3.pdf

They're pretty popular on new cars though. Not something I'd do, but I've seen plenty of box-fresh cars with satin bodywork.

Now that's interesting

Its a clear matt film?

Yeah, i meant vinyl too

I don't think it's clear, but that does sound like it is. They don't wrap the mirror caps or inside the door shuts on an RS500, which I think is a bit lazy. Cool car though.

Care to explain how DKnight, I worked with a signage company for 2 years by all means if you know better how about a bit of information instead of a whitty comment with a childish 'lol' at the end. I explained higher up in the thread I'm no expert with wrapping but I'll pass on what I do know, Thanks.

calm down there was nothing childish about it, but you did say "I dont know much" then went on to tell people that standard vinyl can be used for wraps. This is not the case, conforming vinyl is totally different to "standard vinyl"

Then to say cheaper stuff only has so much give then rips, its a silly generalized statement, I'm sure cheaper conforming vinyl works fine, i have never used any vinyl for application and ripped it, it would only ever rip if the temperature was not correct.

Vinyl used for wrapping and signage is also not completely different, it is exactly the same, apart from one conforms to curves, and it is in no way perforated.

I was just trying to save face a bit!

Cheaper vinyl is rubbish i will stick by the fact 1m of gloss black avery was around £2.20 where as a batch we were sent from a company in japan came in at under a £1 per metre and you could tell the difference instantly before even applicating the vinyl, just from the general feel and if you pulled it it would stretch go opaque then rip hence my previous statement.

So be it it may not be 'perforated' but it sure as hell looked it when we when to get my friends e36 wrapped.

But how can they be exactly the same if one conforms to curves and one doesn't, that would make them completely different.

At least you have shown that you can back up your one liner to a certain extent, and well leave it there.

Vinyl rap it your self? Save your money and use your own time and a bottom of a old wiper :). Take the time and do it right. You can get a complete kit of ebay for like £300 and make cardboard cut outs of each panel, slightly bigger than usual and cut the vinyl to the same size. Using a wiper blade smooth it out and a hair dryer XD Simple, Practise makes perfect, guarantee the last panel you do will be the best so take your time.

Vinyl rap it your self? Save your money and use your own time and a bottom of a old wiper :). Take the time and do it right. You can get a complete kit of ebay for like £300 and make cardboard cut outs of each panel, slightly bigger than usual and cut the vinyl to the same size. Using a wiper blade smooth it out and a hair dryer XD Simple, Practise makes perfect, guarantee the last panel you do will be the best so take your time.

I think it's a bit different to do a whole car than say, a badge or boot handle.

If wrapping a whole car I'd want peace of mind and have a pro do it.

Although, has been said, with the cost of wrapping vs cost of respray then I'd go for paint every time, personally...

I know that, but surely it cant be that hard. were as handles are un even and difficuilt compared to a flat body pannel. Worth a try if it worrks out well youve saved you are self loads

Cheaper vinyl is rubbish i will stick by the fact 1m of gloss black avery was around £2.20 where as a batch we were sent from a company in japan came in at under a £1 per metre and you could tell the difference instantly before even applicating the vinyl, just from the general feel and if you pulled it it would stretch go opaque then rip hence my previous statement.

So be it it may not be 'perforated' but it sure as hell looked it when we when to get my friends e36 wrapped.

But how can they be exactly the same if one conforms to curves and one doesn't, that would make them completely different.

At least you have shown that you can back up your one liner to a certain extent, and well leave it there.

well no all it proves is that you got some cheaper vinyl from japan that was shit, does not mean all cheaper vinyl is rubbish? You pull any vinyl it will stretch and go opaque then rip???? That kind of bares no relevance to the vinyl wrap discussion tho.

They can be exactly the same as vinyl is vinyl, if you lay them both on a flat sign they are the same, that its the point i was making, how your message came across you made out like it was totally different.

But anyway i am just saying, forgive me for putting facts straight.

The price factor with wraps is purely down to the man hours, the materials is only about 20% of the cost, clean area, time, "surely it cant be that hard" it is a fine art done properly!

Putting the facts straight? To be honest I don't feel you have there is no technical knowledge in your replies what so ever just common sense. I'm bored of this debate now if things I have said are wrong then I'll happily admit it so appologies to the op if that's the case. Not in the mood for arguments over the Internet.

Matt

me neither, nice sticker in your profile pic

Ha my girlfriend just saw me on the computer and commented on it saying it gives off the wrong impression, it was on the window when I bought the car and found it funny but after a little think I don't want to be branded as a paedophile!

haha it is funny you should say that, somehow a news team thinks that the pedo bear is a sign for pedophiles, like something they brand them with, because hey pedophiles love to make it publicly aware dont they? ha

its just a car sticker that looks cool, crazy dumb americans!