Originally Posted by rkhettry23' post='1001431' date='Sep 7 2009, 09:38 PM

I tried my first vinyl roof install yesterday and it went pretty terrible. I chalked it up as a learning experience and will most likely be trying again soon. Some tips for the newbies.....first make sure the vinyl is in pristine condition before you even begin to think about installing it. You NEED to use a heat gun. I tried for the first like 25 min without one and did enough damage (in terms of creases, wrinkles, etc) that even once I had a heat gun, I could not fix all the areas. I would not attempt installing a roof without 3 people. One person to stretch, one person to use the heat gun (carefully! I burned a few holes that progressively got larger with stretching), and one person to use the squeegee. I would also consider getting one of their "teflon" ones because I used a credit card wrapped in a microfiber cloth and it didn't work out great. I tried to use just the credit card and it left some scratch marks. Grrr, I could tell that if done properly, this would have looked amazing. The quality of the vinyl seems really good and can be stretched a ton and reapplied a few times. If you have any specific questions PM me and I can try and help as much as possible. Don, I'm most likely going to place the same order again for 2 more gloss black yards...

-Raj

Originally Posted by Don Nguyen' post='1001719' date='Sep 8 2009, 11:41 AM

Honestly, making a template is very time consuming. Pretty much all car wraps are cut after/once it is applied on the car.

I basically would have to figure out how to trace the roof, then cut it out on my large plotter. Test fit it back on the roof, which means doing an actual install, and making more adjustments from there if necessary. Rinse and repeat until everything was done. As you can imagine, this would take quite a bit of time.

Shipping a precut piece is also not easy, since the edges of the vinyl are more flexible/flimsy per say, they do get damaged easier. I am sure there's a way around this, but it's still one of those things to consider.

If I had 10 people pre pay me for a pre cut roof piece, then I would consider making one.

-Don

Originally Posted by rkhettry23' post='1001914

Thanks, I guess the two important questions for me would be:

1. How much easier would it make the install? (Is cutting it the tough part or the application)
2. What would the price be?

Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='992143' date='Aug 29 2009, 12:06 AM

Either way, you've been a member since 07 and still have not donated to this forum and you are not part of the "Contributors" group....


IMO, you are getting some free ad space for the service you provide for a good price...



perhaps it's time to Donate

Originally Posted by Don Nguyen' post='1002778' date='Sep 9 2009, 08:17 AM

Yes, I will donate. However, each time you guys hound me for it, it makes me slightly disinterested in it. I will still do it though.

Part 1 of 2 from monday:

-Don

Originally Posted by GENEaTALS' post='1002790' date='Sep 9 2009, 08:25 AM

Only reason we are hounding you is because you haven't done it in the ~2yrs that you've been a member

Most of the members here tend to support "vendors" here that actually donate/contribute to this forum.

The admins do not ask for sponsorships or vendor fee's...so technically you are getting free ad space, it would be nice, appreciated and good business practice to just donate the site and contribute to the upkeep of this forum you are getting business from. However, if you feel disinterested in doing so, don't...no one is forcing you to...myself and DRANGED just wanted to make sure you didn't overlook something.....honestly, if you don't feel the need or see the point in donating, don't....either way GL with your sales/service



on a side note....do you wrap/have you tried and wrapped the chrome window trim? I've seen some 3 series owners have that done on a few other sites....

Originally Posted by Don Nguyen' post='1003798' date='Sep 10 2009, 10:03 AM

More pictures of black roofs that I did over the weekend (don't mind the antenna cover that's not there, it wasn't put back on yet for the pictures):











-Don