Since the paint on the Mistress has been destroyed by the sun - I am considering options. I know an excellent paint job will probably run 10K if not more and a midlevel around 5K. So how easy is it to wrap as a DIY?? Am I crazy to try and wrap DIY?

 

You could try to wrap it. It isn't rocket science, but it is a craft. Watch a lot of YouTube videos, but not those (amateurs) that wrap with soapy water. Wraps are applied dry. Avery SW900 is an excellent wrap material that I've used with great results. You probably can get a 25 yard roll, which should be enough to wrap your car - for less than $1,000 (retail price).

You will be better off if your remove the door handles and mirrors, but it's not 100% necessary. (I haven't studied my XK8. Some cars don't require it.)

I've wrapped maybe 100 commercial trucks, but only a few cars. If I were to wrap cars professionally I'd take a course specializing in it, because it's a whole different animal than commercial trucks, which have fewer curves and seams we don't bother hiding. (Just get the phone number right!)

Good luck !

PS - The coupe lacks a weld or crease between the greenhouse and fenders, which you would normally used to hide a seam on a car. Not sure how the convertible plays out.

 

thanks for the insight - still doing my homework so appreciate all the info and tips.

 

Hi there,

You definitely can do it yourself! I'm working on plastic wrapping to protect the paint in the first place. Basically, the most expensive part of the job is the labor, so if you have the garage space, a few basic tools, and the wrap, you can totally do it with a paint wrap. A silly super-car shop wanted $1700 JUST for the bumper/lower hood! For the TPU I'm using, it's only like $150 for 10x5 feet worth of wrap!!!

Point of advice, any parts that remove, take them off, such as the hood. While a lot of videos show doing it while on the car (and frankly you basically have to for fenders), you can remove the hood/front bumper, and it just makes the whole job easier to wrap around the edges, plus the convenience of doing it on the bench, opposed to hunched on the floor/on your knees. Not required, but for what I'm doing, it's easier. Best of luck, and let us know what you end up deciding, color-wise!

 

@Daytonc thanks for the info. The car is Sapphire so trying to stay close to that color and the VViViD Ultra Gloss Neptune Blue Pearl seems to be a fairly close match and can get a 15ft x 5ft roll for $150. Not sure if that will be enough but cost wise seems reasonable

https://vvividshop.com/products/ultr...une-blue-pearl

 

Wraps can look very good if done well! I'm considering wrapping my 2000 XK8 conv. Terribly oxidized. Sometimes you can find some younger people who do it as a side hobby and get the whole car wrapped for around 1k. They typically have experience to be able to do a pretty good job.