[QUOTE=bumpnzx3;3067565]i now have a 3 fin CF grille.QUOTE]

Where did you get the CF grill from?

 

I have seen a car with CF on the chrome molding. Would they be able to order the pin striping in CF or was this a custom job where new CF molding was inserted?

 

I've kinda read and seen these black vinyl roof tops on the W203. I kinda like 'em.

• Once you stick it on, is it permanent ?
  
• Will it damage / lift the paint when you remove it ???
  
• How did you account for the curvature of the roof ? any bubbles / ridges ?
  
• did you cut the vinyl and install yourself, or do you need a shop to do this ?

sorry for all the NOOB-type questions...

Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com

COMING SOON... All the details on the:
SoCal Mege Mercedes-Benz Meet - Nov 15th

 

Once you stick it on, is it permanent ?
I can't say about the other brands, as far as how they come off or if it leaves residue. However, the 3M 180C series material I used is supposed to be able to be taken off with no residue for 4 years. It has a life expectancy of 8 years of normal wear and tear. Since my car is never driven or out in the elements- it will probably last me the duration of my ownership. Bought the car new in July of '06 and it currently has less than 5k miles

Will it damage / lift the paint when you remove it ???
Again, not sure about the other brands. But, 3M is not supposed to. They said that after being on for 4 years you may have to use a combination of heat and/or solvents to get the residue off, but it will not harm your paint or clear coat.

How did you account for the curvature of the roof ? any bubbles / ridges ?
It's flexible/stretchable (is that a word?) enough to cover with no problems. It's made to do vehicle wraps- so it will even cover body lines, ridges, and rivets. If you use two peope, have a clean surface, and take your time- you shouldn't have any bubbles. Mine turned out fine last night.

Did you cut the vinyl and install yourself, or do you need a shop to do this ? Either/or. I just called on the help of a friend. I got it close, then smoothed it out using squeegee (*sp?) working from the center, outward. I then ran an exacto knife around the edges and smothed it out with a variety of things I had laying around. I popcicle stick seemed to work the best around the edges for me.

I paid ~$140 for a 4'x6' piece of matte black- which was enough for the roof and rear valance, and the black verticle trim on the windows. That price also included 40' (although I only ordered 20') of 1.25" wide matte black to do the strips that run on each side of the roof and down the windshield. And also a 50' roll of .5" matte black to cover all of the chrome trim around the tops of the doors and all around the door/bumper mouldings. All of it was 3M 180C.

 

You are talking about tudu's car.
Here:
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...540&highlight=

 

K so......the stuff is pretty sticky, once you put it on you cant really take it off and put it back. That said, if you dont like the way it looks you can just pull it off. It might leave some residue (like a good sticker) but I'm sure no real damage.

The best way to put it on is with 5 people. 1 person grabs each corner and one person actually lays the vinyl on. I would say start with the middle then like push out to the edges holding the vinyl taught. If you do it right you should avoid most air bubbles (but you will get a few). But to fix the bubbles you just peel off that part and re-do it. Once you are done if there are still bubbles you can poke a small hole and like push it forcing the air out. It will not look perfect from up close at first, but over time the sun like heats it and it will look better.

When we did mine it was too hot and the vinyl really stuck to the roof as soon as we put it down, so when we pulled off a part of it to fix an air bubble it tore. All we did was overlap the 2 pieces and it looks fine. You can only see a ridge if you look at it from real close. Also, when you put it on it stretches. So by time you get to the front of the car it is kind of not symmetrical (its kind of weird to explain), but all you have to do is cut a part of it. Again, it is hardly noticeable

We did it on my white W203, my friend's white IS300, and another friend's silver Audi A4


ill post pics as soon....maybe today if I get a chance.

Haha when we first did it only new cars had black roofs as part of the OEM Panoramic Roof, but now a lot more people are putting on the vinyl or painting the roofs (especially on white cars cuz it looks SICKKK)



I also covered up all my chrome trim yesterday. I went to Pep Boys and the pinstripe tape was too thin so I just used electrical tape. Its really easy and if you take your time using an x-acto knife you can do it easily
(agn I'll post pics later)


dude I probably asked more than anybody......lol I should be apologizing to other members

 

that's what i like about the 3M 180C material. they use something called "controltac" pressure activated ahesive. when you stick it down, it sticks faily well, but comes back up really easy if you don't get it placed correctly. after you get it where you want it and use some pressure, or squeegee like i did- it's stuck down pretty good.

 

[IMG][/IMG]

thats what it looks like. Its pretty shinny (I just washed the car)


[IMG][/IMG]

thats where it overlaps where I ad to cut it



[IMG][/IMG]

and thats the tear.....I cover the white with sharpie (it comes off when I wash the car)


overall though it looks really nice

 

bumpnzx3 and shivi1345,
thanks so much for answers to all my questions.

Might do this to my wife's SS when we get settled in Germany.


Carlos

Saprissa@aol.com
2003 C320 Sport Coupe
2004.5 C320 Sport Sedan

 

no problem- i'm pretty sure you've answered a few of my questions before- either directly or via the search option

 

Shivi1345,
Thanks for the info on the 3M material. Is it pliable enough to make it around a toll pass box on the windshield. I live in Illinois and the original IPass boxes are honkin' huge! They have since made a smaller version, but it doesn't make a chirping sound when you go through the toll, whereas the old ones did.

I know that everybody is thinking "why doesn't he just get one of the smaller one?" The answer is: without the chirp, if your battery dies (like so many do), you'd never know it, and you end up getting a notice for every toll booth you've gone through complete with a beautiful picture of your rear end (license plate, I mean), and a fine of $200 for each incident. My brother in law had thousands in fines racked up before he got the notice that essentially informed him that his IPass battery was dead.

To get the fines reduced back to the regular $1.00 toll amount for each incident, you have to submit your IPass ID number, date of purchase, etc. Basically a pain in the hinder.

Sorry to bore everyone with that long explanation, but that's why I want to keep the ugly, large (about the size of those individual cereal boxes but a tad thinner), ivory-colored plastic box on my windshield. As far as good-looking and sleek, a large box of ivory plastic on a black Kompressor sedan...not so much.

If I cover it with the black vinyl, at least it won't be the only thing you see when looking at the car. I just hope it doesn't affect the signal...I guess I'll just try and hope for the best.

One last thing, I called the DMV and asked them if they offered an IPass in black...you would have thought I was asking for the Colonel's Secret Recipe.

 

that would be easier to get !

 

NP Saprissa and Kompressive


I would imagine so, but I wouldn't put it on the windsheild. If you wanna block out something on the top of the windshield limo tint that top strip (I'm gonna do it soon)


I posted pics but it didnt work....I'll try to fix 'em (haha fixed 'em, but they're HUGE)

 

Wow great idea. definately gonna do the chrome trim bits... would do the roof aswell but seen as I have a bit of a rust spot on the roof, might aswell spray it black

 

Hey Fellas,

Does anyone have any extra matte black pinstriping they can spare/sell. I just need to do the chrome above the windows and really don't want to buy a whole roll. Please PM me if you have some matte black available.

 

I just got a quote from my tint shop to vinyl the roof and rear bumper (diffuser style) with matte black vinyl for $165 Does that sound right? He warranties the work too.

 

The place where I bought the vinyl here in So Cal said $300 for just the labor for the roof, so I would say thats a really good price

You can do the work yourself (I did the exact same things myself), but it is kind of a b**ch......so I would spend $165 especially if it comes with a warranty

 

$165 isn't too bad, if that's an installed price. i paid $140 for all of my vinyl. that was for a huge sheet to do the roof and diffuser as well as 40' of matte tape for the trim. so- figure $100 for the roof/diffuser material and about 1 hour of their time- adds up to about $165 i would guess.

 

wow I think I paid like $60 or $80 for the same amt. of material

 

depends on the brand/warranty. several of the places that i found online had no-name or low end products. i wanted something that had a good name behind it and would last.

on a different note- matte black vinyl and tints FTMFW

 

and more

 

That is seriously looking good. Adds a depth to the white.

Great job.

E

 

Looks good

sort of vaguely familiar.....haha

I think is especially stands out on the back, with that one big piece of chrome (now black). I love the way it looks on mine

any thoughts of blacking out the benz star? (I have been thinking about it)


what did you end up using for the chrome moulding?

 

i just used the same 3M 180C that's on the roof. the shop i worked with cut me a roll of 1.25" material. i used it on the chrome as well as the drip rail that's gloss black that goes from the bottom of the windshield, up the roof, and to the back window. i thought it would look odd with the roof matte and the drip rail gloss- so it was coverd it matte also.

 

Looks good, but why did you remove the moldings from the car?