I have been eyeing up the 3M DI-NOC 3D Carbon Fiber Vinyl for a week or two and after ordering some samples I went for it and ordered 12 feet! I have wrapped my door panels, steering wheel controls and my center console (twice). I am planning on tackling the vents and Speedo console (Mickey Mouses Head).
This stuff is the most realistic carbon with a very visible herring bone pattern. Once installed it seems like the real thing. I had to convince people today that it wasn't real CF...

Here is a link to where I bought it. They have a great video of a Mini getting its mirrors, headlight rings, and roof wrapped. Which I think looks awesome in the end.

http://www.tiptopsigns.com/3M-DI-NOC...er-p-2472.html

Its supposed to have a 6 year warranty outdoor and unlimited indoor. So it should hold up well.
Here are some photos.. I will add more as I get more.

 

more

 

You missed the Mickey Mouse Ears.

 

That's what I'd like to see! Covering up those darned grey vents / ears...

 

That is a very nice Job! Have you had experience doing this before and how hard is it to apply for someone without prior knowledge?
Thanks, Steve

 

I have done vinyl stripes and I wrapped my tail light bezels before so I'm exactly new to it but it's fairly simple with the right tools. I am using the 3M primer 94 to help with adhesion and a lot of heat from the hair dryer. Don't forget a super sharp blade with replacement tips(you will need them)..
The door panels were extremely simple. Clean, lay it out, heat it up, press it on, and trim. The shifter bezel was very difficult. I had to do it twice so far. It started to shrink at the edges after sitting in the heat all day. I had trimmed it incorrectly which allowed that to happen. I'm now wrapping it around the edges to better hold it in place. We'll see how that works. So far so good.

I'll keep everyone posted in any more progress.

 

nicely done

 

Looks great!

 

that really does look nice!

 

A small update..

I have noticed over the past few days that the doors remain perfect, however the shifter console trim piece I did has started to pull off slightly. Its only where the tabs are that hold it in. Mostly because I couldn't wrap it around the edges like I did the rest of the way around. I have now done this piece twice and Im not a 100% happy with it still.
I think I need to use more heat to really get the glue to stick. I noticed in the video on the site where I bought it that the installer was using a heat gun vs my hairdryer. The hairdryer gets hot but maybe not enough to activate the glue to maximum stickyness.
With all that said, the look is incredible and I'm going to find a way to do most of the interior still..

Thanks for the compliments.

John V

 

Nice job John! I did parts of my interior as well. Were just starting to offer it (hydrographics) as another option/service to our powder coatings/painting. The nice thing about yours is that it can be done mostly without removing the parts. Would of done the door rings as well.. Piano black to carbon fiber but just to involved to remove as they are plastic welded from behind. I may try the dry film approach. Again, Nice Job!

 

I am currently at the beach for the week and I brought the CF and my tools(thanks to the hidden stash spot in the trunk) and I let the wife and kids head to the beach and I've been busy working on the Mini.. I have done a total of 28 interior pieces so far. I never thought I could get so much usage out of it.
I tried like hell to get the vents covered but its super hard to get it flawless and that's the only way I'm happy.
Here are some pics I posted on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...7&l=4a755c0bed

 

Again, my compliments ! Excellent Job. I'm the same way either has to look perfect or as you mentioned, flawless or it won't fly…(pardon the pun). I'll have to try that process just wondering how its going to look compared to what I've already applied in hydrographic's, as everything gets sealed and clear coated. So more of a gloss it looks like, but it's sure nice…tedious I'm sure but for those items that are not removable or just not worth the time. Enough with the car... go enjoy the beach and your family.
My wife's an RN and did some time at John Hopkins…some time back. We're headed up to the Cape in a few weeks. Enjoy!

 

They do have a gloss carbon. Maybe it will match a little better.. The website has 2 samples of any vinyl for $3. Good place to start..

 

Great …When you get a minute can you give me that site…or direct me to the post, I'm sure it's on here somewhere.

Thanks again.

 

http://www.tiptopsigns.com/3M-DI-NOC...er-p-2472.html

In their description it links you to buy samples. I got the DI-NOC black which was just big enough to do the bottom spoke of my steering wheel and I got a sample of white, which I used to do the paddle shifters. So for $3 you can get a start...

I highly recommend the 3M Primer 94. If you plan to do anything other than the door panels. It will be needed on all edges and corners that end close to a edge. Its nice because it doesn't leave it super sticky if you need to remove it. I also recommend getting 2 or 3 of the white applicators with the soft edge. I have blown thru a few of them. A super sharp scalpel set with replacement blades is a must. Once the blade dulls it's a ***** to cut since its 7.5 mil.
I know your experienced with modding cars but the list will help you get going quicker I hope.. Don't forget the hear gun or hair dryer. That's what gets it sticky..

 

Awesome….! Yes we go through blades by the thousands…nothing worst than a dull blade and it doesn't take much dull them. Thanks again…and keep us posted with your mods.
Fred

 

Here are a few of my favorite pieces that I did.. The tachometer is by far my favorite!

 

Some more pieces and my mobile vinyl shop

 

This is the only piece I did on the exterior. Love it

 

The first pic is what the center looked like when it peeled up. It is still the one part I can't get right..

The second photo is my first shot at doing the air vents. It took me about 20 minutes of working the vinyl and then trimming it. About 30 mins after I took this pic it shrank up and started peeling at the edges. I used their 3M glue but it just wasn't holding. I have more and still plan on trying to conquer it.

In the last photo I had a piece of scrap and wanted to see if I could even do the handles with this stuff. I may actually give it a shot. Its gonna be tough and I'm not convinced it will be worth all the headaches when I have to remove it.

 

So I have a bunch of extra CF vinyl and a 2nd set of headlight bezels and I was bored. This is the result. Man did it come out nice. Way better then I expected. I glued and wrapped the edges and used a ton of heat. These should be on there to stay.. I just cant get over how real they look.. Let the bidding begin.. :-)

 

one more close up

 

Got some time to install the headlight bezels today and what a difference. I wasn't sure I'd like the Carbon vinyl on the outside of the car with all the black, but IMO it looks fantastic.

Now Im gonna go nuts trying to do the door handles..

Here are some new photos.. One photo has one black and one CF headlight ring in place.

 

Nice.