Hi guys. I have tried several different times to black out my belt line with electrical tape. At first, I did it and it looked like **** within minutes, because the ends of it would shrink and it would leave about a 1/2" of space where chrome would peek through. I tried it again, but this time made sure not to stretch it at all. It looked good for a week, and now it's back to how it was!

Any tips on how to successfully do it, so it never shrinks in any way and looks good? I would rather not spend $$$ on a belt line blackout kit from Outmotoring, but if it comes down to it, and it would WORK, then I may end up doing that. But for now, any tips on how to make it work with electrical tape?

 

uhhhh electrical tape is not made to be exposed to the elements like that. Go to autozone and they should have vinyl black out tape which should be the same stuff as out motoring.

 

Everyone on the forum said to use electrical tape. But that does make sense. Do you know if it's basically the same thing as the out motoring?

Can't be much different I guess...

 

The Outmotoring black out kit is the way to go. I spent about about a 40min. installing it and it came out perfect. If I did it again it would take 20 min. or less, its just that easy. Cut each piece about an inch longer than it needs to be, install with 1/2" overhang on each end, use a small sharpish knife as a tool for working the material (tape?) up against the little plastic piece at the ends of the belt line strips, then trim with a razor blade. When I was done I had 5 feet left over.

 

The outmotoring kit is nothing like electrical tape. Just the right hardness and stiffness to apply easily and straight, and exactly the right width. Peel the backing off the tape? as you move down the belt line, if you run off a little you can pull it back up and adjust it.

 

Oh yeah, mine has been on the MINI for a year, parked outside in Seattle, and looks as good as the day I installed it. No shrink, no fade, no coming loose.

 

So...you're concerned with spending a whopping $12.95 for the Outmotoring kit and want to use electrical tape instead to save money?

 

I wanted to know two things: If there was a method I could use with the electrical tape that would make it work. It may just be $13 to get it, but that's $13 I didn't have before.

The other thing, was how well the OM Kit worked compared to electrical tape.

Pez, thanks a lot for the answer. You've convinced me to give it a try.

 

plasti-dip

 

You'd spend more on masking tape (and time masking.) to avoid overspray, not to mention the cost of the plasti-dip. I'd just buy the outmotoring kit and be done with it, they're a good vendor. Support them instead of Home Hardware or whatever.

I did the blackout with electrical tape and had the same problems. For now I'm leaving it chrome, until I get a chance to black out everything else (hatch, chrome line trim, headlight rings.)

 

i bought the vinyl tape from outmotoring
https://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coo...tline-kit.html
it looks great (factory if you do it right)

 

I ended up buying it the other day. Any tips on putting it on?

 

Make sure you are not stretching it when you apply. Also make sure the beltline is nice and clean.

Good luck and enjoy :D

 

Clean the beltline as best you can, and apply the vinyl lightly. If you stretch it you'll have the same problems you had with the electrical tape.

 

You could let the tape run up on the plastic fitting at that end of each run.
No one will notice it and it give you a little space if it does shrink any..
As has been mentioned try not to stretch it atleast on the ends and be careful to not touch the end sticky part so you are not getting oil, dirt/dust from your fingers on there..

 

I personally had problems getting the OutMotoring kit to cover every bit of exposed metal. Not much mind you, but in spots here and there I could see a sliver of metal showing itself. The OutMotoring kit would be perfect if it was about another 1/16" wider, but that's my perfectionist side.

So I used 3/8" vinyl pinstriping that you can buy at any auto parts. Using a very slight overlap, I ran three widths, covering every speck of metal...and unless you're within 12" and know you're looking for an overlap, you can't even see it.

 

For me the outmotoring kit was perfect, if it had been any wider, even 1/64" it would not have fit flat. Are you sure you didn't get the R53 kit and put it on an R56. As I was applying mine I would occasionally see a little of the chrome showing along the edge, but I would have run up on the black border of the belt line opposite of where the chrome was showing and I would just pull it back up for a couple of inches and then lay it back down a little more carefully. On mine the fit is absolutely perfect, and I'm a retired machinest, so I'm beyond **** on fitment and I have an eye for it.

 

Guess it's possible, but I wouldn't have known at the time. I ordered for an R56, and presumed what I got was for an R56...no package mind you for a label.

None the less, that was over a year ago, and I'm happy with my own creativity...worked out just fine.

$8.00 blackout...

 

Looks excellent! I have every piece of chrome Blacked out with plasti dip but the beltline and door handles. This may have pushed me to push further and just do the beltline thanks. Did you need to heat the vinyl to fit?

 

I wonder if the outmotoring kit will work the same on the coupe. I'd hate to buy it only to fail.

 

If you mean me, no...just took my time going all the way around without stretching any part. Since I "slightly" overlapped, I started at the bottom so the next layer (so to say) had the overlap edge facing down and not up (and the overlap is maybe 1/32 of an inch). Plus, by using the Trimbrite, it was more of a semi-gloss than the outmotoring satin/flat. To me it was more appealing and less susceptible to spotting and discoloration. Some people might not like the idea that it's strips with an overlap...but not a single person has ever noticed it. I've even had a couple of people ask if it was a blackout kit...and when I tell them what I did and pointed it out, it's always the same "wow, you can't even tell".

 

I used to tape mine... now I just scuff and shoot it. In fact, I had to replace a moulding last week, cleaned it, scotch brite and mask. Then shoot it with a spray can.


Mark