[nerdogray]

Went by and saw an installer today. He does not remove anything from the vehicle other than emblems and badges when doing a full wrap, which after my last abysmal experience, I kind of appreciate. After talking to him, though, I'm back on the fence about just getting front done. I wanted to get the whole thing done, but the cost is just a bit much for the desired outcome.

For a stealth conversion, it's particularly bothersome for some areas, like the door handles and trunk ledge, with the latter requiring some wonky customization or leaving a large triangular bare spot on either side. The gas tank lid could also be problematic. He put a test strip of Stealth on the A pillar, and it looked really good, but if there are going to be spots that aren't covered, I'd rather not.

Basically, I'm wondering what people have done for these areas. For a master of the craft, what do they do? Commentary below is what I was told would be done by this PPF installer today.

1. Kidney grille. Perimeter edge is wrapped, but gloss black interior slats are left untouched. Can always just be replaced. Not a big deal, but.. it is the front of the car and going to be subjected to the most harsh (regular driving) conditions.
2. Side vents. Left untouched. Not a big deal.
3. Door handles. Going to look really weird if these are left untouched or are only partially covered in the case of Stealth. Much more tolerable if clear.
4. Trunk ledge, or whatever it's called. On either side, the physical characteristics of the wrap make it (nearly?) an impossibility to mold it in that area without a lot of fingering.
5. The gloss black trim the extends from front to back on either side of the M5 is a really tight fit that makes wrapping the corners difficult. I've seen videos where some installers just pop those off in order to wrap the corner, but this installer doesn't. Is this normal?
6. Bottom part of diffuser untouched.

[crypto]

From my experience the installers remove everything to wrap it the best they can. My installer did not remove the trunk spoiler though. Said wrapping under it causes issues. I think everything else came out.

[crypto]

I think you can see most of it but just to mention them and some you cannot see.. things that came off:

- trunk / hood emblems
- trunk badging
- tail lights
- side vents or whatever it’s called
- hood vents
- door handles
- gas cover
- weather proofing from the roof and down by the a pillars on windshield
- front grills

Stuff that doesn’t come off:

- trunk spoiler (mentioned above)
- headlights (but they’re wrapped with gloss)
- mirrors / diffuser / lip / roof / etc <- but they’re wrapped in place with gloss

Anything that’s CF or gloss black you keep gloss and wrap the painted areas with stealth.. or at least that’s how I did it and suspect it’s usually done.

[nerdogray]

Thank you. The fact that your trunk ledge is completely wrapped with no omission in either corner tells me I need to find another installer. He was really concerned about that, which tells me he doesn't have the experience I want. My first M5 had those omissions in either corner. Total hack job. Not going that direction again.

By the way, would you mind telling me who did yours? This may be something I ultimately just drive somewhere to get done and stay a week in a hotel... or however long it takes.

He also set a low expectation on the paint correction. Yea, that's a no from me dawg.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

Thank you. The fact that your trunk ledge is completely wrapped with no omission in either corner tells me I need to find another installer. He was really concerned about that, which tells me he doesn't have the experience I want. My first M5 had those omissions in either corner. Total hack job. Not going that direction again.

By the way, would you mind telling me who did yours? This may be something I ultimately just drive somewhere to get done and stay a week in a hotel... or however long it takes.

He also set a low expectation on the paint correction. Yea, that's a no from me dawg.

There’s a small area next to the spoiler that doesn’t get wrapped but it’s minimal. Anywhere there’s a sharp corner typically has a cut out too. See the attached pic.
I used Speed & Tech here in Northern Virginia — the same as a bunch on Bimmerpost but also the same place that did a few of their other CS owners from this F90 board too.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

Thank you. The fact that your trunk ledge is completely wrapped with no omission in either corner tells me I need to find another installer. He was really concerned about that, which tells me he doesn't have the experience I want. My first M5 had those omissions in either corner. Total hack job. Not going that direction again.

By the way, would you mind telling me who did yours? This may be something I ultimately just drive somewhere to get done and stay a week in a hotel... or however long it takes.

He also set a low expectation on the paint correction. Yea, that's a no from me dawg.

Why would you paint correct and then put stealth on? Maybe that’s why he had low expectation as that is pretty pointless.

[nerdogray]

My understanding is that Stealth will still show chips. But the way he described the paint correction process was a good tell that he shouldn't be doing it. I may not have the balls to do it myself, but I've read enough to know it can be done quite well with enough attention to detail and experience.

[micvite]

Originally Posted by crypto

From my experience the installers remove everything to wrap it the best they can. My installer did not remove the trunk spoiler though. Said wrapping under it causes issues. I think everything else came out.

Do you mind showing what your bunper cover looks like right where the closed trunk lid meets the bumper? Especially in the corners of that little ledge there if you don't mind. A lot of installers seem to just leave that uncovered.

[crypto]

Originally Posted by micvite

Do you mind showing what your bunper cover looks like right where the closed trunk lid meets the bumper? Especially in the corners of that little ledge there if you don't mind. A lot of installers seem to just leave that uncovered.

Sure but Can you circle on a pic the area you mean?

[micvite]

Originally Posted by crypto

Sure but Can you circle on a pic the area you mean?

In those little nooks on the bumper ledge thing idk what to even call it lol

[crypto]

Originally Posted by micvite

In those little nooks on the bumper ledge thing idk what to even call it lol

Yeah there’s a small diagonal area not wrapped there. Here’s a pic.

[micvite]

Originally Posted by crypto

Yeah there’s a small diagonal area not wrapped there. Here’s a pic.

Gotcha, thx. Also is your ppf peeling under the tail light in the pic or is it just dust bunnies lol

[crypto]

Originally Posted by micvite

Gotcha, thx. Also is your ppf peeling under the tail light in the pic or is it just dust bunnies lol

Not peeling and I wish it was dust. pollen. 🥲

[nerdogray]

Originally Posted by crypto

Yeah there’s a small diagonal area not wrapped there. Here’s a pic.

That's actually the area I was talking about earlier... the trunk ledge. I didn't know the technical term. I'm glad Micvite asked. *However*, that actually looks really good. I've seen some real hack jobs in that area. That's the best I've seen.

[micvite]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

That's actually the area I was talking about earlier... the trunk ledge. I didn't know the technical term. I'm glad Micvite asked. *However*, that actually looks really good. I've seen some real hack jobs in that area. That's the best I've seen.

Yeah I knew it was lol... last place I got mine they just put another piece of ppf there and it looked like crap.... because I want my whole car covered haha. The other option is something like this where they do the whole bumper in 2 pieces with a seam on the edge, it's hard to see it but if you look closely it's there and that's how I'm getting mine done eventually.

[nerdogray]

Ok, now that's the best I've seen.

[windtendo]

On mine, they wrapped the full bumper. The angular part that goes up the side is wrapped, not exposed. They had to lay down a separate piece that fit and lined up just right. It's interesting to see how different installers approach this area.