What a color-change wrap is
A color-change wrap covers a vehicle's paint with colored vinyl film: gloss, satin, matte, metallic, color-shift and printed designs. Done well, it changes the look of the car completely and comes off later. It's a cosmetic film first. It offers some protection against light scuffs, but it isn't paint protection film, which is much thicker. 3M's product bulletin for its 2080 wrap film lists it at 3.5 mil without adhesive (3M).
Cast versus calendered film
Vehicle wrap films are generally cast vinyl. Cast film is made by spreading liquid vinyl into a thin sheet and letting it set, which leaves it relatively relaxed and able to conform to curves and recesses. Calendered film is made by pressing and rolling softened vinyl into a sheet; it tends to carry more internal stress and to shrink back over time, which is why calendered films are used mostly for flat surfaces. A very cheap full wrap is sometimes cheap because it uses film that isn't made for vehicle curves. Ask for the exact product name and check that the manufacturer lists it for full vehicle wraps.
How long wraps last
There's no single answer. Lifespan depends on the film, the color and finish, how much sun the vehicle gets, which surfaces face the sky, and how the wrap is cared for. Horizontal surfaces such as hoods, roofs and trunks take the most sun and wear first. Manufacturers state durability on their data sheets and warranties, and some reduce it for hot, sunny regions: 3M's 2080 bulletin, for example, refers to reduced warranted durabilities in hot, arid desert areas. Ask the shop what the manufacturer's warranty says for your film, in your region, for vertical and horizontal surfaces.
The paint underneath
Vinyl needs sound paint. Film adheres to the clear coat, and when it's removed, weak or failing paint can come off with it. Repainted panels that weren't fully cured, peeling clear coat and chips all show through or cause problems. A good shop inspects the paint closely before agreeing to wrap, and tells you if the paint isn't a good candidate.
Disassembly and door jambs
How much the shop takes apart decides how finished the wrap looks. Removing handles, badges, mirrors, lights and trim lets film be wrapped behind them, so original paint doesn't show at the edges. Door jambs, the painted surfaces you see when a door is open, can be wrapped too, but it's a lot of extra work and often priced separately. Ask exactly what will be removed, whether jambs are included, and how parts will be reinstalled.
Post-heating
Vinyl has memory: stretched into a recess or around a curve, it tries to return to its flat shape, which causes lifting. Manufacturers specify post-heating to stop that. Avery Dennison's application bulletin for its Supreme Wrapping Film, for example, calls for heating the film to 90–95°C (about 194–203°F) in convex and concave areas and says an infrared thermometer is necessary to confirm the temperature (Avery Dennison TB 3.12). Ask how the shop post-heats and checks temperature.
Questions to ask
- Which film will you use, and what does its warranty say for my area?
- Is my paint a good candidate, and what happens to it when the wrap comes off?
- What will you remove, and are door jambs included?
- How do you post-heat, and how do you check the temperature?
- How long before I can wash the car?