The 3M stuff that a lot of people here use weather it's the CF or a different pattern sticks VERY WELL!
The Random Question Thread
- Thread starter tchuck
- Start date
- Car
- 2004 Infiniti FX45
- Name
- Adam
#1 important thing to know about choosing the right vinyl for any wrap, wether interior or exterior is the quality of the film and ability to stretch and mold when exposed to the heat, without breaking, cracking or melting. So don't go for a "bargain". Cheap doesn't mean good, but also expensive doesn't mean the same. Off brand, I'd stay away, they usually use weak adhesive, are too thin and will quickly come off, fade or will be very difficult to apply to any surface and stay there.
Personally on my FX I used 3M 1080 Series to 3M Di-Noc to 3M Controltac. Tha's both on my interior and exterior. Zebra f.ex used Hexis Vinyl on the exterior of his car and is very happy with it too, so feel free to reach out to him too.
#2. It's always good to not rely just on the vinyl's "sticking" abilities. For interior parts and especially ones that have sharp corners curvature etc etc, use good primer to prep the area and improve adhesion. It will stay on without peeling later on. Also remember that the vinyl will slightly shrink, it's the nature of the film to shrink back, so after you are done applying to all the parts, don't install it all back right away, let it sit overnight and in the morning see if anything needs application of heat back and "learn" new shape. After that there dis barely any maintenance needed.
#3 use good sharp tools, get a heat gun if you can, hair dryer is okay, but HG will work much better. Leave slack of vinyl, don't cut too little. Don't rush.
Other than that it's fairly easy and anyone can do it.
Hope that helps
Last edited:
What lucki said^^
When it comes down to it, in all the reading I have done and with talking to Zebra (This king of wrapping), the consensus is that Avery, 3M and Hexis all have interchangeable wraps. They are all quality but each is a little different.
When it comes down to it, in all the reading I have done and with talking to Zebra (This king of wrapping), the consensus is that Avery, 3M and Hexis all have interchangeable wraps. They are all quality but each is a little different.
thanks for the reply. i dont use my steering wheel adjust so not sure. yes i have hfc. i think they are falling apart inside so i may change them out in the spring. thanks!
JerzeyFX
Member
- Car
- 2004 FX35 AWD
I am in the process of changing my headlights out on my 04' FX to the 6000k Morimotos. Following the DIY on here and I loosened the dust cap, reached in and two connections basically just fell out. I see on the DIY that it says to pull off the silver connection with the lightning bolt. What is this other attachment that came out as well?
Attachments
Last edited:
I am in the process of changing my headlights out on my 04' FX to the 6000k Morimotos. Following the DIY on here and I loosened the dust cap, reached in and two connections basically just fell out. I see on the DIY that it says to pull off the silver connection with the lightning bolt. What is this other attachment that came out as well?
The black one is the OEM HID ballast connector, the red one looks like an aftermarket hid (d2s) connector. does your headlights run a aftermarket ballast?
Attachments
JerzeyFX
Member
- Car
- 2004 FX35 AWD
Hey Viperi, thanks for the response. Not that I am aware of, I bought this car used a few months ago. I haven't done anything with the front lights so far. Why would someone put an aftermarket ballast on if the car already has HID?
---------- Post added at 07:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:31 PM ----------
Two more pictures, not sure if that is glue on the dust cap or something that has been melting.
Attachments
Does the red connector come out of the dust cap? if it does, follow those wires and it should lead to a aftermarket ballast ( from the pics it looks like the thing thats labeled oem transformer is the aftermarket ballast) . Some people put in aftermarket ballasts causes it cheaper then OEM ones. what you can do is install the bulb on the OEM connector ( metal gray one). put it somewhere safe / not touching anything in the engine bay and fire up the fx and see if the bulb comes on. if not, do the same with the red connector
Last edited:
JerzeyFX
Member
- Car
- 2004 FX35 AWD
Alright I will try that out before I install the new bulb. Thanks again man.
JerzeyFX
Member
- Car
- 2004 FX35 AWD
You were correct, the OEM ballast does not work. Whoever owned the car before me changed it and left the old ballast in place with the connection sitting in the headlight housing.
Vinyl will stick to anything non porous. So metal, plastic, glass, paint. I've had experience with all major brands of vinyl and a lot of no name ones. Owned a sign shop a long time ago and used primarily Oracal and Avery. Currently my BMW is wrapped in Hexis vinyl w/ 3M 1080 CF on roof. The interior of my FX and part of my BMW is wrapped in 3M brushed titanium. All exterior chrome on my FX is wrapped in 3M brushed black and the roof is wrapped in brushed black from eBay. Long story short, all the major brands of vinyl are effectively the same when comparing grades. As long as you buy vinyl suitable for car wrapping, you're fine. They may have slight differences in how aggressive the initial tack is which affects installation technique, but they all install about the same. Even the no name Chinese vinyl works fine for the most part unless it's the really cheap stuff. But unless you're wrapping an entire car, the price difference between a name brand and a no name brand is minimal so just go with a name brand. All vinyl made for wrapping cars is cast, that means it's manufactured in flat sheets so it's natural state is flat. That's why you have to heat and cool it a few times if working around complex corners to reset it's shape. A lot of people miss this step and then wonder why the vinyl lifts when it gets hot. Cheaper vinyl is calendared, this will be the really cheap stuff from China and lower grade films made anywhere really. Calendered vinyl is made by rolling, stretching, and flattening pvc through rollers. So the natural state of the material will have "tension" in it. It's not as predicable if you're trying to wrap it around contours and such. But it would be rare to see calendered vinyl used to wrap.
Car Bibles : The Engine Oil Bible
Has a great section on different oils:
Base Oils, Process Oils 3 years
Hydraulic Oils, Compressor Oils, General Purpose Lubricating Oils 2 years
Engine[Dead Link Removed] Oils and Transmission Oils 3 years
Industrial and Automotive[Dead Link Removed] Gear Oils 2 years
Metal Working and Cutting Oils 1 year
Has a great section on different oils:
Base Oils, Process Oils 3 years
Hydraulic Oils, Compressor Oils, General Purpose Lubricating Oils 2 years
Engine[Dead Link Removed] Oils and Transmission Oils 3 years
Industrial and Automotive[Dead Link Removed] Gear Oils 2 years
Metal Working and Cutting Oils 1 year
Last edited by a moderator:
- Car
- 2004 FX35
- Name
- Jeff
28474-89910
- Car
- 2007 FX35 RWD
All roof rails should be removable. Although I think with 1st gen there end up being these bolts that stick up and prevent the covers from fitting right. You either have to cut them off, or remove them from the inside, which means dealing with the headliner.
georgeilliano
Member
I have a 2005 FX35 it was not equipped with satellite radio but I woukd like to have it installed, must I use an Infiniti dealer and how much does the tuner cost? thanks to all