Would you vinyl wrap your car?

Pretty much anything goes these days when it comes to car colour, graphics and effects. Much of this is thanks to the surge in the use of vinyl wraps, which first became popular back in the 1990s on German taxis. The transport authorities had decreed that all cabs must be beige. However, because this dull hue wasn’t great for resale values after a taxi’s working life was over, and resprays were expensive, the drivers instead had their vehicles ‘wrapped’ in a thin but durable sheet coating that could easily be unpeeled at a later date.

These days, the procedure spans far more than cabs. In fact, almost anything can be wrapped, but specialist Creative FX says owners of high-end cars are among its most enthusiastic customers. That’s no surprise, given that a quality job costs about £2500.

At Creative FX’s premises in Bromley we saw a new Audi S5 being wrapped in Nardo Grey; a remarkably dull tone to our perhaps unsophisticated eyes, but apparently rather exclusive – and much desired by this particular car’s owner. Meanwhile, vivid Sheer Luck Green satin was being applied to a Mazda MX-5 RF with customary precision, using hard-earned craftsmanship skills.

The highly trained pros prep a motor by removing the door handles, external mirrors and bumpers, allowing access to the tightest areas and a perfect fit. They expertly work the wrap with knives, knifeless cutting tape, squeegee, heat gun and surface cleaner. A single car can take up to three days to complete, and Creative FX is currently working at full output to satisfy customer demand.

Such skills help avoid common pitfalls. For instance, you must heat up the vinyl to get it in to some tight places. There’s a risk of burning the paintwork underneath if you overcook things. And when it comes to removal, on older cars rust and respray paint can potentially come away with the wrap. Those sharp knives are something to be very respectful of, as well…