My thought process at 2am on a Thursday....

Ever find yourself watching random things on youtube just because someone posted a link to an exhaust sound or something like that. Within 3 videos you're watching a kitten riding round on an automatic hoover!

Well that sort of happened to me tonight but I'll show you...

First off I reviewed the black alloys I bought today, had a look at some websites on how to refurb them.

This somehow reminded me that my spark plug cover was broken and could do with being replaced.

Had a look online for the shiny metal ones that were fitted to the Lotus Elise k series.

Whilst I'm at it I might as well do a bit of work on the rocker cover and possibly, sand it down, maybe even add some colour.

That then reminded me that I had been looking at VHPD heads the night before, from a scrapped Elise/early Exige.

That got me looking at Elise's and wondering why they were still so expensive but then I found this.....

Lotus Elise S1 - 'Stealth' Model - Matte Black - Red Interior - NO RESERVE Completed
Good god if my TF was a woman I would totally cheat on it with this.

So I salivated over this for some time and then shamelessly started enquiring at places round me as to how much a TF would be to matte wrap, Its a smallish vehicle with no roof, its not going to be millions, by the sounds of it small hatchbacks can be done for £800.


I know its not to everyone's taste but with black wheels, and the black smoked lexus lights I think it would definitely stand out from the crowd.

Its a long way from where I started off tonight!

You need to get some sleep, Darren. :yesnod:

Do they do it in chrome wrap ??
Once done is it easy to get off ?

I cannot profess to be an expert but from the websites I've trawled yes you can get it done in anything from chrome through to any colour you want, even carbon fibre.

Would be interesting to see what the quotes are as obviously our vehicles dont have roof's to do!

Once done its a case of just peeling it off with the kit they give you. Safe for car washes but not really for pressure washers as even though its a decent finish once the water is forced under the wrap it spoils the look.

We do the occasional sign writing on vehicles and get all of our vinyl and supplies from here : http://www.hexis-graphics.com/en/products/index
Might be of use to anyone thinking of vinyl applications themselves.

It's around £1800 for a decent wrap.

Searched high and low but then got quoted about 700ish from a company not half a mile away from me! They use the 3M stuff so the vinyl itself is of a decent quality just the quality or experience of the fitter might have to be called into question, there is always a catch when things are cheap!

Anyway going for a proper quote at some point next week, so will let people know how I get on. The company in question specialise in van wraps but if they can do a decent job for me on the TF for that price then Im not going to complain!

Luckymarine wrote: ...whilst I'm at it I might as well do a bit of work on the rocker cover and possibly, sand it down, maybe even add some colour.

Darren I've gotta agree with David you need to put the mouse down a bit earlier :bust:

As for sanding down the rocker cover and adding colour :blink: Sounds like a good I idea................. maybe........................on a bloomin car where you can actually see the rocker cover without contorting yourself or having to remove the engine bay inspection cover just to catch a glimpse :lol:

I think you have far too much time on your hands, have you considered charity volunteer work.

On a serious note, the sign writer who did the stripes on mine does vinyl wrapping of commercial vehicles. I spoke with him about this when he was doing mine and he would certainly do it. I did not get a price but he is very good and does not overcharge. It is a long established family business located in Cheadle, just south of Manchester. This is his website .

A chrome effect vinyl wrap will not last as long as a solid colour but they do certainly make the car stand out. In the Rusholme area of a Manchester there is a hand car wash place where the owner has a chrome wrapped Audi TT which looks amazing.

To be honest it was the pride of Longbridge event that turned my thoughts to the aesthetical aspects of my TF.
But then the more I looked into it the more it gripped me. You know how it is!

A matte black TF with matte/satin black wheels (owned, soon to be refurbed), with a grenadine interior (have already)and the black smoked lexus lights (as my hopes of getting quads have diminished). With gloss black stripes would turn a few heads.

As a student/freelance mechanic I can fit in a lot of work as and when I want really. An just picked up a job restoring an ancient nuffield tractor that was last taxed 6 months before I was born! So the funds can be used to transform the TF, in the knowledge that I can always peel it off a year or so down the line.

must be mad searching the internet at 2am

opps done it meany a time lol :broon:

Has anybody on here ever used plasti dip?

Got a recommendation from quite a few as a temp (6 months) matte colour that can be used on alloys (well anything really) and then be peeled off easily whenever I want.

Just wondered if anyone had any knowledge of it?

:shrug: