[Tylerfehribach]

A couple months back I did a chrome delete on my 18 gts with a matte black vinyl from 3m. Just wanted to see if anybody would like to see the final product and how difficult it was to do. I can post pics if any interest pops up.

 

[bobdod04]

Sure, would be interested. the more knowledge sharing we get here, the better.

 

[Tylerfehribach]

So basically everybody knows that the chrome window trim on the elantra gt's is just the worst thing ever. So I called some wrap shops to get a quote for a chrome delete and possibly the front chrome deleted as well. Lowest quote was 800 bucks. Holy crap. So I looked up some tutorials on how to vinyl wrap and here we are. I'm pretty happy with the finished product and the front I did have to cut and join the pieces since I couldn't get it to form to the front, but it's barely noticeable unless you are looking for it. Anyway to get started you will need a lot of patience and some dedication. IO started by ordered some flat black vinyl wrap from amazon as well as a wrap kit. I'll post the links at the bottom. I first cut the wrap into smaller longer pieces so I could handle them better then I Started on my first trim. It did not go well. Lots of bubbles and I got some stuff stuck under the material itself. Yanked it off and tried again. I quickly found out that the top trim is much easier because you can pull off the rubber and wrap the vinyl over and under to make a smooth line. Then you use the felt covered tool to slowly push the bubbles out and then take the blade and find the little gap between the trim and the rubber seal right above the window. Place your blade in that little gap and then your blade has somewhere to glide through and make a perfect cut without having to do it by hand or risk damaging anything. Once I figured that out the tops were a piece of cake. No prob. The bottoms though. Oh lordy. It's extremely tough to make a cut UP TO the rubber seal and not damage it or leave a bit of chrome peeking out at you. I tried and tried and tried. No avail so I did what any novice does......ordered knifeless tape. Holy guacamole is this stuff awesome. I just put the tape right at the edge of the smaller rubber piece right above the trim and then I wrapped it again. Now the lower trims are easy on the bottoms because you can just tuck the wrap under the trim piece itself with the plastic squeegee. Tuck your wrap under to get the bottom done then do a quick tug while holding the tape to get the line out and cut the top part right at the edge of the trim. The black blends in with the trim so well it's extremely difficult to see even up close. The knifeless tape is also what you need to use for the back trim with the big swoop. IF you can do that freehand you are a better man than I. The front chrome around the grill is just the same as the others but MUCH MORE FRUSTRATING. I gave up and cut the wrap about 3/4 the way down and just overlapped it to make a connection. It's hard to see from far away and even up close if you didn't know it was there you wouldn't see it. SO overall about 100 bucks of stuff and maybe 4 hours of my time and I am extremely happy with the results. It's also standing up to the test of time so far. We will see how winter treats it but so far so good!

Wrap: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005A5YFBA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Wrap Kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M1JNLHE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Knifeless Tape: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007XY5K6K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Tylerfehribach]

I don't think it posted the pics from my earlier one so here they are.