[Dan930]

Any tips on how to apply the whole side skirt vinyl
I’ve looked on you tube& it looks quite hard to do

[rcaso26]

I tried to do it and it was brutal I stopped halfway through. Interested as well.

[perryo91]

Easy, tilt the car over so you’re at a better angle.

[Kendo67]

Leave it to the bodyshop , i got mine fitted before i picked the car up from the BM dealers.

They were £140 supplied + fitted , it doesn`t seem to be something that can be done for the first time , properly, lying on the driveway.

It was the only job i didn`t fancy doing myself.

Kenny

[muffking]

I did mine a few weeks ago. £16 from ebay.

My steps were to:-
Clean the sills thoroughly.
Start from the rear (the thin end of the decal).
Use a hairdryer to warm the sill and also the decal.
Use a felt edged squeegee to apply the decal, peeling back the protective layer as you go.

I did mine on my own, but it would help if you had someone to hold the other end of the decal along side the front of the sill to help keep the top edge straight.

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...postcount=2010

[Oompah]

Originally Posted by perryo91

Easy, tilt the car over so you’re at a better angle.

+1

[geordiepaul]

Can they not be applied by wetting them? That's how most vinyls are applied. Give a long working time and room for realignment. Normally baby shampoo/water combo works well.

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by perryo91

Easy, tilt the car over so you’re at a better angle.

The sill comes off quite easily - 10 or 11 torq screws and unclip from teh rear to front. Take it off and work on a bench.

[Dan930]

Originally Posted by geordiepaul

Can they not be applied by wetting them? That's how most vinyls are applied. Give a long working time and room for realignment. Normally baby shampoo/water combo works well.

I’ve also seen videos on you tube where they spray some liquid on to apply

[NotGotABimmer23]

You wet the vinyl and skirt so they can be easily aligned. Seems like a 2 person job to me.

[Nobby Clark]

Originally Posted by Dan930

I’ve also seen videos on you tube where they spray some liquid on to apply

Lightly soaped water usually works. You can slide the vinyl around and squeegee out the moisture.

[lear45xr]

https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/at...8;d=1429251745

[aquazi]

I tried fitting an eBay jobby after i got my car.... having tinted windows in the past thought how hard can it be!!

Its a nightmare! Especially on your own.... and i ended up with creases on the wider lower section even after heating during a wet application.

Genuine ones are thicker so probably easier... but personally i would leave it to a bodyshop to do and if they mess them up its their cost!!

[t5pilot]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

Lightly soaped water usually works. You can slide the vinyl around and squeegee out the moisture.

This.

I've done a couple of sets.

1. Make sure the sills are COMPLETELY clean. And I mean clay-bar clean or else you will get tiny bobbles on the finished installation. The surface really does have to be silky smooth.

2. The good news is that's the difficult part.

3. Mix a soapy water solution. I just use car shampoo - in a spray bottle.

4. Drench the sill with this solution & begin to apply the decal from the back (it's easier to line up there). Peel the backing paper off as you move along, using more spray if it's starting to dry. (Once applied, the vinyl is pretty manoeuvrable until you squeegee the liquid out).

5. When you're happy, start at one end (and from the middle of the decal going up & down) and squeegee the liquid out. A credit card or smaller is ideal.

6. Stand back & admire. It's pretty easy even if it doesn't sound like it. Find an off-cut & have a practice, even when squeegeed it's easy to peel off straight away before it's properly stuck.

BUT PREP IS THE KEY - CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.

[Dan930]

Originally Posted by t5pilot

This.

I've done a couple of sets.

1. Make sure the sills are COMPLETELY clean. And I mean clay-bar clean or else you will get tiny bobbles on the finished installation. The surface really does have to be silky smooth.

2. The good news is that's the difficult part.

3. Mix a soapy water solution. I just use car shampoo - in a spray bottle.

4. Drench the sill with this solution & begin to apply the decal from the back (it's easier to line up there). Peel the backing paper off as you move along, using more spray if it's starting to dry. (Once applied, the vinyl is pretty manoeuvrable until you squeegee the liquid out).

5. When you're happy, start at one end (and from the middle of the decal going up & down) and squeegee the liquid out. A credit card or smaller is ideal.

6. Stand back & admire. It's pretty easy even if it doesn't sound like it. Find an off-cut & have a practice, even when squeegeed it's easy to peel off straight away before it's properly stuck.

BUT PREP IS THE KEY - CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH.

Cheers mate

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by Nobby Clark

The sill comes off quite easily - 10 or 11 torq screws and unclip from teh rear to front. Take it off and work on a bench.

Exactly this, I took them off to fit the skirt extensions very easily. I didn’t bother with the vinyls as I don’t like them.

[MarkAndrew]

A word of warning, Ive had mine done by my local dealer and one side bubbled slightly and the vinyl flaked. The dealers replaced it no problem, but it is not a job Id do myself as the slightest contamination on the paint surface can bugger the application, it also takes a day to cure properly.

[NotGotABimmer23]

Originally Posted by MarkAndrew

A word of warning, Ive had mine done by my local dealer and one side bubbled slightly and the vinyl flaked. The dealers replaced it no problem, but it is not a job Id do myself as the slightest contamination on the paint surface can bugger the application, it also takes a day to cure properly.

Yeah worth getting these done by the dealer purely due to the number that fail. They will replace under warranty without issue, different story if you get it done elsewhere.