Wraps and removing 11 years on?

[Steviesam]

Apologies if in the wrong section-I wasn't sure where it should go.

Looking at a car that while cheap, is wrapped in full, in white.

It was wrapped when new, 11 years ago, so the bodywork when it was done, was perfect.

Question is, if the wrap was removed, is it going to screw up the paint underneath?

And how on earth would you get it off?

Thanks for any help.

[Olivergt]

It's going to be impossible to answer as at lot will depend on how it was put on in the first place. There could be a lot of paint damage from when the wrap was being cut when applied for example. Was it good quality wrap?

Have a read though this...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-ma...

It might help with your decision.

[designforlife]

Olivergt said:

It's going to be impossible to answer as at lot will depend on how it was put on in the first place. There could be a lot of paint damage from when the wrap was being cut when applied for example. Was it good quality wrap?

Have a read though this...

https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-ma...

It might help with your decision.

that's an eye opener

[Steviesam]

Hmmm. I think i will leave it.

Even if it WAS perfect when it went on, it wont be when it comes off!

Thank you!

[BigR]

I think its important to bear in mind the progression of technology with wraps, as with anything. A wrap applied in 2013 is going to be significantly different material than that applied in 2019.

At the same time, I've heard of paintwork being notably damaged by wraps when removed.

And therefore I conclude 'I dunno'.

[Alex_225]

From personal experience, I'm not holding out much hope for removing that wrap easily after the length of time it's been on the car.

I bought a car with a wrapped bonnet, it had been on the car probably about 5-6 years but the car had been garaged. I took ownership and the car was then parked on my driveway at which point the wrap on the bonnet started to perish. It was a carbon textured wrap, which basically started to break up.

Now was the time I thought to get the wrap off and having read up on it and spoken to friends it was meant to simply peel off with some heat. Instead the wrap came off leaving a fairly thick layer of glue behind. In an attempt to remove the glue, the lacquer came with it and in the end the glue had to be removed by a bodyshop and the bonnet repainted.

Since then I have had a huge scepticism for wraps, not only is there the risk of the paintwork being damaged when it's applied (scalpels etc.) but I suspect non-OEM paint is most susceptible to damage when it's removed as well.