[DIY] "OEM"-Look B Pillar Wrap/Vinyl

My first entry, of hopefully many DIY projects.

First off: "OEM"-Look B Pillar Wrap/Vinyl
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596719858

I was trying to achieve this, this is an OEM image of it:

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https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...3&d=1541457560

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Bigger picture:
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596722054
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596807185

Disclaimer:

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I know some people have done this before, but this is just to show how I did it. Others probably have done it better. There are countless amount of videos you can watch in youtube.

And yes, you CAN scratch your car if you are not careful in trimming your vinyl. You do not need to press hard on it.
Attachment 18926

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Requirements:

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• Any(?) carbon fibre wrap that you could find
• Knife
• Soft Squeegee
• Alcohol
• Microfibre wipes or paper towel
• Patience
• Determination

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Duration

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10mins to an 1 hour per door.
I have spent more time doing the cleaning (probably did it 4x time each door), compared to the actual time sticking the vinyl

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Quick Notes:

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The problem with patterned fabric/wrap/vinyl, is they may have specific "way" of how their pattern is created. I got me DesignerWraps Carbon Fibre - Black.

If you take a cut of the same pattern and using it on the other side of the car, then you'll have the same pattern, not a mirrored pattern.

As an exercise, take this picture below, save it. Crop the two rectangles, rotate one of them 90degrees.
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596721581

If you are like me, I made sure that both sides of the car will have the same-mirrored pattern. Luckily, their carbon fibre design has equal "squares" and "lengths" of the pattern. So rotating it results in similar visual pattern.

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Preparation: (OPTIONAL)

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I know some, will only cut and put vinyl on the flat area of the B pillar, but not me, I wanted to be sure the vinyl will be seamless and make's the two windows of the door as "one".

Check the OEM picture above and you'll notice that near the bottom window runner channel of the door, the vinyl is cut-off.

1. Put window all the way down.
   
   Front Door:
2. Remove window runner channel by prying it out by hand.
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596723130
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596723191
   
   Rear Door:
3. For some reason, the bottom runner channel on the rear door is locked in and you can only put the channel to the side
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596723257
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596723257

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Cleaning:

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1. Clean area where vinyl will be placed
2. Wipe dry
3. Alcohol-wipe ONLY the areas that will be used. AFAIK Alcohol removes wax, and vinyl does not stick properly to wax.
4. Wipe dry

Repeat all steps above as necessary, assuring it is clean AF.

Note:

• Any dirt, grime, whatever, that are not cleaned MAY leave a mark visible on the vinyl
• Any vinyl NOT sticking on to the car is a failure waiting to happen.

https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724258
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724258
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724258
https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724258

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Next page...

Making the pattern

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Make a pattern that overshoots from the target area, I made about 20mm in each sides. and about 50mm top and bottom.

1. Cut a rectangle from your vinyl, enough to cover
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724162

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First Part, Sticking the Vinyl

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1. Peel backing of the top area first
2. Stick top accordingly to where it should be placed
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724700
   
3. Use squeegee to guide the vinyl down, while pulling the backing downwards as you go.
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724700
   
4. Use ruler to create a perfect straight, for the bottom
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724700
   
5. Cut excess via knife.
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724892
   
6. Use the molding of the doors as your guide to cut the top
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724700
   
   You should have this:
   https://mirageforum.com/forum/attach...1&d=1596724700

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Trimming excess vinyl

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1. Trim excess vinyl by following the inner door itself as your guide. Making sure that the top and bottom will overshoot the top rubber runner channel and bottom window grill.
   Attachment 18914
2. Save your excess later on as we will be needing it later on.
   Attachment 18916
3. You'll need a hair dryer and your squeegee to make it a little bit easier to stick the vinyl on curvy parts.
   Attachment 18917
4. You'll need very small amount of heat to ease the vinyl, and immediately sticking the vinyl with the squeegee. REMEMBER: Heat shrinks the vinyl.
   Attachment 18918
5. Make sure to not forget the vinyl that overshoots top rubber runner channel and bottom window grill.
   Attachment 18919

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Finishing off

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1. Trim the middle, at exact middle as you can.
   Attachment 18915
2. Folding in the inner doors vinyl.
   Attachment 18920
   Attachment 18921

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Inner inside B Pillar: (OPTIONAL)

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Unfortunately, the rear door in the mirage is missing the rubber runner that other cars have that hides the inner B Pillar:
Attachment 18922

Note my wife's 2013 Mitsi Outlander's:
Attachment 18923

So I using the excess trims, I used it to cover just enough to "close" it:
Attachment 18924

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TA-DA:
Attachment 18925

Attachment 18927

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Originally Posted by iamSkanob

and another one.. I'll finish this tomorrow..

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Looks good!
Definitely gives your Mirage a bit of an edge with styling. You did a good job. Honestly I'm usually skeptical about some DIY because I see fails. But this looks genuinely good.

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Originally Posted by dspace9

Looks good!
Definitely gives your Mirage a bit of an edge with styling. You did a good job. Honestly I'm usually skeptical about some DIY because I see fails. But this looks genuinely good.

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Cheers mate!

Finished the guide. Why are the pictures rotated?

Few more pictures:
Attachment 18928

Attachment 18929

Attachment 18930

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Originally Posted by iamSkanob

Cheers mate!

Finished the guide. Why are the pictures rotated?

Few more pictures:
Attachment 18928

Attachment 18929

Attachment 18930

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Yea eh I dunno, the first photo didn't load, but 2 did. The one with the impressive tree behind your car loaded. And then the close up of your B pillar with the carbon on it. That photo loaded up fine too.

So dunno what is going on with the one photo.

Car looks good though! Cool tree.

Great write up!

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Originally Posted by iamSkanob

Making the pattern


First Part, Sticking the Vinyl


Trimming excess vinyl


Finishing off

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Thank you for the step by step.
Happy with the result of my own DIY based on yours.
Cheers🇵🇭!Attachment 19227