Lamin-X Installation: Don't Try This at Home Kids

[TTP]

John,

The Bubbles do go away. I had two large bubbles and they are now gone. It took about two weeks though because the plastic is really thick. Other than the bubbles, was the edge wrinkled? Did you get the edges to laydown?

[Johnny B]

Originally Posted by TTP

John,

The Bubbles do go away. I had two large bubbles and they are now gone. It took about two weeks though because the plastic is really thick. Other than the bubbles, was the edge wrinkled? Did you get the edges to laydown?

The edges were wrinkled too. I still have the pieces laying adhesive side up on the leather sofa at home.

Should I spray them and try again?

[MattG]

If it's been laying adhesive side up, it's probably covered with dust. Those pieces should be trashed.

When you tried installing them, did you spray the outer half of the headlight (the more vertical side)? The key is to install that half dry.

[Johnny B]

Originally Posted by MattG

If it's been laying adhesive side up, it's probably covered with dust. Those pieces should be trashed.

When you tried installing them, did you spray the outer half of the headlight (the more vertical side)? The key is to install that half dry.

No, I didn't spray the outer half. I did it dry and used the hair dryer.

I think the pieces are probably trashed from finger prints.

[Johnny B]

Reinstalled them tonight, used a heat gun instead of hair dryer. They look much better than last night, took less time, but still have bubbles. Some very obvious. About the size of a round pill.

Hopefully they'll go away in time.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by Johnny B

Reinstalled them tonight, used a heat gun instead of hair dryer. They look much better than last night, took less time, but still have bubbles. Some very obvious. About the size of a round pill.

Hopefully they'll go away in time.

If you don't want to start over again, you might try using a syringe to inject a water/alcohol solution into the bubble, use the heat gun to soften the film and work the bubble out with a squeegee through the syringe hole. I doubt the air bubble will just go away.

[TTP]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

I doubt the air bubble will just go away.

Air bubbles go away. It will take some time because the material is thick but eventually they go away.

[TTP]

Attached is a reinstall of my passenger-side light. The first install I did had several wrinkles and the edge didn't lay down. This one is almost flawless. There are two small bubbles, but they are getting smaller by the day. I'm happy with Lamin-X. Just take your time when installing.

Here is a tip. If you need to pull the film back off because of a wrinkle or to reposition, use the applicator. Wet the underside of the film and the applicator. Place the applicator under the film, pinch the film between your fingers and applicator and pull slowly up and away. This way, you won't leave finger prints.

You can occasionally grasp the underside of the film with your fingers. If you have to do it just wet your fingers with the water solution and wet the under side of the film before you touch it. It minmizes the chance if the film sticking to your finger and leafing finger prints.

[fastliz]

Well... to revive an old thread....

I just now got around to doing this (got my first track day in the Elise next weekend). The turn signals, of course, were a cake-walk. Then I got started on the first headlight. I will say that, at first, I was VERY discouraged. Lasagne is a good description. I was so frustrated, I almost ripped it off and went to my computer to vent about this. But, I persisted instead. And, it paid off!!! Got the first one done, and minus a few bubbles, it looks damned good! I will say that the film was not an exact fit... long in spots, short in others. A little trimming was needed. But, overall, I'm happy with the first one!

OK... here goes on #2! Wish me luck! I'll be back to post final conclusions.

Mike

[fastliz]

The 2nd headlight went much quicker. The KEY is to do the outboard side DRY as is suggested by Chris. If it's wet, it just peels up and looks like a lasagne noodle.

I found it was easy to do most of the inboard side (from the top) first. Then I SLOWLY worked down the outboard side from the top. SLOWLY. Bring a LOT of patience with you should you decide to undertake this yourself. Maybe it helps that I'm a dentist -- very detail-oriented!

I noticed that the headlight covers are not symmetrically oval. One side has a greater radius than the other. The more "rounded" side should go towards the outboard side of the headlight.

I've got some bubbles I hope will disappear over time. I'll get some photos and keep you posted.

Mike

[fastliz]

Well... I WAS proud of myself... but not so much now.

The Lamin-X application went exceedingly well, I thought. I was able to get the entire piece down on the headlight with only a few bubbles. No wrinkles.

The problem I'm having now is that I've got these "lasagne" waves at the very edges. I press them down with the "squeegee" and they lay perfectly flat. But, give'em time and they pop back up!

Anyone got any suggestions?? Thanks in advance.

Incidentally... apparently I killed my wife's hair dryer doing this job. She had a "bad hair day" today and had to go buy a new blow dryer!

Mike

[TTP]

Mine did that too but only in one area. It did it after several weeks. I made a relief cut on the popped up section and took out some material so it could lay down. I think this Lamin-X is way too thick. Eventually I'm going to switch to an 8 mil film. My final judgement on the film is a thumbs down.

[fastliz]

I'm thinking of doing the same thing... make a relief cut.

Jury's still out for me on this product. I'm tracking the car this coming weekend and wanted to get this stuff on the car. I actually bought the Lamin-X before I even got the car!

Mike

[choi0706]

Sam at premier had me try one side of the headlight, PRETTY TOUGH! After about 10 minutes of trying to work this piece Sam was already done with his side and just watching me . If anyone is looking for a clear bra install, one more happy customer here. Your the man Sam.

[MattG]

I have two of those small lasagna ridges on each of my headlight covers too, though not nearly as bad as yours. You can try cutting a wedge out of it to help it lie flat, but it'll still look a little bad. Best bet is to try to get it to stick before it's too far gone. Use heat (hair dryer on low worked for me), press down, and hold. In hindsight, I wish I had come up with a way of applying constant pressure overnight on mine. Could be done via maybe a rubber hose stretching along that length, and a wide weight pressed against that...maybe a chair (with a load on it) tilted back so it's touching the hose? Well anyway, probably too late for yours, but try the heat and pressing and you might be able to get it mostly gone.

I'd still rather have this than no protection at all on them. The ridges are small and not noticeable unless you look close. I agree with TTP, a thinner film would help. Yeah, it may not protect well, but I'd give up a bit of that for something that provides a cleaner look. I bet Lamin-X would do any thickness we'd want, assuming it's one they already have.

[fastliz]

Hi Matt,

I tried reheating it and pressing it down. It goes down... and looks good for a while... but then it pops back up. Maybe time for the surgical option.

Mike

[MattG]

Sounds like it. The cut will be quite visible, but at least be better than the ridge.

[ekological]

You have to heat it with a heat gun. That's the only way you can get the plastic to deform permanently and not lift up again. Be careful, though--it'll melt and burn if you hit it for too long.

[emm]

Originally Posted by TTP

Air bubbles go away. It will take some time because the material is thick but eventually they go away.

I agree with ChrisB, and I'm sorry to say that the air bubbles will probably not go away. My neighbor had a 3m Xpel installer install the film on his M3, and when it was done, there were some wrinkles, water pockets, and air bubbles in them. My neighbor complained about it, but the installer said that it would go away over time. Well, 3 years later, the only thing that went away were the water pockets. The wrinkles and air pockets are still there. And unfortunately, I don't think they will.

[emm]

Originally Posted by choi0706

Sam at premier had me try one side of the headlight, PRETTY TOUGH! After about 10 minutes of trying to work this piece Sam was already done with his side and just watching me . If anyone is looking for a clear bra install, one more happy customer here. Your the man Sam.

I definitely agree. Watching them install the clear bra makes me appreciate what an art it really is.