Well after 2-3 nights and 6 revisions, I figured out the right formula for wrapping the door handles on my Model S. I have a Black P85 with the Carbon Fiber finish... so I wanted to try to match that finish as much as possible.
I tried a few different films... 3M makes the best one (my opinion). I made the template using Adobe Illustrator and cut it out of the 3M film using a Cricut cutting machine. Once I got it right, it took less than 10 mins to apply to each door handle.
A few concerns that I had going into this were keeping a professional look, durability, and easy removal if it didn't work out.
Now that I have the template and it's easy to remove/apply, I am curious to experiment with some other finishes... like a Piano Black to try and match the exterior... will keep you posted if I do.
If you're interested in learning more, let me know... happy to share.
I tried a few different films... 3M makes the best one (my opinion). I made the template using Adobe Illustrator and cut it out of the 3M film using a Cricut cutting machine. Once I got it right, it took less than 10 mins to apply to each door handle.
A few concerns that I had going into this were keeping a professional look, durability, and easy removal if it didn't work out.
- Look: Having spent over $100K on this car, I didn't want it to look like my DIY project. I wanted to make sure it looked like a professional job.
- Durability: I've only had it on for a couple weeks but I have put it through 3 or so car washes and plenty of exposure to the sun. I am confident that this film will last for years without fading or peeling.
- Removal: I was worried about the adhesive not coming off clean and having to deal with that... not a problem at all with this film... comes off clean.
Now that I have the template and it's easy to remove/apply, I am curious to experiment with some other finishes... like a Piano Black to try and match the exterior... will keep you posted if I do.
If you're interested in learning more, let me know... happy to share.