XBimmers.com | BMW X6 Forum X5 Forum
 
TireRack





Go Back   XBimmers.com | BMW X6 Forum X5 Forum > BMW X5 Forums > General BMW X5 (E70) and X5M Forum (2006-2013)

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-04-2013, 02:54 AM   #1
Toneaero
Private First Class
19
Rep
170
Posts

Drives: X5M
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Plasti Dip... Another success story! Step-by-step w/pics inside

I have been toying with the idea of powder coating my stock OEM wheels black but I wasn't sure if I wanted black to go with Alpine White. So after some recommendations from fellow forum members, I decided to try some Plasti Dip. For those new to Plasti Dip, its a "temporary" spray-on vinyl/rubber. It comes in a variety of colors and usually has a matte finish when dry. The ability to simply peel off the Plasti Dip "at will" is what sold me on doing this.


Here is how I spent my Saturday:

The initial wheel prep is the most crucial step in this process. The cleaner it is, the longer the Plasti Dip will stay on the wheel. This picture was before I used wheel cleaner, pressure washer, brush scrubbed, and wiped down with rubbing alcohol. It was tedious work but it will pay off in the long run.



Next is to tape off the lug nuts and drop them back in the hole. This will help keep the Plasti Dip out of the lug nut contact spots. If you don't do this, you might start tearing the Plasti Dip when you're torqueing the lug bolts down. Also pop the center cap out if you don't want that part painted too.



There are numerous ways of keeping the Plasti Dip overspray off your tire. I find using index cards the easiest and fastest way.



It took me 4 cans of Plasti Dip to do all 4 wheels. This includes both wheel face and inside the wheel.



It takes about 4-5 good coats to have a nice even coverage. I wouldn't rush this process. Wait between 10-15 minutues between each coat. Don't worry if your first coat doesn't look very good.



Here is a comparison of newly Plasti Dipped wheel vs clean stock colored wheel.



Here is close up of 4-5 good coats of Plasti dip. The paint lays flat when it dries and leaves a rubbery feel.



I think it looks awesome! :thumbup:






I have about 500+ miles with them now and still holding strong. I don't see why the Plasti Dip wouldn't last all year long. However, they are starting to look brown with brake dust on them but I heard its easy to clean with soap and water. When and if it does start to peel on its own, I now know that powder coating matte black is my choice of permanent wheel color.

Thanks for reading!
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 05:31 AM   #2
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Looks good man. I did my 214s black with plasti dip too. Cost effective way to see if you will like the change for sure. Nicely done!
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 08:58 AM   #3
Toneaero
Private First Class
19
Rep
170
Posts

Drives: X5M
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JLed79 View Post
Looks good man. I did my 214s black with plasti dip too. Cost effective way to see if you will like the change for sure. Nicely done!
Thanks! Yeah, it was really cheap to do. It did eat up my entire Saturday but well worth the bonding time between me and my car

I wish there was a local place that sold the Plasti Dip "glossifier". The only place I can find is online and you have to buy 6 cans at a time....
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 09:16 AM   #4
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Toneaero View Post
Thanks! Yeah, it was really cheap to do. It did eat up my entire Saturday but well worth the bonding time between me and my car

I wish there was a local place that sold the Plasti Dip "glossifier". The only place I can find is online and you have to buy 6 cans at a time....
I did a krylon clear coat over mine. Incredibly cheap and really worked well. Did give them a bit more shine though so they lost some of the flat look.
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 09:20 AM   #5
Jimshorts
Second Lieutenant
Jimshorts's Avatar
19
Rep
269
Posts

Drives: x5m
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Live free or die

iTrader: (0)

Ive plasti dipped a few things before and love it, do you think it would peel off the plasti dip if I had to switch from my summer tires to my winter ones.
__________________
2010 BMW X5 M Eurocharged: 12.298 @ 112.860 MPH Tune only.
2005 E55 AMG 11.93 @ 117 1/4 mile 7.75 @ 95 1/8mile tune, shorties, street tires. Sold
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 10:04 AM   #6
Toneaero
Private First Class
19
Rep
170
Posts

Drives: X5M
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimshorts View Post
Ive plasti dipped a few things before and love it, do you think it would peel off the plasti dip if I had to switch from my summer tires to my winter ones.
I bet it would. I haven't found a tire/wheel shop that could put on tires without scratching the wheel. I'm guessing low profile tires are very tricky to put on.
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 10:39 AM   #7
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimshorts View Post
Ive plasti dipped a few things before and love it, do you think it would peel off the plasti dip if I had to switch from my summer tires to my winter ones.
It definitely will. But its a very easy fix to just do the 3x5 card thing again and touch them up.
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 02:47 PM   #8
Teemo Panda
*Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru*
Teemo Panda's Avatar
United_States
81
Rep
1,174
Posts

Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Jersey (NJ)

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW X3  [5.66]
Must be PITA to take them off and putting it back again and also waiting
__________________
Appreciate 0
      06-04-2013, 03:12 PM   #9
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Teemo Panda View Post
Must be PITA to take them off and putting it back again and also waiting
I agree. I got a separate winter wheel and tire set to keep from having to do this. Keeps the salt off the nice rims and miles off the good tires too. Did the same thing for the wifes X3. Only way to go IMO.
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2013, 12:01 PM   #10
L.A.S.
Enlisted Member
United_States
6
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: 2017 M4
Join Date: May 2010
Location: San Diego

iTrader: (0)

Just a warning, Plastidip is a huge pain to remove after it's been on the car for a while. I had to eventually scrub it off with WD-40, a roll of shop-cloths and a kitchen sponge. It gets trapped in every nook and cranny!
Appreciate 0
      06-05-2013, 11:33 PM   #11
skunkd
Second Lieutenant
skunkd's Avatar
18
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 2004 STI 2008 BMW M5 2004 530i
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

I will never use this stuff again... Such a headache to get off
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2013, 10:41 AM   #12
jesus_man
New Member
0
Rep
6
Posts

Drives: 2012 X3.5d
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for the timely thread! I ordered 8 cans of plasti dip and want to do some smaller 15" wheels and my wife's 20's. Glad to know 4 cans is enough to do a set.

So the longer it sets, the harder it is to come off? Good to know. Maybe better to replace yearly?
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2013, 12:48 PM   #13
Toneaero
Private First Class
19
Rep
170
Posts

Drives: X5M
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jesus_man View Post
Thanks for the timely thread! I ordered 8 cans of plasti dip and want to do some smaller 15" wheels and my wife's 20's. Glad to know 4 cans is enough to do a set.

So the longer it sets, the harder it is to come off? Good to know. Maybe better to replace yearly?
Good luck and remember that the initial prep is the most critical and time consuming step.

A tip I haven't shared is to get a "trigger" style rattle-can attachment. Your pointer finger and forearm muscles will thank you later for it....
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2013, 01:26 PM   #14
jesus_man
New Member
0
Rep
6
Posts

Drives: 2012 X3.5d
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

I'll have to see if I can find one. I am all too familiar with the rattle can cramps, but being in Germany, this stuff is harder to come by. Not to mention I paid double the price for the plasti dip.
Appreciate 0
      06-06-2013, 08:12 PM   #15
skunkd
Second Lieutenant
skunkd's Avatar
18
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 2004 STI 2008 BMW M5 2004 530i
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jesus_man View Post
Thanks for the timely thread! I ordered 8 cans of plasti dip and want to do some smaller 15" wheels and my wife's 20's. Glad to know 4 cans is enough to do a set.

So the longer it sets, the harder it is to come off? Good to know. Maybe better to replace yearly?

The length of time doesn't matter that much its how thick it ends up that determines if you will be able to remove it easily.

PUT A LOT MORE LAYERS THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED IF YOU ARE EVER PLANNING TO REMOVE IT.

Otherwise, you'll be sitting picking tiny pieces at your wheels for weeks getting it off even with a power washer...

Just because you have solid coverage doesn't mean plastidips on thick enough to be removed in one piece until its thick enough.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2013, 06:08 AM   #16
jesus_man
New Member
0
Rep
6
Posts

Drives: 2012 X3.5d
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

Good info! I'll lay it on thick!
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2013, 12:46 PM   #17
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Thick yes, but in MANY thin coats. You don't want it on too thick at one time. Let it dry for at least an hour between coats. Better safe than sorry.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2013, 12:51 PM   #18
Toneaero
Private First Class
19
Rep
170
Posts

Drives: X5M
Join Date: May 2013
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by JLed79 View Post
Thick yes, but in MANY thin coats. You don't want it on too thick at one time. Let it dry for at least an hour between coats. Better safe than sorry.
I agree with the many coats but an hour between coats is a little over kill. Most sites recommend 15 mins and I did mine with 10 mins/coat. This also depends on relative humidity and air temperature. It was in the 60s Fahrenheit when I dipped mine.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2013, 01:46 PM   #19
JLed79
First Lieutenant
JLed79's Avatar
96
Rep
394
Posts

Drives: Fast, very very fast...
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: In front of AMGs

iTrader: (0)

Ya. There are definitely condition factors, but I, personally, would rather err on the side of caution.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2013, 03:01 PM   #20
skunkd
Second Lieutenant
skunkd's Avatar
18
Rep
266
Posts

Drives: 2004 STI 2008 BMW M5 2004 530i
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

wait 5 min between coats, this is plastidip... not spray paint.

Do not wait more than 10 min between coats. You don't want plastidip to dry out before you lay the next coat on. That is what leads to an unsmooth texture. Plastidip dries much faster than spray paint.
Appreciate 0
      06-08-2013, 01:55 AM   #21
Teemo Panda
*Bimmerpost Plasti Dip Guru*
Teemo Panda's Avatar
United_States
81
Rep
1,174
Posts

Drives: E53, E46-M3, E70, F25-X3
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Jersey (NJ)

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW X3  [5.66]
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLed79
Ya. There are definitely condition factors, but I, personally, would rather err on the side of caution.
I'm curious, what do you mean by that :P?
__________________
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:17 PM.




xbimmers
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST