Basic Instructions for Installing a LTW Flag on your E30

[BMW_TUNER]

I did a group buy a while back for my new custom E30 designed LTW Style flags and in the interest of customer service I though I would provide some simple instructions.

When you received your flag you will note that it is in two pieces, unless you have a three color flag in which case you have 6 pieces. Single Colors should look like this.



The Left piece is the hood section and the right piece is the fender section.

Your first step should be prepping the hood. You MUST remove all wax and sealers from the surface for the vinyl to adhere properly. I recommend this Griots Garage product.




Your flag was shipped with two optional pieces outlined in Red in the photo. If you wish to use them I suggest that you cut them from the pattern and hand position them for your preferred look. That is what I did in the next photo.





There are two methods of application and rather than have me do a terrible job explaining here are a few you tube videos this guy is a pro and he puts some terrible graphic on a mustang but it is full of good info. I did mine dry the alignment process is the same the only difference is that I did not float my graphic in place. It ends up looking better but it takes a long time and you can not wash the car for a week because the vinyl is not cured to the surface for that long.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SafroleJay#p/a/u/2/BMyIlY9zEFs

For proper alignment I recommend the following alignment as shown in the pictures. The Flash made the tape measure glow but the first one shows that the furthest part of the hood flag on the hood edge is at 23 cm. You can align it between 23 and 26 and it will fit fine but I prefer 23 cm from the hood edge.


The Second Photo shows how far back the product should be installed but this is easily gauged using the front squares.




Here is one more shot of my car with the flag alligned as it was designed to be.

[Hey_You]

You have a tape that only reads CM?
That's awesome, mad props for Euro other than your car!

Nice Write-Up

[KeeperJones]

Hood

So are you cutting the hood piece before you install it or after? I was originally thinking before, but I am guessing the gap is enough to fold down the edges on the hood and the fender.

KJ

[BMW_TUNER]

You have a tape that only reads CM?
That's awesome, mad props for Euro other than your car!

Nice Write-Up

Yeah I picked up the metric tape a while ago. It was not very expensive and it makes talking to manufacturers much easier.

I can not tell if you are complementing me or not so I will just say thanks anyway.

[BMW_TUNER]

So are you cutting the hood piece before you install it or after? I was originally thinking before, but I am guessing the gap is enough to fold down the edges on the hood and the fender.

KJ

You are correct sir. I cut it after application. I will add that part to the write up along with another prep solution for the hood. Cutting after it is applied and wrapping truely does make the vinyl look even better.

[dirtysix]

Do you mean 23cm rather than 33cm?

[BMW_TUNER]

You are correct sir. That's what I get for doing a writeup after midnight.
Thanks

[KeeperJones]

Let me just say, BMW_TUNER has been easy to work with and even though I have not dealt with a lot of vinyl, the product seems to be good quality.

Having said that, if you are a perfectionist or have ever found your self with two ends of some tape stuck together trying to get them apart, you really should consider having your local vinyl shop put this on for you. I am thinking it would not be too much. I am guessing that most people would consider the job I did pretty good, but imperfections in something like this drive me crazy. Doing the corners and bends can be a total pain to get them right. Here is a picture of the end result (sorry for the lame night shot) of the etched on white just so you can see the combination:



I like the look, but I am still trying to decide if it is right for me. If I decide to keep it, I will order another one and have someone put it on for me.

Anyway, good job, KJ

[BMW_TUNER]

Looks great KJ. I really like the etched on white. If you get a chance I would like to see more pics.

Wrinkles can be heated with a heat gun and smoothed out with a credit card. For bubbles you can use a pin and a heat gun just put a small pin prick in the far end of the bubble and push the bubble towards the pin hole.

If you use the wet method you will see that it is much easier to get a smooth result. Like the guy in the video said it will take a while to bond.

[KeeperJones]

Looks great KJ. I really like the etched on white. If you get a chance I would like to see more pics.

Wrinkles can be heated with a heat gun and smoothed out with a credit card. For bubbles you can use a pin and a heat gun just put a small pin prick in the far end of the bubble and push the bubble towards the pin hole.

If you use the wet method you will see that it is much easier to get a smooth result. Like the guy in the video said it will take a while to bond.

I knew about the pin trick, I will try the heat gun tomorrow night. I actually think I would like it better if it was about half as dark, maybe even less. That was what I had in my head. I will have to see what it looks like in the daylight.

There was about 3 or 4 pieces that were troublesome. I ended up doing the front 2 and the bottom 3 on the fender individually and I am sure it helped.

Getting the hood piece aligned was a bit of pain as well. One thing I would do if I was selling them, I would mark them. Three little tick marks for the hood lines, even with a sharpie, would make it a lot easier. Get one installed, make a template, and then it would take ten seconds to mark them before shipping. Just a thought.

Anyway, everything as advertised, good job.

KJ

[BMW_TUNER]

That is a good idea I will mark them on the backing tape. It will be easy and should make it easier to install. The etched glass is totaly different during the day and from a distance.
Post a picture of it in the day light at 2 feet and then at 15 feet there is a big difference in the way it bounces light.

You are righ it is easier to remove some of the pieces for install especially if you are using the dry method. Also keep in mind that some of the bubbles and small wrinkles will relax over time.

[Kershaw]

i hate putting down vinyl dry.

which is why i love rapid-tack. the stuff is great. allows you to float the vinyl into place and then squeegee the liquid out. perfect, no wrinkle, no bubble application.

however, rapid-tack and transfer paper are not a good combination. so its always a trade off. if its a cut pattern (like the flag), rapid-tack will soak the paper and make it a PITA to remove.

[BMW_TUNER]

I am working on a new design now that is 140% as big and I will be floating it in to pace with a window tint kit.

[moatilliatta]

Anyone still making these?

I'm thinking about rocking one.

[nando]

I could make one pretty easily if I had a pattern. Funny enough, in 2021 computerized vinyl cutters are cheap and easy to use. My wife got one last year (Cricut, does up to 12x24 sheets) to make T-shirts, masks, and other crafts.

Making it for profit? nahh. Probably not going to happen. But if you can give me a pattern and pay for materials, it'd take like 10 minutes to cut out.