a noobie lamin-x application tutorial (plenty of pics!)

[BlackPearlGti]

Im sure there are a million of these, but I get so excited doing anything to my GTI so why not. Lamin-x gives a pretty good tutorial themselves on application, but i wanted to show a gti specific application..

Stock GTI for the most part...

find a shady spot...dont want to do this in the Florida sun


fogs on



closer view



some items you will need. water, razor, and lamin-x of course. The instructions provided said that for small applications such as this you would not need to use water, but i found it much easier with water


clean fogs real well. any bug guts or dirt/mud you definitely want to remove





go ahead and open laminx package and separate each film and set the one you are not applying aside




size it up



wet the fogs and the adhesive side of the film, its better to use a sprayer but i dont own one and was to eager so i just used some bottled water.





place the bottom side down first, and i used a credit card wrapped in a rag to apply and push out the bubbles




push the film into all the edges as best you can



use a razor to cut the excess film and tabs, use the empty space as a guide




my happy helper!



all done!








Thoughts: The application was super simple and easy. You can apply and remove and reapply the film no problem. In retrospect i would definitely use a sprayer for the water instead of just pouring the water on there haphazardly. It worked for the most part but I am certain it would have made it a bit simpler when i needed to reposition the film. Lamin-x says that any tiny bubbles and haze will go away within a couple days to a couple weeks, but if you do a wet application and use a card to smooth out the bubbles while applying it shouldnt be a problem at all!

[skillz1318]

Great write up and thanks! Considering doing this mod in the near future!

[mark6kevin]

nice

[DubProdigy]

i did exact same application and i developed bubles a week later

[InstantKarma]

did the same with mine a while ago... I love the look on darker cars

[BlackPearlGti]

i agree, lamin-x with dark cars are great. Nice wheels you have, VMR's?

[ohsnapzombies]

the only thing i cut off were the tabs...and i did that before i went outside. Pretty much cleaned, watered, applied, pressed the edges into the small gaps around the light. looks great 3 months later.

[rhodri45]

the only thing i cut off were the tabs...and i did that before i went outside. Pretty much cleaned, watered, applied, pressed the edges into the small gaps around the light. looks great 3 months later.

same here. love it.

[Sleepysapper]

Looks nice, one of my things to do on my list when I finally start making the car my own.

By the way I noticed A couple of things, do you happen to be in the army?

[InstantKarma]

i agree, lamin-x with dark cars are great. Nice wheels you have, VMR's?

Bremmers

[BlackPearlGti]

Looks nice, one of my things to do on my list when I finally start making the car my own.

By the way I noticed A couple of things, do you happen to be in the army?

i am, how'd you know?

[Rresetrrewind]

i am, how'd you know?

Bracelets. lol. I noticed it too.

[Sleepysapper]

i am, how'd you know?

bracelets, watch, your girls arm band and what looked like running shoes. I guess people in the service just always stand out once you've been in a while yourself.

[ina04gli1.8t]

This is the first thing I did after window tint. I went darker on the headlights & think the fogs look much better with yellow bulbs. Nice write up though

[opz]

Did mine the day I got the car, only other advice I have is this.



Don't be hideously hungover.

[MontrealJoker]

Did the fogs with relative ease and came out great.

Did the tails twice and was an uber bitch - was not satisifed with the results. Second time doing them I tried to be as obsessive compulsive as possible and followed all tutorials and online tips but they just didn't come out as well as I wanted.

Maybe I am a perfectionist but the pre-cut lamin-x seemed too small and never sealed as well as I would have liked in some places.

I am going to get them professionaly tinted at this point. Anyone know a good shop in Montreal?

[pi ka chuuu]

i did this to mine as well. although, i have a 5th gen and the fitment wasnt as good on mine as it was on yours. I almost felt like it was a mistake on lamin-x's behalf. the film was too small and didn't cover the whole fog light. I still run it like that but oh well. I'm glad yours came out good though, looks great

[einy]

Good timing on this post ... ordered Lamin-X over the weekend for my '11 !! Thank you !

[BlackPearlGti]

Did the fogs with relative ease and came out great.

Did the tails twice and was an uber bitch - was not satisifed with the results. Second time doing them I tried to be as obsessive compulsive as possible and followed all tutorials and online tips but they just didn't come out as well as I wanted.

Maybe I am a perfectionist but the pre-cut lamin-x seemed too small and never sealed as well as I would have liked in some places.

I am going to get them professionaly tinted at this point. Anyone know a good shop in Montreal?

lamin-x does sell whole sheets rather than precut films that way you don't have to worry about size issues... just another idea

[BlackPearlGti]

i did this to mine as well. although, i have a 5th gen and the fitment wasnt as good on mine as it was on yours. I almost felt like it was a mistake on lamin-x's behalf. the film was too small and didn't cover the whole fog light. I still run it like that but oh well. I'm glad yours came out good though, looks great

i agree the precut ones definitely cut it close on the size, i had maybe a millimeter or two around the edges and if you don't line it up well enough it could equal a bad application. But if you take your time...and i cant stress this enough...use a wet application, positioning it correctly can save your install