B Pillar Decals

[westfalia]

No sorry if it wasn't clear....
That is £12 over the cost of the shop one (but fitted).[/QUOT
Yeah, fitted for 6 quid a side extra.

 

[blondebier]

How did you get on with these 2020 Freedom?

I've just bought a set from the club shop.

I found this video on youtube and some of his tips look good:

I'm guessing the advice is to "take it easy" and do half at a time. Sticking it down with tape when in position looks sensible so that it doesn't move about.

I'll report back when I've had a go.

Just got to wait for the postman to arrive now...

 

[Jester]

I bought a set from the shop but after fitting found they marked easily so removed them. Now thinking of getting the b-pillars painted instead.

VW sell them as OME, I had them fitted.

 

[RodCouncil]

Take it super easy with them, I would warm them before use and do it on a warm day, much more plyable to manipulate into place.

 

[Ocean Spirit]

How did you get on with these 2020 Freedom?

I'm guessing the advice is to "take it easy" and do half at a time. Sticking it down with tape when in position looks sensible so that it doesn't move about.

I'll report back when I've had a go.

Just got to wait for the postman to arrive now...

HI Blondebier,
It is fairly easy.It was a very warm day, I peeled the rubber seals out of the way and made sure the pillars were absolutely free of every spec of anything.
2 tricky parts for me IIRC...
1) Despite the heat of the day the edges at the curves took a small leap of faith whilst telling myself it wouldn't break the bank if it didn't go well. But you have to commit.
2) Positioning, Mine have ended up slightly high.It was always a juggle up or down and I got it wrong.I didn't think of tape which may have helped as I could have stood back from it and looked brfore it was too late. That really annoyed me for about a month and I was convinced set number 2 would be ordered. But here we are and I don't even look that hard. The black pillar effect was achieved and the appearance of the Cali is subtlety enhanced IMO.
But now you've mentioned it I might start scrutinising again

 

[Amarillo]

Paid my dealer to arrange for their body shop to put them on before delivery.

Love ‘em but a little scuffed after 2 years / 43,000 miles.

 

[blondebier]

So I got round to doing these today. The youtube video was quite helpful.

I've attached a few photos of the process below...

Get the B pillars nice and clean.



I started on the drivers side and fitted the sliding door decal first. The door seal needs to be pulled back for this:



The paintwork under the seal needed a wipe with a damp cloth (and a dry) as there was a bit of grime under it.

Get the decal in position and temporarily fix it in place with some masking tape:



(I know it could have been a little bit lower)

When you're happy, remove the masking tape from the top half and peel the back of the decal off:



Trim the peeled off backing with a pair of scissors and slowly apply the decal from the middle to the top. Slowly does it. It was really easy to apply and there were no bubbles under it.

Then remove the masking tape from the bottom half, peel the backing off the bottom half of the decal and apply it from the middle to the bottom. The edges are a bit fiddly but fold around the door and window fairly easily. Refit the door seal, stand back and admire your handy work.

Next move on to the door. You need to pull the window seal out to fit this one as well.



It's really easy and comes away with a gentle pull. Again, clean behind it with a damp cloth and dry it well.

Make sure that the second decal lines up with the other one and stick it down with masking tape:





Same process as before, middle to the top and then middle to the bottom.



Fold in the sides and refit the door seal.



The passenger side is a little bit easier as you don't have a sliding door and seal to work around. (With hindsight I'd probably have done the passenger side first)

I'm pretty happy with the overall result.

It's not hard and I'd encourage anyone contemplating it to give it a go.

It look me about 30 minutes a side and I did it slowly.

These are the "Matt Black" decals.

 

[SailSki]

Thanks @blondebier, very helpful as my decals are currently in the post and to be applied next week

 

[Romke]

I'm no expert but would it not be easier/cheaper to spray those parts black?

 

[threetone]

Fitted mine today, worked out great

Thx everyone for the links and pictures, i really helped a lot

 

[Borris]

So I got round to doing these today. The youtube video was quite helpful.

I've attached a few photos of the process below...

Get the B pillars nice and clean.

View attachment 43570

I started on the drivers side and fitted the sliding door decal first. The door seal needs to be pulled back for this:

View attachment 43571

The paintwork under the seal needed a wipe with a damp cloth (and a dry) as there was a bit of grime under it.

Get the decal in position and temporarily fix it in place with some masking tape:

View attachment 43572

(I know it could have been a little bit lower)

When you're happy, remove the masking tape from the top half and peel the back of the decal off:

View attachment 43573

Trim the peeled off backing with a pair of scissors and slowly apply the decal from the middle to the top. Slowly does it. It was really easy to apply and there were no bubbles under it.

Then remove the masking tape from the bottom half, peel the backing off the bottom half of the decal and apply it from the middle to the bottom. The edges are a bit fiddly but fold around the door and window fairly easily. Refit the door seal, stand back and admire your handy work.

Next move on to the door. You need to pull the window seal out to fit this one as well.

View attachment 43574

It's really easy and comes away with a gentle pull. Again, clean behind it with a damp cloth and dry it well.

Make sure that the second decal lines up with the other one and stick it down with masking tape:

View attachment 43575

View attachment 43576

Same process as before, middle to the top and then middle to the bottom.

View attachment 43577

Fold in the sides and refit the door seal.

View attachment 43578

The passenger side is a little bit easier as you don't have a sliding door and seal to work around. (With hindsight I'd probably have done the passenger side first)

I'm pretty happy with the overall result.

It's not hard and I'd encourage anyone contemplating it to give it a go.

It look me about 30 minutes a side and I did it slowly.

These are the "Matt Black" decals.

Thanks for your brilliant tutorial. It's given me the confidence to have a go.

 

[Borris]

Fitted mine today, worked out great

Thx everyone for the links and pictures, i really helped a lot

View attachment 49484

View attachment 49485

Thanks does look much better than standard.

 

[Borris]

I've just tried fitting a set of B post decals. It wasn't difficult although I only did the drivers side. However I was very dissapointed with the surface finish on my shiny black ones. They had a sort of textured finnish which looked awful close up. So long story short, the side I did got removed and binned. I don't know if it was something that I had or hadn't done but I was expecting a glassy black shiny surface. I not sure if I will bother with black B posts now. If I do I think I'll get a professional wrapping company to do it.

BTW I don't wish to imply that the the product is no good. I'm sure it's fine. It's probably just a case of pilot error.

 

[SailSki]

Hi Borris, is there a chance you were sent the matt ones in error, or are they shiny but textured? I have the matt ones and thinking to swap to shiny (to rectify my shoddy handiwork with the first ones and also as I think in retrospect the shiny ones look better to my eyes)

 

[Amarillo]

I've just tried fitting a set of B post decals. It wasn't difficult although I only did the drivers side. However I was very dissapointed with the surface finish on my shiny black ones. They had a sort of textured finnish which looked awful close up. So long story short, the side I did got removed and binned. I don't know if it was something that I had or hadn't done but I was expecting a glassy black shiny surface. I not sure if I will bother with black B posts now. If I do I think I'll get a professional wrapping company to do it.

BTW I don't wish to imply that the the product is no good. I'm sure it's fine. It's probably just a case of pilot error.

I love mine. Up close you can tell they are there, but not from a distance.

 

[BeagleMum]

I've just tried fitting a set of B post decals. It wasn't difficult although I only did the drivers side. However I was very dissapointed with the surface finish on my shiny black ones. They had a sort of textured finnish which looked awful close up. So long story short, the side I did got removed and binned. I don't know if it was something that I had or hadn't done but I was expecting a glassy black shiny surface. I not sure if I will bother with black B posts now. If I do I think I'll get a professional wrapping company to do it.

BTW I don't wish to imply that the the product is no good. I'm sure it's fine. It's probably just a case of pilot error.

It’s always disappointing when you put the time & effort in to do something & aren’t happy with the final result. We are having B post decals & other bits fitted by VanStyle. We booked a few weeks ago but because they are so busy/popular the earliest date available for fitting is January 10th. Having them done professionally we are expecting them to be boss.

 

[Borris]

Hi Borris, is there a chance you were sent the matt ones in error, or are they shiny but textured? I have the matt ones and thinking to swap to shiny (to rectify my shoddy handiwork with the first ones and also as I think in retrospect the shiny ones look better to my eyes)

Hello Sailski,
I'm afraid not, they are gloss black and as far as I'm aware they shouldn't be textured. The paint surface underneath is brand new and silky smooth. There was no dirt or debris present. The weather was sunny but cool. They went on perfectly with no air bubbles and I also managed to position them correctly.

If I has to offer a potential reason for the texture it would have to be the process of removing the protective surface film. However I don't see why that should do that.

 

[Borris]

It’s always disappointing when you put the time & effort in to do something & aren’t happy with the final result. We are having B post decals & other bits fitted by VanStyle. We booked a few weeks ago but because they are so busy/popular the earliest date available for fitting is January 10th. Having them done professionally we are expecting them to be boss.

I hope it goes well. I'm sure it will look great. Perhaps you could post some pics when done?

As for me, "once bitten twice shy"! I'm not sure that I will bother to have it done now. Still, we shall see.

 

[Borris]

I love mine. Up close you can tell they are there, but not from a distance.

View attachment 52412

I was expecting a finish that equalled that of the paint beneath. If that isn't possible then I think I'll give it a miss.

 

[Jay20cali]

I was expecting a finish that equalled that of the paint beneath. If that isn't possible then I think I'll give it a miss.

I think even the factory ones are not like factory paint finish borris ...
There a gloss but not like shiny gloss black paint .you can still tell there a decal but there nice and give the van a more expensive look

 

[Ocean Spirit]

I was expecting a finish that equalled that of the paint beneath. If that isn't possible then I think I'll give it a miss.

I know what you are sayng but as Vinyl and Paint are different beasts so when you say equal???? How do you compare? I think there will be a difference even if you deem the quality to be on the the same level.
I can't work out if you feel its the quality thats a problem. I guess you might get smoother more shiny alternatives from somewhere more akin to paint but still unlikely to match lacquered paint.

 

[Borris]

I think even the factory ones are not like factory paint finish borris ...
There a gloss but not like shiny gloss black paint .you can still tell there a decal but there nice and give the van a more expensive look

I like the look of them it was the texture that I didn't like. I'm sure they shouldn't look like that.

 

[Brian’s Dad]

Does anyone know a good wrapping company in Bristol? I'm looking to get mine done.

 

[Borris]

I know what you are sayng but as Vinyl and Paint are different beasts so when you say equal???? How do you compare? I think there will be a difference even if you deem the quality to be on the the same level.
I can't work out if you feel its the quality thats a problem. I guess you might get smoother more shiny alternatives from somewhere more akin to paint but still unlikely to match lacquered paint.

I like the look of the black B posts and I'd have been happy if they were smooth and shiny. Alas they weren't.
I know vinyl is a different to paint but people have their cars wrapped and they wouldn't if they had a finish like I had. I can only think it was something that I did or didn't do. Perhaps it was temperature related and the adhesive that holds the protective film was the issue. I used a hair dryer on it to see if that would improve it but it made no difference.

 

[Amarillo]

I like the look of the black B posts and I'd have been happy if they were smooth and shiny. Alas they weren't.
I know vinyl is a different to paint but people have their cars wrapped and they wouldn't if they had a finish like I had. I can only think it was something that I did or didn't do. Perhaps it was temperature related and the adhesive that holds the protective film was the issue. I used a hair dryer on it to see if that would improve it but it made no difference.

My decals have a slightly mottled look. Is that what you have? I like it.