Hyundai Grandeur IG Vinyl Wrap Installation Review — Cost

Hyundai Grandeur IG Chrome Delete: The All-Black Transformation

As the weather turns colder, many car owners look for ways to refresh their vehicle's appearance. For the popular Hyundai Grandeur IG, a common and stylish modification is 'chrome delete,' also known as a color change wrap or simply a vinyl wrap. This process involves covering the shiny chrome trim pieces on a car with a sleek, matte, or gloss black vinyl film. It's a fantastic way to achieve a unified, sophisticated look, often referred to as an 'all-black' aesthetic. This review details a specific chrome delete installation on a Grandeur IG, focusing on the process, materials, and the striking before-and-after results.

Why Choose Chrome Delete for Your Grandeur IG?

The Hyundai Grandeur IG is a well-loved model, known for its refined design. However, it features a notable amount of chrome trim, which some owners find detracts from a modern, aggressive look. Chrome delete offers a solution. By applying a black vinyl wrap to these specific areas, you can dramatically alter the car's presence. This particular Grandeur IG owner had already upgraded to a sportier grille, and the chrome delete perfectly complemented this change, creating a cohesive and high-impact appearance. The owner opted for a 3M 2080 gloss black vinyl film, applied to the lower front bumper, trunk, and taillight chrome moldings. The window chrome trim was intentionally left untouched, allowing for a customized look tailored to the owner's preference. This flexibility is a key advantage of vinyl wraps; they allow for personalized styling without permanent modifications.

The Vinyl Wrap Installation Process

Applying a vinyl wrap, especially for detailed areas like chrome trim, requires precision and skill. The goal is a flawless finish where the original chrome is completely hidden, ensuring no unsightly edges or reflections show through. For this Grandeur IG, the installation was performed meticulously at the 'Todays Car' Busan branch. The process typically involves several key steps:

1. Surface Preparation: Thoroughly cleaning and degreasing the chrome trim to ensure optimal adhesion of the vinyl film.
2. Cutting and Fitting: Precisely cutting the vinyl film to size and carefully applying it over the chrome sections, ensuring it conforms to the shape without stretching or tearing.
3. Finishing Touches: Trimming any excess material and using heat to set the edges, creating a smooth, integrated look. For this specific job, the bumper and trunk areas were handled with great care to ensure the chrome was entirely concealed, achieving a high level of finish without needing to remove parts like the license plate.

The entire process for this partial wrap took approximately 3 to 4 hours. The result was a seamless integration of the black vinyl, making the car appear as if it were designed with an all-black theme from the factory. This attention to detail, especially around the trunk and taillight moldings, significantly enhances the overall aesthetic and owner satisfaction.

Is a Vinyl Wrap Worth It? Durability and Maintenance

Vinyl wraps offer a compelling alternative to traditional paint jobs for altering a vehicle's appearance. While the initial vinyl wrap cost can vary, a partial wrap like this chrome delete typically ranges from $400 to $800 in the US, depending on the vehicle and complexity. The 3M 2080 series film used is known for its durability, generally lasting 5-7 years under normal conditions with proper care. Maintenance is straightforward: regular washing with mild soap and water, avoiding abrasive cleaners or high-pressure washes directly on the seams, will help preserve the wrap's appearance. For owners considering this modification, the 'chrome delete' on the Grandeur IG's trunk and taillight areas proved to be a high-impact change for the cost. It’s a reversible process, meaning the original chrome can be revealed by removing the vinyl if desired, adding to its appeal as a flexible customization option.