NWAS full vehicle wrap Alpine White BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
E30 M3s are a sensitive subject for a lot of automotive enthusiasts. Purists love them for their legacy, collectors horde them for history, and modders do their best (or worst) to build upon that which many hold so dear. We’re all about preservation here at NWAS. From patinas to paint protection, we like to see originality remain intact, or at the very least, re-birthed in such a way that it pays homage while still remaining unique and well executed. When this less-than-perfect E30 came to us looking for an aesthetic overhaul, we opted to go a direction that paralleled the E30s evolution, while still bringing some newness to the table.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 getting washed matte silver red accents
We began by bringing the M3 into the wash bay for a 24-step hand wash, clay bar decontamination, & general inspection. Anything that’s easily removed is so, just to further ensure that the car is as clean as it can be before the full-on strip down happens.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 removing parts matte silver red accents
Once the M3 was cleaned up, we repositioned her on the shop floor so Ivan could complete the rest of the dis-assembly. In the meantime, Blake & Tim began prepping, taping edges, and pulled the wheels for coating.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 jambs wrapped matte silver red accents
With all the leading edges taped up, bumpers, wing, & panels pulled, the guys set to work on the door jambs and lower rockers. Once the pieces were sized up, it becomes a matter of careful placement, heat, & trimming to assure every inch of vinyl can be laid with minimal seams & maximum coverage to hide any bit of underlying paint that might show through the body lines.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 jambs wrapped matte silver red accents
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 hood wrapped matte silver red accents
After the door & trunk jambs were all wrapped up, it was time to start in on the big stuff. The vinyl was cut to the scale of the hood, and the guys centered the large panel, secured it in the middle & began squeegeeing their way outward.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 prep before matte silver red accents
For the sake of accessibility & a bit more rigidity, the E30 was moved in our paint protection bay and lifted to a relative working height. From there, Tim prepped out the front fenders & rear quarter panels and began laying the rest of the larger pieces.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver installed red accents
The box flares were really starting to take shape as Tim & Blake worked their way around the E30 with squeegees & heat guns in hand.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver trimming red accents
Once the quarter panel piece was placed, all the edges were carefully trimmed back & excess vinyl removed from the tail light & gas cap housings.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver bumper red accents
With a majority of the coverage completed, Tim set to work on the tricky bits. As many of you know, the E30 has a rather gated front bumper with multiple air inlets & little grill inserts, so it was quite the process of placement & proper masking. Once all the little sections were pieced in, Tim stretched one larger piece of vinyl over the entirety of the bumper’s surface to further the illusion of it being seamless. After the matte silver had been installed, red “bumper tape” like that found on the E30 EVO II was inset to add to the sporty appearance.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 tail lights matte silver red accents
In the mean time, Ivan began re-installing the rear bumpers while Tim and Blake refit the headlamps and badge.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
Now that the wheels were sporting a fresh coat of red, it was time to wrap the wing, trunk, and last but not least, the roof. The wing received a bit of a custom treatment as well, with a subtle red underbelly that mirrors the look of the bumper tape from eye level. It’s one of those things that you might not spot at first, but the little peek-a-boo effect is what makes it that much cooler!
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 almost done matte silver red accents
Once the M3 was all buttoned up, we pulled her out into the bright sunshine to get a good look & quick wipe down before moving her into the cyclorama for a photo shoot before delivery.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
Truly, it’s the attention to detail that sets our wraps apart from the rest. The near perfect corners with almost no visible stretching, matching headlight surrounds, impeccably wrapped jambs & subtle details like the beveled M3 insignia and red wing accent make this little Bimmer a real head turner. That, and the finish quality could easily fool most people admiring it at street level!
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
The red accents don’t just stop at the wheels, spoiler, & bumper tape either, we went ahead & color-matched the toe hook to bring it all together.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
It’s always a tough call on wheel finishing options and deciding whether or not to go full matte or gloss on a to-be matte car, but in this case the flat finish was just the ticket. The contrast between the red gloss accents and matte red wheels creates a nice combination.
NWAS full vehicle wrap BMW E30 M3 matte silver red accents
We’re quite satisfied with the way the E30 M3 turned out, and the transformation is definitely drastic compared to the little Alpine White cruiser that came through our doors. From what we hear it has quite the monstrous future ahead of it, too, so hopefully the aggressive new aesthetics will be right at home with the bump in power.
For more information about all of our vinyl wrap services, check out our wrap page here, or visit the gallery to get some ideas for your own personal wrap project!
AWESOME work guys!!