Dummy’s Guide Episode 4: Is it cool to foil my car?

Remember a time, not so long ago, when everybody considered a matt black car, erm, cool? Mafia-like? Bad-ass? How did they get it done? Well, let’s give you the ins and outs of a little process called foiling your car.

The suave matt black exterior that you thought was a fancy paint job, is really just paper with adhesive. This is what is called a foil. It’s a great alternative to painting your car and completely reversible (well, mostly, but more on that later).

So why foil your car?

In simple layman’s terms – cool factor, bro! 

Foiling has evolved beyond the basic matt black and other primary colors – we now live a world of fancy glossy foils, metallic foils, chrome foils, color-shifting foils and so on. 

Foiling is a great way to freshen up your old car and gives you options well beyond the standard factory color palette. 

You like baby blue and VW refuses to give you the option on your spanking new golf? No problem. Get it foiled. Always wanted that midas touch to everything you own? Go ahead and foil your fancy supercar in gold. The options are limitless – reach for the stars, my friend.

Maybe you are famous, quirky and want your Ferrari to stand-out – check out what Deadmau5 did to his! 

Unlike painting which is non-reversible, foiling is completely reversible and you can go back to the factory color by just ripping it off.

Since the foil goes over the factory paint, it also protects the paint from scratches and swirls, keeping it fresh.

Quick story: In 2013, I was in the market looking for a Mini Cooper S (R56). The stealership had only two of them in stock with a JCW kit before they had to re-order (ain’t nobody got time for that) – one in pepper white and another in loud-A-F orange. By the time I pondered over the car and decided to pull the plug, the white was gone. I really wanted the car, I got the orange and got it foiled in matt white the minute it left the showroom. 

Years later, I wanted to sell the car, so I took off the foil and lo, the original paintjob was in immaculate condition, thanks to the foil (really helped with the resale).

What’s not so cool about foiling your car

While foiling is a great alternative to painting and customizing your whip, it is not without it’s flaws.

Door dings and scratches on a foiled car will rip the foil and expose the car’s original color beneath. This is not a pretty sight, kinda like this Trump bikini (Trumpkini?). The ONLY fix is to re-foil the entire section of the car – not cheap.

Moreover, the “cool” matt finishes are not easy to maintain. The black ones gather dust way too easily and the white ones just turn into a mix of yellow and brown after a while (trust me, I know).

The worst thing to happen though would be to remove the foil after years of service, only to find out the clear coat on your car came out with the adhesive (true story, brah). This is an expensive fix. A precautionary measure is to always use well known brands of foil like the ones from companies like 3M, Avery Dennison & VViViD. 

This is personal, but foiling has also given rise to some serious offenders in the custom car scene – superhero themed cars, blood splatter foils and other tasteless modifications. These are just an eyesore but hey, to each his own, eh?

If you want to foil your car with the best material and from the best installers, check out our foiling page OR get in touch with us and we will help you pimp your ride (sure, we’ll try to have an Xzibit impersonator too).