VW - MK7 GTI Engine Cover Badgeskin install Here is a partial install of the MK7 GTI engine cover badgeskin set. This will cover the dots, the button and the accent skins on the right side of the cover. The left accent piece is a simple align and apply like a regular badgeskin. The VW emblem skin is covered in another HOW TO. The TSI is just a simple install like any regular badgeskin with the exception that it is recommended to do a light sanding of the TSI with 1000 grit sand paper to remove some of the silver paint and to provide a smooth surface for adhesion. Items needed: Clean engine cover Badgeskin kit Isopropyl / rubbing alcohol (for cleaning the surface) Hair dryer Razor blade Q-tip(s) Squeegee (Plastic bank card or gift card will do)
DOT INSTALL STEP 1 Ensure that the engine cover surfaces are clean, once cleaned wipe areas down with the alcohol. The complete install will take about 2 hours or less. Here we will start off with the dots, as you can see I have left the last one for the how to. If you are wondering there are exactly 340 dots.
STEP 2 Take your blade and slide the tip just under the dot to lift the dot up from the backing. Than transfer it to the engine cover.
STEP 3 Place the dot into the cavity and simple just tilt the blade upright and the dot will drop right in. if it is off center you can adjust with the tip of the blade. After you do a few you will get used to it
STEP 4 Now take your Q-Tip in a upright position and push down on the dot and then wiggle it in a circle motion to apply the skin to the cover.
336..337 338.339..340!!!! DONE!!! Now on to the button.
BUTTON INSTALL STEP 1 Clean surface with Alcohol. Remove the button badgeskin from the backing, center and place on the cover
STEP 2 Once centered run your finger over the skin from middle out, then remove the masking. You will notice there will be ripples along the edges. This is where the hair dryer is needed in the next step. **NOTE: keep the masking as you will need to use it.**
STEP 3 Take your hair blower on high heat, let it warm up and apply some heat onto the skin, just hover the blower about 4-6 inches away and warm the skin. Usually a count of 2-3 steamboats should do you be the judge based on how crappy your hair blower is. Once the skin is warmed up it will be more pliable, place the masking back on top and use the squeegee (plastic card) in an inside out motion over the ripples to flatten them out. The masking protects the vinyl.
That s it. You have installed the button. Now that you have gotten a bit of experience it time to move onto the accent parts of the engine cover.
RIGHT TOP & BOTTOM ACCENTS STEP 1 Clean surface(s) with alcohol. Remove badgeskin from backing, align and place over the surface. Giving it about 3mm spacing from the edge.
STEP 2 Apply the skin by running your finger over the flat portion shown below. Then remove the masking but keep it for use later on. Apply the skin only on the flat highlighted part shown here.
STEP 3 Here is what it should look like after the masking has been removed. As you can see the section where it is curved on the cover the skin is kind of just floating. At this point this is where you will start applying the skin to the curvature of the cover buy running your finger over the skin with an inside to outside motion. Starting with the corner.
You will start to see ripples don t worry just continue on with the application and move along the skin to the other side. Applying it with about a ½ cm gap between each run.
It will start looking like this. If you find it binding than lift the skin off the cover and start over again. Continue on moving right to left.
STEP 4 Once you have completed the first run over the skin take the hair dryer and warm up the vinyl and slowly run your finger over the ripple working it in. You can work on multiple ripples at a time. Think of it as if you were herding the ripples to the edge of the skin, but together, working each one a little at a time towards the edge so not trying to run just one to the edge than the next. Keep applying heat evenly with the blow dryer while doing this.
Once you have herded the ripples down the best you can you will have some left over smaller ripples. While the vinyl is still warm and pliable from the blow dryer place the masking back on over the skin and use the squeegee (plastic card) to flatten out the smaller ripple working it from the inside out.
OK, one done and another to go.
The bottom accent piece pretty well follow the same instructions I will attach some pics for reference. Floating edges
Start herding the ripples, don t forget to apply heat.
Last remaining smaller ripples
OK, top and bottom accent skins complete. Last one is the vented center accent skin.
VENTED CENTER ACCENT STEP 1 Clean surface(s) with alcohol. Remove badgeskin from backing, align the vents and place over the surface. Also use the left edges to help.
STEP 2 Apply the left side of the skin first as shown in the highlighted section in yellow. Then apply the vent parts of the skin as shown in down-inward motion.
STEP 3 Finish off the vents with the squeegee (plastic card) to fully get the inner part of the skin in the vent. Then apply the top and bottom section of this portion of the skin. You may find on the bottom it may ripple. If it does just get the section below the vent as highlighted.
STEP 4 Remove the masking (but keep it for later use). As you can see there are some ripples. Just simply start working the ripples starting with the most left one in an inside out direction like before. You may require some heat with the hair dryer. If you have ripples on the top part of the skin just repeat the process there.
STEP 5 With 75% of the skin applied, finished it off by working it left to right for the last portion of the skin herding your ripple to the outside edge while using the hair dryer to apply some heat.
STEP 6 Lay the masking over the skin and do a last sweep of the skin to make sure all parts are adhered and ripples flattened. You may want to apply a little heat if needed for any small ripples close to the edges.
Here s the final product of your hard work! At Badgeskins we understand that not everybody has worked with vinyl before so please don t hesitate to contact us if you have any question in regards to this install or if you have messed up a piece. We will gladly provide replacement skins that you may have messed up during install with a picture proof of your goof.