What changed on this GLS?
The body colour and finish: gloss black paint became a matte metallic grey. In the before photo the paint is a deep, mirror-like black under rain. In the after photos the same panels are a soft grey that shows the shape of the body through light and shadow instead of reflections.
Everything that isn’t body paint looks the same in both sets of photos. The chrome grille louvres and star, the black roof rails, the black window surrounds and the two-tone wheels were not wrapped. The film is Avery Dennison’s Matte Metallic Gunmetal, listed in its North American Supreme Wrapping Film range as SW900-840-M.
Which panels does a full wrap cover on a GLS?
A full colour change covers every painted exterior panel, and on a GLS those panels are big. Mercedes-Benz Canada says three-row seating is standard in every GLS, which makes for long doors, tall rear quarters and a large roof and hood to cover.
Door jambs are an option on any colour change. The photos don’t show this car’s jambs, so whether they were done isn’t claimed here. What jamb work involves is on wrapping door jambs.
Why does Matte Metallic Gunmetal suit a big SUV?
A matte metallic grey lets a large body read as one shape, and it leaves the chrome grille as the single bright element on the front. That’s general reasoning about the finish, not a claim about why this owner chose it.
Gloss black on a vehicle this size reflects everything around it, so the eye sees the surroundings before the body lines. A flat grey does the opposite: light falls off gradually across the doors and hood. Mid-grey also tends to hide dust and dried road spray better than black does between washes. Other cars this colour would suit are covered on Matte Metallic Gunmetal.
What does Avery’s data sheet say about metallic and matte film?
Metallic films get shorter ratings than solid colours in most of Avery’s zones, and horizontal panels get shorter ratings than vertical ones in every zone. Avery’s SW900 data sheet gives these figures for its metallic and pearlescent row:
| Avery zone | Vertical panels | Horizontal panels |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 5 years | 2 years |
| Zone 2 | 4 years | 6 months |
| Zone 3 | 4.8 years | 4 months |
On a GLS, the hood and roof are the horizontal surfaces. Avery assigns zones by location in a separate bulletin, and it sets its warranty term equal to the durability in the chart. The shop’s published vinyl term is a 5-year manufacturer warranty, so ask for the terms that apply to your colour and panels in writing.
The sheet also says metallic film should run in the same direction it came off the roll on every panel, and that one roll per vehicle is preferred where possible. On a body with panels as long as a GLS, that keeps the colour reading the same from one door to the next.
How do you look after a matte metallic wrap?
Gently, and without wax or polish. Avery’s sheet warns that cleaners, wax and polish can cause “extreme color and gloss shift” on matte finishes, and tells owners to try any product on an inconspicuous spot before using it.
Wash by hand or touchless, and never aim a pressure washer at a vinyl edge. Skip brush washes. If a product contains petroleum distillates or solvents, leave it on the shelf: Avery says those void its warranty.
How do you book a colour change like this one?
Send the year, model and the colour you’re after; wraps are quoted per vehicle. Notes for this model are on GLS vinyl wraps, and the shop’s full process is on colour change wraps.
Ask for an invoice that names the film maker, colour and code, since ICBC treats wraps as additional vehicle equipment; what to raise with ICBC is on telling ICBC about a wrap. Request a quote through the wrap quote form, and see this GLS with other jobs in the gallery and on the projects page.
