Saturday 17 January 2015

Auto: Tesla Model S Rim Protector Re-Installation


Rimblades from Taobao
Image from Locky's English Playground
After I wrote Auto: Tesla Model S Rim Protector Installation, the response has been very good, so I should write a follow-up on what I did to the rims on the back wheels. As I wrote in that post, I was left with the front rim protectors after a day. Now that I have recovered the Rimblades, it is about time to put them on. The first thing I noticed is that everything is of a huge difference from the previous set.  The box is very well colour-printed.

Rimblades
Image from Locky's English Playground
Rimblades rim protectors are more rubbery, more elastic and with that, I can already feel it will be able to absorb more shock upon impact. The 3M double-sided tape on it also looks more real and is definitely more sticky.

Alcohol wipes and 3M primer!!
Image from Locky's English Playground
It comes with 4 alcohol wipes and 4 perfectly-sealed 3M primer wipes instead of a nail polish-looking one I used for another set, all these makes me believe that this is actually the real deal!

And now the installation video:


A plastic bag to keep the dust and sand off the Rimblade on the ground
Image from Locky's English Playground
Some points to note while installing rim protectors:
1) Should put a plastic bag under the rim protectors to keep the dust and sand off them. You don't want those to be stuck in between your rim and the tape.

Damp cloth and tonnes of pressure
Image from Locky's English Playground
2) Wear a pair of gloves to keep your fingers from getting all crazy black.
3) Do get a damp cloth before you apply pressure over and over the rim protectors, water might actually activate the primer so that it can stick better. I missed this step entirely in the previous installation even though the video I followed did tell me so.

TATA!!!! Left back wheel installed!
Image from Locky's English Playground
4) Apply pressure around the rim, paying special attention to small gaps between the rim protector and your rim.

Right back wheel installed
Image from Locky's English Playground
5) Try not to drive for the next 12 hours. Maybe the time need not be so long, but just in case, some videos even say 24 hours!

After a day of driving, rim protector shrunk a bit
Image from Locky's English Playground
6) After a day of driving, the rim protector shrunk a bit, possibly due to the cold temperature, thus it is advisable to leave the cut a little longer than it should. Use a cutter for precision.

Blue rim protector on the front wheels that have survived
Image from Locky's English Playground

Blue in front, black at the back
Image from Locky's English Playground
Days after the installation, I still have all four rim protectors, so I can say my re-installation is a successful one! Hope yours will be too!



Resources:
Auto: Tesla Model S Rim Protector Installation @  Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2015/01/auto-tesla-model-s-rim-protector.html

Tesla Model S Rim Protector Re-Installation @YouTube
http://youtu.be/GnYdzLSkopU

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