Xpel Ultimate: prep and is it worth it?

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rlloyd

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I'm thinking of getting Xpel Ultimate put on my car next weekend. I drive a lot and CT roads are bad with sand and stuff flying. My last car was pitted in the front because of it (239k miles). Is it worth it to do? Does it really protect the paint and make cleaning bugs and dirt easier?

From the conversations with the installer that they just IPA wipe it and install. At that point any swirls or anything are now locked under the film forever correct?
If so I need to get the areas corrected.

What I was planning on having them do:
bikini hood
front bumper
mirrors
lights (not fog)
door cups
trunk/luggage

Any recommendations on that plan?

Thanks guys!
 
I do not have and have never had a clear bra installed on my personal vehicle, however my experience with several customer vehicles is that the film is prone to staining if left unattended for a while, especially in harsh sunlight. The film will also swirl and scratch easier than most paints. A few owners have mentioned that the film is "high maintenance" if you want to keep it looking like new. With that being said, however, it does work pretty well in protecting from rock chips and other damage to your paint.

blog_197708_1900808.jpg

^You can see the bug stains that were etched into the clear bra on this VW GTI.

If you were simply after ease of cleaning - a coating like 22ple, opticoat, CQuartz, etc all make it much easier to remove bugs and dirt from your vehicle. However, while these coatings are very durable against the elements, none of them will be worth much in terms of protection from rock chips.
 
'Scribing....

Would the discoloration be easily noticed over black paint?
 
blog_175905_1829958.jpg


This Raptor had Xpel Ultimate applied (the owner of the truck owns a company that applies clear film)... it was the clearest film I have ever seen. You can barely notice the film in this picture, it was quite hard to see in person except in the right light.

More pictures here
 
Chris's FX4 said:
Xpel Ultimate is a self healing PPF.
Click to expand...

I understand it is supposed to be self healing and stain resistant, but my thoughts on that are if it was a perfect system - detailers wouldn't need to exist. Everyone would just cover their vehicle with this miracle film.

I know it is much better than traditional film, but overtime I'm sure it will look worn just the same. Hopefully it will take a long time to look that way though.

Those videos in the Xpel link are pretty cool :xyxthumbs:
 
zmcgovern45 said:
I understand it is supposed to be self healing and stain resistant, but my thoughts on that are if it was a perfect system - detailers wouldn't need to exist. Everyone would just cover their vehicle with this miracle film.

I know it is much better than traditional film, but overtime I'm sure it will look worn just the same. Hopefully it will take a long time to look that way though.

Those videos in the Xpel link are pretty cool :xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...
Don't worry, I wasn't trying to imply that its the perfect end all be all PPF. I just think its pretty interesting. I wonder myself how it would look a couple years down the road if it was neglected.
 
I'm not looking to get rid of detailing my car, just protecting the paint. It's dark metallic blue. I'll also protect the Xpel with whatever is best for it. Can you put sealants and waxes on it? I'm going to be doing WG DGPS and Souveran.

Can I apply the wax with a buffer on the film? Or is wax not even needed?

With a 10 year warranty covering yellowing and other issues I feel safe and think the paint will look better and last much longer.

But I'm open to suggestions from all you pros on here?!
 
zmcgovern45 said:
blog_175905_1829958.jpg


This Raptor had Xpel Ultimate applied (the owner of the truck owns a company that applies clear film)... it was the clearest film I have ever seen. You can barely notice the film in this picture, it was quite hard to see in person except in the right light.

More pictures here
Click to expand...

Totally off topic but what lenses did you shoot that hood with - the hood looks about two feet long ! :)
 
Found an answer to my own question but thought I'd post it if anyone is interested:

"Unlike most paint protection films on the market, XPEL ULTIMATE Paint Protection film can be waxed and sealed just like your paint. Though XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant is still the preferred product, Any automotive wax or sealant may be used."

That's great. Now I know it will have the same (as close as it can) look as the rest of the car.
 
rlloyd said:
I'm thinking of getting Xpel Ultimate put on my car next weekend.
Is it worth it to do?

^^^YES!!!^^^

Does it really protect the paint and make cleaning bugs and dirt easier?

^^^It really does protect the paint from most road debris^^^...

Keep in mind that hardly anything will protect the paint from being slammed by big rocks/boulders,
deer, parking/parking-lot light stanchions, and such...PPF is not Bullet-Proof.


If so I need to get the areas corrected.

^^^Yes...That would be nice to do so.^^^

What I was planning on having them do:
bikini hood<<<<NO!! Get the Full Hood!!
front bumper
mirrors
lights (not fog)
door cups
trunk/luggage
Click to expand...

rlloyd said:
I'll also protect the Xpel with whatever is best for it. Can you put sealants and waxes on it?
rlloyd said:
Found an answer to my own question but thought I'd post it if anyone is interested:

"Unlike most paint protection films on the market, XPEL ULTIMATE Paint Protection film can be waxed and sealed just like your paint. Though XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant is still the preferred product, Any automotive wax or sealant may be used."

^^^NOT ME!!! I only use XPel's or Premier Protection Film's sealants^^^

What products not to use on PPF...
-Plexus, or its ilk...(It was designed/is-best-for: polycarbonate...not polyurethane.)
-Products that contain naptha/kereosene (many waxes, detail sprays)...
with one exception: Turtle Wax's Ice Synthetic Detail Spray... (that's what I use on mine for 'quick-detailing' purposes.)


With a 10 year warranty covering yellowing and other issues I feel safe and think the paint will look better and last much longer.

^^^You better believe it!!^^^
Also... Think about the increase in the resell-value for your vehicle.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Use of the following products will keep your PPF looking good/in great shape...
As well as protecting the Warranty...It's what I do!



PremierPPF2.jpg




:)

Bob
 
Bob - Why do you say get the full hood?

Rob
 
ehannigan said:
Totally off topic but what lenses did you shoot that hood with - the hood looks about two feet long ! :)
Click to expand...

That particular shot was taken with a 12-24 f/4 ultra-wide. Hence the distortion of the image... I suppose I could have corrected for it, but it does not bother me.
 
rlloyd said:
Bob - Why do you say get the full hood?

Rob
Click to expand...

Believe me Rob...

Sure as I'm sitting here typing out this reply...

Air-born contaminates and/or road debris...
Will definitely land somewhere upon the non-PPF'd area of the hood.

Why take that chance, just to save a couple of dollars...IMHO.

Just saying...

:)

Bob
 
I had a clear bra on one of my cars sometime ago, I can tell you that is was very high maint. But I live in Florida and the sun down here is murder on cars during the summer months, after a couple years it began to like a cracked windshield, and swril marks seem to come out of nowhere, it does help guard against rock chips and other road rash.
 
zmcgovern45 said:
That particular shot was taken with a 12-24 f/4 ultra-wide. Hence the distortion of the image... I suppose I could have corrected for it, but it does not bother me.
Click to expand...

No need to correct for it, was just curious :)
 
Crazy Diamond said:
I had a clear bra on one of my cars sometime ago, I can tell you that is was very high maint. But I live in Florida and the sun down here is murder on cars during the summer months, after a couple years it began to like a cracked windshield, and swril marks seem to come out of nowhere, it does help guard against rock chips and other road rash.
Click to expand...

Technology has allowed for paint protection films to become much more advanced than films in the past. There are certain high end films that will have zero orange peel and come with a top clear coat that is self healing. What this means is that the film is much harder to scratch, and if it is scratched, the surface will repair itself, eliminating swirl marks altogether. These newer films are also much more resistant to staining and discoloration, making them a great answer to things like the love bugs you have in Florida.
 
XPEL said:
Technology has allowed for paint protection films to become much more advanced than films in the past. There are certain high end films that will have zero orange peel and come with a top clear coat that is self healing. What this means is that the film is much harder to scratch, and if it is scratched, the surface will repair itself, eliminating swirl marks altogether. These newer films are also much more resistant to staining and discoloration, making them a great answer to things like the love bugs you have in Florida.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this information! :props:

Also:

Since this your first post...:welcome:...to AGO.



Bob
 
I had Xpel Ultimate installed again on my 2011 Avalon Limited yesterday. The first installer did a hack job. I was thinking about applying Adam's Americana wax on it soon. Love bugs are already here but not too bad yet.

 
Reviving an old thread here...I have a new to me 2007 w/13k miles and it had half of the hood covered and where the film was the paint is perfect after I removed it because the film was stained. I polished the hood with my 3401 & Menzerna FG400 and FF3000 and the front half of the hood is literally new and the back half has very minor pitting/sandblasting after polishing. My question is this, I feel like I could remove 90-100% of the pitting with 3000-5000 trizact but do I really need to if I'm going to cover it with Expel? Thanks
 
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