Need quick PPF advice

[Caballus]

- I just got the note below from the shop that is installing SunTek on my car--full vehicle. The question about the mirror is easy--do not remove the panel; I'll accept the gap.

- Could use the help on the one about the emblem though. Based on his description, my gut says do not remove. Experience of others who have already had fenders wrapped would be greatly appreciated.
-----------
Details follow:
1. Attached is a picture of the GT 350 emblem. I thought it would be no
problem to remove it, apply the film and reattach it.
Unfortunately it is not possible to remove them without possibly
damaging the emblem. Is it okay with you that we leave a 1/8 inch gap
around the emblem? Or do you want us to remove them?
Since they have pins in the back (and holes in the Fender) you would
have to order them. I don't know how quickly they will be available or
how much they will cost (usually around $20-50 a piece). So

2. In the Picture of the mirror you can see that a small strip of paint
is visible above the mirror.
The simple solution would be to apply the film around the mirror, with a
small seam in the surface above.
To apply the film without a seam I would have to remove the inner door
panel to remove the mirror. This is standard procedure with this type of
mirror and generally not a problem. It can happen though that some of
the clips that hold the door panel break in the process. I do not know
how easy/quickly these can be obtained. so I would prefer to avoid this.

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[raiderjatt02]

I don't see any pictures but I did not have them remove my emblem. I got my fenders wrapped perfectly in line with the C shaped crease. So the area around the emblems is not wrapped. You can't even see the edge of the wrap and you wouldn't know it's there unless you run your fingers along the crease.

 

[Caballus]

I don't see any pictures but I did not have them remove my emblem. I got my fenders wrapped perfectly in line with the C shaped crease. So the area around the emblems is not wrapped. You can't even see the edge of the wrap and you wouldn't know it's there unless you run your fingers along the crease.

Thanks. Didn't attach the pictures, because they simply show the emblem as it is unwrapped.

Thanks again for sharing your experience. Very helpful.

 

[Spa2k]

Don't remove the emblems. A good installer will take the film right up to the letters and even between them (like between the GT AND 350) whenever possible. The objective is protecting your car to the greatest extent possible, not worrying about film edges that are invisible unless you're within a couple of feet of the car. I've had to show people where some of edges are because they can't find them.

I wouldn't remove the mirrors, either. The chances of you catching a rock in that very small space are very small, and the chances of causing damage by door disassembly are much higher.

 

[Caballus]

Don't remove the emblems. A good installer will take the film right up to the letters and even between them (like between the GT AND 350) whenever possible. The objective is protecting your car to the greatest extent possible, not worrying about film edges that are invisible unless you're within a couple of feet of the car. I've had to show people where some of edges are because they can't find them.

I wouldn't remove the mirrors, either. The chances of you catching a rock in that very small space are very small, and the chances of causing damage by door disassembly are much higher.

Thanks! Great advice.

 

[Old Car Guy]

Hum! Do not remove Emblems, my Xpel was precut for the Emblems. :cheers: John

 

[Caballus]

Thanks for the advise everyone. Will work around the emblems and the mirror--no removals. Will let everyone know (see) how things turn out.

 

[derand]

- I just got the note below from the shop that is installing SunTek on my car--full vehicle. The question about the mirror is easy--do not remove the panel; I'll accept the gap.

- Could use the help on the one about the emblem though. Based on his description, my gut says do not remove. Experience of others who have already had fenders wrapped would be greatly appreciated.
-----------
Details follow:
1. Attached is a picture of the GT 350 emblem. I thought it would be no
problem to remove it, apply the film and reattach it.
Unfortunately it is not possible to remove them without possibly
damaging the emblem. Is it okay with you that we leave a 1/8 inch gap
around the emblem? Or do you want us to remove them?
Since they have pins in the back (and holes in the Fender) you would
have to order them. I don't know how quickly they will be available or
how much they will cost (usually around $20-50 a piece). So

2. In the Picture of the mirror you can see that a small strip of paint
is visible above the mirror.
The simple solution would be to apply the film around the mirror, with a
small seam in the surface above.
To apply the film without a seam I would have to remove the inner door
panel to remove the mirror. This is standard procedure with this type of
mirror and generally not a problem. It can happen though that some of
the clips that hold the door panel break in the process. I do not know
how easy/quickly these can be obtained. so I would prefer to avoid this.

There is no gap around the letters I've done three GT350 now mine and 2 others full fronts and I did the fenders and there is no gap I just looked at mine, 2nd if you do the mirrors from the cut program you may be out a bit if the installer doesn't add the wrapped version or what I do is wrap it off the 12 inch roll and you start at the top and wrap the whole mirror most shops won't do that it takes extra time or may not known how or want to do it like that what program are they using XPEL or Suntek True Cut.

 

[Caballus]

There is no gap around the letters I've done three GT350 now mine and 2 others full fronts and I did the fenders and there is no gap I just looked at mine, 2nd if you do the mirrors from the cut program you may be out a bit if the installer doesn't add the wrapped version or what I do is wrap it off the 12 inch roll and you start at the top and wrap the whole mirror most shops won't do that it takes extra time or may not known how or want to do it like that what program are they using XPEL or Suntek True Cut.

Thanks for taking the time to look at yours, Derand! Good insight.

They use SunTek, but do not use precut. They explained that they do everything custom so they have the option of wrapping all edges. They also explained that when they cannot wrap the edges, they leave just enough of a gap to make sure dirt and debris doesn't get lodged between the seams.

 

[derand]

:coolphotos:

Thanks for taking the time to look at yours, Derand! Good insight.

They use SunTek, but do not use precut. They explained that they do everything custom so they have the option of wrapping all edges. They also explained that when they cannot wrap the edges, they leave just enough of a gap to make sure dirt and debris doesn't get lodged between the seams.

It sounds like they don't have a program to cut from XPEL OR Suntek so you can remove letters with dental floss and re install with 3m 2 way tape take measurements before I do it to all land rovers and the new F150 SPECIAL EDDITION When doing full hoods.

 

[Spacebird]

It sounds like they don't have a program to cut from XPEL OR Suntek so you can remove letters with dental floss and re install with 3m 2 way tape take measurements before I do it to all land rovers and the new F150 SPECIAL EDDITION When doing full hoods.

The GT350 fender emblems mount through two holes. They're held in place by spring clips. I'm not sure how much force is required to remove them, but it's more than I could easily apply by reaching a tool through the fender to apron gap.

As I'm rewrapping my car I'm considering removing the badges. The fewer places for dirt to sneak in, the better.

 

[Spa2k]

According to Ford, the emblems are single-installation only, meaning you will destroy them by removing them.

 

[CANTWN4LSN]

If I'm not mistaken you've had your car for quite a while. Are you doing any special pre-wrap prep for defects that may have occurred?

 

[Spacebird]

If I'm not mistaken you've had your car for quite a while. Are you doing any special pre-wrap prep for defects that may have occurred?

I've had it a month, and have only 200 miles on it. Paint is fine save for flaws introduced in the factory and by the bad first wrap job.

Since I'm getting it rewrapped I am taking the opportunity to do some paint corrections. I had a paint booger on the hood where it meets the bumper cover, and a weird protrusion on the back edge of the hood that prevented a clean wrap in that spot.

I took both spots down with some 1500 grit wet sandpaper. The booger covered a fairly large surface area. I was hoping it was just a clearcoat run, but it turned out to be a large cavity in the paint so it all had to come off. I sanded down to the aluminum, cleaned, primed, and painted the spot with some Motorcraft touch up paint. I have 5-6 coats which have built up to a new, cavity-free booger that I'll level to match the surrounding paint.

It's not for the faint of heart. I have 3 credit hours in auto body repair from San Jacinto Community College so I like to think I know what I'm doing

 

[CANTWN4LSN]

Sorry Spacebird, my unforced error, and I do appreciate your response. However the question was directed to Caballus which I should have made clear. Mea culpa.

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