XPEL, 3M, Other PPF, NO PPF, CQuartz???

[Mike02z]

I'm gonna find out how much this will cost by the end of the week. I have some guys who know some guys (lol), we'll see how much it costs. I'm still weary on the stuff...I have to admit I like my Zaino....A LOT. And with this stuff, I can't use it anymore, and there's no way it's a slick and smooth as Zaino. Just no chance. I could be wrong, but I find it very hard to believe a film can be "slick".

I will have lightning blue w/white stripes, so XPEL right over them wont bother me too much. there is a red border on the white...not sure if the air gap between the red and blue will be ugly...

R

Full hood, full bumper, full fenders, mirrors and rockers was 1600 for me. Most prices to wrap the entire car were in the 5-6k range.

As far as I know, the only restriction to a PPF is never hit it with a D/A or Orbital. I put a ceramic coating over mine and can't see why you could not still use Zaino on top. I can tell you I just did my whole car with ceramic and you cannot tell there is a PPF on it unless you are 3" away. It shines much more than when I installed the PPF. Xpel will provide better self healing but generally many people feel Suntek provides more shine and is less noticeable.

I did a lot of research prior to getting PPF. It was a tough choice. I finally saw two cars side by side that were basically the same color one had Suntek and one had Xpel. I thought the Suntek looked more invisible. No installer I spoke with would say which they thought was better. Both were the exact same cost. Of course XPEL is more popular today but they do a LOT more advertising as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either but I do suggest looking at 2 cars side by side with each before making a final decision.

Good luck!:cheers:

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[SolarFlare]

xpel here, half hood, half fenders, bumper, headlights, side mirrors. Drove 16000 miles last year and not a scratch, invisible unless lighting angle is perfect and even then hardly visible.

 

[CanadianHorseMan]

Just my opinion, but I never got the 1/4" pinstripe on the outside of Shelby stripes. If it was my car, I would check if I could pull off the pinstripes. Then you would never notice the white-ish air channel next to a white stripe.

As for Zaino, you can apply any slick or ceramic coating on top of clear film, too, although then the total cost really goes up.

My take is that every dollar spent on ceramic coating is a dollar better spent on clear film. Then I just seal and/or wax myself periodically. It doesn't take too long. Plus, you really never pick up swirls, due to the self-healing properties of the film. (Not to mention that yellow is about the most immune color to showing swirls.)

So wait, are you saying that I can/should either apply a protective coating on top of the XPEL? Such as Zaino or a ceramic sealant (like CQuartz)? The self healing XPEL properties don't degrade with the application of something like Zaino (which is designed to bond to clearcoat)?

I have no problems with this, just trying to understand without going crazy googling this ...much like googling "best car polish", this topic will make me go completely mad. haha

 

[Mike02z]

So wait, are you saying that I can/should either apply a protective coating on top of the XPEL? Such as Zaino or a ceramic sealant (like CQuartz)? The self healing XPEL properties don't degrade with the application of something like Zaino (which is designed to bond to clearcoat)?

I have no problems with this, just trying to understand without going crazy googling this ...much like googling "best car polish", this topic will make me go completely mad. haha

Many installers will actually give you the option of putting a ceramic coating on top of the PPF. I don't know 100% that you can use Zaino but my installer did say wax won't hurt it as long as done by hand. Based on that I'd say you can use Zaino. I don't see why Zaino would not bond to the ceramic coating on top of the PPF. I've already used Z8 after the ceramic with no issue.

 

[Spa2k]

So wait, are you saying that I can/should either apply a protective coating on top of the XPEL? Such as Zaino or a ceramic sealant (like CQuartz)? The self healing XPEL properties don't degrade with the application of something like Zaino (which is designed to bond to clearcoat)?

I have no problems with this, just trying to understand without going crazy googling this ...much like googling "best car polish", this topic will make me go completely mad. haha

Some waxes and other coatings will harm Xpel and affect its self-healing ability. Xpel has its own "Flawless Finish" cleaner and sealant; that's all I ever use. Call Xpel technical support with your questions.

Unfortunately, the goals of getting a wet-look, hyper-shine vs. paint protection from chips are mutually exclusive; with just a wax or ceramic coating, you still leave your paint open to damage from stones and anything else that hits and can chip or dent it. Avoiding that type of damage (that ultimately may require a repaint) is more important to me than having the ultimate show-car shine.

If the car were a garage-queen Lambo that only came out of the garage for Beverly Hills car shows on perfect, 72-degree, low-humidity days, I might think differently. But this is a Mustang that has to live in the real world.

 

[GTP]

So wait, are you saying that I can/should either apply a protective coating on top of the XPEL? Such as Zaino or a ceramic sealant (like CQuartz)? The self healing XPEL properties don't degrade with the application of something like Zaino (which is designed to bond to clearcoat)?

I have no problems with this, just trying to understand without going crazy googling this ...much like googling "best car polish", this topic will make me go completely mad. haha

Yeah, I hear ya Rob. Or research best sounding exhaust. ("What, you think my exhaust is too loud? Define 'loud'.")

Yes, many film shops are shared with detailers, so it is one stop shopping. Personally, I just feel that getting the film coverage I want drains my budget, leaving nothing for ceramic. For example, I want to have my wheels coated, because then they would stay cleaner, and clean up faster. But I was quoted almost as much for coating as the wheels are worth themselves.

If funds were unlimited, then I would do both. IMO, the ceramic coatings primarily save you the time and hassle of waxing your car yourself, plus makes car washes turn out quicker and better. But coating does not protect the paint as well as film, so...

 

[CanadianHorseMan]

Yah, exactly. I don't think I'd bother with ceramic either. If I can apply Zaino then I'd just do that. I'll have to chat with the installer. Still waiting on a price to come back to me.

 

[Hack]

I was planning Suntek, but my local installer didn't have the patterns for the GT350 - said they would call me when they had the patterns and then never did. I had a really good local guy do Xpel for me and I'm happy with it. I should have taped off the edges when I applied the sealant, but that's my fault and has nothing to do with the PPF.

 

[Spa2k]

I should have taped off the edges when I applied the sealant, but that's my fault and has nothing to do with the PPF.

What happened?

 

[Hack]

What happened?

I have white lines where the sealant built up against the edges of the PPF. I bought some cleaner to remove the build up, and it's better, but still not completely gone.

 

[CanadianHorseMan]

so you're supposed to tape the edges? how do you get the sealant on the edges if you tape the edges?

 

[morjo02]

Full XPEL Wrap + Ceramic Coating

take a look at the picture on instagram - liquid metal


https://www.instagram.com/p/BH8PcKDBohJ/?taken-by=detailingdynamics&hl=en

 

[derand]

So,

Yes, there are topics on the forum, and I read a few of them, but lets make this fun with a poll.

I have a 2017 GT350R - Lightning Blue w/white OTT stripes coming soon and I'm contemplating this PPF (paint protection film) option.

I have never done it on my cars before, and I'm hesitant on the R for a few reasons, stripes cause complications, paint differences (if I only do the mirrors -- forward), if it ever needs to be replaced, it's most likely gonna rip the stripes clean off the car.

So we have this "original" paint left over which may or may not be a different shade than the rest of the car with no stripes left on the hood, cause they got ripped off with the film.

Now, I also obviously understand the benefits, and I just want to know what other users think about the PPF route vs no PPF. And I'm throwing C Quartz in there for fun.

Please answer the poll too, and if you say PPF or no PPF, it would be great if you could say why you went or are going that route

Thanks!


Rob[/QUO
Wrap it with XPEL or Suntek and forget it i"m driving a 16 blue with white stripes since January and looks new with just over 7,000 kms.

 

[Bender]

My GT350 has Xpel Ultimate PPF and Cquartz finest.

My GT350R is getting that treatment next week

 

[CanadianHorseMan]

My GT350 has Xpel Ultimate PPF and Cquartz finest.

My GT350R is getting that treatment next week

Your installer must love you

Congrats on the R though!!! Do you do anything to the wheels?

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