3M clear plastic to protect from stone chips
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Yes. I’ve got Xpel on the front clip, A-pillars/front of roof, rocker panels, mirror caps, and door handle cups. It’s a white CS- Xpel looks better on lighter cars. On darker cars, SunTek will look better since it has less orange peel effect. Did a combination of Xpel & SunTek on my Mineral Gray BMW M240i since at that time, the Xpel was slightly thicker and historically had a better resistance to yellowing (10 year warranty), but the SunTek looks better on the dark paint (5 year warranty). So, Xpel on the bumper, rockers, etc., and SunTek on the hood, and fenders.
Since then, SunTek has come out with a product that is warrantied for 10 years as well. It’s been many years since I’ve used the 3M film and it was probably first generation (yellowed within 5 years). I’m not familiar with what they offer now. Anyways, you will not regret the investment in PPF! Best dollar I’ve spent on either car. Hope this helps.
Since then, SunTek has come out with a product that is warrantied for 10 years as well. It’s been many years since I’ve used the 3M film and it was probably first generation (yellowed within 5 years). I’m not familiar with what they offer now. Anyways, you will not regret the investment in PPF! Best dollar I’ve spent on either car. Hope this helps.
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Your choice but if you are still in the decision phase I prefer Suntek Ultra but XPEL is a quality product. Have done two full cars with Suntek Ultra and one full front and rocker panels in Llumar Ultimate. I prefer Suntek hands down. In the past there have been people that complained about 3M adhesive being pretty aggressive and pulling paint but that my be a combination of touched up areas that are weakly bonded or improper removal technique.
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24 Posts
interesting that chevy protected the area in front of the rear wheel well on the corvette. i believe stones were hitting that area from front tire projectiles. the plastic was effective.
The problem was Chevy didn't put a big enough patch. The general consensus among the Vette guys who cared about chips was to put bigger patches on, mud flaps and also highly recommend the full side skirts. I was going to do the same if I bought a Z06 as I thought I would.
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196 Posts
Most folks here who have PPF installed, cover the rocker panels, the entire front of the car, and the side view mirrors. That's typically going to run you about $3K - $4K for professional installation, regardless if you use 3M, SunTek, Llumar, or XPEL, or some other high quality brand.
I installed 3M myself, ordering through https://www.invisiblemask.com/. Got the 3M Scotchgard Pro on front bumper, 30 inches of hood and fenders, plus a couple other pieces. Saved a ton of money over getting it professionally done but it's my first time applying it and it's definitely an amateur job! It's good enough for me but I won't be winning any car shows with it. I'm more concerned about damage than perfect appearance. From 5 feet away it looks fine, come in close and you see the imperfections.
I had 3M on my Boxster and it retained its appearance very well for over 5 years. I hear if it stays on too long it can be difficult to remove but at the price I paid, I'm willing to just reinstall in 5 years time.
The bumper was the toughest. It's one big sheet and I have a couple imperfections. I'm thinking about reinstalling this piece soon, but even with the do-over it's still a lot cheaper than hiring someone to do it. Just go slowly, don't panic and use plenty of soapy water. It was fun once I got the hang of it.
I had 3M on my Boxster and it retained its appearance very well for over 5 years. I hear if it stays on too long it can be difficult to remove but at the price I paid, I'm willing to just reinstall in 5 years time.
The bumper was the toughest. It's one big sheet and I have a couple imperfections. I'm thinking about reinstalling this piece soon, but even with the do-over it's still a lot cheaper than hiring someone to do it. Just go slowly, don't panic and use plenty of soapy water. It was fun once I got the hang of it.
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379 Posts
Paid $2k for that coverage in the Atlanta area and my guy does the local Ferrari dealership’s work.
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