[MINIME]

Mine is self correcting also. Maybe it does work as I never seen chips.

We would have gotten Xpel or SunTek Ultra didn’t matter. The detailer had both and recommended the SunTek. The installers were awarded best in the country and they did a very fine job. Both brands have the 10 year warranty and self correcting. Not sure I could tell the difference between the two and i saw them right next to each other. Go figure.

To me it makes no difference. Just don’t do a partial. Full front. I am noticing some dimples on my rear bumper on the QV. I will probably add the film to the full rear although at some point you just have to enjoy the ride and forget the picky crap

 

[hawkeye_a]

I'm trying to decide between a full-front and full-car Xpel wrap. If i get the full-front, im concerned that over time there will be a color difference between the part which is wrapped and the rest of the car. The car is garaged at night, but is parked in the sun during the day.

 

[alfa55]

Wraps are not permanent. They last 5 years or so depending on your driving habits.

 

[He's Deaf]

I'm trying to decide between a full-front and full-car Xpel wrap. If i get the full-front, im concerned that over time there will be a color difference between the part which is wrapped and the rest of the car. The car is garaged at night, but is parked in the sun during the day.

I vote nose only. Only on surfaces that have a real risk of rock damage.

It will take a long while for any real discoloration to set in- however scuffs and slight hazing will be an issue in short order. It will look good the day you pick it up, but it goes downhill from there. If that car sees any real street duty and sees elements, it will be apparent after awhile.

A clear bra doesn't clean up like actual paint does. You can't cut and buff a clear bra- you can do that to regular paint to restore it.

Pic of cobwebs. Try taking that out of clear bra- you can't.

Food for thought.

rjp

 

[MINIME]

That is why they the detailers will do a paint correction before they do the ppl and then a good ceramic nano coat on top of everything. The nano coats will protect and prolong the life of the film. The good ones are not cheap. CQuartz Finest Reserve and Modesta seem to be the best but they are pricey and you can’t buy and do it yourself unless of course you know someone.

 

[He's Deaf]

That stuff is IN the clear bra itself....That's what I'm saying. Put a bright light on it after awhile, it becomes slightly opaque and hazed and covered in that. IMHO the only thing worse than cobwebs is touchup paint.

 

[hawkeye_a]

1. I'm not to concerned about the ppf as it can be removed and a new one can be applied in the future.
2. What i am concerned about is the integrity of the paint on the entire body. If over a few years, some panels fade/change/discolor due to different levels of exposure to the elements... you cant really fix that later on.
3. I'm averse to nano coating because it is "permanent". It might look great on day 1 but how about 3, 5, 10 years from now? Not to mention I like the appearance/color/shine of my car the way it is and i see no reason to modify it. I dont mind waxing my car every few months instead anyway.
4. What i do need is some protection from rock hits due to highway driving, and seems like ppf is the way to go.

Cheers

 

[He's Deaf]

Yup, you can shine up your car without it. Does a clear bra prevent UV fading? Car also has clear coat. At $2K a whack for a complete job that's pretty large for a 3-5 year investment, plus the problems of finish quality within 6 months.

I got the front up to half hood, the A pillars and above windshield in front of sunroof, and the side skirts only because you can tell that gets a lot of road rash- and I had it all done BY my detail shop (that gets Barrett Jackson and exotics) so if it comes apart, he fixes it.

He did new car prep on this car-paint correction, bra and ceramic. I always take my car in annually, right when I file my taxes to get a full exterior correction + engine cleaning.

Even parked it in the 'cool' spot out front for everyone to see after they were done

 

[He's Deaf]

PS i think what it is, is the bra itself becomes brittle- no longer somewhat pliable (secret to self-repair) and gives up it's self healing and takes on permanent damage after a short while. You can feel the difference in the surface as it changes. Endless heat cycling will harden anything.

 

[MINIME]

As for Ceramic coating, costs seem to be all over the map. It might be due to the amount of paint correction necessary before application. I had full paint correction and Opticoat Plus on my car and it was $750. Nowhere near the $3K some are reporting. My applicator tech did say that the paint condition of my QV was one of the best he'd had, and required minimum correction. For those considering ceramic's it pays for itself. If you have your car detailed 3 times a year at $200 a pop, in 2 years you've more than paid for the up front costs. And washing is a breeze. I don't even use a bucket anymore. Hose down the car to remove any heavy stuff, mist and wipe with optimum no rinse wash, dry with opti seal and a micro fiber. I can do the entire car in about 30 minutes and it looks like it was professionally detailed.

Now I'll look into Xpel or 3M, but having the ceramic coat already, might prove problematic. I've read that some Xpel vendors refuse to apply it to ceramic, due to adhesion issues, while others have said no problems. I've already found a couple of rock chips on the front, so need to do something soon.

Hey. I think the reason this is all over the map is the cost of the product. There is only 1 CQuartz Finest Reserve certified installer in all of Arizona. Modesta is not offered in the state. Opti and Ceramic Pro you can buy online and lots of installers. The Finest Reserve and Modesta are both very expensive and you can’t buy them like you can the other ceramic coats and DIY. The paint correction is also a nice clean polish from the factory but nothing deep. However the application to the paint, wheels come off to ceramic, then the windows. Is it worth $3k? Don’t know. Probably won’t do it on my next car but not because of the cost. I just have more auto detailing products for the various cars I just want to be able to use the same technique on all cars. Not one thing for one car and this for the other. Since I can’t buy Reserve I can’t apply it to my truck and mini. So they will get something off autogeek or the carnuba has served the Mini very well.

 

[MINIME]

I vote nose only. Only on surfaces that have a real risk of rock damage.

It will take a long while for any real discoloration to set in- however scuffs and slight hazing will be an issue in short order. It will look good the day you pick it up, but it goes downhill from there. If that car sees any real street duty and sees elements, it will be apparent after awhile.

A clear bra doesn't clean up like actual paint does. You can't cut and buff a clear bra- you can do that to regular paint to restore it.

Pic of cobwebs. Try taking that out of clear bra- you can't.

Food for thought.

rjp

Interesting that someone would recommend “nose only” I just finished detailing my MINI. Viola. 3 small rock chips ....On the ‘nose” or areas as you commented “normally” get hit, absolutely not. 3 quarter way up near the windshield. Why spend the money on a nose when the chips are going to also hit above that as I have experienced with the lower curb height vehicles. I am not going to recommend anything to anyone but I will share my experience and I would not myself do a partial bra on the hood. I would have kicked myself silly if I had a partial on the mini and yes a couple two small on the lower hood lip but the rest would have been well above that partial surface. So for me if I am getting a bra film or whatever I will either get the full or nothing if road hazards are the concern. For me, I have all the areas filmed but the roof, doors and truck. I am rethinking doing those. My QV looks great with the filmed and all the edges are rolled that can be rolled so no lines.

The QV hugs the asphalt so a high likelyhood that little pebble will hit the upper of the hood versus the windshield. The physics wizards can weigh in but rocks hit the hood not just the nose. 7 chips total on the MINI. 2 on the nose now and 3 toward the windshield on the hood. Oh and of course 3 more on the windshied but didn’t spread and happened within 3 months of owning the Mini and have not spread and insurance won’t replace

I just think everyone needs to make their decision based on own situation and tolerance level. There are no experts on this forum when it comes to what you do with your car. You pay for it and you will feel the benefits or the pain.

 

[He's Deaf]

Interesting that someone would recommend “nose only” I just finished detailing my MINI. Viola. 3 small rock chips ....On the ‘nose” or areas as you commented “normally” get hit, absolutely not. 3 quarter way up near the windshield. Why spend the money on a nose when the chips are going to also hit above that as I have experienced with the lower curb height vehicles. I am not going to recommend anything to anyone but I will share my experience and I would not myself do a partial bra on the hood. I would have kicked myself silly if I had a partial on the mini and yes a couple two small on the lower hood lip but the rest would have been well above that partial surface. So for me if I am getting a bra film or whatever I will either get the full or nothing if road hazards are the concern. For me, I have all the areas filmed but the roof, doors and truck. I am rethinking doing those. My QV looks great with the filmed and all the edges are rolled that can be rolled so no lines.

The QV hugs the asphalt so a high likelyhood that little pebble will hit the upper of the hood versus the windshield. The physics wizards can weigh in but rocks hit the hood not just the nose. 7 chips total on the MINI. 2 on the nose now and 3 toward the windshield on the hood. Oh and of course 3 more on the windshied but didn’t spread and happened within 3 months of owning the Mini and have not spread and insurance won’t replace

I just think everyone needs to make their decision based on own situation and tolerance level. There are no experts on this forum when it comes to what you do with your car. You pay for it and you will feel the benefits or the pain.

Why did I? Because it works. Have you ever had a clear bra prior to this? I have, 3X now. I speak from experience.

I don't see the benefit of an entire section when it's going to wind up scuffed anyhow. I've never encountered chips beyond 1/2 up on the cars I've owned.

it's also costly. I'd rather spend the money on regular details myself. You can always tell a clear bra after a few months. They just don't stay nice very long, period.

 

[He's Deaf]

Give it a year, and drive the car. Bet they'll be able to tell, right away. if the haze doesn't show, the permanent bug splatter stains will. Very slight, but they stay.

 

[MINIME]

Give it a year, and drive the car. Bet they'll be able to tell, right away. if the haze doesn't show, the permanent bug splatter stains will. Very slight, but they stay.

We did consider all the pros and cons and researched short comings. The technology in films today has benefited from the mistakes of the films in the past. It has significantly improved. You know what happens in a year if there is a problem? I go back to the detailer. Yes I found one that is established so I am confident they will stand behind it otherwise I go back to the manufacturer of the product. Do the install yourself they will blame it on your install.

So I do appreciate you thinking that I have no idea what I am talking about but I think if you read the threads the better option would have been the whole car! It looks awesome. But not your concern. Not many folks do that because of the cost but I can emphatically state that there were a number of fine cars in the detailer big bucks getting full Xpel or SunTek when ours was getting done.

I guess they should have read your post first. As far has the haze goes. That is what the ceramic nano coat is for and maintenance

SUNTEK ULTRA:
WARRANTIES: We offer a lifetime warranty for the installation.
While the film manufacturer Suntek offers a 10 year warranty on its Suntek Ultra film. Warranties are against yellowing, discoloration, peeling, cracking and hazing.You drive one of the finest cars in the world. Protect it with the finest paint protection films available on the market.

 

[He's Deaf]

No I didn't say I get 3/4 up the hood damage. I said I've never had hood damage past 1/2 way up- in other words, front bumper and possibly 6" back from leading edge of the hood. I don't get chips in my paint in odd areas anymore. You are correct tho, we all have differing opinions, and the only way to truly know is to experience it for yourself.

I'd also be careful about dumping $$$ based on the claims of advertisements. Best policy is careful routine washing and occasional waxing, and if it looks bad, take it to a pro. It doesn't have to be expensive to work.

 

[MINIME]

No I didn't say I get 3/4 up the hood damage. I said I've never had hood damage past 1/2 way up- in other words, front bumper and possibly 6" back from leading edge of the hood. I don't get chips in my paint in odd areas anymore. You are correct tho, we all have differing opinions, and the only way to truly know is to experience it for yourself.

I'd also be careful about dumping $$$ based on the claims of advertisements. Best policy is careful routine washing and occasional waxing, and if it looks bad, take it to a pro. It doesn't have to be expensive to work.

1. I take it to a well referenced installer and detailer
2. Routine maintenance along with a well trained staff of 1 does the weekly maintenance. High quality products but then that is maintaining a cQuartz Finest Reserve. If you have that on your car we went to the same detailer. Only one authorized in the state there is another but he is backlogged 5 months.
3. I don’t dump on “Advertisements” I pay for warranties and installers. I don’t take financial advise on forums.

What happened to the free bra from Bill Luke that was so awesome? Dealerships are not the place to get film done. We ripped the partial crap off that Strongsville put on. It was garbage but it protected it in transport. So we dumped even more money in it because neither my husband or I could live with the partial thing going on. And he is not picky.

 

[He's Deaf]

1. I take it to a well referenced installer and detailer
2. Routine maintenance along with a well trained staff of 1 does the weekly maintenance. High quality products but then that is maintaining a cQuartz Finest Reserve. If you have that on your car we went to the same detailer. Only one authorized in the state there is another but he is backlogged 5 months.
3. I don’t dump on “Advertisements” I pay for warranties and installers. I don’t take financial advise on forums.

What happened to the free bra from Bill Luke that was so awesome? Dealerships are not the place to get film done. We ripped the partial crap off that Strongsville put on. It was garbage but it protected it in transport. So we dumped even more money in it because neither my husband or I could live with the partial thing going on. And he is not picky.

1) Oh it's on there. You do know that dealers sublet that out to guys who own detail and tint shops, right? Chances are that special installer in Scottsdale (or wherever) gets regular biz from car lots- mobile service and all that. That's how detail shops get paid when things are slow. Same with minor repair work on used cars.

2) Advertisements are what you have to rely on when you haven't experienced it for yourself. But hey, if if you like it that's all that matters. All I'm saying is that clear bra isn't the panacea the internet and detail shops make it out to be. I don't have the patience or time to take my car back and forth to claim warranty, and I doubt I'd get a sympathetic ear from the installer either, let alone their time to fix it a year after the fact. I find it a waste of my time and resources.

Anyhow, carry on. :laugh:

 

[MINIME]

Ah what can I say. I just enjoy spending money. It brings me happiness and keeps all the companies in business.

 

[He's Deaf]

Ah what can I say. I just enjoy spending money. It brings me happiness and keeps all the companies in business.

Unfortunately I can relate. I need a legit hobby.

Why couldn't this obsession been like, jogging or something? :wink2:

 

[wingler]

Unfortunately I can relate. I need a legit hobby.

Why couldn't this obsession been like, jogging or something? :wink2:

Could be worse, you could be into model railroading.