3M Clear Paint Protection installed

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 12:11 PM

I had the hood and fenders done today and you cannot see it from most angles. I had him add a strip along the edge of all the doors as well to help prevent paint chips there as well.

It is very difficult to photograph the stuff once completed as it is designed to be 'invisible'.

See page 3 on my CarDomain page for pictures.

bestatchess · 04-19-2004, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

I had the hood and fenders done today and you cannot see it from most angles. I had him add a strip along the edge of all the doors as well to help prevent paint chips there as well.

It is very difficult to photograph the stuff once completed as it is designed to be 'invisible'.

See page 3 on my CarDomain page for pictures.

Nice. How much? Probably not something you would want to do yourself though?

1Titan · 04-19-2004, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

I had the hood and fenders done today and you cannot see it from most angles. I had him add a strip along the edge of all the doors as well to help prevent paint chips there as well.

It is very difficult to photograph the stuff once completed as it is designed to be 'invisible'.

See page 3 on my CarDomain page for pictures.

I find this to be extremely interesting! I would assume of course this was done to protect your clearcoat and paint finish. On one of the pictures it looks like you can see some of the material's seams or edges but I am not sure if that is the case. Can you see the material after the application is complete? When this material is applied I would think you would not need to polish the areas where the material is applied is that correct? How does it react to washings? Would liquids ,soap etc. get underneath the material perhaps lifting it? What sort of chemical if any is used to apply the material? If you wanted to remove it how difficult would that be? Where did you get the material directly from 3M? Who applied it? Sorry for all the questions but I would like to have something like that done as well. --Thanks!

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Titan

I find this to be extremely interesting! I would assume of course this was done to protect your clearcoat and paint finish. On one of the pictures it looks like you can see some of the material's seams or edges but I am not sure if that is the case. Can you see the material after the application is complete? When this material is applied I would think you would not need to polish the areas where the material is applied is that correct? How does it react to washings? Would liquids ,soap etc. get underneath the material perhaps lifting it? What sort of chemical if any is used to apply the material? If you wanted to remove it how difficult would that be? Where did you get the material directly from 3M? Who applied it? Sorry for all the questions but I would like to have something like that done as well. --Thanks!

I had it installed by a professional installer. He previously did my head/foglights and it worked so well that I had him do the hood/fender. I am having the bumpers done next month.

You can see the seams/edges as it is 6mils thick and sits on the surface but depending on the angles and the color of the vehicle it is almost 'invisible'.

The installer said to wait a couple of days before I wash it so that it sets. He used a simple liquid compound to wet the surface of the hood and the film itself. Then he stretched out the film and smoothed it down removing the air bubbles and moisture from underneath it. This process bonds the material to the surface. Once installed there should be no way for anything to get underneath the edges.

Prior to installation, he washed, waxed and polished the surface. He even did some touch-up on the minor paint chips I had.

If you are more interested in this stuff, go to the X-Pel website

If you are in the Chicago area, let me know and I will get you his name. He comes to you to do the work. His clients are most of the high end car dealers in the area if you need references.

As for removing it, I do know it can be done. I just don't know why you would want to.

Sammy Sandbag · 04-19-2004, 12:55 PM

Quote:

You can see the seams/edges as it is 6mm thick and sits on the surface but depending on the angles and the color of the vehicle it is almost 'invisible'.

What are you

??

They aren't covering the truck in plexi glass are they? The actual thickness is 0.2032mm or .008".

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammy sandbag

What are you

??

They aren't covering the truck in plexi glass are they? The actual thickness is 0.2032mm or .008".

I never was good in that damn metric stuff. You are correct, it is .008" thick. The headlight/foglight covers are 20mil thick, almost like a plexiglass cover.

Cost was lower than retail as he is using photos of my truck on his website to help him advertise.

Sammy Sandbag · 04-19-2004, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

I never was good in that damn metric stuff. You are correct, it is .008" thick. The headlight/foglight covers are 20mil thick, almost like a plexiglass cover.

Cost was lower than retail as he is using photos of my truck on his website to help him advertise.

Sorry rrumaner, you still need a little help with math. "mil" is one thousandth of an inch. So 20mil is .020" or .51mm

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammy sandbag

Sorry rrumaner, you still need a little help with math. "mil" is one thousandth of an inch. So 20mil is .020" or .51mm

Point taken. Thanks for the math lesson.

Sammy Sandbag · 04-19-2004, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

Point taken. Thanks for the math lesson.

I try... But that being said, the specs according to xpel.com are .040 + or - .004" or aproximently 40mil or 1.016mm. So now you can tell people with confidence the thickness of your xpel.

casique · 04-19-2004, 01:29 PM

What was the cost? My dealer wanted $800!!!!!!!!!! They are on drugs.

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casique

What was the cost? My dealer wanted $800!!!!!!!!!! They are on drugs.

According to the X-Pel website, the cost for the hood and fender kit is $279, the Bumper kit is $109

As I said, I paid a lot less but there were other deals involved to get the price down.

Check out the X-Pel website to see if there is an installer near you. Make sure they are Factory Trained and a Design Access Program Member.

1Titan · 04-19-2004, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

I had it installed by a professional installer. He previously did my head/foglights and it worked so well that I had him do the hood/fender. I am having the bumpers done next month.

You can see the seams/edges as it is 6mils thick and sits on the surface but depending on the angles and the color of the vehicle it is almost 'invisible'.

The installer said to wait a couple of days before I wash it so that it sets. He used a simple liquid compound to wet the surface of the hood and the film itself. Then he stretched out the film and smoothed it down removing the air bubbles and moisture from underneath it. This process bonds the material to the surface. Once installed there should be no way for anything to get underneath the edges.

Prior to installation, he washed, waxed and polished the surface. He even did some touch-up on the minor paint chips I had.

If you are more interested in this stuff, go to the X-Pel website

If you are in the Chicago area, let me know and I will get you his name. He comes to you to do the work. His clients are most of the high end car dealers in the area if you need references.

As for removing it, I do know it can be done. I just don't know why you would want to.

Thanks appreciate the reply!!

Brad · 04-19-2004, 05:10 PM

How do you find an installer through the X-pel web site? when I go to their site and click on find an installer I get nothing except more info about their product

rrumaner · 04-19-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

How do you find an installer through the X-pel web site? when I go to their site and click on find an installer I get nothing except more info about their product

From their main menu, Tools and then Installation from the side bar. Enter your zip code and you should get a list.

If that does not work, you will have to call them. I don't work for them or have any type of interest in the company.

Brad · 04-20-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rrumaner

From their main menu, Tools and then Installation from the side bar. Enter your zip code and you should get a list.

If that does not work, you will have to call them. I don't work for them or have any type of interest in the company.

Thankyou for some reason I couldn't figure that out