I have never owned an expensive car before and I'm learning a lot here about all the things I might want to do to take care of it. I didn't even know that products like paint protection film existed until a couple months ago. I'm about to take delivery on my Model S next week (!) and I'm still debating what to do about paint protection. From what I have heard, if I use any product, it will be XPEL Ultimate. I got some quotes from installers in my area (Rockville MD if anyone has any more recommendations), and it all seems a bit confusing still. I'd appreciate any advice on the following matters:
1) What are the cons of XPEL Ultimate? It's obviously expensive, but what else?
2) What are your thoughts on applying XPEL vs just washing the car frequently and getting occasional deep details?
3) WHERE should I apply this film? The installers have all kinds of packages - hood, partial hood, fenders, rocker panel, A pillar, etc. I'm not a car enthusiast - I'm embarrassed to say I had to look up what a rocker panel even was. I'm worried about what the car will look like with some areas covered and some not. Is there a big difference in visual appearance? XPEL claims the paint will fade at the same rate - is that actually true?
4) What happens if you need to remove the film? Does it damage the paint when you remove it?
5) Honestly, I'd never heard of "stone chips" until I started reading about all this stuff a couple months ago. It wasn't a big concern for me on my previous cars. Is that what paint protection is normally for? I'd have assumed it was for door dings and scratches resulting from people rubbing the vehicle as they walk past - most of the scratches on my cars are on the bumpers, fenders, and doors.
6) One of the highly recommended installers says he'll do the install in my driveway or at a local dealership. Don't they need to detail the car first? It seems to me that the paint needs to be immaculate before they apply the film.
This is all very confusing, and I'm leaning towards just doing nothing for a year, then re-considering when I get the car detailed in a year or so. Any advice is appreciated!!
1) What are the cons of XPEL Ultimate? It's obviously expensive, but what else?
2) What are your thoughts on applying XPEL vs just washing the car frequently and getting occasional deep details?
3) WHERE should I apply this film? The installers have all kinds of packages - hood, partial hood, fenders, rocker panel, A pillar, etc. I'm not a car enthusiast - I'm embarrassed to say I had to look up what a rocker panel even was. I'm worried about what the car will look like with some areas covered and some not. Is there a big difference in visual appearance? XPEL claims the paint will fade at the same rate - is that actually true?
4) What happens if you need to remove the film? Does it damage the paint when you remove it?
5) Honestly, I'd never heard of "stone chips" until I started reading about all this stuff a couple months ago. It wasn't a big concern for me on my previous cars. Is that what paint protection is normally for? I'd have assumed it was for door dings and scratches resulting from people rubbing the vehicle as they walk past - most of the scratches on my cars are on the bumpers, fenders, and doors.
6) One of the highly recommended installers says he'll do the install in my driveway or at a local dealership. Don't they need to detail the car first? It seems to me that the paint needs to be immaculate before they apply the film.
This is all very confusing, and I'm leaning towards just doing nothing for a year, then re-considering when I get the car detailed in a year or so. Any advice is appreciated!!
