Will Sensors Work When Covered by PPF

[RV8R]

I've read a few short threads about covering or not covering sensors when wrapping. What is your current experience? Do sensors function as intended or does the wrap need to be removed for accuracy?. Thanks!

 

[bhawkins4194]

Im not sure with the film, but when I had my two sensors replaced for detecting phantom objects they told me that too much paint could have been the cause. The painted piece is the membrane and its calibrated for paint only.

 

[ghostrunner]

I have expel on my car and so far no issues with the sensors at all.

 

[Jan Fiala]

I have expel on my car and so far no issues with the sensors at all.

Same here. Sensors covered with xpel stealth.

 

[rpm001]

Interesting. I was expecting the response to be that, yes, it does matter since the cut-outs I see for bumper wraps seem to all have holes for the sensors.

 

[Jan Fiala]

There is still a cutout but the sensor itself is covered with small round piece of wrap. You can't have it in one piece because there's a gap between the sensor and the bumper which would turn out white. (unsticked wrap)

 

[QUBO]

I don't have Xpel but covered the sensors with some remnant film as an experiment and it definitely affected the sensors. It made them less sensitive, so that the edge of the garage that was 1 ft away was sensed to be about 3 feet away.

 

[murphyS90D]

We are talking about ultrasonic sound waves. Covering a hard surface with a soft material is going to reduce the ability of the sensor to send out sound and receive sound echos. My service center said to not even put wax on them.

 

[Safari]

I have PPF on the front with no issues so far. I saw two M3s the other day, both wrapped and PPF'd. Both owners said they have had no issues with sensors for parking or AP either. Lots of owners have had one or both done to their cars so far and none have mentioned an issue. Not exactly a scientifically valid sample but film doesn't seem to have much, if any, affect.

 

[boonedocks]

3 Tesla's so far with 100% PPF and CeramicPro (including sensors) and no issues at all.

 

[Naekuh]

my installer cut out the holes where the sensors are suposed to be at.

im fairly sure you are not supposed to cover them,

There is still a cutout but the sensor itself is covered with small round piece of wrap. You can't have it in one piece because there's a gap between the sensor and the bumper which would turn out white. (unsticked wrap)

I am lost in this statement.
My bumper was one piece.
Im fairly sure those circles you see are the location of the sensors.
Im also fairly sure the holes were cut out to avoid issues with sensors.

Or did you mean, that you need to have the hole cut out because if it was covered entirely with xpel it would form an air gap and bulge around the sensor?

 

[Jan Fiala]

Or did you mean, that you need to have the hole cut out because if it was covered entirely with xpel it would form an air gap and bulge around the sensor?

Correct.

But you have clear xpel, so there is no reason to cover the sensors. I do have however the xpel stealth so sticking small round piece of xpel stealth helps to improve the overall look so that the original glossy paint doesn't stick out from the overall satin look. There is no negative influence of the sensors

 

[CK_Stuggi]

My wrapper cut holes and then applied a round center piece. The key is to stay clear of the round, ring membrane.

 

[Silicon Desert]

I don't have Xpel but covered the sensors with some remnant film as an experiment and it definitely affected the sensors. It made them less sensitive, so that the edge of the garage that was 1 ft away was sensed to be about 3 feet away.

Yes, this reminds me of the issue I had. Immediately after Xpel, I noticed a difference in the sensitivity of a couple sensors to nearby objects. I told the installer not to cover those sensors by recommendation of a repair tech, but he did it anyway. When I went back and had him cut circles around the sensors, everything went back to normal.

Sooooo, the folks that say they have no problem might be true or might just be they haven't noticed the reduced sensitivity.

 

[dark cloud]

I put Xpel on the front end myself, and cut out the fender sensors but left it on the front nosecone just to see if it would work first before cutting out the circles. AP1 works just fine; it follows other vehicles and adjusts speed perfectly. I have not varied objects from the front end and measured the distance versus what shows in the dash graphic. I guess the scientific approach would be to test them before and after and see if any sensitivity is lost.

It do recall having to replace one on the Infiniti as a small rock hit the dead centre of it. It was $300 to replace it; I wonder how much it would be through Tesla? That is not a warranty item. This alone will convince me to leave them covered.

 

[dark cloud]

Well, someone did just that! Check it out:

 

[Naonak]

Xpel on all of my S's and Stealth on my X with no problems.

 

[staran]

Have full Xpel stealth wrap & ceramic coating on my Model S and no issues regarding ultrasonic sensors

 

[Phatboy]

I put Xpel on the front end myself, and cut out the fender sensors but left it on the front nosecone just to see if it would work first before cutting out the circles. AP1 works just fine; it follows other vehicles and adjusts speed perfectly. I have not varied objects from the front end and measured the distance versus what shows in the dash graphic. I guess the scientific approach would be to test them before and after and see if any sensitivity is lost.

It do recall having to replace one on the Infiniti as a small rock hit the dead centre of it. It was $300 to replace it; I wonder how much it would be through Tesla? That is not a warranty item. This alone will convince me to leave them covered.

Just had one of my Tesla Model Y sensor replaced due to a small nick caused by a small rock and it cost me $400 total. If wrap doesn’t impact the sensors I would wrap it.