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Kurt'sX
Member
I just got a quote in San Diego....they want $500 for the bumper and head lights, $1800-$1900 for full front end. Thought it was high, but seems to fall right in line with most bids people are getting.
I talked to another tesla owner a few weeks ago. He paid $4500 for full car coverage in socal
Xpel IS superior. It wont yellow like 3m material will. I believe its also a thicker film
The material is expensive but your paying for the talent required to apply it properly.
Tech_Guy
ALWAYS IN LUDICROUS MODE! P90D>P100D Upgrade
I disagree, I feel that both 3M and Xpel are top of the line products in the market currently, with small differences that most customers might miss. In regard to the fear of yellowing, 3M PPF material is warranted against yellowing just like Xpel, and its been a non issue for most manufactures for a few years now. Supposedly it was related to the glue used not the material itself.. Anyways its a non issue for modern quality films.
Something I don't see anyone mention when comparing 3M and Xpel, is that Xpel material requires a special chemical sealant be applied to the surface every month!
XPEL Paint Protection Film Sealant (1 gal.)
XPEL Film Sealant is an acrylic polymer product that is purpose-made for protecting any aliphatic urethane paint protection film. Attaching itself at a molecular level, the sealant forms a hardened barrier when exposed to UV light. By sealing off the pores in the film, the sealant will reduce absorption of pollutants, tar, and pollen; as well as staining due acid rain, hard water and bugs by 90%. Because this product is engineered specifically for Aliphatic Polyurethane, it is much more durable on Paint Protection Film than other waxes and polishes. Apply XPEL Film Sealant monthly for maximum protection.
The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the Xpel sealant recommends..
Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray
Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product
Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. — No smoking Keep container tightly closed
Ground/bond container and receiving equipment
Use explosion-proof equipment
Use only non-sparking tools
Take precautionary measures against static discharge
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection
Never mind the environmental impact of such chemicals which id expect most Tesla owners to be quite mindful of the effect on the environment as well....3M doesn't have these requirements thus it was a clear and easy choice for me just wash and wax is all thats required with 3M, I went with the premium film offering, 3M Scotch Guard Pro which has a 7 year warranty.
Sawyer8888
Member
I would like to see more evidence that this is required for Xpel Ultimate. My installer said nothing about this, and they are among the best in South Florida. This newer type of Xpel is far better than previous versions according to my shop.
I paid $6,000 for a full Xpel wrap - the front-end panels being the most expensive. I do have the body-colored roof which likely added to the cost. The installer that I selected will also replace one full panel for free. For instance, if you need to have a portion of the car repaired due to an accident, then bring it back to the shop and they will recover an entire panel with Xpel without an additional cost.
Also consider adding this "modification" to your insurance. Geico only charges approximately $10 for 6 months of coverage to have $3K worth of Xpel replaced.
Tech_Guy
ALWAYS IN LUDICROUS MODE! P90D>P100D Upgrade
I do a lot of my own research before buying a product, for example with my Tesla I knew more about the car then the delivery team and specialist. In the same regard I don't trust someone else to know all the details of a product they sell, and that added research lets me, ask the right questions when talking to film installers. When I was doing my research some installers claimed the coating was not required and others confirmed that it was... I believe if you look at the warranty for Xpel it was also recommend. Im not going to dig through that for you but id suggest you take a look if you have Xpel. Obvisouly its important to know what the warranty covers and what it requires of the end user, in this case does it require the use of the sealant to protect the film from uv damage etc?
The aftercare page suggested the sealant does just that....
...the sealant forms a hardened barrier when exposed to UV light. By sealing off the pores in the film, the sealant will reduce absorption of pollutants, tar, and pollen; as well as staining due acid rain, hard water and bugs by 90%. Because this product is engineered specifically for Aliphatic Polyurethane, it is much more durable on Paint Protection Film than other waxes and polishes. Apply XPEL Film Sealant monthly for maximum protection.
The information about the sealant is listed at the bottom of the Xpel Ultimate webpage under the Aftercare products link , thus id expect it to be recommended as an aftercare product for your ultimate film. Heres the link so you can see for yourself...
ULTIMATE - XPEL
Aftercare Archives - XPEL
XPEL Paint Protection Film Sealant (1 gal.) - XPEL
and the MSDS
http://www.xpel.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/XPEL_Paint.Prtctn.Film_.Sealant_V1.1.pdf
I paid a similar price for the full car 3M Scotch Guard Pro wrap
I spoke to my insurance and an extra charge for the film / accessory was unnecessary with State Farm.
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Sawyer8888
Member
Thank you for the link. The Xpel sealent seems a bit like overkill. I recall coming across this when researching Xpel, however nothing indicated that it was required. I believe that the 10-year warranty would not be impacted should one choose to forego the use of this sealant. One of the main selling points of Xpel Ultimate is to "set it and forget it".
Geico also says there is no additional charge for film - at least not for window tint film. Something tells me that an insurance company would balk at an invoice for protective film replacement running in the thousands of dollars if you weren't already paying for that in your premium. I could be wrong, and each company is different, so perhaps I'll double-check with Gieco to ensure that I'm not paying for something that is already covered.
Sawyer8888
Member
I submitted an inquiry on Xpel's website regarding the use of their sealant. This is their reply:
Use of the sealant is not required in order for the warranty to be valid. It is completely optional however we strongly recommended it. It does help to maintain the look of the film.
Jean-Claude
Former Vendor
For SoCal and PPF, check out www.enviousdetailing.com
They aren't sponsors but they do great work, are honest and talented. Though, they aren't the cheapest either. You will get what you pay for with them.
They aren't sponsors but they do great work, are honest and talented. Though, they aren't the cheapest either. You will get what you pay for with them.
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