3m-ing my 355

I just had mine done last week---I believe it is a kit--mine goes about halfway up the hood..

 

Looks fantastic----It is hardly noticeable..

 

Pardon the ignorance, What is 3m'ing your car?

 

its the clear bra deal that is supposably hard as concrete adn wont chip your paint, next to impossible to see unless you are looking for it. Great invention!

 

Typically the 3M is only brought up halfway on the hood. Here is a pix of my daily Audi and you cannot even tell it has one on it....Covers the Hood, Lights, fenders, mirrors, and bumper. Best money spent to date....except for the coils and BBS wheels...lol
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nice audi!

 

ok, now I want 3M. lol Added to the christmas list

 

Had my 355 3Med last month by a pro outfit ( paintsheild). I only chose to have the front bumper done. I had seen the bonnets done on other ferrari and the finish does not come close to the finish of nateral paint. Its great when ya looking at it from a meter or so, but when very close OR at the right angle it looks tectured compared to the nateral painted surface. Also there is a deffo line on the bonnet that can be seen, but the lighter the colour of the car the less its seen. So having ya bonnet done is a trade of in the quality of the polished surface.
I am very happy with the front bumper indeed, so no more yearly painting and it has a 4 year waranty on the film.
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Whole front end done on mine -full bonnet,wings,skirts . My valeter did not notice the bonnet and wings had been done!! I suppose its a trade off between weather your prefer one of two chips or a very,very,very slightly dulled paint finish (I am told the more you wax the film the better it gets).
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Rob,
how is film stretched without it creasing / breaking ?

 

Your valeter called Mr Magoo by any chance mate Like i said its down to the colour of the car. Also your 360 bonnet has been coverd completely becourse its smaller than a 355s. The 355s bonnet is not coverd by one peice but 3. So there are lines that run down the middle edges as well as the top. Unless you opted for the half bonet coverage. which will leave a line across the bonnet. By the way Hudson and i had it done at the same company in the UK.

 

The film streaches 20% if needed to.

 

thanks m8. When it right position , is it heated to stick it ?

 

I had it on my 993. One week later, I got a rock chip about 0.5 inches above the film *&^*$%!!

If you haven't ordered it yet, I recommend removing the hood badge and then reinstalling it above the film rather than having it show through the cut-out since I'm not sure how good of a fit it would be. They are happy to oblige such a request, per my experience.

If you go for the full hood treatment, you won't have the border which can be seen up close and where wax and dirt can accumulate.
http://www.xpel.com/products/configurator.asp?prevtype=1&prevyear=1995&prevmake=44&prevmodel=0&prevsubmodel=0&prevseries=0&type=1&year=1995&make=44&model=717

I also had the xpel headlamp protection as well (it's a thicker clear sheet).
http://www.xpel.com/products/headlight.asp

The headlamp protector is a straight DIY even for a klutz like me.

The 3M film for the sheet work is a little trickier, and the more complex the curves, the harder. Using the 50/50 water/soap solution is inadequate as the film won't anchor itself. You have to do it the professional method of 50/50 water/alcohol to have the film stick and then you are able to stretch the film around the curves.

It is compatible with waxes (I used Zymol and Zaino) and gave my car the same glossy look.

 

Yes mate, to make curves stick they use a hair dryer on the edges to make the glue stick quicker.

 

hairdryer/ Hudson ....coincidence ? I think not

 

M8 I would seriously have it done on your strad - particularly with the cost of the factory srtipe being the £££'s that it is. I only had the half bonnet done on my strad and regretted it.

 

You can't use a hair dryer or heating product on the real 3M film. My guy said it will mess up the plastic. The stuff is VERY strong. He had apiece left over and bet me I could not rip it or poke a hole it it. He was right. It goes on very similiar to window tint, but is 10 times stronger. Spray lubricate, apply and stretch, then squegee out the bubbles...

 

I'm Caster Troy.

It is real 3M and yes you can use a hair dryer. Evidence attached.
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Just telling you what my guy said. He said he does not and will not use one..He told me there are numerous films out there that claim to be 3M, but a true 3M film, made from 3M and bought from 3M should not have heat applied to it. So not sure just going by what he(the expert) said...

He told me company's will use one piece out of the kit that is actual 3M film and then finish the rest of the job with a film that is not as good. It saves them alot of money in film.That way they can say they use 3M film. He showed me the film and backing of my film and it had 3M stamped all over every piece..

 

ok now the question.
how much is it to do this?
i would think about $2,500 , am i close?

 

I guess depends on who and where you are. I paid about half that..

 

well i was gauging off what my dealership or i should say toyota charges for the option.