Protective Film?

I have Xpel on both my 360 spider and my Diablo. I am very happy with the protection offered and the look. I have been told that when I do have it removed a paint correction is in order.

 

Paint protection film (ppf), known as clear bra by many, is really fantastic. Years ago, you could use 3m, Venture or one of the other few 'no-name' brands. They didn't have top coats and marred easily. The adhesives were far too aggressive, which resulted in a lot of working marks and it was likely a real big pain to remove when that time came.

Days are different and much better for the owners of automobiles protected with clear bra now. Suntek and Xpel offer films that are top coated and a offer self-healing effect. Don't be confused though. 'Self-healing' just means that the top coat has memory and will effectively mend back to its original shape when marred(think light swirl marks) after using a heat source(hot water, sunlight or a heat gun). Self-healing does not mean any defect(rock impacts, tears, ect.) will be corrected.

Modern film does an awesome job protecting against rock chips, bug marks, organic and inorganic fallout, debris thrown up while driving and anything that could rub against the paint like a kid's bike or children toys. The biggest drawback would be the cost. It's cost prohibitive for many.

Suntek and Xpel both have far superior adhesive to the older films as well as the modern 3M clear bra film. They install with fewer working marks(stretch marks) and remove much easier, which translates to a lower cost to have the film professionally removed.

3M has been working on a new film for some time time and just released their first iteration of the formula. I'm not a fan of it yet. It's just not there. But I just got word 2 days ago from a rep that they have a second iteration that is just now hitting production. No idea how good it will be yet but they've offered to shoot me a kit to try out. I'll report back once I know more.

In my opinion, there are two films worth considering as of today, Xpel Ultimate and Suntek ppf-c. Xpel tends to carry a premium and is a little thicker, so you will see the edges a little easier. You may personally like the idea of a thicker film though. Suntek costs a little less, has amazing optical clarity with minimal texture and has better stretching characteristics. In my experience, they are equally chemically resistant. The other differences would be on the installer level; ease of installation and ability to lift film without ruining it to remove debris.

The biggest problem and choice owners face is who to use for the installation. Window tint installers tend to think because they've installed window film that they can easily transition to using PPF. Some guys think that after they've purchased a bulk roll of PPF they can just wing it and do well. Here's the bottom line about installing PPF. It takes a lot of time to understand and learn how to install PPF. It's not an easy or inexpensive craft to learn and be really good at. Even some guys who've been installing for years do pretty shoddy work. Quality PPF installations are done when you've got a qualified installer who actually cares and has an eye for quality work.

A poor quality PPF installer will cut your paint and overuse adhesive promoter for the sake of saving time. We have a new Aston Martin in the shop right now that has a ton of razor blade cuts in the paint because an unqualified installer did their thing. Finding the right guy is no joke when it comes to PPF.

Quality installers will work hard to keep any exposed edges of the film as hidden as possible. Hacks leave huge gaps that are unsightly and do not offer good protection.

What I would advise is find someone that has a great rapport, has been installing for at least a few years and guarantees satisfaction. Get them on the phone or go in for an in-person consultation and ask questions. Are they willing to give you as much time as you need and treat you like you want to be treated? If not, chances are they will be difficult if something needs to be addressed after you pay. If you're dropping the coin on clear bra installation on a fine automobile, you had might as well do your own research and find the right guy.

Hopefully, this gives you something to consider and you can find the right shop/guy for your install.