Estoril Blue - Xpel or not?
03-06-2013, 04:58 AM
#11
AudiWorld Super User
If you aren't trained, don't even think about trying to install Xpel Ultimate yourself. Working with a full hood and the many small curvy and angular pieces of the front bumper requires a great deal of expertise. As you've seen, the pieces aren't inexpensive and if you screw up (likely), you will be responsible vs. an installer for replacement.
My installer, Unique Car Care in MA, is one of the top Xpel/Detailer shops in the country and even they sometimes have to redo sections when something doesn't go smoothly. It took a good eight hours for them to do my full front and rocker panels and the money was well spent - those guys knew what they were doing.
There are several videos/photo spreads online showing Xpel installs. Once you view these, you will know what I'm getting at. Not for the inexperienced. I would not attempt surgery on myself either.
This is a photo log of my installer, Unique Car Care, doing a BMW with Xpel Ultimate:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/det...rotection.html
My installer, Unique Car Care in MA, is one of the top Xpel/Detailer shops in the country and even they sometimes have to redo sections when something doesn't go smoothly. It took a good eight hours for them to do my full front and rocker panels and the money was well spent - those guys knew what they were doing.
There are several videos/photo spreads online showing Xpel installs. Once you view these, you will know what I'm getting at. Not for the inexperienced. I would not attempt surgery on myself either.
This is a photo log of my installer, Unique Car Care, doing a BMW with Xpel Ultimate:
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/det...rotection.html
03-06-2013, 09:16 AM
#12
AudiWorld Member
Thanks for the info. Since I run into trouble putting tint on a curved window, it's likely that I would screw up film.
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
03-06-2013, 10:16 AM
#13
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Thanks for the info. Since I run into trouble putting tint on a curved window, it's likely that I would screw up film.
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
All clear bra types will discolour over a long period of time due to sun/heat/contaminants. Film will also swirl up like regular paint if you care for it improperly (i.e. automatic car washes). The film on my R8 around the rear bumper has yellowed bc the exhaust puts out a fair amount of heat, but I knew this would be the case when I decided to wrap the entire car.
If price is a concern, my suggestion is for you to cover the forward facing panels (front bumper, partial hood & fenders, mirrors). If you want to go further I would also do the rear bumper, lower rockers, and behind the wheels. I opted for full front end, rockers, behind wheels, and rear bumper on my estoril blue S7.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
03-06-2013, 12:05 PM
#14
AudiWorld Super User
Thanks for the info. Since I run into trouble putting tint on a curved window, it's likely that I would screw up film.
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
My biggest concern though is if I only do the front (and 'only the front' costing $1,300), is that the film will look different than painted surfaces. In the pictures it almost looks glossier, and that's on a pristinely clean car. How will it look after awhile in the elements?
I guess I could do the front and see how it looks, and if real noticeable, do the rest of the car, but doing the doors, rear fenders, and trunk must cost a bundle.
I have no garage, so the car will live outside all the time. A few thousand dollars could pay for a chunk of the cost of a garage.
The place that does the film is located where I buy tires, so when go to have tires installed, they can give me a better idea of what the whole car would cost to cover, but I don't see it costing much less than $4,000 if at all. Anybody have their whole car covered?
While a few folks have done it, since the primary purpose of the Xpel is to avoid rock chips, filming the surfaces that are highly unlikely to be affected would be overkill in my opinion. If I had a small, expensive, low slung sports car, I might feel differently.
Last edited by snagitseven; 03-06-2013 at 12:09 PM.
03-06-2013, 12:46 PM
#15
AudiWorld Member
Cost to Xpel an S6
Here's what I had done in the Portland, Oregon area before taking delivery of my car:
Priority #1 was protection from paint chips; priority #2 was protection from swirls.
Xpel : complete hood, fenders, bumper, backs of mirrors, headlamps, door edges, top of rear bumper, rockers, lower quarters, roof and pillars.
Prior to Xpel: clay bar, hand wax, and sealant.
I was worried about the Estoril after reading what HyperS4 said about it, so I did the Xpel Ultimate on practically everything--the detailer calls it a full burial. I had the dealer deliver it to the detailer without doing their new car prep and the detailer did a full exterior detail including claying and sealant before putting on the Xpel. Combination of detail and Xpel overkill came to about $2,000.
Priority #1 was protection from paint chips; priority #2 was protection from swirls.
Xpel : complete hood, fenders, bumper, backs of mirrors, headlamps, door edges, top of rear bumper, rockers, lower quarters, roof and pillars.
Prior to Xpel: clay bar, hand wax, and sealant.
I was worried about the Estoril after reading what HyperS4 said about it, so I did the Xpel Ultimate on practically everything--the detailer calls it a full burial. I had the dealer deliver it to the detailer without doing their new car prep and the detailer did a full exterior detail including claying and sealant before putting on the Xpel. Combination of detail and Xpel overkill came to about $2,000.
03-06-2013, 01:39 PM
#16
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My installer, Unique Car Care in MA, is one of the top Xpel/Detailer shops in the country and even they sometimes have to redo sections when something doesn't go smoothly. It took a good eight hours for them to do my full front and rocker panels and the money was well spent - those guys knew what they were doing.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniqu...7135170&type=3
03-06-2013, 02:21 PM
#17
AudiWorld Member
I'm assuming that any competent installer is going to do a careful prep before putting any film on. I got the name of a nearby dealer from the Xpel website. They're at the same location as a great tire dealer/installer so I tend to think they're probably okay.
Does $900 for the full hood, fenders and mirrors and $400 for the front bumper and headlights sound like a fair price? I got one other quote but it was the front of the hood and fenders, not the full coverage, and the price for the bumper kit was higher.
Does $900 for the full hood, fenders and mirrors and $400 for the front bumper and headlights sound like a fair price? I got one other quote but it was the front of the hood and fenders, not the full coverage, and the price for the bumper kit was higher.
03-06-2013, 05:42 PM
#18
AudiWorld Super User
I'm assuming that any competent installer is going to do a careful prep before putting any film on. I got the name of a nearby dealer from the Xpel website. They're at the same location as a great tire dealer/installer so I tend to think they're probably okay.
Does $900 for the full hood, fenders and mirrors and $400 for the front bumper and headlights sound like a fair price? I got one other quote but it was the front of the hood and fenders, not the full coverage, and the price for the bumper kit was higher.
Does $900 for the full hood, fenders and mirrors and $400 for the front bumper and headlights sound like a fair price? I got one other quote but it was the front of the hood and fenders, not the full coverage, and the price for the bumper kit was higher.
03-06-2013, 05:49 PM
#19
AudiWorld Super User
+1 on Unique Car Care, by the way. If there's anyone in the New England area, I HIGHLY recommend them. Here they are doing a detail/clear bra install on my S4:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniqu...7135170&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniqu...7135170&type=3
