Zl1 Clear Bra

[RoketRdr]

Originally Posted by Z4me

I was just thinking that I'll place some of that clear film underneath and around the door handles to prevent scratches from use. Has anyone tried
this and found it to be pretty affective?

Yes...I've used it on my last 3 vehicles and it makes a nice difference especially if your wife has long nails. Very easy to install in just a few minutes as well.

[WILD67]

I like the idea of getting underneath and around the door handle. This wk I'm having the front bumper / spoiler, partial hood / fenders, in front of rear wheels, rear bumper sill(or whatever it is called), pillars and possibly a partial roof. Just wondering who with a black car has had this done and is the clear bra very noticeable? I'm assuming it is more so when the car is dirty. Also has anyone done or considered have their entire hood and / or CFH insert covered? Not sure if it is worth doing the entire hood.

[cosmoZL1]

Check out the Camarodecalstore.com He offers a clear bra as well. Cost? Under 90.00 dollars. I've yet to use the product yet, but plan to. All the other products I've used are top shelf!! Cannot imagine it being anything less..And if you need help with the product? He is right there to answer your question, some manufacturers give you a customer service rep, Here you get the man who makes them..

[WILD67]

Priced out a few different shops here in town and there is quite a difference in price btw them. was thinking of getting ~ 60% of the car done and it will run anywhere from $1.2k to 2.7k!! Cost heavy!!
I was referred to the shop at the high end by a buddy and I have heard they do great work. They are also the exclusive supplier to the ferrari dealer and various exotic car clubs in town. They do 100% wraps on every new Ferrari the dealer brings in, costing ~$7.8k. Never heard of this but they also do 120% wraps where they do every(??) painted surface as well as some of the undercarriage and pans.... Some people have too much $$$.
Anyway, for my car, which is black, the shop with the quote of $2,700 of course recommends using a "premium" 3M film... which doesn't have the orange peel effect of the "normal" 3M film, which comes in at $2,400.
Has anyone else been quoted these kind of prices?? Or have heard of the orange peel effect from the "normal" 3M film?
Here is a list of the coverage areas.... and there is a lot of coverage.
Full Hood
Full Fenders
Complete upper and lower bumper
A pillars and roof (section above windshield)
Luggage area
Lights
Dog leg w/ rocker section
Wheels wells
Door cups
Behind rear wheel
3M standard film: $2400
Premium film: $2700

[RoketRdr]

That's pretty standard pricing for what you're asking them to cover.

[OldJedi]

My entire front bumper including headlights and DRL's, front half of each front fender, the front of the hood to the second heat extractor vent-matching the front fenders, the A-pillars, both outside mirrors, the roof past the sunroof and the area on the rear bumper under the trunk opening. $1,500.00 in Expel self healing film. I did not think it was too bad but still expensive. I hope it works.

[RoketRdr]

Originally Posted by OldJedi

My entire front bumper including headlights and DRL's, front half of each front fender, the front of the hood to the second heat extractor vent-matching the front fenders, the A-pillars, both outside mirrors, the roof past the sunroof and the area on the rear bumper under the trunk opening. $1,500.00 in Expel self healing film. I did not think it was too bad but still expensive. I hope it works.

You got a really good deal! Especially using the Expel film. They cut quite a bit off your install price as you should've been $2K+ for that much coverage with a premium film.

[WILD67]

So I guess at $2.7k for the coverage Im considering it isn't too bad... Yes still expensive thou. Plus it seems we tend to pay a premium on somethings up here compared to in the US. Im not too familiar with this stuff, is Xpel a 3M product? I could always google it.

[RoketRdr]

Originally Posted by WILD67

So I guess at $2.7k for the coverage Im considering it isn't too bad... Yes still expensive thou. Plus it seems we tend to pay a premium on somethings up here compared to in the US. Im not too familiar with this stuff, is Xpel a 3M product? I could always google it.

Keep in mind that this stuff is typically for those who rarely drive their cars and are trying to protect the resale value of a high-end exotic. Sure it's expensive for a $60K Camaro but you also won't have to worry about paint damage or condition 5 years down the road. And no...XPEL and 3M are definitely not the same. Two different classes of protection. 3M makes a good product but it's not designed to protect and "self heal" like XPEL does. You're going to pay quite a bit more for XPEL. And don't even consider getting the lower 3M line as it's a waste of time and money. In a couple of years it will start turning yellow and you will see the infamous "orange peel". If you go 3M make sure you get their premium film.

[cosmoZL1]

Originally Posted by RoketRdr

Keep in mind that this stuff is typically for those who rarely drive their cars and are trying to protect the resale value of a high-end exotic. Sure it's expensive for a $60K Camaro but you also won't have to worry about paint damage or condition 5 years down the road. And no XPEL and 3M are definitely not the same. Two different classes of protection. 3M makes a good product but it's not designed to protect and "self heal" like XPEL does. You're going to pay quite a bit more for XPEL. And don't even consider getting the lower 3M line as it's a waste of time and money. In a couple of years it will start turning yellow and you will see the infamous "orange peel". If you go 3M make sure you get their premium film.

WOW! Things sure have changed. I had a local vendor that also did the Lexus Dealership new cars. Had him do a couple of my customer cars (small custom shop for late models) and using 3M film my cost was 300.00. He recomended that I charge my customer 700.00-800.00 dollars. This included frontbumper/air dam leading 1/3 of the hood, mirrors, rockers and sill and rear fenders. Looked invisible. I have no Idea there was a cheap 3M film and expensive one. Not even heard of XPEL. This stuff changes fast. I will try the decal store bra first before I spend the big dollars on the rest. I do agree with RoketRdr that under the car is not even close to cost effective unless your car cost is above 200K and higher. Not effective to me at any price. Uh yeah, cover my frame rails will ya.. NOT!!

[WILD67]

Originally Posted by RoketRdr

Keep in mind that this stuff is typically for those who rarely drive their cars and are trying to protect the resale value of a high-end exotic. Sure it's expensive for a $60K Camaro but you also won't have to worry about paint damage or condition 5 years down the road. And no XPEL and 3M are definitely not the same. Two different classes of protection. 3M makes a good product but it's not designed to protect and "self heal" like XPEL does. You're going to pay quite a bit more for XPEL. And don't even consider getting the lower 3M line as it's a waste of time and money. In a couple of years it will start turning yellow and you will see the infamous "orange peel". If you go 3M make sure you get their premium film.

Thanks for the info RoketRdr - much appreciated!

[RoketRdr]

Originally Posted by cosmoZL1

WOW! Things sure have changed. I had a local vendor that also did the Lexus Dealership new cars. Had him do a couple of my customer cars (small custom shop for late models) and using 3M film my cost was 300.00. He recomended that I charge my customer 700.00-800.00 dollars. This included frontbumper/air dam leading 1/3 of the hood, mirrors, rockers and sill and rear fenders. Looked invisible. I have no Idea there was a cheap 3M film and expensive one. Not even heard of XPEL. This stuff changes fast. I will try the decal store bra first before I spend the big dollars on the rest. I do agree with RoketRdr that under the car is not even close to cost effective unless your car cost is above 200K and higher. Not effective to me at any price. Uh yeah, cover my frame rails will ya.. NOT!!

Then they're using the cheap 3M film if its only costing $300. The "good" 3M film will cost quite a bit more than that. And XPEL will be much higher. The technology in these films has come a long way and after seeing a car covered in XPEL for 5 years vs 3M for 5 years you see why it costs so much more. And the XPEL will "heal" itself from rocks hits and gouges where the 3M wont. If you can afford it go the XPEL route and 5 years later you'll still be smiling with a new looking film and paint if maintained properly. Going the camarodecalstore route is probably a good idea because its inexpensive and you can reapply it yourself every year or so keep it looking new.

Originally Posted by WILD67

Thanks for the info RoketRdr - much appreciated!

No problem


Something else to add so that there's no misunderstanding. ALL of these films do a great job at protecting your paint and preventing rock chips. Some last longer than others. BUT...don't expect it to appear showroom pristine a few years down the road if you're car is always parked outside in the weather year round and you don't spend much time washing or keeping a good wax on it. They will only be as good as the care you put into them. If you rarely wash your car and almost never put any wax on it then even the XPEL will look like crap after a couple of years. Mother nature...she's purdy tough.

[cosmoZL1]

Originally Posted by RoketRdr

Then they're using the cheap 3M film if its only costing $300. The "good" 3M film will cost quite a bit more than that. And XPEL will be much higher. The technology in these films has come a long way and after seeing a car covered in XPEL for 5 years vs 3M for 5 years you see why it costs so much more. And the XPEL will "heal" itself from rocks hits and gouges where the 3M wont. If you can afford it go the XPEL route and 5 years later you'll still be smiling with a new looking film and paint if maintained properly. Going the camarodecalstore route is probably a good idea because its inexpensive and you can reapply it yourself every year or so keep it looking new.



No problem


Something else to add so that there's no misunderstanding. ALL of these films do a great job at protecting your paint and preventing rock chips. Some last longer than others. BUT...don't expect it to appear showroom pristine a few years down the road if you're car is always parked outside in the weather year round and you don't spend much time washing or keeping a good wax on it. They will only be as good as the care you put into them. If you rarely wash your car and almost never put any wax on it then even the XPEL will look like crap after a couple of years. Mother nature...she's purdy tough.

Thanks RoketRdr.
The cost of the installed 3m film to me was $300.00 and my customers were to pay 7-8 hundred. I was not the end user. It was the same film going on a Lexus at the dealer. Thats what I meant about the cheaper film. I didn't know they made two levels. As far as the Decal Store bra, I want to see how it holds up. At less than 90 dollars I think its worth a shot.

I laughed at your care comments. Some people would never wash it and go back and say "hey look!!, its defective!!" Some people would go back to their own mothers if they could...

[WILD67]

And just when I almost finalized the product and installer, I get a call back from another shop that uses suntek. Never heard of it so I did some research and it sounds like a fairly new product. There is some feedback, but nothing long term. Has anyone had experience with this product - good or bad?
Thx