3M film - paint protection

OttawaGuy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2020
Threads
27
Messages
647
Reaction score
810
Location
Gatineau, Canada
Vehicles
Mach E RWD SR, F150 XLT Special Edition
Occupation
Busy!
Country flag
Given that most EVs don't have the traditional front grille.... And given the front painted fascia, anyone else considering getting the front end protected by 3M paint film?

Never had it done on any of my cars but with the amount of stone and sand they put on our roads in winter, I'm thinking it's would be a good idea!

On my previous Sierra I once got a stone that shattered the GMC logo on the grille, so I can just see what that will do to the front face of the MME
Sponsored

 

Mach-E VLOG

Well-Known Member
First Name
Patrick
Joined
Jul 25, 2020
Threads
117
Messages
1,581
Reaction score
6,322
Location
Oceanside, CA
Website
machevlog.com
Vehicles
Mach-E GT PE - Grabber Blue - Blucifer Twocifer
Country flag
Given that most EVs don't have the traditional front grille.... And given the front painted fascia, anyone else considering getting the front end protected by 3M paint film?

Never had it done on any of my cars but with the amount of stone and sand they put on our roads in winter, I'm thinking it's would be a good idea!

On my previous Sierra I once got a stone that shattered the GMC logo on the grille, so I can just see what that will do to the front face of the MME
I was looking at 3M or XPEL for the front and maybe a ceramic coating for the rest. I don't have any experience with either so it will be a learning process to find out which is best and how to pick an installer.
 

Maric

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Threads
20
Messages
887
Reaction score
2,218
Location
NorCal
Vehicles
Grabber Blue FE
Occupation
Engineer
Country flag
I'm def wrapping the front end, possibly the full hood and side mirrors too.
 


highland58

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Jan 6, 2020
Threads
12
Messages
1,059
Reaction score
1,279
Location
Seattle area
Vehicles
2021 Mach-E GT, 2023 Bolt EUV, 2018 F150 XLT
Occupation
IT Solutions Architect
Country flag
I am planning to use XPEL film for the front, at least partial hood. I would like to use the carbon fiber wrap on the nose for more of a grill look, but not sure about the cost of that. The shop said they could not say how much without actually seeing the car. It appears Ford is doing that on the MME GT.
 

VegStang

Well-Known Member
First Name
Leo
Joined
Jan 30, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
1,247
Reaction score
1,340
Location
Silicon Valley
Vehicles
Volvo C40 Recharge, 2021 MME
Occupation
Artist, animal rights activist
Country flag
PPF for sure, mirrors, door edges, front, full hood, rear. The installer is as important if not more so than the actual film brand some have better gloss than others, but I would guess it was more noticeable years ago than now with improvements over the years.
 
OP
OP
OttawaGuy

OttawaGuy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2020
Threads
27
Messages
647
Reaction score
810
Location
Gatineau, Canada
Vehicles
Mach E RWD SR, F150 XLT Special Edition
Occupation
Busy!
Country flag
PPF for sure, mirrors, door edges, front, full hood, rear. The installer is as important if not more so than the actual film brand some have better gloss than others, but I would guess it was more noticeable years ago than now with improvements over the years.
It was a shame how some people paid high dollars for a film that turned yellow over time... Especially on white and silver cars
 

Ponypower50

Well-Known Member
First Name
Gary
Joined
Nov 27, 2019
Threads
21
Messages
470
Reaction score
346
Location
IL
Vehicles
2014 CMax, 2021 Rapid Red Mach-E FE
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
XPEL will be my choice. I have had two cars done before with great results. I am a little concerned with the gloss black trim in the front.
 

Illinibird

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
1,445
Location
Frankfort Illinois
Vehicles
2015 Acura MDX Adv; 2016 Titanium Fusion Hybrid
Occupation
retired Endodontist (root canal specialist) and Clinical Assistant Professor
Country flag
Given that most EVs don't have the traditional front grille.... And given the front painted fascia, anyone else considering getting the front end protected by 3M paint film?

Never had it done on any of my cars but with the amount of stone and sand they put on our roads in winter, I'm thinking it's would be a good idea!

On my previous Sierra I once got a stone that shattered the GMC logo on the grille, so I can just see what that will do to the front face of the MME
Yes. I've had 2 of my cars done with 3M "bra's" and was very happy with the product and it has protected well and weathered exceptionally well (even with multiple automated car washes). I have nearly 80,000 miles on my Acura MDX and the hood and front fascia look new and you can't see the lines of the film unless you look at it in a certain light. The film now is "self healing" which they didn't have when I put the 3M film on and it's supposed to "heal" itself if there is a small area where a rock has scratched the film. I don't know if this feature works or not but I'll find out soon when my Mach E is done with 3M PPF.
 

Illinibird

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
1,445
Location
Frankfort Illinois
Vehicles
2015 Acura MDX Adv; 2016 Titanium Fusion Hybrid
Occupation
retired Endodontist (root canal specialist) and Clinical Assistant Professor
Country flag
3m vs ppf
Misleading. My 3M bra (or total car wrapping) was applied with water and the pressing tool to get the film tight and water bubbles out just like he shows the other film from XpelProtect but at a much lower cost. Now 3M has the “Self Healing” film so perhaps it is put on dry. They didn’t have that years ago when my cars were done.
 

methorian

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Threads
15
Messages
1,531
Reaction score
2,390
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicles
Mach-E First Edition, Mini Cooper SE
Occupation
IT Admin
Country flag
Misleading. My 3M bra (or total car wrapping) was applied with water and the pressing tool to get the film tight and water bubbles out just like he shows the other film from XpelProtect but at a much lower cost. Now 3M has the “Self Healing” film so perhaps it is put on dry. They didn’t have that years ago when my cars were done.
Haven't watched the whole video - but it would seem from first glance they are comparing to completely different products. XPEL Stealth is a matt clear wrap - similar to the clear 3M bra you had done, and the 3M Vinyl is full on colored vinyl, not clear. Of course the installation would be completely different. Within the first minute of the video he even says "these are two very different materials"...

I'm going to get in touch with the local XPEL installer soon to get a quote on it vs whatever 3M clear film is comparable. Will definitely be doing almost all the front of my Mach-E in something - too many rock chips on my current car that I want to avoid with the Mach-E.
 

Illinibird

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Oct 13, 2020
Threads
40
Messages
1,563
Reaction score
1,445
Location
Frankfort Illinois
Vehicles
2015 Acura MDX Adv; 2016 Titanium Fusion Hybrid
Occupation
retired Endodontist (root canal specialist) and Clinical Assistant Professor
Country flag
Haven't watched the whole video - but it would seem from first glance they are comparing to completely different products. XPEL Stealth is a matt clear wrap - similar to the clear 3M bra you had done, and the 3M Vinyl is full on colored vinyl, not clear. Of course the installation would be completely different. Within the first minute of the video he even says "these are two very different materials"...

I'm going to get in touch with the local XPEL installer soon to get a quote on it vs whatever 3M clear film is comparable. Will definitely be doing almost all the front of my Mach-E in something - too many rock chips on my current car that I want to avoid with the Mach-E.
I agree with your assessment.
 

methorian

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Threads
15
Messages
1,531
Reaction score
2,390
Location
Roanoke, VA
Vehicles
Mach-E First Edition, Mini Cooper SE
Occupation
IT Admin
Country flag
I agree with your assessment.
If I didn't have a Grabber Blue on order, I would very highly consider a full vinyl wrap in a unique color. That video mentions that it doesn't offer any protection, which I'm sure it's not as much protection as a clear protective "healing" wrap, but it should still offer some minimal amount of protection against smaller rock chips.
Sponsored

 
 




Top