Paint Protection Film (PPF) such as XPEL for Mach-E

machefan

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I didn't have time to follow up yesterday. I will reach out today.
My local guy who spoke with them over the weekend said they should have it this week, the weather in Texas delayed it a few day. I would think before the end of the week they should be available. Am I crazy to basically get most of the car done or really should I just focus on key points? I am a bit paranoid with my MME, but I also don't want to break the bank or waste $$ on something that's not really worth it.
 

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My local guy who spoke with them over the weekend said they should have it this week, the weather in Texas delayed it a few day. I would think before the end of the week they should be available. Am I crazy to basically get most of the car done or really should I just focus on key points? I am a bit paranoid with my MME, but I also don't want to break the bank or waste $$ on something that's not really worth it.
I'm having the entire car done. Several reasons:
1. Our kids have hit the Land Rover w/ Bike Handle Bars several times (multiple locations)
2. Parking lots are getting tighter & tighter and door dings happen more frequently
3. The back gate / bumper area will be getting a lot of use
4. The vehicle was delivered w/ scratches that need to be wet-sanded, so the PAINT is very soft/weak. Rapid Red.
5. My luck is that the only impact location would be in a spot that I didn't have covered...
6. I'm going w/ Ceramic Coating over the PPF.. and if I decided not to do 100% PPF and then decided later to cover a new location... the process is very intrusive and can ruin the paint.
 

Illinibird

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My local guy who spoke with them over the weekend said they should have it this week, the weather in Texas delayed it a few day. I would think before the end of the week they should be available. Am I crazy to basically get most of the car done or really should I just focus on key points? I am a bit paranoid with my MME, but I also don't want to break the bank or waste $$ on something that's not really worth it.
That is an individual decision you’ll have to make. For me, no way would I pay that and I’m having a partial front (clear bra) done with ceramic coating on the rest of the car (which I’m applying). The partial front has worked well with my last 2 cars. To each his own.
 

machefan

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I'm having the entire car done. Several reasons:
1. Our kids have hit the Land Rover w/ Bike Handle Bars several times (multiple locations)
2. Parking lots are getting tighter & tighter and door dings happen more frequently
3. The back gate / bumper area will be getting a lot of use
4. The vehicle was delivered w/ scratches that need to be wet-sanded, so the PAINT is very soft/weak. Rapid Red.
5. My luck is that the only impact location would be in a spot that I didn't have covered...
6. I'm going w/ Ceramic Coating over the PPF.. and if I decided not to do 100% PPF and then decided later to cover a new location... the process is very intrusive and can ruin the paint.
The PPF process is intrusive which I can understand but what do mean by ruin the paint?

The paint on the MME does appear to be softer as well as the clear coat. I noticed this even on the road show MME's back in November. I think most of today's car paint is much softer to be more environmentally friendly but the clear coat helps protect it. However it does mar and scratch fairly easily. If just the clear coat that is an easy fix, if into the paint not so much so.

However what are folks getting for pricing for Xpel and the entire body (painted locations), I would think Ceramic for the rest would be sufficient.
 


machefan

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That is an individual decision you’ll have to make. For me, no way would I pay that and I’m having a partial front (clear bra) done with ceramic coating on the rest of the car (which I’m applying). The partial front has worked well with my last 2 cars. To each his own.
I agree, on all counts, at this point I am just trying to understand the total costs and which path is best to take.

Thanks!
 

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The PPF process is intrusive which I can understand but what do mean by ruin the paint?

The paint on the MME does appear to be softer as well as the clear coat. I noticed this even on the road show MME's back in November. I think most of today's car paint is much softer to be more environmentally friendly but the clear coat helps protect it. However it does mar and scratch fairly easily. If just the clear coat that is an easy fix, if into the paint not so much so.

However what are folks getting for pricing for Xpel and the entire body (painted locations), I would think Ceramic for the rest would be sufficient.
my understanding is that if you put Ceramic Coat on and then want to have PPF in that location, you have to go thru a very intrusive process to remove the Ceramic Coat. That process truly ruins the underlying paint and it has to be repainted. Then the PPF applied and then Ceramic.

I didn't want to be in a "chicken or the Egg" situation. So i'm going to bite the bullet and spend the extra money. In all, since I'm having a single shop do all the work, I get more layered discounts. It's still a lot of money.

I'm having all the work fully documented and ensuring that my USAA coverage will stand behind it.
 

ClaudeMach-E

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That is an individual decision you’ll have to make. For me, no way would I pay that and I’m having a partial front (clear bra) done with ceramic coating on the rest of the car (which I’m applying). The partial front has worked well with my last 2 cars. To each his own.
Is it apparent the line between the hood that is covered and the part that is not?
 

Maric

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On a related note, now that I know my seats are white, is anyone getting seat protection?
I've heard of Tesla owners ceramic coating their white seats.
 

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I've heard of Tesla owners ceramic coating their white seats.
My detailer runs specials if you get PPF and ceramic -- rather than a discount, they throw in added services. In my case, they are throwing in ceramic on the wheels and interior.
 

Illinibird

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Is it apparent the line between the hood that is covered and the part that is not?
No, only at a certain angle. This is the way it is with 3M so I’m sure it’s the same with Xpel.
 

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my understanding is that if you put Ceramic Coat on and then want to have PPF in that location, you have to go thru a very intrusive process to remove the Ceramic Coat. That process truly ruins the underlying paint and it has to be repainted. Then the PPF applied and then Ceramic
That doesn’t sound right, you should be able to just polish ceramic coat off.
 

Mike16

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For the pony on the front, did they
1) cut around it?
2) cover it?
3) remove it and put it back over the film?
for the front pony he said it was easy to cut around as it is almost flush with the bumper. For the one on the trunk it is a PITA to cut around but he takes his times for a perfect job and my car will be done today, i’ll pick it up tomorrow morning! For the MachE4X on the door, he removed them and put them back over the film.
 

Blanked

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That doesn’t sound right, you should be able to just polish ceramic coat off.
Ok. I'm just going by what the shops in Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA all told me. I have no experience with neither product, PPF - Ceramic.
 

buffasnow

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Any updates on scans/templates today?
I called my local XPEL place today and they say the templates are not in the system, but the system says the scan is underway, so they expect templates in the next day or two.
Sponsored

 
 




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