Paint Protection Film (PPF) and Wrap for your Emira

DF_Toronto said:

Question for those who have experience with PPF:

My car is one of those stuck waiting for a dingy, in the meantime my dealer has begun delivering cars and brought in someone they’ve worked with a long time who’s an early days PPF installer with 30 years experience. I’d like to work with my dealership but wanted to check out the work their installer is doing first, so I went in today to see the first cars the installer has been working on and finishing. I was very surprised to see gaps of I’d say 2-3mm along all the edges, looked a bit to me like a pre-cut DIY job that looked a bit like a budget option IMO.

Cost for full car would convert from CAD to around 7K USD (Toronto is expensive like New York). They’re also not doing the black rear wheel vents that I feel like I’d seen done in other PPF YouTube videos which is an area that should get a lot of rocks. Another thing is they offer 3M and Xpel for the same price, I asked and he said they are both 8MM thickness. He thinks anything more is no good for a sports car and he thinks 3M is much better than Xpel - who am I to question someone with 30 years experience but I’ve probably looked at a dozen online comparisons and can’t fine one that doesn’t say Xpel is better. Granted, I’ve probably never looked at ppls cars that have had PPF that up close until now, but I don’t want visible edges everywhere with exposed gaps if that’s not how a top end place does it. Am I right to be weary or is this normal and better off using someone my dealer has worked with for a long time who’ve been around?

Click to expand...

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DF_Toronto said:

Question for those who have experience with PPF:

My car is one of those stuck waiting for a dingy, in the meantime my dealer has begun delivering cars and brought in someone they’ve worked with a long time who’s an early days PPF installer with 30 years experience. I’d like to work with my dealership but wanted to check out the work their installer is doing first, so I went in today to see the first cars the installer has been working on and finishing. I was very surprised to see gaps of I’d say 2-3mm along all the edges, looked a bit to me like a pre-cut DIY job that looked a bit like a budget option IMO.

Cost for full car would convert from CAD to around 7K USD (Toronto is expensive like New York). They’re also not doing the black rear wheel vents that I feel like I’d seen done in other PPF YouTube videos which is an area that should get a lot of rocks. Another thing is they offer 3M and Xpel for the same price, I asked and he said they are both 8MM thickness. He thinks anything more is no good for a sports car and he thinks 3M is much better than Xpel - who am I to question someone with 30 years experience but I’ve probably looked at a dozen online comparisons and can’t fine one that doesn’t say Xpel is better. Granted, I’ve probably never looked at ppls cars that have had PPF that up close until now, but I don’t want visible edges everywhere with exposed gaps if that’s not how a top end place does it. Am I right to be weary or is this normal and better off using someone my dealer has worked with for a long time who’ve been around?

Click to expand...

DF_Toronto said:

Question for those who have experience with PPF:

My car is one of those stuck waiting for a dingy, in the meantime my dealer has begun delivering cars and brought in someone they’ve worked with a long time who’s an early days PPF installer with 30 years experience. I’d like to work with my dealership but wanted to check out the work their installer is doing first, so I went in today to see the first cars the installer has been working on and finishing. I was very surprised to see gaps of I’d say 2-3mm along all the edges, looked a bit to me like a pre-cut DIY job that looked a bit like a budget option IMO.

Cost for full car would convert from CAD to around 7K USD (Toronto is expensive like New York). They’re also not doing the black rear wheel vents that I feel like I’d seen done in other PPF YouTube videos which is an area that should get a lot of rocks. Another thing is they offer 3M and Xpel for the same price, I asked and he said they are both 8MM thickness. He thinks anything more is no good for a sports car and he thinks 3M is much better than Xpel - who am I to question someone with 30 years experience but I’ve probably looked at a dozen online comparisons and can’t fine one that doesn’t say Xpel is better. Granted, I’ve probably never looked at ppls cars that have had PPF that up close until now, but I don’t want visible edges everywhere with exposed gaps if that’s not how a top end place does it. Am I right to be weary or is this normal and better off using someone my dealer has worked with for a long time who’ve been around?

Click to expand...

DF_Toronto said:

Question for those who have experience with PPF:

My car is one of those stuck waiting for a dingy, in the meantime my dealer has begun delivering cars and brought in someone they’ve worked with a long time who’s an early days PPF installer with 30 years experience. I’d like to work with my dealership but wanted to check out the work their installer is doing first, so I went in today to see the first cars the installer has been working on and finishing. I was very surprised to see gaps of I’d say 2-3mm along all the edges, looked a bit to me like a pre-cut DIY job that looked a bit like a budget option IMO.

Cost for full car would convert from CAD to around 7K USD (Toronto is expensive like New York). They’re also not doing the black rear wheel vents that I feel like I’d seen done in other PPF YouTube videos which is an area that should get a lot of rocks. Another thing is they offer 3M and Xpel for the same price, I asked and he said they are both 8MM thickness. He thinks anything more is no good for a sports car and he thinks 3M is much better than Xpel - who am I to question someone with 30 years experience but I’ve probably looked at a dozen online comparisons and can’t fine one that doesn’t say Xpel is better. Granted, I’ve probably never looked at ppls cars that have had PPF that up close until now, but I don’t want visible edges everywhere with exposed gaps if that’s not how a top end place does it. Am I right to be weary or is this normal and better off using someone my dealer has worked with for a long time who’ve been around?

Click to expand...

Aero said:

Some of the worst workmanship I've seen (in any trade) comes from people who love to brag/exaggerate about their experience level. PPF film and install 30 years (didnt know its been around that long) ago isnt the same install process as now. Bought a FD RX7 with that old type PPF/install and it was terrible. Had visible seams that lifted easy.
Seriously doubt 3M is better than XPEL. STEK vs XPEL maybe.
Biggest indicator is look at his current work (sounds like you did). If you dont like how it looks find someone else who can show you acceptable work and give references.

Click to expand...

DF_Toronto said:

Question for those who have experience with PPF:

My car is one of those stuck waiting for a dingy, in the meantime my dealer has begun delivering cars and brought in someone they’ve worked with a long time who’s an early days PPF installer with 30 years experience. I’d like to work with my dealership but wanted to check out the work their installer is doing first, so I went in today to see the first cars the installer has been working on and finishing. I was very surprised to see gaps of I’d say 2-3mm along all the edges, looked a bit to me like a pre-cut DIY job that looked a bit like a budget option IMO.

Cost for full car would convert from CAD to around 7K USD (Toronto is expensive like New York). They’re also not doing the black rear wheel vents that I feel like I’d seen done in other PPF YouTube videos which is an area that should get a lot of rocks. Another thing is they offer 3M and Xpel for the same price, I asked and he said they are both 8MM thickness. He thinks anything more is no good for a sports car and he thinks 3M is much better than Xpel - who am I to question someone with 30 years experience but I’ve probably looked at a dozen online comparisons and can’t fine one that doesn’t say Xpel is better. Granted, I’ve probably never looked at ppls cars that have had PPF that up close until now, but I don’t want visible edges everywhere with exposed gaps if that’s not how a top end place does it. Am I right to be weary or is this normal and better off using someone my dealer has worked with for a long time who’ve been around?

Click to expand...

VroomPop said:

You can tell our cars are getting closer! Same experience yesterday. Visited a ppf installer. Was surprised by the gaps around many of the panels. Never really looked that closely. I'm out. Ceramic will do

Click to expand...

RyanGphoto said:

Aero said:

Some of the worst workmanship I've seen (in any trade) comes from people who love to brag/exaggerate about their experience level. PPF film and install 30 years (didnt know its been around that long) ago isnt the same install process as now. Bought a FD RX7 with that old type PPF/install and it was terrible. Had visible seams that lifted easy.
Seriously doubt 3M is better than XPEL. STEK vs XPEL maybe.
Biggest indicator is look at his current work (sounds like you did). If you dont like how it looks find someone else who can show you acceptable work and give references.

Click to expand...

You might get more of a response in the PPF thread, but I have had several cars with PPF, and I can tell you I have never seen a seam on any of them. So for their to be a gap or you can see edges and they want to charge that much, go elsewhere. I am sure in your city there are a ton of shops.. Go check them out.. Ask if they do precut work or will cut the product themselves. The Emira is new and so the 3m and Xpel products might not have a perfect fit just yet (maybe they do and this guy isn't using them).. I dunno, but I wouldn't pay that much and still see seams, no way.

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Porter said:

Very little of this back and forth we have on the forum is useful without knowing what product we are talking about and who the installers are.

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DF_Toronto said:

That’s what I’m thinking - 30 years of using old techniques and not keeping up with the times. This is pretty bad right?

I like my dealer but this doesn’t look “normal”…

Click to expand...

VroomPop said:

You can tell our cars are getting closer! Same experience yesterday. Visited a ppf installer. Was surprised by the gaps around many of the panels. Never really looked that closely. I'm out. Ceramic will do

Click to expand...

DF_Toronto said:

That’s what I’m thinking - 30 years of using old techniques and not keeping up with the times. This is pretty bad right?

I like my dealer but this doesn’t look “normal”…

Click to expand...

RichiEmira said:

I would be furious if I could see all of those seams. I’d rather not have PPF than see that many edges.

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DF_Toronto said:

That’s what I’m thinking - 30 years of using old techniques and not keeping up with the times. This is pretty bad right?

I like my dealer but this doesn’t look “normal”…

Click to expand...

EZcheezy said:

anyone get PPF at Earth Motors yet?

hows it look?

they said they outsource it to xpel professionals but i suppose they all probably say that

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driv300mph said:

I would avoid dealer install and also XPEL film. XPEL is definitely not the best film; they're just the best at marketing

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Zardoz said:

What in your opinion is the best film?

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