Is the 3M protective Car film worth it?
 

Hi when reading through the forums here, I have seen in a lot of garage sigs that people have protective paint films on their cars. I googled some places in the bay area that do it. Was wondering is it something worth it (does it truly protect the car) and what is a good price for putting on a protective paint film. Found a dealer locator on the 3M site.

Is it best to go through the official dealer or are these people a rip off and better to go third party. Never have had a war wrapped in film before, so completely clueless about this. Any advice would be great. If you know of any good places to get it done would be great as well. Thanks.

I highly recommend XPel Ultimate paint protection film. Go the manufacturer website and look for the authorized installer for your area.

I agree on the Ultimate. If you're going to spend money to film your car, you might as well spend some more and do it right. Nothing beats Xpel Ultimate - the only film on the market with it's own clearcoat and self-healing properties. Consider a full front for the best protection. 13 months in and mine looks like new (if you get close enough to see it).

Here's a few AW Xpel discussions:

https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...php?p=24257172
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...php?p=24454208
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho...php?p=24415743
https://forums.audiworld.com/showthre...highlight=xpel
https://www.audiworld.com/forums/sho....php?t=2843484

I also recommend the Xpel Ultimate

http://www.xpel.com/products/xpel_ul...ction_film.asp

As others have noted, find an approved installer from their website:

http://locator.xpel.com/search/clear.../United_States

if you look in your area, you will see different level of dealers. I would go with a factory trained one that does a decent volume of installs

Thanks for all the replies. I'll check out the XPEL people. If you don't mind me asking based on how much you guys paid what is a reasonable price for the XPEL coat?

Depends on what you have done and where. My custom cut (vs precut kit) full front including wrapped hood and fenders (no visible seams), headlights, side mirrors, A pillars, full bumper, rocker panels and rear bumper by the trunk opening including a full prep cost me about $1500 in the Boston area. Worth every penny so far. Not one rock chip in over a year/15K miles - no measles here. And I can tell I got hit with plenty of rocks by my already pitted windshield. One hood repaint would cover my investment. I also just had Opti-coat installed over the whole car including the filmed areas. $300 for pro clay prep and application by my detailer. Looks great and will last for many years.

If you check the links I gave you, I believe there are other comments in those threads of what people paid.

Well, it will depend on what you have done. You can see what I had done in my signature - with all edges wrapped. I had quotes from two different xpel installers - and they were within $10 of each other. IIRC. I paid about $720

If you do the full hood, it will cost a lot more. I personally don't think doing the full hood is necessary. This is based on my experience with my previous car where I had just the front 24" done and never had an issue with the rest of the hood and rock chips. But others have done the full hood for their peace of mind. To each their own, no right or wrong answer

True enough, so long as a rock doesn't bounce on past the treated area as has happened to me in the past on my A4. Also, I hate seeing the seams - my wife's allroad has just a 14" bra and I'm always trying to get the grit and wax residue out of the seam edge. The biggest part of the cost cost to a full front is the one piece for the hood from a 60" roll. Like you said, to each their own. The most important thing is the film and Xpel is the way to go.

Agreed !!!

And I will say with the Xpel, the seam is virtually unnoticeable. I had 3M on my previous car and you could notice that seam. I actually had to look hard when the installer finished and was showing my the work because the seam was very unnoticeable with the Xpel film. My first thought was you forgot to install a section - LOL.

The only thing that will do a better job at preventing rock chips than Xpel Ultimate is the plastic my grandmother wrapped over her living room couch. A stick of dynamite couldn't penetrate that stuff. However, I think it would be difficult to install on the car - tough to get the air bubbles out. And having to put up with that damned crinkling sound I remember as a kid. Probably why no installer is using it.