[Rayscott]

I was thinking about having clear plastic film installed over the front of my new 228i to prevent stone chips in the paint. We have a local shop that does this and I was wondering if anyone has had this done. I recently detailed a 1997 Ferrari 456GT and the film on it was a little dull so I used some cleaner/polish and it looked better but not great. The owner is getting it replaced. I like the protection but don't want it to take away from the nice paint I have on it.

[Michall]

[cmiller219]

I personally hate clear bras. I had it on my STi and wished I never got it. I don't follow closely which helps with chips and now I have ceramic coating. I will never get another clear bra

[Kolyan2k]

Always get it, without clear bra my m3 looked like shit in less then a year.

[pz619]

Originally Posted by cmiller219

I personally hate clear bras. I had it on my STi and wished I never got it. I don't follow closely which helps with chips and now I have ceramic coating. I will never get another clear bra

Does the ceramic coating help with rock chips?

[BentZero]

I have xpel ultimate on my car. Don't really notice it, but my car is white. i did the partial, so you do see the line. if I had a chance to do it over again I'd go full front. it also is supposed to be replaced every 7 years. not sure how old the film was in that Ferrari, but that could be the problem.

[psi_blades]

I got the Llumar partial on my AW and would definitely recommend it. If the cost difference was a little less I would've consider the full.

[cmenning]

I have XPEL Ultimate as well (full front + rocker panels) and a ceramic coat on my M235i. I appreciate the protection and ease of maintenance and have no regrets. The quality of the install job is very important; if you go this route, pick someone who is experienced with the film you will be using and who will take their time to make sure it is done right (edges wrapped where possible, etc.).

[Sportstick]

Xpel Ultimate here as well over Opticoat Pro for two cars. Very pleased with how clear/colorless it appears. Did half hood/fenders with full fascia, headlamps, fog lamps, mirror caps. $1100. Two years in, zero chips and bugs slide off easily when washing. Xpel has 10 year warranty.

[Rayscott]

I am not familiar with Xpel Ultimate, could you enlighten me.

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by BentZero

I have xpel ultimate on my car. Don't really notice it, but my car is white. i did the partial, so you do see the line. if I had a chance to do it over again I'd go full front. it also is supposed to be replaced every 7 years. not sure how old the film was in that Ferrari, but that could be the problem.

It was a 97, owner getting it replaced.

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

I am not familiar with Xpel Ultimate, could you enlighten me.

http://www.xpel.com/xpel-ultimate-paint-protection-film/

[SchmullisBob]

I had a local shop install SunTek brand clear film to the front bumper, hood and fenders, up the windshield pillars, in front of the sun roof, rockers, inside door handle, rear quarters, under gas cap and top of rear bumper. Great product. Better than 3M, in that it's "self healing", where small dings in the film fill in due to sunlight and engine heat.

My M235 is silver. I use a liquid polish on the film and the car and it doesn't look any different than the paint without film. I highly recommend this product.

[Rayscott]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

http://www.xpel.com/xpel-ultimate-paint-protection-film/

Thank you. Is it expensive?

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

Thank you. Is it expensive?

Half hood/fenders, full fascia, head and fog lamps, mirror caps. $1100. Prices vary with installer. Shop around from their list of authorized installers.

[X54TH]

I did my son's white 235Xi and my wife's white X5 both in 3M Pro. My son's 235 was full hood, full fenders, full bumper, mirrors and luggage area and my wife's X5 was full bumper and "partial" hood and fenders. My only regret is I didn't go with the full hood and fenders on the X5. You'll see the line. On my son's you wouldn't have a clue it had a full clear bra on the car and it is fully protected.

[leeadam]

mine has it and been on 2 years unnoticeable and not a single chip on my car...has lights, pillars, bonnet, wings, bumpers front part of roof. pleased with it. Done by Paintshield here in uk. Also self healing

[Blue2]

How do you wax/wash the car with xpel on it? Do you wax it as normal?

[BentZero]

Wash and wax and seal just like normal. You really do need to seal it too. Xpel sells their brand of sealer, but any quality paint sealer will do.

[Rayscott]

Do not polish it with a polisher. Use a paint cleaner/polymer like Klasse for a sealant.

[kindofblue]

We had 3M on the front of our 2013 Volt and it did a great job protecting it from rock chips on the dark blue paint. For 3+ years. So when we got the 228i and a new Volt ('17), I had a well regarded local installer put it on the front, partial hood, outside mirrors, etc.. It was about $650 per vehicle out here on the central coast of CA.

[hoppy6698]

Originally Posted by cmenning

I have XPEL Ultimate as well (full front + rocker panels) and a ceramic coat on my M235i. I appreciate the protection and ease of maintenance and have no regrets. The quality of the install job is very important; if you go this route, pick someone who is experienced with the film you will be using and who will take their time to make sure it is done right (edges wrapped where possible, etc.).

Same here. After two years, 20k miles, and one trip from Seattle to Virginia, it all still looks good as new. EXCEPT the xpel, let me explain.

Xpel looks exactly as it should, with minor (about 4) burs or knicks where rocks hit the hood at highway speed from trucks or just other traffic. In each instance, the wrap did exactly what it is designed to do and absorbed the impact. ZERO damage to the paint and none of the damage even went fully through the wrap.

Add to this one minor 'nudge' in a parking lot by a stupid driver who couldn't park her SUV for shit. This left white rub marks on the front of my bumper, but no damage to the underlying paint (thankfully she stopped when her bumper was on top of mine and not in my engine bay). But the xpel held still.

As for the ceramic coating (CQuartz UK finest was the one on mine), it still looks great, even over the xpel wrap. The only oddness about the ceramics is that the paint will not feel slick to the touch, it will feel grippy to fingers. A sealant on top will add a slickness, but it beads up in either case.