Opinions on Xpel Wanted!

[HansRobert]

We now have our new X5 and we would like to keep it as nice as possible. The CA at our dealership recommend Xpel (of course they sell the process).

Has anyone had any experience with this product?

Would you recommend it?

Are there other products that do the same thing better or less expensively?

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!

[F15GorDe]

I'm considering all of the options out there, too.
Want to get as durable a level of protection as possible.
Really interested in everyone's experience.

[opasha]

Originally Posted by HansRobert

We now have our new X5 and we would like to keep it as nice as possible. The CA at our dealership recommend Xpel (of course they sell the process).

Has anyone had any experience with this product?

Would you recommend it?

Are there other products that do the same thing better or less expensively?

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!

This seems like a good discussion regarding Xpel vs other things: http://rennlist.com/forums/991/79181...-gtechniq.html

[jpsjr70]

Hi everyone. I have Xpel Ultimate on my X5 M Sport and I must say it was worth every penny. I have done this on every car since Xpel started selling the stuff. I've always have them do a custom wrap which show no seams or edges, everything is wrapped to the inside of the part. I really feel this is the way to go, it always looks flawless and nobody can tell. I have the bumper, fenders, hood, pillars, mirrors, lower body and doors, rear bumper, fender flairs, and the lights fully wrapped, full cost was $3,000 installed. Again, my 991 Carrera S in GT Silver looks amazing and it's 2 years old. My 2011 VW Touareg TDI with 90,000 miles looked showroom condition when I sold it, new owner could not believe how there was zero road rash! I have really bad OCD, so to maintain it I wax all my vehicles with zymol destiny glaze every month and I only rinse the paint with pressure washer to remove dirt. The paint is super smooth and it's really quick to clean and detail. Hope this answers all your questions.....

Joe

[jpsjr70]

One last thing, pick a really good installer! Look and ask to see their work! SUPER IMPORTANT!

Joe

[skalberti]

From personal experience over the course of 3.5 years I've had venture shield, 3m, and Xpel ultimate on my cars. Out of the 3, the smoothest, clearest non yellowing film is the Xpel ultimate. I've had for a year now and it looks like brand new. You really have to stare at the car at just the right angle to even see it. The top coat of the Xpel is smooth and glossy like your paint. The 3M has too much orange peel and really stands out, plus it yellows after a year. VentureShield is 2nd to Xpel as far as yellowing and smoothness. Xpel also has the best warranty against defects and yellowing. It's a clear choice XPEL.

[PunjabiM3]

Originally Posted by skalberti

From personal experience over the course of 3.5 years I've had venture shield, 3m, and Xpel ultimate on my cars. Out of the 3, the smoothest, clearest non yellowing film is the Xpel ultimate. I've had for a year now and it looks like brand new. You really have to stare at the car at just the right angle to even see it. The top coat of the Xpel is smooth and glossy like your paint. The 3M has too much orange peel and really stands out, plus it yellows after a year. VentureShield is 2nd to Xpel as far as yellowing and smoothness. Xpel also has the best warranty against defects and yellowing. It's a clear choice XPEL.

100% agree on Xpel Ultimate being FAR superior to the other films. My wife's Lexus has Ventureshield, and I also had it on my e92 M3. It looks great when installed, but that stage quickly ends. Ventureshield easily scratches, bugs get stuck and caked in there if not taken off immediately, and it just looks like crap even after a few years. I have XPel Ultimate on my R8 and I am super impressed with the look and feel of the film. Granted, it has only been on there for about a year, but I especially love how bugs, grime, etc wipe off so easily from the XPel without leaving a mark! I plan on getting XPel on our X5 once it's delivered.

[ZuerstBMW]

I recommend Xpel, great stuff!!!!

[cy07]

I thought about Xpel also, but can't help but think $900 can be better used for other upgrades lol! So tempting!

[PunjabiM3]

Originally Posted by cy07

I thought about Xpel also, but can't help but think $900 can be better used for other upgrades lol! So tempting!

Just wait until you get a bunch of rock chips and blemishes on your bumper and hood. Then you will badly wish you would have got the XPel in the first place. $900 is nothing for the protection it provides. It cost me $1800 to have the front half of my R8 done.

[cy07]

Originally Posted by PunjabiM3

Just wait until you get a bunch of rock chips and blemishes on your bumper and hood. Then you will badly wish you would have got the XPel in the first place. $900 is nothing for the protection it provides. It cost me $1800 to have the front half of my R8 done.

You do know it costs less to repaint the whole bumper from a quality shop right? And by the time you notice enough rock chips you can probably upgrade a new bumper from LCI.

I want it but at the same time I also want other mods more. Its hard to decide.

[mrwilby]

Not specifically about xpel, although I intend to get xpel on my x5, I thought this was a good demo of why a clear bra-type product is also good insurance against micro scratches from improper washing technique:

See @ 6:50

[HansRobert]

Thanks to all for the input. I'm going to investigate have a custom job done on the front of my X5. Next step is to find a reputable Xpel installer.

Again thanks!

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by skalberti

From personal experience over the course of 3.5 years I've had venture shield, 3m, and Xpel ultimate on my cars. Out of the 3, the smoothest, clearest non yellowing film is the Xpel ultimate. I've had for a year now and it looks like brand new. You really have to stare at the car at just the right angle to even see it. The top coat of the Xpel is smooth and glossy like your paint. The 3M has too much orange peel and really stands out, plus it yellows after a year. VentureShield is 2nd to Xpel as far as yellowing and smoothness. Xpel also has the best warranty against defects and yellowing. It's a clear choice XPEL.

Do you know if you had the older 3M film (prior generation) or their "Pro" film, which they sell now?

In various YouTube tests it seems it beats Xpel as a new install, but day 1 vs year 4 are very different test. If Xpels holds up better than 3M Pro over time, I'd ignore the initial install tests, and rely on first hand experience like yours and others who have chimed in here.

My dealer never offere it! On Zurich Shield was on the menu at $700 or $800.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

Do you know if you had the older 3M film (prior generation) or their "Pro" film, which they sell now?

In various YouTube tests it seems it beats Xpel as a new install, but day 1 vs year 4 are very different test. If Xpels holds up better than 3M Pro over time, I'd ignore the initial install tests, and rely on first hand experience like yours and others who have chimed in here.

My dealer never offere it! On Zurich Shield was on the menu at $700 or $800.

The 3M film was from two years ago, so I don't believe it was the pro. When deciding on my15' X5, I went to a local shop that does the 3M pro and the Nano Avery. He showed me the 2 films. The 3M still had a fair amount of orange peal compared to the Nano Avery He didn't sell the Xpel. So I showed the dealer my 535 that I did myself with Xpel. He was amazed at how smooth and glossy the film was after a year. He was interested in picking up Xpel. So we struck a deal. Xpel sent him some Xpel ultimate to test and he did my whole front, headlights, fogs, windshield pillars and mirrors for $400. He liked the ease of installation with the Xpel. So he's now a dealer. It was a win win for us both. The Nano Avery was almost as good as the Xpel and both were better than the 3M pro.

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by skalberti

..... So I showed the dealer my 535 that I did myself with Xpel......

I am blown away by your abilities. You code, install tow hitches, install film, run electric, I am sure much more. None of these skills are on any continuum -all different silos.

Well done. It will cost me $1.5 to 2k likely.

Meanwhile, I had Zurich Shield installed on the first F15. As i was refunded, I was refunded on the ZS too. Does anyone have experience with ZS? The dealer (who is not impartial) swears by the interior/exterior treatment.

[MysticBlue]

I just had mine done by the same shop that did my M3 5 years ago with SunTek. I haven't heard much about it elsewhere, but I'm happy with it. It's virtually invisible on my Alpine White. To see which panels it was applied to, I had to feel for the edges. It is supposedly self healing, like the Xpel Ultimate.

[skalberti]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

I am blown away by your abilities. You code, install tow hitches, install film, run electric, I am sure much more. None of these skills are on any continuum -all different silos.

Well done. It will cost me $1.5 to 2k likely.

Meanwhile, I had Zurich Shield installed on the first F15. As i was refunded, I was refunded on the ZS too. Does anyone have experience with ZS? The dealer (who is not impartial) swears by the interior/exterior treatment.

Ha! Ya I like to do things myself or at least try. I bought a custom wrap kit of the Xpel Ulitimate for the full front for $315 watched some you tube videos. For the same kit on my X5 was going to be $650. So when the dealer said he'd do my vehicle for $425 it wasn't worth it to me to pay more and do it myself.