Paint Protection Film

[ColinH]

I was just wondering what the general opinion is regarding fitting the V6 with protection film? I guess there are arguments both ways but I'd love to hear any thoughts before I decide, particularly from those who've fitted it - and especially if anyone's put it on a Laser Blue car.

Thanks guys. It's a couple of months or so 'till the baby's due and the wait is killing me..!

[Stubox]

Hi, had my pearl white one done by CG Performance in Tring. They'd already done one Exige V6, plus I'd seen some of the other cars they'd done and it's nice work. Did the whole front end, bonnet, rear wing and behind rear wheels . I wasn't too sure but noticed on driving home from picking the car up from the dealer how the odd bit of road debris was bouncing off the nose.

Since having it fitted I've rubbed marks off the nose and wing! So I've concluded our roads are shite and Id get it done again.

Stu

[The Pits]

I had Xpel Ultimate fitted by Paintshield in Peterborough. They have a very good reputation but they aren't cheap. The film is thinner than most and has a very good finish. It has the ability to 'heal' itself which is impressive as is their 4 year warranty against perforation.

 

However a stone has got through the film on my car, hopefully not to the paint underneath and having been in contact with Paintshield they have agreed to replace the film which is a good, especially considering what it cost me.

 

To be honest I was never a fan of these films and have never had it on a car before. But my Elise got very chipped during my ownership, I think they are so low they are very prone to picking up chips that normally only hit below the bumper on other cars. I had very few chips above the nose badge but too many count underneath. So I thought I'd give it a try and go for what is thought to be the best stuff out there.

 

Overall I'd do it again on a brand new car. I find the visible line a bit annoying but a lot less annoying than stone chips!

[ColinH]

Thanks for both your replies. It's not an easy decision, and I think probably very colour sensitive. I was looking at your Cup post Jonny and though you can see the line it's a great job and not really an issue. But I saw a lovely orange Elise that had been 'filmed' at Lotus Silverstone. It was a good job but you could see the line really clearly and it seemed to dull the colour. I imagine the film is not an issue with white paint Stu?

I'm currently thinking I'll just re spray the front if it's knackered, but then there's the issue of colour match...!!

In the guitar world there's a thing called 'GAS' (guitar anxiety syndrome) and I think I'm getting it here as well. Maybe I should just chill out..!?

[Myfavedave]

I had paintshield on my yellow VXT from new years ago, and I hated the way it looked. It was always difficult to clean along the edge of the film, so it was obvious it was there.

 

I won't be fitting it to my new car when it arrives. I'd rather get the full effect of the colour (particularly as I'm going for a rather lairy orange), then respray if it gets too bad.

[The Pits]

No CAS is very common with a brand new car! It's like with brand new trainers back in the day, the first mark is the worst.

I'm reassured resprays are much better than they used to be but also that I can't see laser blue presenting a major challenge either way.

[Dumbas]

I have GAS, but I thought that was to do with beer and curry I had last night.

I have paint protection film on my Motorsport Black V6 and endorse all that Jonny has said. Most people viewing the car are unaware the film is on, but I am aware as it dulls the paint every so slightly and I can see the faintest line across the front fender. It doesnt bother me however and there are plenty of other curves and angles on your car to admire. The devastation of having a bunch of stone chips and scratches on the sills from getting in and out, would be harder to live with I think.

As a way forward, your car shouid come from the factory with two small strips of protective coating forward of the rear wheel arch. This will be a good indication as how the Laser Blue will look. You can then make an informed decision and go forward confident you made the right decision, whatever that may be.

Remember, the reason you have the car is to avoid therapy; it should not be your reason for therapy!

Right I'm off down to the garage to look at my car, I have not perved at it this afternoon.

[Stubox]

Thanks for both your replies. It's not an easy decision, and I think probably very colour sensitive.

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out if worth it or not. The problem is if you have a part job on the front of the car you can get visible lines and a potential colour difference between covered and exposed paint. A full front cover, up to the A pillars and in front of the windscreen, means its difficult to see any change in coloration. We've full front coverage on red, orange and met grey done (non lotus) and standing 3 feet away you can't see the joins.

But

Turns out it's not far off the price of getting a quality respray........

Look at it this way, it's giving you something to think about while you wait for the car

[Kimbers]

I have had cars fitted with it before and as the car gets older the line between the film and the paint becomes more pronounced as it's more difficult to clean. In the past I have had it long the wheel arches. It can't be seen as much but stops stones flicking up and chipping the paint.

 

Don't worry about colour match on a blue. We have hundreds of cars sprayed a year and the only colour we have problems in matching tends to be Silver and shades of silver.

[The Pits]

I guess some owners would never notice but PPF does compromise paint finish to some degree. Looking very closely at unprotected panels versus PPF panels you can see the reflections are less defined. So I guess a perfectionist is better off going down the respray route. However Motorsport Green won't be cheap to respray and my car is destined for a life of trackdays and european adventures so extra protection won out over aesthetic perfection. I've got a plan for getting rid of the VPL (visible protection line!) after which you can all come and play spot the PPF on my car. It really is very hard to spot compared to some of the other films I've seen elsewhere.

 

But there's no way I'd put any of the stuff on my '81 Esprit for example. Equally, if I'd just bought a new Aston Martin or some other driveable sculpture, perfect paint finish would be the priority, unless I was able to run it as my daily driver I'd go for the respray route.

[ColinH]

I really appreciate all your thoughts - much to think about - but I'm leaning towards the re spray route at the moment.

And totally agree with you Dumbas about the therapy thing..!

[alias23]

I'm in the same predicament and from research in forums and online Xpel seems to be the best for shine and film thinness, it's also the most expensive however PaintShield seem to be open to price match.

I'll be looking to have my car detailed (Aspen White) as soon as it's delivered and before any film is applied so I can retain the best finish.

However I'm reading soo many reports about the pre-cautions you have to take with the polish and wax used ie. non abrasive ingredients etc...

For those with PPF what's in your detailing kits? Be keen to understand the products your using and your feedback on what works best.

[The Pits]

XPEL Ultimate can be waxed just like any other panel but care should be taken to avoid a build up of wax residue in any edges.

 

Having spoken to Paintshield yesterday about extending the protection to a full front on my car they say that the Exiges and TVRs present a particular challenge as the one-piece front clamshell has no panel gaps where they can hide the joins. So a full front job will require a join somewhere. This renders my plans for getting rid of the line a bit redundant so I may keep things as they are.

 

I always said on here that if the film protects the nose completely from chips then its worth it for me but if I still get stone chips the whole exercise has been pointless. However even though one chip has got through the film, if the paint underneath has been protected and the whole lot replaced under warranty I'll file that under 'still worth it' in the 'just about' section! I'll report back when they take the film off next month. They are hellish busy at the moment!

[alias23]

Thanks for the feedback Pits.

My query was really pointed to what wax/polish people are using.... As some waxes for example can promote yellowing overtime which is a big concern for me given the cars white :/

I also had the same thought ref full bonnet but also got the same response from Anna that it would require a join which I hazard a guess could make the 'line' look even more prominent.

[Stubox]

Being pearl white it gets cleaned a lot..... Whole front

 

For those with PPF what's in your detailing kits? Be keen to understand the products your using and your feedback on what works best.

 

Whole front clam, rear wing,rear arches all covered in PPF. Being Pearl white it gets cleaned a lot....

 

Use Meguiars shampoo plus , and then Dodo Juice Supernatural Carnauba Glaze Detailer spray on top after every wash. Gives it a nice wet look.

 

If you go heavy with the wax you will create a two tone look to the car, all you need is a properly detailed surface (which you're doing) and then a clean film surface with a light glaze as its then easy to keep clean and allow the paint colouration to come through.

[quantum2000]

I've had various PPF films fitted to cars over the years, Armorfend, 3M, Ventureshield. I decided with the Exige not to bother as I'd had issue with each of them. Main ones like other have said is over time the "edge" becomes visible and the paint work underneath eventually doesn't quite match the un-protected areas. 

When I picked the Exige up I had it detailed and coated with GTechnig C1 & EXO, although its not a PPF is done a great job at stopping tar, swirl and grit marks. I've got one or two small stone chip marks but you have to look closely to spot them. My plan is if it get too bad over time I'll have the front clam re-sprayed which is similarly priced to having PPF.

[ColinH]

On balance I agree this is the way to go. Did the dealer apply the GTechnig?

[quantum2000]

On balance I agree this is the way to go. Did the dealer apply the GTechnig?

 

I used http://www.autodetox.co.uk

 

New car detail and added the GTechniq 

http://www.autodetox.co.uk/new-car-detail/

 

The owners called Barry, he's great to deal with and will travel the whole of the UK

Edited May 7, 2014 by quantum2000

[ColinH]

I used http://www.autodetox.co.uk

 

New car detail and added the GTechniq 

http://www.autodetox.co.uk/new-car-detail/

 

The owners called Barry, he's great to deal with and will travel the whole of the UK

Thanks Jeff. Had a look at the site - seems a fair price for a full days work. Any particular reason you went for GTechnig over the other waxes he offers?

[quantum2000]

Thanks Jeff. Had a look at the site - seems a fair price for a full days work. Any particular reason you went for GTechnig over the other waxes he offers?

Barry recommended the Gtechniq. I'd explained that the car would be used occasionally on track and wanted something that would help repel the tar and rubber marks. 

Its really easy to maintain too. A quick spray over with Meguiars ultimate quick detailer and it looks like new again

 

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/3091-exige-v6/

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/3090-exige-v6/

http://www.thelotusforums.com/forums/gallery/image/3089-exige-v6/

 

Edited May 7, 2014 by quantum2000

[ColinH]

Barry recommended the Gtechniq. I'd explained that the car would be used occasionally on track and wanted something that would help repel the tar and rubber marks. 

Its really easy to maintain too. A quick spray over with Meguiars ultimate quick detailer and it looks like new again

Thanks - the car looks fantastic. When mine arrives I think I'll be giving Barry a call!

[TonyKL]

Any update, what did you decide in the end?

[ColinH]

Hi - decided against PPF and so far, after a few thousand miles, I've no regrets. To be honest, now that I've had the car for a few months I'm more relaxed about the whole ownership experience. If I look really hard they might be the odd tiny blemish, but so what?

Maybe it's just me, but I bought the car to have fun in and to be used, so the odd paint chip wouldn't worry me too much...it's so good to drive - that's what the Exige is all about after all - the odd chip doesn't spoil the fun!

[The Pits]

My car has picked up quite a few more chips, albeit small ones, since I passed 9000 miles. Two big trips across europe make that pretty unavoidable I suppose. I guess it could only have been worse without PPF but given it was close to respray money to put on it's disappointing to see that a respray will be needed one day to make the car look like new again. Overall I think there's a good case for not bothering with PPF.

 

Paintshield's warranty helps make more sense of it but I have to get to Peterborough to get the car's film replaced which is a bit of a slog for me.

[Bibs]

If anyone wants Xpel applied, let me know as I've a good contact in a company with 35 years application experience who are offering TLF members a deal  

 

https://www.xpel.com/products/paint_protection_kits.asp