TyBoo

After five months of being increasingly disgusted with the looks of my black Stingray I decided to peel the Xpel Ultimate off the fenders and hood. There were too many swirls and stretch lines plus a few spots where the edges were coming loose.

The last straw was while cleaning the wax from the edges of the Xpel I noticed that just the slight pressure from the microfiber towel would fray the edges of the plastic slightly. I was at a gathering Saturday with a bunch of friends and was actually embarrassed to have them look at the car like many of them wanted to. The bright sunlight on the freshly cleaned and waxed surfaces really brought out the flaws in the film.

I peeled it from the fenders myself using a hairdryer to loosen the film and it pulled off cleanly but fairly hard. I am leery of trying to wrestle it off the comparatively flimsy hood so I took it to the installer's shop. He wasn't in but the office girl told me he wouldn't take it off for free. I suggested that since I had paid him over a thousand bucks a few months ago to put it on that he would either remove it for me or I would be calling in the Xpel warranty. He will call me when he gets in and it will not be a problem, I am sure. He had already told me the last time we talked about the issues he would do whatever it takes to make it right.

I am not demanding any money back but if he offers I will certainly take it. I just want my car finish back.

On the plus side, the paint beneath the film I removed from the fenders looks great. There was some residue from the Xpel film but it came off with a quick wipe with acetone.

Maxie2U

It's unfortunate you did not bring it to them before peeling it off the hood and fenders. You could have shown them the peeling issues and it would have been covered under warranty.

TyBoo

It is still on the hood, I am hoping the shop will remove that for me.

As I understand it, warranty will provide for reinstallation but I do not want that stuff on my car at all. Maybe it is the black color that makes it worse, but even where it is smooth and clear it looks "different" than the rest of the finish. It also appears to the eye to get dirtier than the uncovered part. I want it gone.

I will leave it on the bumper, mirrors and A-pillars for now because it isn't too bad looking there and I can peel those myself if it ever gets to bugging me too much. The film in the door latch pockets is coming off, too. The edges of it keep getting more prominent to the eye.

The shop owner just called me and I have a time slot for Friday to get the hood peeled. He uses steam and warm air so it comes off a little easier.

Woodson

Bad install.

TyBoo

So, where is the best price for the Novistretch bra? Hah! Those you can take off and wash at the motel on road trips.

DeStreGa5

I have had 3M on my black C7 for over a year and I haven't had any problems with it yet. My previous car was also black and I had it on there for over 10 years. Not sure what brand it was, but it still looked good. Both dealer installed for about $1k. Everyone says Xpel is supposed to be better.

Bui

Sounds like a crappy installer. Heard there were a couple of good guys coming to Carlistle btw

PegasusCapital

Are you sure you had real Xpel put on by an authorized Xpel installer? If so, you should have contacted the vendor and they would have worked with you.

Maxpowers

+1 Bad install. I've seen Xpel on black cars and when done correctly it's very incognito.

TyBoo

I agree it was a bad install. No doubt. One of the fenders was redone right after the initial install because of flaws in the workmanship.

It is genuine Xpel Ultimate. I watched a little bit of the process when he put it on.

I had considered going to another shop to see if I could get a warranty replacement of the whole works but decided I have had enough of it. Expel does not get another chance regardless of whose fault it was.

It is really disheartening to be embarrassed to show off the car I have wanted all my life.

Are the small pieces that the factory puts on the rocker panels behind the doors 3M brand? The material is thicker than the Xpel and the edges are a little smoother - not much, but a little. Every exposed edge of the Xpel is sharp feeling. The edges of the pieces in the door pockets even scrape the skin on my fingers if I drag them across it leaving white dandruff to add to my anguish!

WKMCD

I had my car completely buffed and polished and then treated with 2 step Qtechniq before the Xpel Ultimate was installed. My Torch Red car looks amazing. Last weekend a car in front of me kicked up a tire tread while going 70MPH. I swerved but it caught the drivers side mirror and folded it back. It left quite a bit of rubber on the mirror. Fortunately, the Xpel cleaned up with a little detailing spray and a microfiber and not a spec of damage.

I think the OP got a pretty crappy install or that the car should have been prepped better.

Just my $.02

TyBoo

I do believe your 2¢ is worth 4¢ because it was a poor prep and a crappy install!

stingraymyway

That product has everything to do with the quality of the installation.

6104696

I have had xpel or equivalent put on my last 5 cars. Love the stuff. Any issues are quickly addressed by the installer.

andy21

How many miles have you driven the car before noticing this?

Who did the install?

I was a bit skeptical about this stuff but after much research I decided to give it a try...hopefully it holds up well over time.

TyBoo

It was put on in March of this year and I have driven about 8000 miles since then.

Most of the stretch related blemishes were noticeable all along, but after the redo of one fender didn't look much better than the first I didn't go back. The loose edges started showing up a couple months ago, and the ragged edges are more recent.

A local detail guy talked me out of having it all pulled off for a refund right away, suggesting I take my planned trips first and then have it taken off in a couple years. But having to make excuses for it this past weekend was more than I could take. I have had lots of new cars and have never used this type of product before. Had some rock chips over the years, sure, but they didn't look overall as bad as this stuff.

This shop (Matt's Window Tinting) is the only installer on the north Oregon coast and was recommended by the same detail guy who told me I should let it go. I think they might be in cahoots. I will let you know if he offers any refund at all.

Right now I just want the crap off of my car.

blown81bu

WOW

please dont make xpel look bad its def not the product its YOUR installer
I just had my 2017 Grand Sport done and its BLACK!

It enhanced the car so much u def need sun glasses to look at it shines so much edges are perfect and 0 flaws
It improved my car in many ways not only in looks but a worry free black corvette
Black is almost impossible to not scratch wout xpel and to keep perfect

If anyone wants to see it for yourself the GS will be at Carlisle Under the Xpel /bra/automobilia tent thurs-sun

TyBoo

I am not making anything look bad, but Xpel makes my car look bad regardless of where the fault lies.

At first I thought it enhanced the depth of the shine a great deal myself for the most part. If you look back through some of the older threads about the product you will see my comments to that effect, although I may have been trying as much to convince myself as anyone else. That is a big part of the reason it lasted as long as it has. The defects are only in spots and for the most part it is laid on there as good as any other. But the looks of even the best areas have deteriorated in the five months it has been on there.

I am very glad you are pleased with it, as most people are, and I truly hope it continues to meet your expectations. I was simply not so lucky.

dmvette

Did you take any pics of the defects to show us?
All the pics on here usually show a pretty good end product. I am curious what bad looks like.

blown81bu

Even better in person