Xpel Prep
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Quick question. For those of you who have applied Xpel shortly after taking delivery, did you perform any prep before having the Xpel applied? Any paint correction, polish, sealer, or wax? Or does the installer perform any type of prep before applying the film?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Gainesville, Ga
My installer just asked for the car to be clean. He did all the prep work before the install.
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<p>You definitely don't want any kind of wax or sealer before the Xpel. You need to talk to your installer to determine what kind of prep he will do and make sure you are comfortable with that.</p>
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
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From: Southwest Florida
Without question, clay bar all areas where the film will be installed, but DO NOT APPLY wax after clay barring those areas.
If you don't clay bar you will trap the impurities under the film that are embedded in the clear coat.
Also confirm with the place that will install the protective film whether they clean the areas where the film will be installed since driving to the shop will leave dust and road debris on the surface.
If you don't clay bar you will trap the impurities under the film that are embedded in the clear coat.
Also confirm with the place that will install the protective film whether they clean the areas where the film will be installed since driving to the shop will leave dust and road debris on the surface.
Last edited by Maxie2U; Sep 8, 2015 at 08:51 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: Bay Area California
I asked XPEL Technologies the same question.
This is their answer
Yes, there should be NO polish/wax/coating on the paint. Your installer will have to remove any and all coatings where clear bra will be installed. If you're not covering the whole car, you can polish and coat the paint there, just not where clear bra will be installed.
This is their answer
Yes, there should be NO polish/wax/coating on the paint. Your installer will have to remove any and all coatings where clear bra will be installed. If you're not covering the whole car, you can polish and coat the paint there, just not where clear bra will be installed.
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Thanks for the feedback. I would think for the price that the installer would perform the prep as I can't imagine performing a wax strip and clay and then driving 50 miles to the installer without any type of protection.
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From: Southwest Florida
You do NOT have to perform a "wax strip" if you clay bar. Sorry, but I don't understand the "driving 50 miles without protection" comment. Having no wax on the car for 50 miles will not hurt anything. I would be MORE concerned about not having clay barred the car and having months of impurities lodged in the clear coat then getting trapped under the film.
Safety Car
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Mine is currently having Xpel installed and I talked with the two dealers in my area. One said claying not necessary the other said yes they clay bar all the areas where the material is installed even on a brand new car like mine. Went with installer #2 who was actually a little more expensive. Prep is everything for a good finished product IMHO.
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You do NOT have to perform a "wax strip" if you clay bar. Sorry, but I don't understand the "driving 50 miles without protection" comment. Having no wax on the car for 50 miles will not hurt anything. I would be MORE concerned about not having clay barred the car and having months of impurities lodged in the clear coat then getting trapped under the film.
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From: West Babylon NY
sounds like a few lazy installers out there!
You can bring me a clean car. but regardless, entire vehicle gets washed, paying close attention to a lot of the tight areas where dirt may get flushed out later during film install.
Usually we will do CarPro TRIX or straight Tarminator to remove any wax or road tar.
THEN clay bar to any areas getting film applied.
After its dried, alcohol wipedown
This is all routine prep as far as I'm concerned. This is the benefit of having a detail shop do your film (**** behavior and we wash / clay bar vehicles nearly everyday anyway)
You can bring me a clean car. but regardless, entire vehicle gets washed, paying close attention to a lot of the tight areas where dirt may get flushed out later during film install.
Usually we will do CarPro TRIX or straight Tarminator to remove any wax or road tar.
THEN clay bar to any areas getting film applied.
After its dried, alcohol wipedown
This is all routine prep as far as I'm concerned. This is the benefit of having a detail shop do your film (**** behavior and we wash / clay bar vehicles nearly everyday anyway)