Xpel installation--How hard?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,892
Likes: 1,201
From: Ft. Myers FL
Well I decided to get the front bumper & mirrors done . Hope I'm not wasting my money because this isn't cheap but I'm listening to all you guys on this forum tell me how great it is. 
I'll know in a couple of weeks.
I'll know in a couple of weeks.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
You own a beautiful sports car. If you're going to get it done, get it done right. Spend the money.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 163
I wrapped the front of my car and mirrors on Monday with Xpel.
Just for point of reference. I had a good experienced shop do it....and it cost about the same as ordering the pre-cut pieces and doing it myself.
Shops that do a lot of film work have their own film cutting machines which reduces the cost.
Comparative:
- From Xpel website, Hood Fender and Mirror Kit $440. Bumper Kit $430 = $870 (plus taxes etc.)
- My shop installed: $900 Canadian ($700 US) - all in.
Just for point of reference. I had a good experienced shop do it....and it cost about the same as ordering the pre-cut pieces and doing it myself.
Shops that do a lot of film work have their own film cutting machines which reduces the cost.
Comparative:
- From Xpel website, Hood Fender and Mirror Kit $440. Bumper Kit $430 = $870 (plus taxes etc.)
- My shop installed: $900 Canadian ($700 US) - all in.
Where did you get yours done. I'm out in Guelph area but looking for a good installer and will gladly come to Toronto
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,886
Likes: 173
From: Scottsdale AZ
St. Jude Donor '11
Guy in our club did his C6. Looked like crap. Buddy and I put some temporary stuff on the front of his Z06 for a run up the Coronado Trail. Even though temporary, we wanted it to look good. Looked like crap. Too many angles/creases.
Find a good pro.
Find a good pro.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 196
From: Sullivan Illinois
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Must be pretty hard if Xpel's "certified installers" can't get it right. Like the one I had do mine. 
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 668
From: Kilmarnock Va
Not sure if it's the installer or the type plastic that is used.Supposely it has A guarantee of 10 years.I want to take mine back to the installer and see if he will take care of the imperfections.Paying $2,000 you would think he would
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
I did my C6 myself when I had it and it was probably a 7 out of 10 when I was done
Took me 2 days and 14 hours to do the whole Nose, 1/2 hood, 1/2 the front fenders and mirrors.
It protected the paint and most people did not notice it, but it definitely was Not great.
Bought my C7 from MacMulkin and wanted Xpel put on it before driving it home.
They did the Full Nose, Full Hood, Full Front Fenders, Mirrors, Rocker Panels, bottom part of the doors and rear side quarter panels behind the wheels.
Don't know who they have do it, but they do an Excellent job and worth it to me
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
In today's world of contractors "certification" or "certified" does not mean very much.
It would need to be determined what makes an installer "certified" to do the work.
Did they attend a 4 hour or 6 hour class from Xpel?
Did they have to order so much of product from Xpel?
Did they have to pay a fee to Xpel to simply get a piece of paper to hang on the shop wall showing they are "certified".
In today's world, we have mail order college degrees. Physicians can claim they are the "Best in America", by simply paying a fee to get that claim and the plague that hangs on the wall in their waiting room.
Business people can get listed in "Who's Who In Business" by simply paying a fee to the publisher.
Consumers need to think twice about the vendors they deal with when the word "Certified" is even mentioned.
It would need to be determined what makes an installer "certified" to do the work.
Did they attend a 4 hour or 6 hour class from Xpel?
Did they have to order so much of product from Xpel?
Did they have to pay a fee to Xpel to simply get a piece of paper to hang on the shop wall showing they are "certified".
In today's world, we have mail order college degrees. Physicians can claim they are the "Best in America", by simply paying a fee to get that claim and the plague that hangs on the wall in their waiting room.
Business people can get listed in "Who's Who In Business" by simply paying a fee to the publisher.
Consumers need to think twice about the vendors they deal with when the word "Certified" is even mentioned.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,722
Likes: 1,034
In today's world of contractors "certification" or "certified" does not mean very much.
It would need to be determined what makes an installer "certified" to do the work.
Did they attend a 4 hour or 6 hour class from Xpel?
Did they have to order so much of product from Xpel?
Did they have to pay a fee to Xpel to simply get a piece of paper to hang on the shop wall showing they are "certified".
In today's world, we have mail order college degrees. Physicians can claim they are the "Best in America", by simply paying a fee to get that claim and the plague that hangs on the wall in their waiting room.
Business people can get listed in "Who's Who In Business" by simply paying a fee to the publisher.
Consumers need to think twice about the vendors they deal with when the word "Certified" is even mentioned.
It would need to be determined what makes an installer "certified" to do the work.
Did they attend a 4 hour or 6 hour class from Xpel?
Did they have to order so much of product from Xpel?
Did they have to pay a fee to Xpel to simply get a piece of paper to hang on the shop wall showing they are "certified".
In today's world, we have mail order college degrees. Physicians can claim they are the "Best in America", by simply paying a fee to get that claim and the plague that hangs on the wall in their waiting room.
Business people can get listed in "Who's Who In Business" by simply paying a fee to the publisher.
Consumers need to think twice about the vendors they deal with when the word "Certified" is even mentioned.
Last edited by 2cnd Chance; Jun 22, 2016 at 08:10 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
You can't be naive to what you see reference college degrees, certifications, or any special awards by today's so-called professionals.
While you may consider my post "hardcore" the truth speaks out.
Do some research, and here's a great place to start. Be open minded, not closed minded, and always complete due diligence.
Ever fly on an airplane and read the monthly airline magazines? You see these pages and advertisements a lot in the airline publications. Next time you visit your personal physician, look around and see if any these plaques adorn the walls of his or her waiting room.
Check this out:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/top-doc...ry?id=16771628
Open your eyes and don't be blind.
..
Last edited by nmvettec7; Jun 22, 2016 at 08:30 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,722
Likes: 1,034
2cnd Chance:
You can't be naive to what you see reference college degrees, certifications, or any special awards by today's so-called professionals.
While you may consider my post "hardcore" the truth speaks out.
Do some research, and here's a great place to start. Be open minded, not closed minded, and always complete due diligence.
Ever fly on an airplane and read the monthly airline magazines? You see these pages and advertisements a lot in the airline publications. Next time you visit your personal physician, look around and see if any these plaques adorn the walls of his or her waiting room.
Check this out:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/top-doc...ry?id=16771628
Open your eyes and don't be blind.
..
You can't be naive to what you see reference college degrees, certifications, or any special awards by today's so-called professionals.
While you may consider my post "hardcore" the truth speaks out.
Do some research, and here's a great place to start. Be open minded, not closed minded, and always complete due diligence.
Ever fly on an airplane and read the monthly airline magazines? You see these pages and advertisements a lot in the airline publications. Next time you visit your personal physician, look around and see if any these plaques adorn the walls of his or her waiting room.
Check this out:
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/top-doc...ry?id=16771628
Open your eyes and don't be blind.
..
Last edited by 2cnd Chance; Jun 22, 2016 at 08:56 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 11,334
Likes: 136
From: Out of Site...Out of Mind. Corvette: anything else is just transportation.
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
How hard is it install xpel on the front end of a 16 Vette? Just got the Vette yesterday and would like to put some type of protection on the front end before I start driving it regularly. I am looking at getting the precut kit and doing it in my garage. It looks like the local installers are charging $500 to install the kit. I have put xpel on the rocker panels behind the front and rear wheels on other cars will little problem. Installed the Clearstatic film on my old 73 as well. Just wondering if there is anything hard about the fitting around the emblem or head lights or whatever.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 15,554
Likes: 555
From: Eagle, Idaho
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 196
From: Sullivan Illinois
2025 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C5 of Year Finalist (performance mods)
2017 C5 of the Year Finalist
Xpel does warranty the film (so they say) but they do not stand behind their "certified installers". Nor do they warranty a bad install. Ask me how I know!
