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vetteorama. If you didn't get brake ducts wrapped do it quick. They get crushed.
also area above that the humps on the rear quarters (forward facing area). Look at my video you'll see area I'm speaking about. Two pieces one per side. Worth their weight in gold. Or just do whole quarter.
Ceramic Pro (Gold Kit) 100% Then XPEL Pro full; car (less rear hatch and butt end)... Then I did Opti GlossCoat over entire car. after a eek I added Opti Seal... I maintain Opti seal every 6 months. Xpel Pro was installed in beginning of Feb 2017. Since then 2500 miles. looks great, high rock chip area (Northern VA)./ I use plenty of Boiling water for self healing).
Why do people talk like adding "ceramic coating" is in any way similar or a substite to PPF? Ceramic coating might stop birdshit from staining your paint or make the dirt wash off easier, but it sure as heck isn't going to do anything at all against protecting from stone chips.
I don't think anyone is saying that, at least not that I noted.
You are correct that ceramics cannot provide the same level of protection against physical hazards like big rock chips. But it does protect from smaller chips and at least one brand, Feynlab, offers self healing properties like PPF. Ceramics are (slightly) more optically clear than PPF's, totally eliminate the need for wax, and make regular washing much easier. Both techniques offer advantages.
For most of us, a full-wrap in Expel or 3M is cost prohibitive and some areas are less suitable for PPF. But a quality ceramic coating *plus* PPF for the most damage prone areas will provide the best of both worlds at considerably lower cost.
2016 Z06/07 with full stage 3 aero and GM front/rear GM splash guards. I did xPel on bumper, splitter, splitter side plates, mirrors, and headlights at xpel hq in San Antonio for around $650. Black electrician tape still on from dealer delivery on rear brake ducts. Original owner 2004 Z06 and these are the areas that were problematic on the C5 after 12.5 years if ownership. Is it possible I'll get a rock chip on the hood or side...sure, but not worth it to me to put on all the additional coverage. 3700 miles and sides are clean and xpel looks like the day it was applied!
Areas: I wet partial coverage on hood and fenders, front bumper, rocker panels, and the doors below the style crease or whatever you call the crease near the bottom of the door. Headlights too. I have never been happy with film on mirrors so skipped that. (And I have never had a chip on a mirror either)
My limited experience and a few opinions: 3M: Probably improved since my first application, but the original was not especially smooth. VentureShield: Very smooth, easy for installer, but prone to stretch marks. Had this on one car and our current truck. Xpel: Really good, and have it on 2 cars. SunTec: Our installers favorite. I think it's a little clearer than the Xpel we have on our other cars. Very smooth. Even though I have only partial coverage, you simply cannot see the line.
I am not one worried about seams. On a dark car (Torch Red, Grey, Orient Red so far) I have never had wax, dirt, or anything else on a trailing seam. Forward facing surfaces should be wrapped. On our white car and truck our films have been a little visible (both Xpel and Ventureshield), so a full hood might have been better. With Suntek the seam on Torch Red is simply invisible, even when standing right next to the car.
Used expl love it. did the front end hood sides and mirrors for $1200 got great installer come to my house, he owns fairly new co. I Jacksonville fl. Anyone interested let me know. Just made 1000 mile trip bugs etc wipe right off and no stone marks
Just made 1000 mile trip bugs etc wipe right off and no stone marks
So I get my share of bugs, but I can say with my Xpel they sure as heck don't wipe right off. The do come off with a little rubbing and cleaner, but it's not a simple wipe-off.
Did your installer do any treatment over the XPel as well? What products are you using?
I finally decided on a protective film which will be installed next week
when my 2017 Z06 VERT arrives at the dealer hopefully on time. The brand I used was XPEL ULTIMATE. I am wrapping theENTIRE HOOD,HEADLIGHTS, FRONT BUMPER BOTH FRONT FENDERS,MIRRORS, DOOR CUPS and ENTIRE BOTTOM ROCKERS FOM THE DOOR TO THE REAR BRAKE DUCTS including the BRAKE DUCTS. What brand of film did you guys use and what parts of your C7 did you feel NECESSARYto wrap? Thanks Dave
XPEL Ultimate over entire car except roof, hatch and rear. I'm happy with it and think it's completely worth it. Car has 2600 miles and looks like new.
On my GS, I am going to try Cleartastic, on the front of the rear quarters, the brake duct & door bottom, and the door-handle coves. I put large splash-guards on the front.
I am so glad your sharing and asking this question because I have been trying to decide what to do with mine. I traded my 08 in last week for 2017 Stingray and my 08 had the clear bra, and mirrors done by 1st owner and after my first few minor rock hits was glad I had it although those bounced and hit further up. After awhile there was peeling on the mirrors and corners of front bumper area...just kept trimming carefully with razor. So I had been hearing about the Ceramic coating as the new protective coat? but reading here it doesn't protect totally. I wish I could afford a full wrap no seams less edges....I need a summer job to pay for all the things I want...lol
Originally Posted by Always Red Dave
I finally decided on a protective film which will be installed next week
when my 2017 Z06 VERT arrives at the dealer hopefully on time. The brand I used was XPEL ULTIMATE. I am wrapping theENTIRE HOOD,HEADLIGHTS, FRONT BUMPER BOTH FRONT FENDERS,MIRRORS, DOOR CUPS and ENTIRE BOTTOM ROCKERS FOM THE DOOR TO THE REAR BRAKE DUCTS including the BRAKE DUCTS. What brand of film did you guys use and what parts of your C7 did you feel NECESSARYto wrap? Thanks Dave
Full front clip here, XPel Ultimate. Got a rock chip into the carbon fiber on my roof (not covered) on one road trip. On last road trip, took a golf ball sized rock on the right fender (covered), tearing through the Xpel in two places and through the paint in one of those spots. Tried some touch up but the holes in the Xpel are still obvious, so I'm faced with either removing the Xpel, trying to do a good touchup job, then paying a sizeable amount to replace the Xpel on the fender, or living with it. All I know is that for the price of my initial Xpel install, I probably could have had the bumper/fender professionally resprayed 2 or 3 times, so I am beginning to doubt the wisdom of my investment.
Ok, if this is Ceramic coating I LOVE IT! Hutch...can you use ceramic over the wrap areas or do you apply it before the wrap areas to have same shine? I think I just want to do Ceramic first have been watching videos how it is applied. I think I can do this myself...Clean,
then Clay, Clean again...then apply Ceramic small sections at a time...wiping off within 5 minutes depending on temp. Although we have had record heat here in Cali...108 today.
Originally Posted by Hutch
I don't think anyone is saying that, at least not that I noted.
You are correct that ceramics cannot provide the same level of protection against physical hazards like big rock chips. But it does protect from smaller chips and at least one brand, Feynlab, offers self healing properties like PPF. Ceramics are (slightly) more optically clear than PPF's, totally eliminate the need for wax, and make regular washing much easier. Both techniques offer advantages.
For most of us, a full-wrap in Expel or 3M is cost prohibitive and some areas are less suitable for PPF. But a quality ceramic coating *plus* PPF for the most damage prone areas will provide the best of both worlds at considerably lower cost.
The car is in the shop now having SunTek installed on the front bumper.
I had my C7 GS 2LT (Corvette Racing Yellow) totally wrapped w/ Suntek. The windows were tinted (transparent top couldn't be since it's space-age plastic) and Ceramic Pro was applied all over and esp. on the wheels/brakes, etc.
I am thrilled with the result that I let 'cure' for 2 weeks when I simply wiped down the car with a damp microfiber cloth. Of course, I wasn't thrilled with the cost, but I rationalize that the above-mentioned treatment is my protection plan for my investment in my first Vette that I'm over-the-top excited owning, driving, taking care of, parking in my garage (that's being transformed to be worthy of having a Corvette)!!
05-22-2017, 09:36 PM
. The brand I used was XPEL ULTIMATE. I am wrapping theENTIRE HOOD,HEADLIGHTS, FRONT BUMPER BOTH FRONT FENDERS,MIRRORS, DOOR CUPS and ENTIRE BOTTOM ROCKERS FOM THE DOOR TO THE REAR BRAKE DUCTS including the BRAKE DUCTS.
What brand of film did you guys use and what parts of your C7 did you feel NECESSARYto wrap? Thanks Dave
I am so glad your sharing and asking this question because I have been trying to decide what to do with mine. I traded my 08 in last week for 2017 Stingray and my 08 had the clear bra, and mirrors done by 1st owner and after my first few minor rock hits was glad I had it although those bounced and hit further up. After awhile there was peeling on the mirrors and corners of front bumper area...just kept trimming carefully with razor. So I had been hearing about the Ceramic coating as the new protective coat? but reading here it doesn't protect totally. I wish I could afford a full wrap no seams less edges....I need a summer job to pay for all the things I want...lol 
