segen77

I called a couple of shops today asking about Xpel and they all told me that all PPF will cause paint to look slightly more dull or show slightly more orange peel. These were all well respected shops that install PPF. I ran across this image, and it clearly shows a difference in paint. What is your experience with various products? I'd like to note, that this is not a knock on any company or installer as the remarks were consistent as they all still recommended the products.

Foosh

They both look pretty bad in that photo. Cameras capture things that the human eye does not see. I can't tell the difference in the real world, and I have covered and uncovered panels side-by-side.

LT4CMG

Perhaps your installers are extremely cautious, don’t want to set your expectations way too high, but I can honestly tell you that if done properly, you won’t know the difference. There are panels that are covered and not covered on my pic. Almost impossible to tell the difference

Gearbox22

Not dull at all, rather it adds depth to the paint, much like 8 more coats of clear sprayed on the car. Most modern polyurethane paints all have some orange peel but I had my entire car covered with Xpel Ultimate and it looks very glossy and smooth. The good news is that it will stay that way for years without waxing. Met a fellow C7 owner at a show and he had Xpel installed on his 2014 when new, never waxed the car, and tells me that all he does is to rinse it off with some soap and water and it dries shiny and new. So if you are concerned that it may look terrible or a bit off, it doesn't and I personally think it looks better. Good luck.

mountainears

Looking at pictures online and hearing responses in this forum is not going to solve your problem. Just go visit some of those places and look for yourself. If they are a decent shop they should always have at least one car with film on it but not completely covered so you can see it side by side first hand.

capeli

what paint color is this, it’s like a mirror finish

spinkick

think about it like those clear film screen protectors you put on your smartphone, same feel and look. Slightly less smooth than glass. Thats why they have all moved to glass screen protectors.

Fcal

I don't even know it's there, except for where I got hit by a rock and there's a little mark in it.
Better than the chipped paint I would've had.

jagamajajaran

The SunTek on my 2017 GS looks great. It is the clearest of the currently available products (as measured by a clarity measuring device). Most people don't realize it's even on the car, even when I point out the difference in the covered and non-covered areas. I personally can see a little degradation of the pain clarity where the film is installed, but I like the protection. And if you have a good amount of orange peel, it can actually help reduce the visibility of the orange peel.

DWS44

I love the finish of the PPF, not to mention how much easier it is to clean bug splats and other dirt off the front end! If not so expensive, I would absolutely do the whole car.

tobaccokid

Had my 2016 Torch Red Z06 Coupe 2/3 covered with Xpel last year. Continually get compliments on the car. No one can tell.

stevettec7

Perhaps certain colors may be effected differently, but my Blade Silver looks perfect. You can’t tell a covered panel from one that’s not covered. XPEL has 10mil thick stuff now too. I had that thickness put on a newly painted splitter. So nice!

segen77

Are you having shops install off full sheets that are stretched and cut, or using the precut shapes? I know Xpel is normally precut, but there are rolls as well.

DWS44

My shop uses computer cut material.

TSLAVette

Just do it ... no brainer. I've done every car bought with XPel since 2011. Applicator is everything - pick the best in your area.

Had XPel put on my new GS - full front, roof, rockers and rear quarter - front and back. Looks amazing and as others have said, easy to clean!

Just picked up new Tesla Model S - it's getting the full front end and rocker panel treatment (glass top). $2k'ish well-spent if you are **** and want to keep the car nice for 3+ yrs.

elegant

OP: Does mine look dull?


The only part you are seeing that is not covered with PPF is the roof and upper/flat/horizontal part of the rear fenders.

RipcordZ51

I have a 2014 with full front coverage. Without fail, when I'm out and about, I get asked what year is the Vette and all are totally amazed when I tell them it's a 2014. It looks brand new to them (not to me as I stare at it all the time and notice the little imperfections).

Bvvet

I have WGG with roof, bumper, rear quarters hood , I notice the X Pel gives a very nice shine to the paint, I’m very satisfied with X Pel.
I have one comment, that being my visible CF hood area seems not to be the same color, it seems to have a different hue, not as gray or black .
I noticed small pebbles would fly over the hood and hit the roof, that’s why I had that covered.

JonMN

I have had Xpel, Suntek, 3M and Ventureshield on Orient Red, Torch Red, Gray, and a couple versions of metallic white. The older 3M film had it's own orange peel, but the others were really flat. Shine is great, and most indicate synthetic wax treatments are OK. Color wise, the film was essentially invisible on anything other than white. On the white visibility depends on sun angle--sometimes invisible, sometimes slightly warm (yellow). In all cases I still like it better than chips.

segen77

I really appreciate all the helpful information.