Xpel: Do it yourself?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 191
Likes: 27
From: Michigan
Interesting... I did not notice that.. I'm also interested if anyone's tried it... I got a quote of $2500 for just the front on my car, so that is out of the question.. maybe this could be an alternative though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,884
From: Toronto
Unless you have experience applying clear film, Xpel'ing a C7 is very difficult for a beginner. Its not impossible, but there is a good chance you'll mess up and have to purchase new film or have a pro do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Yes, it's very difficult and requires a lot of practice. You'll probably make a mess of it the first time you try. Even "certified" installers often do a sloppy job, and it requires a true professional with years of experience to do it in a way that makes it virtually invisible.
Last edited by Foosh; Apr 20, 2018 at 03:45 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 51
Likes: 36
From: SC
wow.... i just paid $1450 for the front of the C7: bumper, fenders, full hood, and mirrors.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
The difference in price is often a function of the skill of the installer. The really good ones have a reputation that keeps them very busy because they do much better installations which take more time. It's usually a classic case of you get what you pay for.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Also the prep work is a PITA if you look at doing this yourself just REMEMBER this what marks & dirt & crap you let sit onto of the paint that will be under the Xpel. Plus that seems to show thur 10 times worse than what it looked like before the film went down.So if doing this your self get the panels really clean & stuff..
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 926
Likes: 211
From: Sammamish Washington
I'd say it's probably not something that you can't do, but is it something you can do easily enough that you won't mess up the material and have to spend money twice, and will you end up with a result that will last. If you watched the video above, you saw they used a precut piece of material for the nose. I'd say if you went that route you would have a shot at pulling it off. Free hand installation with bulk material? That would be a lot more daunting.
Mike
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Most who try it the first time end up with bubbles, wrinkles, stretch marks, and problems with edge adherence. It takes a lot of practice to get it right, and every vehicle design presents different challenges. An experienced pro has probably done almost every type of vehicle that generally get film treatment.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 719
From: Northeast MA & Mad Beach FL
I bought a 3M pre-cut kit for something like $300.00 from Invisible Mask and applied it myself on my C6.
Full Front bumper, 3/4 Hood, 3/4 Fenders, and Mirrors.
Took me 3 days between 4-6 hours each day, and no way was it a professional looking job.
No many people could tell it had a Clear Bra on it when it was done, but believe me, it wasn't good
It's not to say someone can't do it themselves and get good results.
But I watched installation videos and installations in person.
And IMO, the problem with that is they make it look easy because they do it all the time.
I knew when the time came to get a C7 it was going to get a Professionally installed Clear Bra before I drove it off the lot
Worth every penny
Full Front bumper, 3/4 Hood, 3/4 Fenders, and Mirrors.
Took me 3 days between 4-6 hours each day, and no way was it a professional looking job.
No many people could tell it had a Clear Bra on it when it was done, but believe me, it wasn't good
It's not to say someone can't do it themselves and get good results.
But I watched installation videos and installations in person.
And IMO, the problem with that is they make it look easy because they do it all the time.
I knew when the time came to get a C7 it was going to get a Professionally installed Clear Bra before I drove it off the lot
Worth every penny
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,864
From: Virginia
Forget it!
There are those who do it everyday for a living who struggle with it. At Carlisle last year, it really surprised me in seeing the different quality of work between professionals.
There are those who do it everyday for a living who struggle with it. At Carlisle last year, it really surprised me in seeing the different quality of work between professionals.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,042
Likes: 4,610
.
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; Apr 20, 2018 at 07:35 PM. Reason: correction....
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,020
Likes: 3,427
From: Plymouth Massachusetts
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C7 of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
Just pay a good installer or you will be sorry you did not if your getting Xpel!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 139
Likes: 25
From: Alabama
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 787
Likes: 127
From: Connecticut
I did mine myself with no prior experience. It is very hard to do. Easy are flat surfaces like the hood, mirrors, headlights and door sills. The bumper was a bitch but mine came out great. It takes great patience and a willingness to ruin what you bought.
I used a pre-cut piece for the hood, but I was not pleased with how it came out the first time. When I did it again I covered the edges.
I have a bikini cut on the hood and fenders, bumper, headlights, mirrors, door sills, stage 2 skirts and splitter, and select pieces I cut from stock on the lower edges on the fenders and around the rear tires. I also did the air ducts in front of the rear tires (wide body). I think I have around $400 into my install.
Don't be scared to try it as long and you understand what you bought may end up in the garbage. Start with small and flat easy parts. But don't be afraid to try.
I used a pre-cut piece for the hood, but I was not pleased with how it came out the first time. When I did it again I covered the edges.
I have a bikini cut on the hood and fenders, bumper, headlights, mirrors, door sills, stage 2 skirts and splitter, and select pieces I cut from stock on the lower edges on the fenders and around the rear tires. I also did the air ducts in front of the rear tires (wide body). I think I have around $400 into my install.
Don't be scared to try it as long and you understand what you bought may end up in the garbage. Start with small and flat easy parts. But don't be afraid to try.
Last edited by L82Brake; Apr 21, 2018 at 04:19 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 139
Likes: 25
From: Alabama
I did mine myself with no prior experience. It is very hard to do. Easy are flat surfaces like the hood, mirrors, headlights and door sills. The bumper was a bitch but mine came out great. It takes great patience and a willingness to ruin what you bought.
I used a pre-cut piece for the hood, but I was not pleased with how it came out the first time. When I did it again I covered the edges.
I have a bikini cut on the hood and fenders, bumper, headlights, mirrors, door sills, stage 2 skirts and splitter, and select pieces I cut from stock on the lower edges on the fenders and around the rear tires. I also did the air ducts in front of the rear tires (wide body). I think I have around $400 into my install.
Don't be scared to try it as long and you understand what you bought may end up in the garbage. Start with small and flat easy parts. But don't be afraid to try.
I bought my supplies here:
http://44tools.com/
I used a pre-cut piece for the hood, but I was not pleased with how it came out the first time. When I did it again I covered the edges.
I have a bikini cut on the hood and fenders, bumper, headlights, mirrors, door sills, stage 2 skirts and splitter, and select pieces I cut from stock on the lower edges on the fenders and around the rear tires. I also did the air ducts in front of the rear tires (wide body). I think I have around $400 into my install.
Don't be scared to try it as long and you understand what you bought may end up in the garbage. Start with small and flat easy parts. But don't be afraid to try.
I bought my supplies here:
http://44tools.com/
