Had Xpel ultimate installed on our C8. Full hood, A pillars, and windshield header, all painted bumper areas, complete front fenders and headlights, rocker panels, sided scoop area from door into the scoops, and the leading edges of the side blades (scoops) along with the door edges. Cost was $1,400 plus tax, totaling $1541.

The installer did a great job, and this is our third car he has done.

 

That seems reasonable🤔

 

With paint correction?

 

That did not include paint correction.

 

I am paying $3200 for basically the same coverage; paint correction, XPEL, Window tint (3 windows), and then ceramic coat. Plus they are installing my front splitter and side skirts as a courtesy after they wrap those.

 

I just got two quotes for full PPF NC 919 Area Code
XPEL full ppf (gloss) would be $5200 and Stealth (matte) would be $5,500
XPEL Stealth PPF / Satin Finish / Platinum Package $6,800.00

XPEL Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating $990.00
Xpel Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating
5 Year Ceramic Coating Protection Plan
- 2 Layers Xpel Fusion Plus Paint & PPF
- 1 Layer Xpel Wheel on the Face of the Wheels
-2 Layer Glass Parency on all exterior glass

 

Getting Xpel full front $2k Ceramic full car $1400 Ceramic windows and room $400 All in about $3800 includes paint correction and the hood needs it bad.

 

California 5k to 6k full car 8k to10k

 

The paint should be perfect for the next buyer. Also, make sure to never drive it in the rain.

 

Have you ever seen the labor involved in applying the PPF?

Ray

 

what is the difference between PPF and ceramic coating in terms of pros and cons

 

PPF will not hide any imperfections. Hopefully with a new car, very little (one step) paint correction will be necessary.

 

Is anyone putting PPF on the rocker panels? I am doing the front end but they want an additional $600 for both rocker panels. Necessary???

 

​​​​​​Quartz/Glass/Ceramic Coatings

While these are often marketed as ‘scratch resistant’, it’s largely irrelevant in all but the slightest cases. While the coating you put on your paint may indeed be technically ‘harder’ than your clear coat the reality is that it’s such an infinitesimal difference as to be practically meaningless. The hardest coating in all the kingdom can still be noticeably marked up by a fingernail…or even the plushest towel if used carelessly.

Much information in one of our Car Car forum posts regarding Ceramic Coatings: Ceramic Coatings - Are they for you?

What coatings do offer is great resistance to environmental contamination and excellent self-cleaning characteristics. While they are no silver bullet, “Never need to wash my car again” solution, the best of them can indeed keep your car cleaner with less effort. And less effort means less touching of the paint which means less chance for marking up that paint. Additionally, they can provide some protection from ‘environmental incidents’ (aka ‘Bird Bombs’) which could otherwise permanently etch the surface.

Paint Protection Film (PPF)​​​​​​

While definitely not a suit of armor, PPF will indeed protect from some of the 'aesthetic dangers' of the roads out there. Most PPF will have some self-healing ability built in so minor swirls and such will diminish in the sun which is an additional benefit.

Applying a ceramic coating on top of the PPF will aid in protecting from environmental contamination and incidents to a certain degree and will definitely make cleaning and upkeep easier due to the hydrophobic/self-cleaning effects of the ceramic coating. Some PPF like STEK Dynoshield & SunTek Reaction will have a hydrophobic, coating-like topcoat built into the film so the need to apply ceramic to gain self-cleaning characteristics is not as crucial.

Some C8-specific information regarding PPF and other protection:

Getting Started with Perfecting and Protecting Your C8 Corvette

And some additional informational content regarding PPF:



In the event of a somewhat extensive impact that does affect the film but not the paint underneath, replacement of film is certainly easier than trying to paint-match panels with a respray, notably on metallic paints!


Like everything though, there is certainly no 'one-size-fits-all' protection strategy that will universally cover all incidents, vehicle usage and budgets. As such, PPF is highly dependent on your desires and requirements so it's best to consider how these variables apply to your own situation. If you decide PPF is something you find appealing, find a shop, do your due diligence by visiting them, seeing some of their work, how they carry and present themselves and choose one who you feel comfortable with. PPF can be a collaborative project if you like, not merely a 'price-tag' transaction; who you're working with will add an extra level of comfort if you enjoy working with them, adding an intangible but valuable aspect to the overall experience. Additionally, should any warranty claims arise, the shop will be your greatest advocate with the mfg should aspects of that come into play. In short, "Buy the installer, not the brand of film they use"; quality shops use quality products and the best installer can make mediocre film look great while a poor installer can make the best film look mediocre.

PPF is a great way to protect your valued asset, a level of comfort if you find it suits you.​​​​

 

You'd be surprised what PPF will conceal:

 

Great video, but I'm not surprised in the least. PPF will hide some, but not all imperfections. When I said it will not hide "any perfections", I meant all. Sorry if my comment was misleading.
My point is if like me, you want the paint as perfect as possible, correction is needed prior to PPF.

 

Me, I'm more of an "Out of sight, out of mind" kinda guy when it comes to what is under my PPF. Considering that correction will need to be done to the area if the PPF needs to be removed/replaced at some point (residue, scratches/marring from whatever 'whacked' the PPF) I'd never even see the 'perfect' paint under the PPF. Everybody is different though, variety is the spice of life; no right or wrong.

 

I payed 1600 hundred for my ceramic coating is completely worth it , the car is so easy to clean . On my Alfa Romeo I have a ceramic coating that I payed 500 dollars for because it was a new car , you can’t compare it you get what you pay for . I also have track package PPF for that I payed 2000 and for the carbon fiber side rockers , splitter , and side intakes 200 more so it was 2200 , plus 1600 for ceramic coating, and my expel tints were 400 dollars .

You can’t even tell the PPF is on the car

The ceramic coating makes the car look like it was a mirror

 

How do they install PPF around the emblems, specifically the CORVETTE lettering on the back? I have thought about debagging the car.

 

Pull badges, PPF, reinstall new ones over PPF on our cars.