Paint Protection
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36 Posts
With the exception of Xpel, I believe Opti-Coat Pro is the best out now...
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119 Posts
I found a detailer in GA that wants $795 for the Opti-Coat Pro with 2 hours of paint repair included.
I opted not to spend the money on those additional protections given the cost of the Xlpel for the complete front end protection package (about $1800 to do the full hood and fenders) Vs using Dr Chip and then at some point if needed just pay to have the hood repainted (probably around the same or less cost Vs the full front end Xpel protection). I had my Mini for 10 years and it was then an 11 year old car. It looks beautiful to this day and I sold it to my daughter and son in law and he had it detailed last weekend - I almost wanted to buy it back it was so pretty! So I'll take the same route on the Q3 and hope it works.
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2,485 Posts
I have Xpel Ultimate over the entire front end and would never just let the car take whatever comes it's way. I just don't like the idea of Dr. Chip or a hood/front end re spray on a car like this. My recent sale of my film-protected S5 proved what value the film is. My R8 gets the same ...
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119 Posts
I'm having the full Xpel front end done and the OptiCoat for the rest of the car. I failed take that step with the 535 and it has suffered road rash as a result. Not making the same mistake twice.
So I might cheap out on some things but I have come to the realization recently that I will not compromise my paint & have on the last 3 cars gone with at least some plastic paint protection.
These last 2 car purchases (GTI/Q3 both in dark colrs) - being full hood+bumpers+front fenders+side skirts+top rear bumper+door handle area.
For our Q3 - we actually bought a Xzilon application from the dealer - something that in retrospect didn't really didn't need on a newly purchased car like mine - as there was a great detailing job done by the dealer & the paint was like wet black chocolate already.
In retrospect, these so called semi permanent liquid coatings, I just think that a good day-2-day polymer sealant like (Blackfire) or a more permanent professional one like (22ple/Opticoat) - that you can apply at home is more cost effective than having it applied by a professional detailer.
What you are really paying for from an OptiCoat like application is the professional paint CORRECTION prior to application - removing swirls & other impurities. That's down to the detailer you hire else the semi-perm hard sealants products are all of the same quality.
Coming back from our 270 miles trip back from PA, bugs still caked on - they don't slip off & dust still attract to the car like magnet.
Washing it with my foam cannon, it wasn't any less work than my non-hard sealant GTI.
These last 2 car purchases (GTI/Q3 both in dark colrs) - being full hood+bumpers+front fenders+side skirts+top rear bumper+door handle area.
For our Q3 - we actually bought a Xzilon application from the dealer - something that in retrospect didn't really didn't need on a newly purchased car like mine - as there was a great detailing job done by the dealer & the paint was like wet black chocolate already.
In retrospect, these so called semi permanent liquid coatings, I just think that a good day-2-day polymer sealant like (Blackfire) or a more permanent professional one like (22ple/Opticoat) - that you can apply at home is more cost effective than having it applied by a professional detailer.
What you are really paying for from an OptiCoat like application is the professional paint CORRECTION prior to application - removing swirls & other impurities. That's down to the detailer you hire else the semi-perm hard sealants products are all of the same quality.
Coming back from our 270 miles trip back from PA, bugs still caked on - they don't slip off & dust still attract to the car like magnet.
Washing it with my foam cannon, it wasn't any less work than my non-hard sealant GTI.
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103 Posts
Scars of war, not worth $1,800 for me...
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119 Posts
Trust me, I'm not paying anywhere near that.
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400 Posts
SO you do have an R8 now? Have you posted pics and other info in another part of the forum? Are you offering test drives??? >
Yes not @ $1800 for me either ...but @ $1200 using a comparable Llumar paint protection film was compelling enough.
Xpel is good if not great but it's still not going to stop a small sized "boulder" from making a mark on your car...just like all the other wrapped paint protection.
Most important is to get a good installer & that they have at least a 5 years product & install warranty.
Probably going to be best to check out the detailing forums and any other forums with a lot of people in your area, they're bound to know someone good.
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2,485 Posts
Hah - yes to the 1st, but neither to the last, at the moment, but stay tuned ...SO you do have an R8 now? Have you posted pics and other info in another part of the forum? Are you offering test drives??? >
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119 Posts
Got a more detailed quote last night and it turns out the original $700 quote for the Xpel was for full bumpers, mirrors and 24" hood and fenders. Complete front end wrap is $1,400. So now I'm thinking of doing the full wrap but skipping the OptiCoat, which is an additional $700. The installer said he uses Xpel on light colored cars and SunTek on dark cars. Xpel has a 10 year warranty and SunTek 5 years,
Any thoughts on SunTek film?
That's interesting. It was going to cost me about $1700 for the "full" treatment - there was no mention of SunTek though and my car is Mythos Black. Wow - no way I would pay that much for something good for only 5 years. The way I looked at it was very simple - over 10 years of driving every day to work and back plus some travel, etc my Mini had only a few front end hits that required some touch up. There's no way I would have gotten $1800 of value out of a protection package. My only concern is that with the Q3 we will probably use my car as well as my wife's Outback to go cross country skiing. Mini didn't do that duty. So there's a little additional risk there of getting some damage from road "sanding" tossed up on the highway. I just couldn't stomach $1700 for what I would call "insurance" against the damage being significant enough to justify that cost.
Is it really $1800 for Suntek? If so, I would be leery also esp. since there isn't much personal knowledge initially about it.
That said, I am also suspicious about some of these warranty claims.
The biggest thing for me is the hassle factor to take advantage of any "insurance" on accessories you might install on the car.
I learned the hard way that my wheel coverage on our prior Merc could only be used if the wheel could allow the tire to hold air.
Curb rash & or cracked wheels may not create the conditions above i.e. a very narrow set of insurable window.
Not to mention the time it takes to get these things resolve.
So on a 10 year warranty, yes Xpel has been around a long time & their product is top notch...but will your installer still be around to do any repair work?
Good installer is still the key for me.
And knowing they will be there to support any bubble repairs or full re-install is more important than the actual product use.
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302 Posts
Unlike some, I'm not too bothered about a small number of little rock dings (probably because we've had so few on our other cars), but I am bothered by bird crap and other semi-permanent discolorations that can happen, so I went with a MaxxGard treatment on our Q3.....inside and out.
Originally I was not going to do this, but after seeing the results and protection on other cars, and after being offered the service by Audi at "half-price," I went for it.
I also have relatively inexpensive five years worth of insurance for unlimited door and rock dings as well as wheel refinishing for wheel scuffing and rash for up to eight times. No, it does not extend to cracked or bent wheels.....but I frankly wouldn't expect that from such an insurance policy.
I know the first ding will be a little hard on us, but I also know our Q3 is a car that was meant to get out and go and join the crazy world we live in.....>
Originally I was not going to do this, but after seeing the results and protection on other cars, and after being offered the service by Audi at "half-price," I went for it.
I also have relatively inexpensive five years worth of insurance for unlimited door and rock dings as well as wheel refinishing for wheel scuffing and rash for up to eight times. No, it does not extend to cracked or bent wheels.....but I frankly wouldn't expect that from such an insurance policy.
I know the first ding will be a little hard on us, but I also know our Q3 is a car that was meant to get out and go and join the crazy world we live in.....>
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2,485 Posts
Check out Garage for more ...SO you do have an R8 now? Have you posted pics and other info in another part of the forum? Are you offering test drives??? >
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