[ska///235i]

So I did get the xpel clear film (paint protection) installed about 2 weeks ago. Now i have a few very tiny air pockets.

Called installer and they told me to press in it (didnt work) and they say they will just punch a small needle hole to let the air out on the next visit...is this the norm??

[Blubaron79]

I have 3M Clear Bra. This is my 3rd car with it. There are always some bubbles, and they do take a week or so for them to work their way out. The punching of a hole is normal if they do not come out.

[tjlees]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

So I did get the xpel clear film (paint protection) installed about 2 weeks ago. Now i have a few very tiny air pockets.

Called installer and they told me to press in it (didnt work) and they say they will just punch a small needle hole to let the air out on the next visit...is this the norm??

i'd leave them a bit longer. Once some regular warmth/sunshine get onto the xpel bubbles, they start to work themselves out.

Wait awhile before putting a needle into them.

I had mine installed in Jan and once the warmth had got onto the bubbles they disappeared - this was April

[ska///235i]

Thx...I'll wait

[435MSport6Speed]

Originally Posted by tjlees

i'd leave them a bit longer. Once some regular warmth/sunshine get onto the xpel bubbles, they start to work themselves out.

Wait awhile before putting a needle into them.

I had mine installed in Jan and once the warmth had got onto the bubbles they disappeared - this was April

Good advice. Be patient, they should go away.

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

So I did get the xpel clear film (paint protection) installed about 2 weeks ago. Now i have a few very tiny air pockets.

Called installer and they told me to press in it (didnt work) and they say they will just punch a small needle hole to let the air out on the next visit...is this the norm??

Pics?

[ska///235i]

Heres two of them (center of pic)

[CalCarNut]

As others said, let them be for now..see if they disappear. That clear film isn't such a bad idea. I'm paranoid of some dumbass bumping the front or back and leaving their 'mark' for posterity........

[TrueBlue12]

Itll go away, dont mess with it. The film is porous.

[GAS428]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

So I did get the xpel clear film (paint protection) installed about 2 weeks ago. Now i have a few very tiny air pockets.

Called installer and they told me to press in it (didnt work) and they say they will just punch a small needle hole to let the air out on the next visit...is this the norm??

My installer told me to keep the car out of the sun for a week. That worked no bubbles. but it stayed in my garage for a week.

[andrew 330i]

I use a very small needled syringe (u 100 insulin) when removing any air bubbles and drawl the moisture back into the syringe, pressing on the bubble/area during the process and the moisture and bubble disappear. Sometimes this is needed when the sun doesn't dry them out naturally. I have installed over 300 kits and this is common. The warm sunlight is your friend for the curing of the film and moisture beneath... never keep your car out of the sun after the install (reverse effect).

Hope this helps.

[Fronzdan]

Having installed dozens of skins on various mobile devices, air pockets work themselves out over time. Definitely give it time before you poke anything into it. I'd only do that in severe cases that won't go away. I've seen cases, albeit after years, that holes in the skin allow water IN, causing a rust spot.

[tjlees]

Originally Posted by andrew 330i

I use a very small needled syringe (u 100 insulin) when removing any air bubbles and drawl the moisture back into the syringe, pressing on the bubble/area during the process and the moisture and bubble disappear. Sometimes this is needed when the sun doesn't dry them out naturally. I have installed over 300 kits and this is common. The warm sunlight is your friend for the curing of the film and moisture beneath... never keep your car out of the sun after the install (reverse effect).

Hope this helps.

+1

That's what the installer told me, and, when we finally got some warm weather and sun in April, the bubbles disappeared. My bubbles were a similar to size to the OPs.

The installer did offer the syringe/needle straight away but advised against it and only to do that as a last resort.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by Xpel

ska///235i,

This can be very common and the amount of time it takes for the moisture pockets to usually disappear can vary based on the weather. We want to make sure that youre completely happy with your installation. How are the bubbles now? Any change?

I'll check again once I give it a wash. Its full of polen right now. Car sits outside during work hours and garaged during nights.

[Fronzdan]

You like that pleasant shade of green? The worst is when it sprinkles rain and you end up with a spotted car.

[thomas wang573]

it will disappeared afte three weeks

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by Fronzdan

You like that pleasant shade of green? The worst is when it sprinkles rain and you end up with a spotted car.

Exactly what happen this morning....EBII with spots of green right now

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by Xpel

ska///235i,

This can be very common and the amount of time it takes for the moisture pockets to usually disappear can vary based on the weather. We want to make sure that youre completely happy with your installation. How are the bubbles now? Any change?

I can press on the bubbles and they do go away, not sure if they'll come back

But now Im noticing bigger issues. So the installer I use is very well known in the area and they advertise as not using pre-cut kits and film will have very few seems. Alot of car guys and forum members rave about them.

Im seeing three seperate sections for the front bumper (alot of noticable seems). One right at the center of the grill and then another at the lower bumper ( the splitter section)

I also discover two areas where sand are accumulating thru the seem (at the edges).

Im not happy at all and will contact them soon. I paid a very high price and was expecting a better than average install

1st pic - the cut in the center
2nd & 3rd pic - the second cut for the lower part of bumper so this is a 3 piece pre-cut kit

4th pic - sand getting in the edges (the center post between the kidney grills...where it rounds at the lower edge)

5th pic - again sand in the edge (right at the corner section of tye headlight is pointing)

[Dippydo]

Yah that is not a good job at all. Mine was done in one piece also by a guy that freehanded it so I know it can be done. Mine goes all the way to the edges as well or where it can he wrapped and tucked it. Your installer was completely lazy especially looking at picture 2, 3 and 4. In 3 he can wrap it around. I will post a pic of mine later today. You still have a lot of unprotected areas.

[ska///235i]

Originally Posted by Dippydo

Yah that is not a good job at all. Mine was done in one piece also by a guy that freehanded it so I know it can be done. Mine goes all the way to the edges as well or where it can he wrapped and tucked it. Your installer was completely lazy especially looking at picture 2, 3 and 4. In 3 he can wrap it around. I will post a pic of mine later today. You still have a lot of unprotected areas.

Yea, my luck

Everyone gets a custome install from them and I got a pre-cut. Not sure what happen

[Dippydo]

I am not sure if yours is pre-cut, but it is definitely not a quality job. Some people prefer precut because there is less chance of them cutting into your paint, but if you have an experienced installer, they won't anyways. There is a local shop here that everyone raves about and once I found out they use precut I didn't use them. Just your bumper being in multiple pieces would make me get it redone or refunded. Did they tell you it would be multiple pieces before hand?

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by ska///235i

Yea, my luck

Everyone gets a custome install from them and I got a pre-cut. Not sure what happen

Hopefully the folks Xpel can contact your installer and tell them to make it right for you, or you can contact them yourself.