10-23-2017, 09:35 PM | #1 |
Private
33
Rep 90
Posts |
My car is on a vessel and I'm super excited, but I'm also anxious/excited at all of the opportunities. My questions are as follows:
1) did you clear bra part or all of your car? 2) is it worth it in the immediate term or can it be done later? 3) is it worth it if you plan on keeping the car a long time? 4) what are your thoughts on the issue? I'm just trying to figure out what to do. 2018 EB M240i xdrive |
10-24-2017, 07:36 AM | #2 |
Private First Class
42
Rep 146
Posts |
I had xpel ultimate installed on the hood, front bumper, front fenders, headlights and mirrors. I have no regrets and definitely feel it was worth it. I did it within the first month and I'm going to keep my car for a while.
__________________
2015 ///M235iX | Mineral Grey | Dakota Black | Premium | Tech | Cold | Driver Ast | HK Sound | Black Kidney Grilles | M-Performance Exhaust | Front Splitter | Carbon Fiber Mirror Caps, Rear Spoiler and Exhaust Finishers
|
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-25-2017, 04:12 PM | #3 |
New BMW Owner
27
Rep 87
Posts |
Congratulations on the new car!
I've had paint protection film (PPF) on all of my previous four vehicles. The two leading self healing PPFs are Expel Ultimate and Suntek. 1. Unless you want your car to live in a bubble, having total car coverage is overkill and expensive. The standard choice is bumber + partial hood + partial front quarter panel (along with included door cups, side mirrors, headlights/fog lights, and rear trunk liner). For me, I upgraded with full hood. Expect to pay $600-1200 hour this type of coverage depending on the market you're in. 2. Ideally you'd want to have it done ASAP before you get any rock chips on the hood. That said, my M235i is a 3yo CPO car and either the BMW paint is exceptionally strong or the previous owner babied the car but I had zero chips when I had the Suntek installed. 3. Very definitely yes its worth it in the long run. I've had cars that had pitted fron air dams and chips on the hood after couple years. 4. No other thoughts on the issue. Simply put, put it on for rock chip protection on the car. PPF is a must IMO. |
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-25-2017, 04:33 PM | #4 | |
Lieutenant
135
Rep 473
Posts |
Quote:
I did Xpel full hood, bumper, headlights, mirrors (which they did by accident for free) and partial fenders. I?ve spoken with many new Bmw owners and they said ?get it right away, the paint just flakes so easy? |
|
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-25-2017, 04:35 PM | #5 |
Lieutenant
135
Rep 473
Posts |
Also if you wait and accumulate random chips, it?s very expensive to have the bumper and/or hood painted and the chances of it being a perfect make are slim. Plus at that point your paying 10 food then getting it protected immediately.
|
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-25-2017, 05:04 PM | #6 |
Major General
3080
Rep 5,579
Posts |
I regret not having it done when I just received my car. I was reluctant to get clear bra for two reasons, after a long time would removing clear bra pull off paint, and having installers have a razor near my paint for installation - but if you go to an extremely good shop those things shouldn't be an issue.
But after 25,000 miles and no bra I have two little stone chips low down on front spoiler - and it doesn't bother me not having bra, but I wish I'd installed a bra. Also don't tailgate and don't get behind trucks. |
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-25-2017, 06:01 PM | #7 |
Private
33
Rep 90
Posts |
Thanks for the info! I will absolutely start with front bumper and full hood combo. I was quoted an installed price of $500 front bumper and $1000 for full hood, motors, and fenders. What do you all think?
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-26-2017, 12:41 AM | #8 | |
New BMW Owner
27
Rep 87
Posts |
Quote:
For my mkt, I paid 700 for this combo including rear tailights. |
|
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-26-2017, 12:52 AM | #9 | ||
Private
33
Rep 90
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
10-26-2017, 04:08 PM | #10 |
Enlisted Member
30
Rep 41
Posts |
Looks like most people here are talking about leading edge protection, i.e. hood, bumper, mirrors etc. I don't have much of an opinion on that since it doesn't see to be much of an issue for me.
However, I was detailing my car the other day and I noticed where the painted part of the front fender and rear bumper cover wrap into the wheel well for a few millimeters the paint is nearly totally worn way. I only have 6k miles over the past 14 months so it's a bit unnerving to be loosing paint at such a high rate there. There's also quite a few little nicks and chips on the side part of rear bumper cover on the following edge of the wheel well. I purchased some clear bra and installed a little a strip back there to help with that and it seems to be working. You might want to mention that to your installer to see if you can prevent what I'm seeing. Good luck! |
Appreciate
0
|
10-26-2017, 07:36 PM | #11 | |
Major General
4517
Rep 8,942
Posts |
Quote:
For OP - do the leading edge if you?re worried about it, but don?t go crazy. I realize it?s not a cheap car and is nicer than anything most people will ever drive, but it?s not a $50M Bugatti from the 30s with lacquer paints that are impossible to touch up. Drive it, if it gets a little ?character? along the way it?s easy enough to fix once it reaches critical mass.
__________________
2022 Macan S
2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible |
|
Appreciate
0
|
10-26-2017, 11:24 PM | #12 | ||
Private
33
Rep 90
Posts |
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
10-27-2017, 08:25 AM | #13 | |
Major General
4517
Rep 8,942
Posts |
Quote:
With that you're probably about as good as needs done without going overboard.
__________________
2022 Macan S
2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible |
|
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-29-2017, 11:50 AM | #14 |
Little Deuce Coupe
391
Rep 635
Posts
Drives: SO M2C
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Virginia Beach
|
My last car had quite a few chips off the nose and they bugged me, so I had my car done (bumper, partial hood & quarters, rockers, top of rear bumper). I did get one small chip/ding in the mid bumper just driving back from PCD, so the sooner the better IMO.
__________________
ex: 2004 Thermonuclear Yellow RX-8|6MT
ex: 2015 Estoril Blue M235i |6MT|slicktop|MP exhaust - PCD 2020 Sunset Orange M2C|6MT|Black 788s |
Appreciate
1
Bmw240xi1833.00 |
10-29-2017, 12:24 PM | #15 |
Private
33
Rep 90
Posts |
How did the partial hood look? Was the line noticeable?
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|