Handsurg76

Thinking of getting my GHM GTR wrapped and tinted.
will likely get the xpel stealth product as that is the best for matte finishes. Also looking at tinting the car as well. Don't have much experience with this. What percentage is recommended? I don't want it too dark just enough to to disguise passengers.

Has anyone had this done? What kind of pricing am I looking at? And do you recommend wrapping the front only or should I include the doors?

Thanks.

FourT6and2

What's your experience with Xpel Stealth vs Suntek Ultra in matte? Why do you say Xpel is the best for a matte finish? I know everyone says the installer is what makes a difference. But just wondering about your comment is all.

Handsurg76

Both porsche and benz dealers recommend expel
I don't have much experience with that other product
My GT3 has the expel product on it for many years. Never had a problem.

thebishman

FastMD had both the Suntek matte product and Xpel Stealth placed on the car and found that the Xpel ‘changed’ the colour/look of the GHM the least; (if at all).

I had test pieces of the Llumar matte product; (I wonder who makes it?) and Xpel Stealth placed on the hood of my GHM two days ago, and again I and the installer, felt that the Xpel Stealth ‘changed’ the colour the least, and seemed to ‘disappear’ more than the Llumar product. Hence I’m also going with the Xpel Stealth.

Cost for the full car being wrapped with Xpel Stealth on the painted surfaces, and Xpel Ultimate on the black glossy surfaces is right at $5,000. I’m in the Midwest so perhaps pricing on the coasts or in really large cities might be greater.

Given that a whole front end PPF cover and along the rocker panels etc is probably going to be at least $2500, I would recommend you just get the whole car covered, especially since even minor damage can apparently be a major pain to repair even at the best of body shops.

As for window tinting: if you want to make it difficult for anyone outside to easily recognize someone inside, I believe you have to go at least 20%. 35% which is the legal limit in certain states is too ‘light’. I have 15% on my GHM. I’d post a picture but the site won’t upload it as it’s too high a resolution. PM me with an email and I’ll send one to you though. Pricing about $300-$400 btw.
Bish

fastmd

I have post where I detailed the whole procedure and comparison with pics. If you search the forum you will see it.

thebishman

Here is a picture of my GHM with a 15% tint. Finally got it to upload. Bish

Handsurg76

bish

That looks sick. I can't even tell there is a wrap on it.
I'll see what the laws are out here in Cali. Would be great if bi can get by with that level tint. Had a shop out here quote me $7500 for the whole car wrap which is quite a bit more than what you paid. I'll shop around abit more.

Thanks for posting

AMG 17GT

Where do you live?

FourT6and2

I got a quote around here (SF Bay Area) and it's closer to $10,000 ugh.

Handsurg76

I'm in the SF bay area
$10k for whole car stealth wrap + window tint?

FourT6and2

No window tint. Just the wrap with matte PPF, tucked edges. I've called a few places. It ranges from $8K-$10K.

You're in SF too? We're both gonna have GTRs. Did you buy one on the lot around here?

Handsurg76

Yes
took In my s63 edition one and got bit.

​​​​what color do you have?

thebishman

It’s not wrapped yet; next week.

BTW: I had a 2010 R8 completely ‘wrapped’ by Premier in CA before it was shipped to me a couple of years ago. They used their matte film on the car which was the Pearl Black. Best job I’ve ever seen! You,could not tell it wasn’t a matte paint. If any of you are close you must check them out as if I was close I wouldn’t use anyone else.

One thing re: PPF. The installer is everything! Call/ask around and always use the most highly recommended company even IF they are more expensive. You’re making an investment in a car that is pretty damn expensive. Never ‘cheap out’! lol

Bish

thebishman

Kansas City suburbs.

thebishman

This is the company I’m talking about.


http://www.premiermobilegroup.com/

FourT6and2

Went with Grey Magno. Don't have the car yet. Build is in February. Which dealer did you get yours from?

FourT6and2

You say they did a good job? Awesome, they are in my area.

thebishman

They didn't just do a "good job"; it could only be described as fantastic. lol. You simply could not tell that the R8 wasn't painted in a matte black color. All trim pieces; lights, etc removed and every surface had the edges wrapped. Best I've ever seen/owned. They covered all pearl black painted surfaces after a paint correction in their 'matte' film which was called 'Satin Guard' back then; all carbon fibre and gloss black surfaces was covered in their 'Clear Guard(?)' film; the interior windows were tinted and the windshield was protected with their version of 'Clearplex', (not sure what that was called). Total was around $7500 but that was in 2011.

FourT6and2

So it's their own brand of PPF? Their website doesn't say what product they use. I gave 'em a call and left a message.

MalibuScott

Tint of the passenger and driver's windows is illegal in California. So is not having a front license plate.

I obey the tint law but violate the plate law. The former is a matter of safety and of great concern to cops. The latter is a matter of vanity and the cops where I live don't care. (I did, however, just buy and assemble the tow eye license plate holder, just in case. I haven't had a front plate on any of my sports cars since 2006, and received only 1 ticket while parked on the street. It was a fine and not a fix-it ticket, so I paid the fine.)

Matte GTS

I did the expel stealth on my 2017 Matte GTS and it was unnoticeable. Just traded it in on 2018 GT 50 Edition and have it done in the expel stealth too.

obbob

Fun fact I learned a while back: LLumar and Suntek PPF films are literally the exact same film, just placed in different boxes. Both brands are owned by Eastman Chemicals.

Personally, I used to be an XPEL Ultimate fan, but now I feel Suntek/LLumar have one upped XPEL with their Ultra film they released this year. Remember that XPEL Ultimate was released in 2013-2014...a lot of time for the other brands to play catchup.

AMG 17GT

expel for Magno and suntek for clear seems to consensus.

I just can’t get over prices that are quoted. Mine was 1200 for 1/2 the Car. He would have done doors and rear Q, but I wanted to remove orange peel first.

Tint was 300.

MalibuScott

The Mercedes-Benz owner's manual says that "films" should not be affixed to painted surfaces. (See attached.) If so, is there any concern that if the paint is damaged it won't be covered by warranty? And if these high quality films won't harm the paint, why is MB saying that?

AMG 17GT

it’s a simple blanket legal disclaimer. There are probably a lot of very bad films and installers that would potentially damage paint and they don’t want the liability.