Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs
01-14-2005, 12:25 PM
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Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs
We would like to make available some information about paint protection film, some tips on maintenance and how to search out professional dealers for the MB community.
As quality of film makes a tremendous difference in the way it looks after an installation, it is only one of three ingredients for a "clear" install. The 2nd would be the installation quality and third is the design of the clear bra kits.
For the 6 years we have been in the paint protection film industry, we have used and tested every single film manufacturer on the market. Below are our opinions of each:
Films on the Market:
3M - 1st generation film had many fading issues, which prompted an upgrade in early 2004. The film still uses the same urethane, but a clearer adhesive. The old film also received many complaints about "orange peel" texture that made the film very visible on darker colored vehicles. 3M's new film is clearer, but is still behind in strength and clarity. 5 Yr Warranty
Avery - Film generally fades w/in 1yr and customer service is poor. The company has all, but fallen off the face of the paint protection industry.
Clearshield - Film's quality is very similar to 3M's 1st generation film. Tends to yellow and crack in 2-3 yrs. Similar to 3M's 1st gen film, 90% of the adhesives will remain on paint when film is removed. 5 Year Warranty.
Llumar (CP Films) is one of the clearer films on the market. Customer service is lacking. Film's quality does not reject environmental oxidation, bird droppings, and other chemicals as well as 3M and Venture. The film is not OE approved. Lifetime Warranty
Venture - film's clarity along w/ its patented acrylic adhesives make it the clearer film. Excellent customer service and film looks great on all colors - even black. The film has been tested by Nissan against 3M. The test results showed 3M's film punctured when a 9lb prove was used while Venture's did not break until 20lbs of pressure was applied. Film is approved by Ferrari, Nissan, Infiniti, Dodge, GM and several others. Lifetime Warranty
INSTALLATION & SOFTWARE DESIGN
Film's quality is only as good as the installation. Searching out a good installer is not an easy task as many companies make outrageous claims of experience and expertise. The most important thing is to see what type of coverage you will get and whether or not it will be in one piece especially for the front bumper. Companies that use 1 piece for bumpers are generally more skilled at paint protection film installations, while software designers such as Clearshield, Invicashield, and Stongard (not so much as the first two) created these kits for the beginner installer.
Below are some tips to searching out good installers:
-what type of software do they use. This will dictate their skill level as companies utilizing the 3 softwares above are used to having these kits come in multiple pieces for ease of installation.
-how detailed oriented are they........you will have to pick up these little signs while talking with the company or installer
-how long have they been installing paint protection
-are they certified? although certification is not a pre-req for being a professional installer, it does show that they received some type of training.
-can they do custom work with one piece of film. This is generally meant for those with aftermarket bumpers or would like to have certain areas wrapped that is not computer generated designs.
-if they do custom work, do they cut on the vehicle? There are two ways of working custom applications:
a. Template drawn and designed for the vehicle and plotted on a cutting board.
b. Film installed on the car and trimmed on the car. We do use this method quite often and it is highly recommended that the installer know what he is doing when trimming on the car. The technician must be skilled at such trimming because too much pressure will cut into the paint. Although, we do this type of installation very often and have never damaged the paint surface, the general market technicians have yet to be experienced enough to trim on the vehicle and not damage the paint..........
-Ask to see if they use a heat gun to "soften" the material during installation. This is often a technique used by those not familiar w/ proper stretching of material...........usage of heat gun to stretch material could easily result in stretch marks forming.............this goes back to experience
-Take a look at their work or better yet, ask the locals about their reputation.
-Whenever a technician makes outrageous or exaggerated claims such as being the "best".......it would be advised that such claims is not backed by any type of proof or statistics.
FAQ
1. Will it yellow, bubble or crack over time? Depends on the film (Venture comes with a Lifetime Warranty from yellowing, bubbling, and cracking)
2. Can it be washed and waxed? Yes, to maintain the film, it is meant to be waxed and washed 2 wks after installation.
3. When my car gets dirty, the line on the hood is more visible. What can I do about it? Wash the vehicle and use a wet q-tip and run it along the edge and this will clean up the dirt or wax build-up
4. If I ever remove the film, will there be a two-tone effect? No, 3m & Venture are UV stable and allow the rays to penetrate; therefore, there will not be any 2-toning if film is ever removed.
5. Would the paint get stripped if I remove the film after a few yrs? The film is OE paint safe.
6. Can I repaint my bumper and put a film on right away? Yes, you can, but you risk having the paint get pulled off if it is removed later. The recommended new paint curing time is 30-60 days before clear bra application
7. From my local clear bra installer, they say Venture is easier to install. Well yes and no. Yes, it is easier to install due to its elasticity, but that doesn't mean the quality of install will be ideal. In actuality, the film is more difficult to work with to bring out a truly invisible installation because the film is so clear.........it does not hide any type of installation flaw. While companies like 3m, Clearshield and Avery has some orange peel texture, it helps hide some of the installation imperfections.
8. I have heard that Venture is a cheaper product price wise? Not true, Venture costs about 15% more than 3M.
9. Why do you charge more than these other guys? Our company was founded with one idea in mind - "Perfection is Our Standard". We truly believe that you get what you pay for and we provide our clientele with excellence in installation, warranty, and service. It is easy to make a quick buck in business, but to keep a life-long relationship with our customers is the challenge. We focus on the future and the longevity of our services.
10. How long does it take to install a full kit? We are typically done with the actual installation between 1.5-2.5 hrs for a full kit. The standard in this industry goes anywhere from 4 hrs to 6hrs........there are reports of overnight installs.
11. I don't like to see the line on the hood, can you cover the entire hood? Yes, we can. We are one of several companies in the U.S. that has Venture film large enough to wrap entire hoods as well as entire panels.
Hopefully, this thread will be helpful for those wondering about getting a clear bra for your vehicles. Our company is exclusively mobile and can travel to anywhere in the world (except for the Middle East ) for group buys. If anyone is interested in setting up a group buy for your area or would like a quote, please feel free to email us at: sales@premiermobilegroup.com or call us directly at 510-390-6920.
-we reply to all of our email inquiries within 24hrs.
Attached are some images of vehicles we wrap on a daily basis:
As quality of film makes a tremendous difference in the way it looks after an installation, it is only one of three ingredients for a "clear" install. The 2nd would be the installation quality and third is the design of the clear bra kits.
For the 6 years we have been in the paint protection film industry, we have used and tested every single film manufacturer on the market. Below are our opinions of each:
Films on the Market:
3M - 1st generation film had many fading issues, which prompted an upgrade in early 2004. The film still uses the same urethane, but a clearer adhesive. The old film also received many complaints about "orange peel" texture that made the film very visible on darker colored vehicles. 3M's new film is clearer, but is still behind in strength and clarity. 5 Yr Warranty
Avery - Film generally fades w/in 1yr and customer service is poor. The company has all, but fallen off the face of the paint protection industry.
Clearshield - Film's quality is very similar to 3M's 1st generation film. Tends to yellow and crack in 2-3 yrs. Similar to 3M's 1st gen film, 90% of the adhesives will remain on paint when film is removed. 5 Year Warranty.
Llumar (CP Films) is one of the clearer films on the market. Customer service is lacking. Film's quality does not reject environmental oxidation, bird droppings, and other chemicals as well as 3M and Venture. The film is not OE approved. Lifetime Warranty
Venture - film's clarity along w/ its patented acrylic adhesives make it the clearer film. Excellent customer service and film looks great on all colors - even black. The film has been tested by Nissan against 3M. The test results showed 3M's film punctured when a 9lb prove was used while Venture's did not break until 20lbs of pressure was applied. Film is approved by Ferrari, Nissan, Infiniti, Dodge, GM and several others. Lifetime Warranty
INSTALLATION & SOFTWARE DESIGN
Film's quality is only as good as the installation. Searching out a good installer is not an easy task as many companies make outrageous claims of experience and expertise. The most important thing is to see what type of coverage you will get and whether or not it will be in one piece especially for the front bumper. Companies that use 1 piece for bumpers are generally more skilled at paint protection film installations, while software designers such as Clearshield, Invicashield, and Stongard (not so much as the first two) created these kits for the beginner installer.
Below are some tips to searching out good installers:
-what type of software do they use. This will dictate their skill level as companies utilizing the 3 softwares above are used to having these kits come in multiple pieces for ease of installation.
-how detailed oriented are they........you will have to pick up these little signs while talking with the company or installer
-how long have they been installing paint protection
-are they certified? although certification is not a pre-req for being a professional installer, it does show that they received some type of training.
-can they do custom work with one piece of film. This is generally meant for those with aftermarket bumpers or would like to have certain areas wrapped that is not computer generated designs.
-if they do custom work, do they cut on the vehicle? There are two ways of working custom applications:
a. Template drawn and designed for the vehicle and plotted on a cutting board.
b. Film installed on the car and trimmed on the car. We do use this method quite often and it is highly recommended that the installer know what he is doing when trimming on the car. The technician must be skilled at such trimming because too much pressure will cut into the paint. Although, we do this type of installation very often and have never damaged the paint surface, the general market technicians have yet to be experienced enough to trim on the vehicle and not damage the paint..........
-Ask to see if they use a heat gun to "soften" the material during installation. This is often a technique used by those not familiar w/ proper stretching of material...........usage of heat gun to stretch material could easily result in stretch marks forming.............this goes back to experience
-Take a look at their work or better yet, ask the locals about their reputation.
-Whenever a technician makes outrageous or exaggerated claims such as being the "best".......it would be advised that such claims is not backed by any type of proof or statistics.
FAQ
1. Will it yellow, bubble or crack over time? Depends on the film (Venture comes with a Lifetime Warranty from yellowing, bubbling, and cracking)
2. Can it be washed and waxed? Yes, to maintain the film, it is meant to be waxed and washed 2 wks after installation.
3. When my car gets dirty, the line on the hood is more visible. What can I do about it? Wash the vehicle and use a wet q-tip and run it along the edge and this will clean up the dirt or wax build-up
4. If I ever remove the film, will there be a two-tone effect? No, 3m & Venture are UV stable and allow the rays to penetrate; therefore, there will not be any 2-toning if film is ever removed.
5. Would the paint get stripped if I remove the film after a few yrs? The film is OE paint safe.
6. Can I repaint my bumper and put a film on right away? Yes, you can, but you risk having the paint get pulled off if it is removed later. The recommended new paint curing time is 30-60 days before clear bra application
7. From my local clear bra installer, they say Venture is easier to install. Well yes and no. Yes, it is easier to install due to its elasticity, but that doesn't mean the quality of install will be ideal. In actuality, the film is more difficult to work with to bring out a truly invisible installation because the film is so clear.........it does not hide any type of installation flaw. While companies like 3m, Clearshield and Avery has some orange peel texture, it helps hide some of the installation imperfections.
8. I have heard that Venture is a cheaper product price wise? Not true, Venture costs about 15% more than 3M.
9. Why do you charge more than these other guys? Our company was founded with one idea in mind - "Perfection is Our Standard". We truly believe that you get what you pay for and we provide our clientele with excellence in installation, warranty, and service. It is easy to make a quick buck in business, but to keep a life-long relationship with our customers is the challenge. We focus on the future and the longevity of our services.
10. How long does it take to install a full kit? We are typically done with the actual installation between 1.5-2.5 hrs for a full kit. The standard in this industry goes anywhere from 4 hrs to 6hrs........there are reports of overnight installs.
11. I don't like to see the line on the hood, can you cover the entire hood? Yes, we can. We are one of several companies in the U.S. that has Venture film large enough to wrap entire hoods as well as entire panels.
Hopefully, this thread will be helpful for those wondering about getting a clear bra for your vehicles. Our company is exclusively mobile and can travel to anywhere in the world (except for the Middle East ) for group buys. If anyone is interested in setting up a group buy for your area or would like a quote, please feel free to email us at: sales@premiermobilegroup.com or call us directly at 510-390-6920.
-we reply to all of our email inquiries within 24hrs.
Attached are some images of vehicles we wrap on a daily basis:
03-14-2005, 02:45 AM
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Quality of installation with a combination of high quality film will produce near seamless results. In addition, most of these installs had the edges "wrapped" around to produce more of a seamless effect. This is what we generally do for the more expensive cars on the mkt. For example, wrapping the front bumper on the 360 CS will have it tucked wherever possible and all of our customers literally had to go 3-4"s away before they could locate the seam in which we tucked. Having the films tucked leaves the dirt and dust to collect where you can't see, which is why we are considered to be the elite techs in our industry. Below are some references to our work:
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10096
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...&highlight=bra
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153528
http://davepaden.net/z/clearbra/default.htm
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44750
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50417
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...ewpost&t=10284
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142109
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153151
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45094
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...294#post983294
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/s...&postid=217473
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/show...hreadid=139049
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...&highlight=bra
Tour schedule:
March 17-23 Los Angeles / Orange County
March 25-April 2 New York / New Jersey
April 20-25 Los Angeles / Orange County / San Diego
For those interested in our services, please email (sam@premiermobilegroup.com) or call us directly. Thank you.
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10096
http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...&highlight=bra
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153528
http://davepaden.net/z/clearbra/default.htm
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44750
http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50417
http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...ewpost&t=10284
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142109
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153151
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45094
https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...294#post983294
http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/s...&postid=217473
http://www.clublexus.com/forums/show...hreadid=139049
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...&highlight=bra
Tour schedule:
March 17-23 Los Angeles / Orange County
March 25-April 2 New York / New Jersey
April 20-25 Los Angeles / Orange County / San Diego
For those interested in our services, please email (sam@premiermobilegroup.com) or call us directly. Thank you.
03-14-2005, 06:10 AM
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Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe
Originally Posted by Premier Mobile
Quality of installation with a combination of high quality film will produce near seamless results. In addition, most of these installs had the edges "wrapped" around to produce more of a seamless effect. This is what we generally do for the more expensive cars on the mkt. For example, wrapping the front bumper on the 360 CS will have it tucked wherever possible and all of our customers literally had to go 3-4"s away before they could locate the seam in which we tucked. Having the films tucked leaves the dirt and dust to collect where you can't see, which is why we are considered to be the elite techs in our industry.
03-14-2005, 11:23 AM
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Yes, the entire hoods are done, but not the fenders though. It really does show how clear the film is; however, having the film this clear poses a problem to most installers. Without the orange peel texture, the film will not hide any installation imperfections such as dimples, stretch marks, etc. Using this clearer film requires experienced hands.
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04-01-2005, 07:31 PM
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We are actually flying into Austin Texas this Wednesday for some installations. Would you be interested in joining the Lotus group? It would be easier if you emailed me directly - sam@premiermobilegroup.com
Last edited by Premier; 04-01-2005 at 07:42 PM.
05-11-2005, 08:03 PM
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What is the average price range (for hood line or complete hood)?
My car just got repainted, so I need to wait 30-60 days, but I'm very interested since I was about to do the 3M but I might opt for Venture
Etienne
My car just got repainted, so I need to wait 30-60 days, but I'm very interested since I was about to do the 3M but I might opt for Venture
Etienne
05-28-2005, 12:01 PM
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Please take your time to read the thread above as there's much useful info in it before making such a comment. Certainly we are in business and do market our products / svcs, which was why we became a sponsor on this forum. Thank you for your response.
07-02-2005, 02:27 AM
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We will once again be touring the San Diego / OC areas between July 20-26th. For those interested in being added to our list, please contact us directly - sales@premiermobilegroup.com or at 510-390-6920.
11-05-2005, 07:18 PM
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'05 C55 AMG '15 Jeep SRT '11 G37S
I don't know.....maybe RIGHT after it's put on the lines are not visable, but on very dark cars, the line is going to be very obvious most all of the time. Lighter colored cars, it's the way to go, though.
11-07-2005, 10:33 PM
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It also has to do with how clean you keep your car. I have a black car and the lines are barely noticeable unless it gets really dirty. Otherwise, it's like it's not even there. It beats the heck out of having a white speckled bumper. 
11-08-2005, 09:03 PM
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Although, we are based out of the San Francisco Bay, we travel all over the world for group installs. There is a minimum of 10 vehicles for domestic tours and 20 for international tours. Please contact us for more information or if you would like to be an organizer of an event.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th - Completed
San Diego - September 14th - Completed
LA / OC - September 15th-18th - Completed
San Diego: Oct 28th - Completed
LA / OC - Oct 29th-31st - Completed
Las Vegas - Nov 1-3 - Completed
LAST TOUR OF 2005
San Diego / OC - Dec 8-11 (for inquiries and bookings, please email us directly - sales@premiermobilegroup.com)
TOUR SCHEDULE
Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th - Completed
San Diego - September 14th - Completed
LA / OC - September 15th-18th - Completed
San Diego: Oct 28th - Completed
LA / OC - Oct 29th-31st - Completed
Las Vegas - Nov 1-3 - Completed
LAST TOUR OF 2005
San Diego / OC - Dec 8-11 (for inquiries and bookings, please email us directly - sales@premiermobilegroup.com)
11-10-2005, 10:23 AM
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'05 C55 AMG '15 Jeep SRT '11 G37S
Originally Posted by wily
It also has to do with how clean you keep your car. I have a black car and the lines are barely noticeable unless it gets really dirty. Otherwise, it's like it's not even there. It beats the heck out of having a white speckled bumper.
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