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I picked up my 2019 C63S coupe Iridium Silver from the XPEL installer on Friday. I has the full front and rocker panel done. Everything looked good and installer said it may take up to a month to full dry. Today (monday) in the day light I had my polarized sunglass on and noticed many streaks/ blemishes on the hood and bumper. Once the polarized sunglasses came off the hood/bumper looked perfect. I brought it to install today and he found the same thing once he put on his polarized sunglasses and said give it a month to complete dry.
Anyone else had this concern or issue or advise? or had XPEL installed with in the last week or so and saw the same thing with polarized sunglasses.
Thanks.
Nope, can't say I've had this issue. I wear polarized sunglasses as well, but there have never been streaks or blemishes after getting the film installed. Neither with the 3M on my previous car, nor XPEL on the C63. I can't even tell there is a film, but my cars are black. It's been like this since day one. It was a very sunny day when I picked it up from the installer and I wore my polarized sunglasses. I had streaks and holograms on the hood after picking up the car from the dealer who did a less than perfect detail, but the installer detailed the car properly and after the film was installed all the streaks etc. were gone. I would also say to give it the mandatory month to fully dry and if the imperfections haven't disappeared by then, take it back. Leave it parked in the sun. The heat will dry it and activate the self healing. If things haven't disappeared after month, then I would guess they didn't properly treat the surface to get all the grime etc. off before applying the film. If you take a picture through your polarized sunglasses and post it here, then we can see what you are seeing and perhaps somebody has had something similar.
Thanks. I will post photos thru polarized sunglasses and hopefully someone else may have had same condition. I am concerned that if I wait the month will the paint on hood/fenders become damaged? or should I have him just do it over now? Which he probably not do.
The paint shouldn't get damaged. They say to let the paint cure at least 30 days before applying film, so that it doesn't get damaged if the film has to be removed. Since yours is a coupe, it had plenty of time to cure on the way over here. It's potentially wax/polish/dirt that wasn't removed properly and is now trapped under the film.
This is normal for polarized glasses. There is nothing wrong because when you take off your glasses it looks perfect. It's the way light hits. If you look at your window, you will see this too.
Thanks for info. Hope it subside/vanishes with time during the month. I will see the owner tomorrow regarding this. Almost sorry I got it done. I will post photos thru my polarized sunglasses.
Looked at XPEL web site and the last FAQ is about polarized sunglasses will appearance of blemishes. I spoke to customer service at XPEl which was a waste of time as she did not know this was an issue. It may still be an issue even after it's dry. If I knew this I wound not have had it done. So right now thinking of my options, one is to have it removed. Purchased my cat in April 2019 and had the PPF done last week so I guess the removal should be no problem.
It's perfectly normal. Older post of mine on the GTR forum:
Today I was out and about and noticed some weird spots on my car. Thought it was just shadows from the building. I stopped and ordered a pizza on the way home and waited for it. While doing so, I was looking at my car and noticed spots everywhere. I freaked out. I thought maybe being in the sun the last couple days caused this on some defective film. I immediately drove over to the PPF place - conveniently 5-minutes from the restaurant. But alas they were closed. As I looked at the car in the shade - it looked even worse. Now here's the crazy part. For some reason I took my sunglasses off and they were gone. Put them back on, and spots back.
They look like squeegee pressure trails or something. I got the pizza and headed home. I have half a dozen pair of sunglasses. I was wearing Maui JIms' that are polarized. All of my Ray Ban's that aren't polarized it looks normal. If any of you guys have a pair of polarized sunglasses check yours and report back. I do have Suntek matte PPF on my car. Maybe it has something to do with only magno paint? Perhaps it's the brand of PPF? I'm going to go there first thing in the morning and show them. Although, they'll probably say that's weird and they've never seen that before. Which means, do I have them redo it? The pics are with my iphone behind the Maui Jim's as you can see. Just crazy! Note: It looks worse in person then these pics. However, you at least get the idea.
That is interesting. I just checked the FAQ and indeed. Makes total sense in theory, but I never thought about it. Must be more of an issue with lighter colors. As I said, I had two black cars now and both had the full front PPF. I even have film on the headlights and never saw any distortion.
I freaked out as well. Eventually I did see other cars with matte paint with film and it was the exact same thing. Unavoidable. Just make sure when you are cruising you stay way from people with sunglasses on - lol. Once I found this out. I was fine and never thought about it again.
I spoke with the owner of the authorized XPEL installer today. He informed me he was unaware of this situation even though it's on the XPEL site under FAQ. Yesterday when I brought my car there and his assistant took photos thru polarized lenses to show what I was talking about. The owner advises let it fully dry within a month time and see what happens. But what I'v read nothing will change in a months time. I mentioned that I might want to remove it. But before doing something rash like having it removed "tomorrow" I will wait the month and see how I feel at that point.
The job he did seems excellent and it's good to know this is nothing to worry about as others have had the same situation. My 2019 C63S coupe is Iridium Silver . If I do decide to have it removed ( complete front end and rocker panels that extends to rear wheel wells who and how that will be worked out with payment.
I hope someone ready to get PPF is aware of this situation with polarized sunglasses.
Not sure, but without polarized sunglasses it looks perfect and unnoticiable. The XPEL web site under PPF , FAQ (last question) deals with polarized sunglasses and states that you will see blemishes. Appears that is normal. I'm going to give it 3-4 weeks and not make a rash decision now by having it removed.
Honestly if this is normal and you see it on lots of other cars with expel, I would leave it and just live with it. I don't think most people use polarized sunglasses anyway.
Yes. It's been overcast the entire day and looking very closely with and without polarized sunglasses I cannot see any blemishes. Hopefully it dried properly. But will see the next sunny day.
Hopefully it clears up. FWIW, until you started this thread I had never seen this nor was I aware this could be an issue. I do understand the theory for why it happens, though, now that I thought about it. I've only been doing PPF with my last car and the current car, but never came across this or anybody else reporting it as an issue and as I said I have nothing like this on my cars, but I'm guessing that with a dark color one might not see it. Haven't seen a car with this issue in the wild, either, though and I always wear polarized sunglasses, but perhaps not many cars on the road actually have PPF. I do wonder if it depends on how it was installed. It seems like you can see exactly where the "squegee" was used.
Hopefully it clears up. FWIW, until you started this thread I had never seen this nor was I aware this could be an issue. I do understand the theory for why it happens, though, now that I thought about it. I've only been doing PPF with my last car and the current car, but never came across this or anybody else reporting it as an issue and as I said I have nothing like this on my cars, but I'm guessing that with a dark color one might not see it. Haven't seen a car with this issue in the wild, either, though and I always wear polarized sunglasses, but perhaps not many cars on the road actually have PPF. I do wonder if it depends on how it was installed. It seems like you can see exactly where the "squegee" was used.
When this happened to me I checked a little deeper. It seems to be a phenomena only associated with matte paint/film. Whereas gloss hides this effect. Being that there are not a lot of matte cars on the road, and mostly likely whatever percentages that do have PPF. I suspect hardly anyone would see or notice it on a car you were passing by on the road wearing polarized glasses. It also seems to be only prevalent on the flat areas as well instead of the sides. It did seem to subside a bit in my mind with age. But I never really payed attention to it after the fact. Mostly because I don't wear polarized glasses that often.
Today was overcast and I gave my car a "microscopic" look with polarized sunglasses, my distance glasses, my readers and no glasses and did not see any blemishes along the PPF. I also had the Carbon fiber exterior mirror covers and Night Package : High Gloss Black : A wing including trim strip on front bumper and side still inserts also done in PPF. The carbon and High Gloss Black pieces never from day 1 showed any blemishes, it was just the hood and front bumpers in Iridium Silver.
I hope the miracle happened today but will know the next clear sunny day. If not I'll deal with it in 3-4 weeks as the installer advised. Then either have the installer re-do it , remove it or live with it.
When this happened to me I checked a little deeper. It seems to be a phenomena only associated with matte paint/film. Whereas gloss hides this effect. Being that there are not a lot of matte cars on the road, and mostly likely whatever percentages that do have PPF. I suspect hardly anyone would see or notice it on a car you were passing by on the road wearing polarized glasses. It also seems to be only prevalent on the flat areas as well instead of the sides. It did seem to subside a bit in my mind with age. But I never really payed attention to it after the fact. Mostly because I don't wear polarized glasses that often.
I could see how matte paint/film could be more of an issue. In a way I'm glad I didn't go through with wrapping my whole car with XPEL Stealth to give it that matte effect. However, OP's car isn't matte. It's Iridum Silver metallic. The only two colors available as matte on the C63 is Selenite Grey and Graphite Grey. So that's what has me confused. I know folks with white and grey cars that have PPF and this hasn't been an issue at all.
Today was overcast and I gave my car a "microscopic" look with polarized sunglasses, my distance glasses, my readers and no glasses and did not see any blemishes along the PPF. I also had the Carbon fiber exterior mirror covers and Night Package : High Gloss Black : A wing including trim strip on front bumper and side still inserts also done in PPF. The carbon and High Gloss Black pieces never from day 1 showed any blemishes, it was just the hood and front bumpers in Iridium Silver.
I hope the miracle happened today but will know the next clear sunny day. If not I'll deal with it in 3-4 weeks as the installer advised. Then either have the installer re-do it , remove it or live with it.
Redoing it won't solve/resolve anything. Who's going to eat/pay for that? I'd live with it. You paid for it and want the car protected. So why remove it and have no protection? In a couple of weeks you won't even most likely be thinking about it. I'm speaking from my experience is all.
I could see how matte paint/film could be more of an issue. In a way I'm glad I didn't go through with wrapping my whole car with XPEL Stealth to give it that matte effect. However, OP's car isn't matte. It's Iridum Silver metallic. The only two colors available as matte on the C63 is Selenite Grey and Graphite Grey. So that's what has me confused. I know folks with white and grey cars that have PPF and this hasn't been an issue at all.
I missed that good catch. Must have to do with the lighter color then. Because those streaks/spots look exactly like mine on my matte paint. Actually mine were worse.
I missed that good catch. Must have to do with the lighter color then. Because those streaks/spots look exactly like mine on my matte paint. Actually mine were worse.
I had XPEL wrap entire front end done about 3 week ago on 2019 C63S Iridium Silver. I notice the wrap has separated / bubbled slightly from the lower corner right under the Driver side headlight. ( see photos) I also noticed that the wrap was not tucked under or inside the bottom of the headlights but cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch short of the bottom of headlights.See photos.
. Has anyone else has this issue where the installer did not tuck the XPEL wrap under the headlights thus the cut/line is visuble?
. Also has anyone has the issue where the small section under headlight has bubbled?
. I called installed may have to re-do front fender or make a small cut in wrap. Will bring in monday.
. Any advise would be appreciated
I had XPEL wrap entire front end done about 3 week ago on 2019 C63S Iridium Silver. I notice the wrap has separated / bubbled slightly from the lower corner right under the Driver side headlight. ( see photos) I also noticed that the wrap was not tucked under or inside the bottom of the headlights but cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch short of the bottom of headlights.See photos.
. Has anyone else has this issue where the installer did not tuck the XPEL wrap under the headlights thus the cut/line is visuble?
. Also has anyone has the issue where the small section under headlight has bubbled?
. I called installed may have to re-do front fender or make a small cut in wrap. Will bring in monday.
. Any advise would be appreciated
That looks like the film was stretched too much or not enough adhesive used. Also, as far as the film not going to edges, I'm guessing your installer used the standard XPEL templates. They stop short of the edges. At an additional cost you can request an upgrade to wrap the edges where possible, which is what I did. That way the film goes all the way to the edges and around, which eliminates any lines and reduces the risk of the film starting to peel from the edges. The cheap installation places just use the templates. You'll pay more for a custom wrap with wrapped edges, but the result is worth it.
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