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I"m thinking about bumper, mirrors and 1/2 of hood. Want to minimize road rash and chips.
Diamond White is a pain to touch up (MB touch up does not match, Dr Color diamond white doesn't match so needed to mix Dr Color white with Dr Color diamond white and I got a good match after experimenting with ratios...BTW if done correctly much better result than normal touch up with a brush or applicator ).
So...Anyone have comments as to using XPEL over Diamond White....will the Diamond White show different under vs exposed ?
If you're concerned about the wrapped not matching the unwrapped have your installer wrap a small portion of the hood. They can easily remove it after you're comfortable with the looks. I would not recommend wrapping part of a body panel, ie part of the hood. The line will be visible.
So...Anyone have comments as to using XPEL over Diamond White....will the Diamond White show different under vs exposed ?
THANKS
Here you go; lengthy reply but meant to indicate what has been done and the outcome.
I had my brand new Designo Diamond White Metallic '19 E4504S Wagon (with AMG styling exterior and night pkg) professionally done by Zenith Auto Works, N. Houston, TX as indicated below using Xpel. The car was driven from the MB dealership direct to Zenith and delivered to them with 38 miles on the car. I do not know how long the car was in the MB dealership lot but Mario (owner of Zenith) stated it required more paint correction work than he would have expected in terms of light surface swirl marks (e.g. likely due to frequent lot washing by dealership porters), but was not anything I particularly notice when looking it over prior to my purchase.
Paint Correction; using infrared and sun lamps, they cleaned and polished the Designo Diamond white (or better it's clear-coat) to a flawless mirror finish.
XPEL Ultimate Plus was then installed as follows;
On all painted surface of the front bumper body panels including the, lower air dam areas, portions of the Grille that can be wrapped, the Star housing, as well as over the intelligent LED headlamps;
The entire hood was covered as well as both A-pillar post up and over, back 8-10" past the header glass roof above the windshield back to the front of the sunroof (my car has the panoramic roof)
Both front fenders were completely wrapped, front to back, top to bottom (even up to where they curve underneath and terminate)
Both the Left and Right side body rocker panels along both doors back to the rear wheels.
The B-Pillar Post (both on the driver's front door and passenger front door, as well as the B-pillar post sections on the forward sections of both rear doors
The pillar post at the rear which encase the sides of the rear tailgate glass
Side view Mirror Caps and door handle cups were also covered.
The entire rear fender/bumper body panel (Note: Xpel does not currently have a pre-measured CAD template for the rear bumper (which as you know is all one piece from the rear quarter panels around the entire back,) so this was using 1-one large single section of Xpel solely by hand. Mario told me it was as hard to do as a Viper hood (which is supposedly the most difficult body component to install clear-bra material on due to the curves and contours). Note: in doing the rear, he also ensured to cover the section of the rear bumper that extends up to the weatherseal inside of the tailgate opening as I wanted to protect that area as well from cargo/baggage loading, etc.
Ceramic Pro Coating: once this XPEL install was completed (week 1 of 2), he then applied the coating package on the entire car which included Ceramic Pro's special coating for the Xpel clear-bra. The coatings were also applied to all of the black night pkg. window trim and moldings, the AMG style wheels and brake calipers (e.g."wheel's off detailing". I might also mention here its the 3rd vehicle he's done for me.
All In; my car was inside his enclosed, climate controlled shop for a total of 3-weeks which worked out perfect from him, me and the car as it allowed plenty of time for all the curing.
As to the "end product" I am EXTREMELY pleased with the fit and finish of both the Xpel and the Ceramic coatings and the Designo Diamond White "pops". I'm OCD about these things so once I brought the car home I did my own detailed check of the paint finish using my own sun lamp and with the garage closed and the lights off. Perfect, money well spent (albeit this type of job is not cheap!).
FWIW; Below is an example of the Xpel edging reveal at the intersection of the Hood and Passenger-side A-Pillar Post, from approx. 4-6" away. The flash of the camera makes it appear there some variance in the color at the very edge which is truly not the case. From a foot back or more, you really can't see the edging nor any color distortion.
Comforted? I'm not! I just realized that my ordered 2020 E450 Wagon in the same designo Diamond White metallic paint will never look half as good as his. With any luck, we'll never run into each other, which will save my car and me all that embarrassment. :-)
BTW
Good choice on the Diamond White....I'm always getting compliments on it and I'm happy with my choice but, it is a pain if you need to touch it up as I noted above (reason I'm considering the XPEL)
As I mentioned I did get a great match but, not by using MB touch up paint (doesn't come close to matching)...had to experiment with mixing Dr Color White and their version of the Diamond White....Actually the Dr Color system is really good as if the directions are followed one can get a repair that is flush with the surface and invisable (takes a few applications and a little effort but, far better than any other touch up I have done in the past.
Only had 2 small rock chips but, I don't want to deal with any more so think I'll go with XPEL on the front bumper and full hood, headlights and mirrors....not sure about fenders yet ?
Comforted? I'm not! I just realized that my ordered 2020 E450 Wagon in the same designo Diamond White metallic paint will never look half as good as his. With any luck, we'll never run into each other, which will save my car and me all that embarrassment. :-)
It makes me feel less crazy. My wagon has spent a total of about 2 months with my detailer. I have polar white instead of diamond white, but sounds like very very similar work done as rewillia. I also had XPEL ultimate plus on pretty much the same areas (I didn’t do the doors, just the edges), and then I had IGL Kenzo plus coating instead of Ceramic Pro. The cost is definitely significant. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, though.
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