SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs

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Old 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:
Attached Thumbnails Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-115-1535_img.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-113-1398_img.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-113-1400_img.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-115-1534_img.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-112-1250_img.jpg  

Old 01-14-2005, 12:36 PM
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996, 997, Gt3
Attached Thumbnails Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-p1120015.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-p1120006.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-p1120009.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-p1120015.jpg  
Old 01-14-2005, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by Premier Mobile
996, 997, Gt3
I have seen many of these installations and they have never been good. I am sure they worked in terms of protection but they all had bubbles or tiny bumps.

I am not certain what material was used but it was the same concept for sure. From a distance they looked invisible. Up close, they looked terrible if you are the kind of person that does not like imperfections in your paint job. I figure you must be if you are putting the clear plastic covering on so for me until the installation looks like the paint, it is a "no go".

Last edited by LovinMercedes; 01-14-2005 at 06:00 PM.
Old 01-16-2005, 12:33 AM
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I learned long ago that the best way to avoid rock chips is to drop back from the car in front. If you don't tailgate, you won't get chipped. This is especially important when the car is new and the paint is still soft.

The issue with systems like this is that the paint has to be absolutely perfect before it goes on, otherwise any flaw will be there forever and will bug you. As for the line across the hood, sure you can use a q-tip to clean it but how long before it lifts and attracts all sort of dirt to the adhesive underside?
Old 01-16-2005, 12:40 AM
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I wonder if there is a way to do the ENTIRE car?
Old 01-16-2005, 05:05 AM
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LovinSL600 - You made a very good point. Like many other fads, the problem with today's paint protection industry is the lack of standards. Companies jump on the fad and next thing you know the market is saturated with similar products / svcs. For example, window tint.........majority of tint installations have bubbles, dirt / dust, etc, while a few companies on the market produce much better results - these are generally the companies that charge more.

This goes the same with paint protection film. The market is pretty saturated and to a certain degree many companies produce results that are not desirable. We are not saying that we could produce a perfect result at 100% dust free, but this is our standard that we strive for. This is not a product for everyone especially for those not ever wanting to see a faint line on the hood. But then again, that's why we have the largest rolls of film that can cover the entire hood.

blueSL-"The issue with systems like this is that the paint has to be absolutely perfect before it goes on, otherwise any flaw will be there forever and will bug you."
-You are absolutely correct. Imperfections such as dust / debris that gets under the film will absolutely be an eyesore...........before we apply any film, we always clay and clean the surface down to remove any contaminants that will get trapped between the film and paint surface. In addition, if any debris gets trapped, we require all of our technicians to lift the film to remove the foreign object(s) before continuing..........

"As for the line across the hood, sure you can use a q-tip to clean it but how long before it lifts and attracts all sort of dirt to the adhesive underside?"
-On a weekly basis, we get customers that have film installed elsewhere and have lifting issues with dirt collecting on the underside. This is an installation issue. If installed properly and sealed properly before returning vehicle to the customer, then the film should never peel up. On a side note, the film holds 50lbs of pressure / sq inch, so as long as it was installed correctly, the lifting should not occur.

You guys have some good points and should be addressed........please feel free to continue posting questions / issues about ppf.

Ricky - Yes, wrapping an entire car is possible. We just did an entire 360 a few wks ago
Old 01-16-2005, 05:06 AM
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I think it's called painting... It surprises me that manufacturers have not developed paints which are more resistant to chips. It's said that water based paints which are used for environmental reasons are less resistant so maybe the problem is worse than it used to be.
Old 01-16-2005, 05:08 AM
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bluesl - yes, today's paint is weaker due regulations on lead usage inside today's paint technology..........it is water-based now.
Old 01-25-2005, 10:03 PM
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I have 3M installed on the front of my 03 and I'm pleased with it. IMO, it comes down completely to the installer's skill. I've seen great and crap jobs -- just like window tint.
Old 03-14-2005, 02:52 AM
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We are constantly on tour to certain metro cities. For those interested in either flying our best techs out or setting up a group buy for a certain location and date, please feel free to contact us directly for more information.

REFERENCES:
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.
Old 03-28-2005, 10:11 PM
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Update to Tour Schedule:

May 2-9 New York / New Jersey
April 20-27 Los Angeles / Orange County
Old 05-04-2005, 10:37 PM
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NY / NJ TOUR SCHEDULE UPDATE - JUNE 8-17

Please contact me directly for more information - sam@premiermobilegroup.com

Thanks!
Old 05-04-2005, 11:09 PM
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Old 05-04-2005, 11:21 PM
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Old 05-05-2005, 01:00 AM
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Old 05-05-2005, 02:14 AM
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Apparently you've seen some pretty poor workmanship to be so adamently against it. However, this is only your experience...perhaps with a local installer who did a hack job on yours, but please do not attack our product and svcs because you have never seen our work in person. If you feel that you have evidence that our product / svcs are "junk" please feel free to post it here. We certainly are up to the challenge of anyone showing relevant information of OUR services / product.

The most common reason people like yourself are so against such products is because you've had a bad install. This goes back to installer experience and skill level. Some companies use the diy kits (Invinca-man.com or Invinca-shield.com or other similar kits) that create more seams and thus show up much more.

FYI - if you or anyone's seen this and thought it looked horrid, it's because it was not installed correctly or with the right product. Stretch marks, lifting of film, dimples, yellowing, fading, cracking, etc. are all visible installation imperfections that show up the most on dark colored vehicles - experience is the key.

Paint protection film is very similar to window tint and other specialized services as far as quality goes. Some companies install inexpensive tint and in a short period of time begins to purple and bubble. Clear Bras are no different in this aspect. If installed correctly, it is nearly invisible especially when the bumper kits are custom installed to hide the seams. In this industry like all others, you get what you pay for.

Stephenk - Please post valid information or responses according to OUR services and not general comments directed to our company especially when you've never seen any of our work in person. Thank you.
Old 07-02-2005, 02:29 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.
Old 08-16-2005, 05:49 AM
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Update to Tour Schedule

Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th
Southern California Tour - Sept 14th-18th
Old 09-07-2005, 12:21 AM
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More pics of our work
Attached Thumbnails Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-12.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-3.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-4.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-6.jpg   Transaprent Paint Protection Film Tips / Maintenance / Faqs-13.jpg  


Last edited by Premier; 09-07-2005 at 01:28 AM.
Old 09-07-2005, 01:29 AM
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Update to Tour Schedule

Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th - Completed

Southern California Tour
*September 14th: San Diego
*September 15th-18th: LA / OC
Old 09-07-2005, 02:42 AM
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It looks great on those cars. I see some product like that on a Lexus at work, and I can see the plastic film. Also the plastic films tears once a rock hits it.

How does your product handle rock chips and can I see the plastic looking film?
Old 09-07-2005, 02:03 PM
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The film we use has been tested to be twice as strong as 3M by Nissan.

Update to Tour Schedule

Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th - Completed

Southern California Tour
*September 14th: San Diego
*September 15th-18th: LA / OC
Old 09-07-2005, 02:13 PM
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Answer

Originally Posted by tiggerfink
It looks great on those cars. I see some product like that on a Lexus at work, and I can see the plastic film. Also the plastic films tears once a rock hits it.

How does your product handle rock chips and can I see the plastic looking film?
How do you like that answer to your specific questions?
Old 09-07-2005, 02:25 PM
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Update to Tour Schedule

Austin, TX - Aug 25-29th - Completed

Southern California Tour
*September 14th: San Diego
*September 15th-18th: LA / OC
Old 11-09-2005, 02:05 AM
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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)

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