Xpel Stealth alternative
11-30-2018, 06:31 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Xpel Stealth alternative
Well i decided to not follow the Xpel path.
I feel I am being ripped off on the quoted price i got, probably from the installer taking advantage of being the only certified one across 1,000 miles up until recently...
I don't mind paying people for a good job, but i don't like to be ripped off.
so i am now shopping for other brands. I got a cheap quote for a LLumar installation but the issue is they will be doing the install by hand cut and I don't like that.
anyway, anyone has used LLumar? are they good? how is their matte version?
I feel I am being ripped off on the quoted price i got, probably from the installer taking advantage of being the only certified one across 1,000 miles up until recently...
I don't mind paying people for a good job, but i don't like to be ripped off.
so i am now shopping for other brands. I got a cheap quote for a LLumar installation but the issue is they will be doing the install by hand cut and I don't like that.
anyway, anyone has used LLumar? are they good? how is their matte version?
Last edited by tonecas; 11-30-2018 at 06:50 PM.
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Ken Doo (04-06-2020)
11-30-2018, 06:54 PM
#3
Senior Member
it's not about the film, it's about a shop that going to do a job if they are don't have a plotter cutter.
I got Suntek ppf (standard not mate) from the local small shop but a guy who runs it has a plotter cutter, even a fancy shop across the street doesn't have it.
I got Suntek ppf (standard not mate) from the local small shop but a guy who runs it has a plotter cutter, even a fancy shop across the street doesn't have it.
11-30-2018, 06:56 PM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
no dealer in Europe
are they good? never heard of it
11-30-2018, 07:21 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
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2022 Mercedes EQS 580
Suntek is on the same level as XPEL.
Prestige is too, but its very hard to find dealers. I would choose between these three brands based on the dealer and price.
Also price and quality don't correlate. Sometimes the most skilled people are less expensive because they don't make mistakes and can do the job in a single attempt. While less skilled people use more film and also have to factor more risk into their pricing. I have found no correlation (neither positive nor negative) between price and quality when it comes to PPF installers.
The best way to vet is to ask forums, read reviews, and follow their instagram and facebook accounts.
Prestige is too, but its very hard to find dealers. I would choose between these three brands based on the dealer and price.
Also price and quality don't correlate. Sometimes the most skilled people are less expensive because they don't make mistakes and can do the job in a single attempt. While less skilled people use more film and also have to factor more risk into their pricing. I have found no correlation (neither positive nor negative) between price and quality when it comes to PPF installers.
The best way to vet is to ask forums, read reviews, and follow their instagram and facebook accounts.
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tonecas (11-30-2018)
11-30-2018, 07:46 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
the installer for the Xpel has good rep and is the only certified installer in more than 1000 miles. they also are chosen by most costumers with cars from premium brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Pagani, ... so there is no question they are good.
but the equivalent of $8,6k + taxes on a country with low purchasing power and low labor cost is absurd. i feel ripped off.
but the equivalent of $8,6k + taxes on a country with low purchasing power and low labor cost is absurd. i feel ripped off.
11-30-2018, 08:02 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Trending Topics
12-01-2018, 03:06 AM
#8
Super Member
Suntek is on the same level as XPEL.
Prestige is too, but its very hard to find dealers. I would choose between these three brands based on the dealer and price.
Also price and quality don't correlate. Sometimes the most skilled people are less expensive because they don't make mistakes and can do the job in a single attempt. While less skilled people use more film and also have to factor more risk into their pricing. I have found no correlation (neither positive nor negative) between price and quality when it comes to PPF installers.
The best way to vet is to ask forums, read reviews, and follow their instagram and facebook accounts.
Prestige is too, but its very hard to find dealers. I would choose between these three brands based on the dealer and price.
Also price and quality don't correlate. Sometimes the most skilled people are less expensive because they don't make mistakes and can do the job in a single attempt. While less skilled people use more film and also have to factor more risk into their pricing. I have found no correlation (neither positive nor negative) between price and quality when it comes to PPF installers.
The best way to vet is to ask forums, read reviews, and follow their instagram and facebook accounts.
The following users liked this post:
VPC_E63S (12-02-2018)
12-01-2018, 09:40 AM
#9
Junior Member
The big difference in pricing is the quality of the installation. An experienced high-end custom install is better than a cookie-cutter install. I went with Prestige Clearguard Nano for my AMG GTS. The place I finally selected was not inexpensive---and had owners shipping in super cars from around the country for them to do. My car was the "cheap one" in the shop! I did a full body wrap. You can open doors and hood and still can't find the seams. I topped off the wrap with Cquartz Finest ceramic coating which makes the car easy to care for---it's black.
Don't wait to do a wrap or ceramic coating. Any blemishes will simply be magnified by either a wrap or ceramic coat. The less paint correction that needs to be done the better. It's best to do when the car is new.
Ken
Don't wait to do a wrap or ceramic coating. Any blemishes will simply be magnified by either a wrap or ceramic coat. The less paint correction that needs to be done the better. It's best to do when the car is new.
Ken
12-01-2018, 03:27 PM
#11
Junior Member
If there are jagged edges or *yikes* scratches and cuts on the paint from a custom hand install---that isn't the place to go. A true high end custom install will always beat a pre-cut design because it will be wrapped underneath to where the edges are not discernible. The place I went to did a lot of "clean up" for clients who tried to go on the cheap and ended up having to get their wraps re-done. I got to see some of the clean-up repairs and was shown the cuts into the paint on a Porsche GT3RS---*ouch*
Getting it done right costs $$$
Getting it done right costs $$$
12-01-2018, 04:09 PM
#12
Member
I agree that the installer is the key. Have to have the wrap go over the edges so you don’t see the lines. With that in mind I chose the 3M matte wrap. Looks great and also comes with ten year warranty. I chose to do it MB partly because the weather sucked and I didn’t want to drive it out of the dealership yet. But also because even if the installer goes belly up, MB will honour the warranty coverage. You never know which installer might be out of biz in like 7 years.
12-01-2018, 05:32 PM
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
If there are jagged edges or *yikes* scratches and cuts on the paint from a custom hand install---that isn't the place to go. A true high end custom install will always beat a pre-cut design because it will be wrapped underneath to where the edges are not discernible. The place I went to did a lot of "clean up" for clients who tried to go on the cheap and ended up having to get their wraps re-done. I got to see some of the clean-up repairs and was shown the cuts into the paint on a Porsche GT3RS---*ouch*
Getting it done right costs $$$
Getting it done right costs $$$
I had xpel plotter cut/template done on my car and there are overlaps where needed.
If you spend time getting quotes and relevant info, then "right cost $$$" can be easily less.
To clarify: my dealer was asking right cost at "$$$". Turns out they just outsource the job. Getting "EXPELED" at the same shop dealer was using, cost went down to "$".
No need for middleman as 10 yr warranty is by Xpel....
12-01-2018, 07:20 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It seems to me the cleanest install is with a plotter. They can even adjust the template to better fit the car if the installer is experienced. But there will be more seams and hedges visible. On the other hand ther PPF will not be stretched too much to fit every curve and tucked behind every panel which can imply more panel removal which has the risk of breaking something or add crackles.
However, someone skilled and more experienced can overcome these issues and make a better end result than a plotter based, specially when changing color to a matte finish.
What I can't figure is how a plotter install can get so expensive. I know they have to pay the machine and the software but, come on, $8,5k for a plotter install?
I have another experienced installer that does a custom install and was very frank saying that in a car big as this it is possible to have a small cut to the paint at some point but can be latter on easily corrected when removing the PPF. He works with llumar and gyeon.
However, someone skilled and more experienced can overcome these issues and make a better end result than a plotter based, specially when changing color to a matte finish.
What I can't figure is how a plotter install can get so expensive. I know they have to pay the machine and the software but, come on, $8,5k for a plotter install?
I have another experienced installer that does a custom install and was very frank saying that in a car big as this it is possible to have a small cut to the paint at some point but can be latter on easily corrected when removing the PPF. He works with llumar and gyeon.
12-01-2018, 07:47 PM
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
12-02-2018, 05:15 AM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
For those of you who have had a plotter install, has it developed a line of dirt and small peel on edge lines after 2 or 3 years like it happens with mobile phone screen protectors?
12-02-2018, 05:50 AM
#17
12-02-2018, 06:58 AM
#18
12-02-2018, 07:58 AM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
12-02-2018, 08:54 AM
#20
So is that covered with the 10 year guarantee?
12-02-2018, 09:17 AM
#21
Not sure, but I believe the shop who did it has a one year warranty on install as well.
12-02-2018, 05:16 PM
#22
Super Member
The plotters allow installers to “scale up” the cut a little so that edges can be tucked, rolled, or trimmed as needed...but many novice installers are scared of cutting and just try to make it work instead of trimming.
12-02-2018, 05:17 PM
#23
Super Member
A good shop will address any problems with their install, including holding water/dirt.
12-02-2018, 06:26 PM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That's one of the issues I see with people that do plotter install. Plotter installation is meant to be clean, with few tucked film, stretch and panel removal. Starting expanding and wrapping the film enters the custom installation method. The guy that was going to do my wrap was very wary of stretching the film to avoid seems or roll the film behind the panels. He argues that that may leed to peeling since the film many times will be glued to ruff surface. That puzzles me since trimming the film just to panel edges can develop dirt and peel lines after sometime .
12-02-2018, 07:02 PM
#25
Super Member
That's one of the issues I see with people that do plotter install. Plotter installation is meant to be clean, with few tucked film, stretch and panel removal. Starting expanding and wrapping the film enters the custom installation method. The guy that was going to do my wrap was very wary of stretching the film to avoid seems or roll the film behind the panels. He argues that that may leed to peeling since the film many times will be glued to ruff surface. That puzzles me since trimming the film just to panel edges can develop dirt and peel lines after sometime .
