Official waiting room for those with a new W213 on order..
#252
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 146
From: Ohio
AMG E63 Hammer Wagon. Alfa, Rover, Ferrari, Porsche.
Ohh tape is a good idea because I have to drive mine back a few hours as well, which of course will be prior to getting it wrapped with PPF and mine has magno paint... Is there a specific type of tape you're referring to or just regular blue bodyshop tape?
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bullmrkt (10-22-2021)
#254
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 131
From: SF Bay Area
2021 E63S Wagon 2019 S63 AMG Coupé 2015 S Coupé Edition 1 1970 Chevelle LS5
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#256
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 630
Likes: 221
From: Los Angeles
2024 GLE63s, 2021 E63s, 2018 GLC43
Phone USB-C cable
USB-C flash drive to try out the dashcam*
Microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints that they inevitably leave inside
*FYI, dashcam can record to any of the 3 front USB-C ports (one next to cup holder, 2 in center console storage box), you can select which drive in the settings
USB-C flash drive to try out the dashcam*
Microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints that they inevitably leave inside
*FYI, dashcam can record to any of the 3 front USB-C ports (one next to cup holder, 2 in center console storage box), you can select which drive in the settings
#257
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 131
From: SF Bay Area
2021 E63S Wagon 2019 S63 AMG Coupé 2015 S Coupé Edition 1 1970 Chevelle LS5
Phone USB-C cable
USB-C flash drive to try out the dashcam*
Microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints that they inevitably leave inside
*FYI, dashcam can record to any of the 3 front USB-C ports (one next to cup holder, 2 in center console storage box), you can select which drive in the settings
USB-C flash drive to try out the dashcam*
Microfiber cloth to wipe off fingerprints that they inevitably leave inside
*FYI, dashcam can record to any of the 3 front USB-C ports (one next to cup holder, 2 in center console storage box), you can select which drive in the settings
#258
Senior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 338
Likes: 103
From: Shaker Heights, Ohio
2021 E450 All Terrain Wagon
#259
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 131
From: SF Bay Area
2021 E63S Wagon 2019 S63 AMG Coupé 2015 S Coupé Edition 1 1970 Chevelle LS5
Yeah, I got that. But I don’t get what’s so interesting for me to start recording (only to delete to save space). I did record a few launches that I did, but even that was boring as I only saw empty space whizzing by… now if I was canyon carving, or tracking the car, I’m sure it’s be more interesting, but normal daily driving, I don’t get it??…
#260
Senior Member
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 338
Likes: 103
From: Shaker Heights, Ohio
2021 E450 All Terrain Wagon
Yeah, I got that. But I don’t get what’s so interesting for me to start recording (only to delete to save space). I did record a few launches that I did, but even that was boring as I only saw empty space whizzing by… now if I was canyon carving, or tracking the car, I’m sure it’s be more interesting, but normal daily driving, I don’t get it??…
#261
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 146
From: Ohio
AMG E63 Hammer Wagon. Alfa, Rover, Ferrari, Porsche.
If you haven’t indulged in the PPF, I highly recommend you try it. Certainly puts the OCD tendencies at ease.
#262
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 630
Likes: 221
From: Los Angeles
2024 GLE63s, 2021 E63s, 2018 GLC43
Last edited by taphil; 10-22-2021 at 08:39 PM.
#263
BULLMKT: I've installed full Xpel on maybe my last 6 Porsches. I tend to sell my cars rather quickly. PPF is overrated. Nobody cares when time to sell as long as your car is well cared for. I lose $10k per car with PPF. Ever seen a car after PPF is removed after several years. It's wrecked. I'd rather take care of my paint by careful washing and occasional touch ups. This is another reason why I like non-metallic black paint... simple touchup blending. Perhaps on matte paint, I agree but don't have experience with it so not certain. I'll take your word for it. Have a Frozen Deep Green M5 CS coming next month so I will keep this in mind.
I don't fault anyone for protecting their car especially if it's a daily driver.
I don't fault anyone for protecting their car especially if it's a daily driver.
#264
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 437
Likes: 146
From: Ohio
AMG E63 Hammer Wagon. Alfa, Rover, Ferrari, Porsche.
Resale condition has never crossed my mind. I value PPF because it makes ownership easier and less stressful. With current self-healing technology, non-metallic paints (more prone to micro swirling than metallics) always look deep and glossy, no polishing necessary. My 040 Black wagon always looked fantastic and I’d really consider it for your incoming car. A couple years ago I took the yellowing film off my 2002 Z8 and the paint looked great after we cleaned it up with a little polishing, wasn’t a big deal. Didn’t reapply PPF because it’s a sunny day show car these days, not necessary.
$10k a car is ridiculous. I was shocked when I paid $3500 to wrap my entire wagon. Most of my cars have been $800-1500 for forward facing surfaces. Go to a few cars/coffees or car shows and get to know the local car-people scene. Thats where I met my guy, who is an independent contractor for all the shops that charge $10k. I just take it over to his house and he does it in his garage. Btw, he thinks Xpel is fine but overpriced too. Prefers a product called PremiumShield, which also has self healing and it works. Thats what I had on the wagon and it was great.
On satin/matte paint, the problem is you cannot polish the surface, which would ruin the satin finish. It actually hides micro scratches better than glossy, but anything beyond that is permanent, requiring prep and paint to repair.
$10k a car is ridiculous. I was shocked when I paid $3500 to wrap my entire wagon. Most of my cars have been $800-1500 for forward facing surfaces. Go to a few cars/coffees or car shows and get to know the local car-people scene. Thats where I met my guy, who is an independent contractor for all the shops that charge $10k. I just take it over to his house and he does it in his garage. Btw, he thinks Xpel is fine but overpriced too. Prefers a product called PremiumShield, which also has self healing and it works. Thats what I had on the wagon and it was great.
On satin/matte paint, the problem is you cannot polish the surface, which would ruin the satin finish. It actually hides micro scratches better than glossy, but anything beyond that is permanent, requiring prep and paint to repair.
#265
Resale condition has never crossed my mind. I value PPF because it makes ownership easier and less stressful. With current self-healing technology, non-metallic paints (more prone to micro swirling than metallics) always look deep and glossy, no polishing necessary. My 040 Black wagon always looked fantastic and I’d really consider it for your incoming car. A couple years ago I took the yellowing film off my 2002 Z8 and the paint looked great after we cleaned it up with a little polishing, wasn’t a big deal. Didn’t reapply PPF because it’s a sunny day show car these days, not necessary.
$10k a car is ridiculous. I was shocked when I paid $3500 to wrap my entire wagon. Most of my cars have been $800-1500 for forward facing surfaces. Go to a few cars/coffees or car shows and get to know the local car-people scene. Thats where I met my guy, who is an independent contractor for all the shops that charge $10k. I just take it over to his house and he does it in his garage. Btw, he thinks Xpel is fine but overpriced too. Prefers a product called PremiumShield, which also has self healing and it works. Thats what I had on the wagon and it was great.
On satin/matte paint, the problem is you cannot polish the surface, which would ruin the satin finish. It actually hides micro scratches better than glossy, but anything beyond that is permanent, requiring prep and paint to repair.
$10k a car is ridiculous. I was shocked when I paid $3500 to wrap my entire wagon. Most of my cars have been $800-1500 for forward facing surfaces. Go to a few cars/coffees or car shows and get to know the local car-people scene. Thats where I met my guy, who is an independent contractor for all the shops that charge $10k. I just take it over to his house and he does it in his garage. Btw, he thinks Xpel is fine but overpriced too. Prefers a product called PremiumShield, which also has self healing and it works. Thats what I had on the wagon and it was great.
On satin/matte paint, the problem is you cannot polish the surface, which would ruin the satin finish. It actually hides micro scratches better than glossy, but anything beyond that is permanent, requiring prep and paint to repair.
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#268
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 631
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Seconding bull on this one, @ocdbroker... iirc, you're not getting a matte paint job, but for anyone who is... especially if BBM, you've got to be out of your mind to not get the whole car done and from an ease-of-maintenance perspective, PPF/ceramic makes life a whole lot easier, regardless of what kind of paint it may have.
Last edited by HBerman; 10-24-2021 at 12:07 PM.
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saltydog66 (10-25-2021)
#269
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 400
From: USA
2018 E63S Wagon, 2017 Z51 Corvette
I have 2 vehicles, one that is ceramic coated the other with a full PPF wrap. The ceramic is much easier to keep clean than a waxed vehicle with a lot less effort. The PPF is a level above that, plus the PPF gives it the appearance of extra clear coat. For non metallic finishes the visual effect would be much less, but for metallic finished it is pretty much a night and day difference. And the PPF has absorbed a lot of damage from road debris. The ceramic coat (as well as wax) does nothing for that.
#270
Hmmmm.... So, you pay an extra $3850 for the BBM, spend another $10K to protect the finish which hides the beauty of the color and finish? Makes no sense to me. My previous E63S was Black for which I just waxed it every 3 months and washed it when needed. The finish looked pristine after 27,000 plus miles and 3 years when I traded it back into the dealership for my 2021 wagon. That car was, as is my current wagon, my DD. I'm not a slave to this machine and I do enjoy driving it all the time even if it is not totally clean. I trade my car every 3 years or so at which time I turn in the keys and get a new set. Life is too short to worry about things that can be replaced. That said, if I was a car collector, I would feel differently about how I used each vehicle.
Xpel Stealth (and equivalent from other PPF vendors) minimizes the "dulling" effect you're referencing for Matte finishes and you cannot wax a matte paint job. Well, technically you can, but you risk damaging the paint job and the wax finish will negate the matte effect.
Also I don't know anyone who is paying 10k for full PPF on one of these... even PFS (widely-regarded as one of the best PPF shops on the west coast) doesn't charge that much.
#271
I live in Fairfield County Connecticut. We get ripped off here in the tri-state area. I've used 4 of the best in CT and NY and $10k is about the average for an exceptional full wrap in Xpel Ultimate or new Suntek film. I've never paid less for a full wrap and always on much smaller cars like GT3s or Speedster. Never wrapped anything larger than a 911.
If anyone has a good company in CT or NYC area that will wrap my entire wagon in Xpel Ultimate for $3500 please let me know. I don't want to see edges. Lol
The BBM wagon above is hot with the fake chrome trim.
If anyone has a good company in CT or NYC area that will wrap my entire wagon in Xpel Ultimate for $3500 please let me know. I don't want to see edges. Lol
The BBM wagon above is hot with the fake chrome trim.
#272
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 631
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
I live in Fairfield County Connecticut. We get ripped off here in the tri-state area. I've used 4 of the best in CT and NY and $10k is about the average for an exceptional full wrap in Xpel Ultimate or new Suntek film. I've never paid less for a full wrap and always on much smaller cars like GT3s or Speedster. Never wrapped anything larger than a 911.
If anyone has a good company in CT or NYC area that will wrap my entire wagon in Xpel Ultimate for $3500 please let me know. I don't want to see edges. Lol
The BBM wagon above is hot with the fake chrome trim.
If anyone has a good company in CT or NYC area that will wrap my entire wagon in Xpel Ultimate for $3500 please let me know. I don't want to see edges. Lol
The BBM wagon above is hot with the fake chrome trim.
Last edited by HBerman; 10-24-2021 at 02:13 PM.
#273
The ceramic coating is nice because the dirt comes off so easily when I wash my cars. I don't even lay a hand on the cars... rinse, foam, rinse, master blaster dry. I'm sure frequent waxing shave a similar effect.
#274
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,359
Likes: 631
From: Cary, NC
2024 AMG EQE SUV , 2021 E63S Wagon - gone, 2018 E63S Sedan - gone
Basically. Never tried foam, though. Maybe my next investment.
#275
PPF is the best thing I've ever done to a car. The first car I did it on was my SLS. Got every painted surface wrapped before it left the dealership in XPEL. 5 years and 30k miles later there wasn't a single paint chip, scratch, scuff, or ANYTHING on the paint. It looked like it had rolled straight out of the factory. I never had to worry about scratching it with debris trapped in a wash mitt, drying towel, etc. I never worried when I got behind a car throwing up rocks (except gritting teeth that the windshield didn't get cracked) or driving through construction, tar from new asphalt, nothing. Since I've had it done to all surfaces of a BMW i8, Range Rover SVR, the second gen Audi R8, and front facing surfaces of things like a Focus RS, Fiesta ST, E39 M5 and one I'm probably forgetting. My 2018 E63 has both a complete XPEL wrap since delivery and ceramic coating on top of the Xpel and on the rims. It is COMICAL how little cleaning and detailing I have to do. I've got carbon ceramics as well. The latest stint was 3 months without a wash and after backing it out of the garage into a torrential rain storm then cleaning just the windows it looks like I just had it detailed. On top of that there isn't a single paint chip, scratch, or mark of any kind in the paint. I did have something rub against it in airport parking but it didn't make it through the film, just had them replace the effected piece. I just bought the EWL extension for it so I know in 2025, when the warranty finally runs out, it will still look like it rolled out of the factory. It's worth every penny, at least for me. Land Rover has started offering it from the factory. We ordered my wife's Defender with a factory matte PPF, looks great, was four-thousand something, cheaper than the xpel quote I got before ordering it. Had my Xpel installer look at it and he said he couldn't have done better. I hope more manufacturers start offering it from the factory, save me some time.
Last edited by Carac; 10-24-2021 at 09:28 PM.
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b0rderman (10-25-2021)