Thoughts on Xpel Stealth PPF?

[majinm]

If satin finishes are your thing, XPEL Stealth makes sense. A few items to consider:

• Assuming you're not installing this yourself, perform enhanced due diligence on the installer. These films are only as good as the person installing them.
• You'll also want to ascertain what type of install you're after and what is being offered. Is the detailer primarily using precut patterns with little to no modification or is it a custom install where they'll take the car apart and spare no expense in search of perfection. This makes a difference on how it looks and cost.
• SGP is a fine color and finish and takes on different shades/hues depending on lighting conditions and/or angle. You're covering up on the best features of the car.
• One of the downsides of wrapping an entire car in film is the cost. Depending on where you're having this work done you're looking at ~$4,750 - ~$9,000. Is that money well spent? That's only a question you can answer.

Your third point really hit home for me. I am considering XPEL stealth since it would make the car a little more unique relative to other SGP FL5s but I do love the Gray Pearl and its iridescent characteristic. Especially when the sunlight is hitting and it changes to a lighter hue.

So I've been hesitant to get stealth mainly because I don't want to cover up this feature of the paint. And I'm just not sure if I'd like the new look more or less than the original paint and then I'd be stuck with it basically forever so it seems like a high risk for me personally.

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[gryphongod]

Your third point really hit home for me. I am considering XPEL stealth since it would make the car a little more unique relative to other SGP FL5s but I do love the Gray Pearl and its iridescent characteristic. Especially when the sunlight is hitting and it changes to a lighter hue.

So I've been hesitant to get stealth mainly because I don't want to cover up this feature of the paint. And I'm just not sure if I'd like the new look more or less than the original paint and then I'd be stuck with it basically forever so it seems like a high risk for me personally.

I believe you can get the film removed, but it would be a very expensive mistake

 

[majinm]

I believe you can get the film removed, but it would be a very expensive mistake

Yeah you definitely can remove it but I can't throw away thousands of dollars cuz I prefer to go back to the original look lol

 

[Clark_Kent]

Your third point really hit home for me. I am considering XPEL stealth since it would make the car a little more unique relative to other SGP FL5s but I do love the Gray Pearl and its iridescent characteristic. Especially when the sunlight is hitting and it changes to a lighter hue.

So I've been hesitant to get stealth mainly because I don't want to cover up this feature of the paint. And I'm just not sure if I'd like the new look more or less than the original paint and then I'd be stuck with it basically forever so it seems like a high risk for me personally.

I understand. It's a very high risk decision because ppf is a sunk cost. You'll NEVER get the money back no matter what they say. That money is gone. I would not be comfortable paying $7,500 hoping I like it. My risk tolerance is too low for that.

 

[TypeRD]

Have the detailer apply a piece of scrap film on the car (maybe a 12” x 12 square) and wrap it over a place on the car where you can always easily see the paint “flop” colors (like on a corner). Take the car out in the sunlight and see if you like it. Surely the detailer would be willing to accommodate this request. I think you’ll still be able to see the color and pearl shine thru as you do today, but it simply won’t be glossy.

 

[gryphongod]

Have the detailer apply a piece of scrap film on the car (maybe a 12” x 12 square) and wrap it over a place on the car where you can always easily see the paint “flop” colors (like on a corner). Take the car out in the sunlight and see if you like it. Surely the detailer would be willing to accommodate this request. I think you’ll still be able to see the color and pearl shine thru as you do today, but it simply won’t be glossy.

I agree, I think the paint will keep its properties of changing in different lighting, but will just be a matte texture. I do plan on having the detailer place a piece of film on the car to see how it looks so we'll see if that's true or not.

 

[optronix]

Have the detailer apply a piece of scrap film on the car (maybe a 12” x 12 square) and wrap it over a place on the car where you can always easily see the paint “flop” colors (like on a corner). Take the car out in the sunlight and see if you like it. Surely the detailer would be willing to accommodate this request. I think you’ll still be able to see the color and pearl shine thru as you do today, but it simply won’t be glossy.

Exactly; the pearl effect will translate to a pretty substantial degree even after the film is applied.

I stole these images from the Integra forums, apparently the product manager for the Integra, Jon Rivers, had his Platinum White Pearl car wrapped in Stealth, and in one pic in particular you can clearly see the pearl effect is very much present:

 

[TDC50]

with stealth wrap if impurities embed into the wrap I believe you’ll be screwed because you most likely won’t be able to polish them out without screwing up the matte look. I recently had this issue low on my passenger side where some sort of road debris embedded into the surface of my clear gloss wrap and I was able to use an aggressive compound and polish it out just like clear coat paint

 

[gryphongod]

Well, I decided to go through with it. I think it turned out really good!

 

[DeathB4Dishonr]

Well, I decided to go through with it. I think it turned out really good!

Looks good! I almost had my SGP done in stealth as well back in Feb, but opted for normal PPF.

Just one word of caution, I'm not sure how badly tears will show in the stealth PPF. I already have 3 or 4 tears in my PPF from rocks hitting my car. Just something to keep an eye out for.

 

[gryphongod]

Looks good! I almost had my SGP done in stealth as well back in Feb, but opted for normal PPF.

Just one word of caution, I'm not sure how badly tears will show in the stealth PPF. I already have 3 or 4 tears in my PPF from rocks hitting my car. Just something to keep an eye out for.

Good to know. Definitely lots to learn with this car. I think I just experienced my first rock in the brakes and was freaking out due to the horrendous screeching

 

[DeathB4Dishonr]

Good to know. Definitely lots to learn with this car. I think I just experienced my first rock in the brakes and was freaking out due to the horrendous screeching

I know the feeling man. The first time I heard the electronic wastegate rattle I panicked a little.

When I had my car PPF'ed, I also had the civic badge removed from the rear end. Was my installers suggestion and I went with it.

 

[Jaferm]

I know the feeling man. The first time I heard the electronic wastegate rattle I panicked a little.

When I had my car PPF'ed, I also had the civic badge removed from the rear end. Was my installers suggestion and I went with it.

Nice! Looks like you got the one from Brannon. I considered swapping my black one for their SGP.

 

[gearhead888]

Looks awesome!

 

[DeathB4Dishonr]

Nice! Looks like you got the one from Brannon. I considered swapping my black one for their SGP.

Yea, I called and asked about it while it was in transit thanks to the vin number tracker a member on this forum made. They didn't even know they had it coming, as far as the sales people went. I had it locked in before they had it listed on their website, lol. Just under 5k ADM.

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