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      10-12-2014, 10:45 AM   #1
AutoPG
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M4 Fully Protected With Paint Protection Film

Hello Everyone.

I finally had a chance to get some pictures together to share. Wife and I did a Euro delivery on our M4 this past July. Since I've been in the paint protection business for 15 years I can’t stand to see a chip in the paint. I decided to take temporary track wrap with us to protect the vehicle during our 2 week journey. After about 300 miles and people staring at our front end, I had to take it off since it looked horrible! I even got pulled over on the Ring as the corner marshals thought my bumper was damaged. I drove the car an additional 1200 miles through Europe and was amazed that I didn’t get a single rock chip! I can’t believe how clean the roads are over there. Our roads in the US are definitely not clean and rock free, which is great for business.

Once I received the car seven weeks later, I brought it to our shop for an entire car wrap. Xpel already had the pre-cut design patterns for the entire car available. We used the templates as a starting point and then modified them to wrap all the edges, to avoid seams, etc. This allowed for a perfect and invisible install. Since we carry seven different film brands, I narrowed it down and used three of them on my vehicle: Xpel Ultimate, SunTek and ClearShield Pro. All films have pros and cons so I am testing the most popular ones on this vehicle.

After the paint protection film was installed, I went ahead and covered the film with Opti-Coat Pro. The Opti-Coat makes the film last longer, makes it stronger, and easier to clean. After my first wash I was amazed at how easily the bugs wiped off the film. You can see in the picture how the water beads on the surface of the film.

The next step was window film selection. We also sell several brands of window film. The best is 3M Crystalline film, but I really didn’t prefer the blueish tint to the film, because of the red color of my vehicle. Instead I went with the 3M Color Stable which has a black charcoal look. Installed 18% on the sides and back; then went with a 50% on the windshield. I believe this allowed for a nicer look.

Other upgrades included a full Passport radar system, Dinan tune, and replaced all of the chrome with IND parts.

If anyone has questions regarding paint protection film or window tint, I am happy to help. Sorry pictures are from iPhone.

Thanks.
Ryan Burroughs
www.autopaintguard.com














Last edited by AutoPG; 10-12-2014 at 10:55 AM..
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      10-12-2014, 11:33 AM   #2
BigMo
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Great pointers! Thank You!
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      10-12-2014, 11:33 AM   #3
SuckaGDog
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Awesome! I'll have to check out the Opti-Coat my installer warned me against using certain color waxes as it can contribute/accelerate yellowing of the clear bra. I never thought about applying Opti-Coat. Did you use just the regular Opti-Coat gloss?

Waxing the bra is a def must though bugs come off much easier and less likely to leave etching. I have the SunTek film on my M5.
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      10-12-2014, 12:29 PM   #4
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Hello. Yup, make sure you only use clear products on the film. The opti gloss. Has to dry for a couple days and hardens over 7 days. I do use a spray wax over it still to make it feel a little smoother. Opti makes the film feel dry.
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      10-12-2014, 12:39 PM   #5
Stevens21234
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How did you do the headlight washers btw? Did you cut around it? Or Wrap it?
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      10-12-2014, 01:35 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevens21234 View Post
How did you do the headlight washers btw? Did you cut around it? Or Wrap it?
I had to trim around them. There isn't any paint in order to wrap inside the headlight washer. The audis, porsches we are able to wrap in.

Thanks
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      10-12-2014, 01:50 PM   #7
Richy Rich
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Looks good; supposed to be doing the xpel matte clear bra on mine, since I still own the 'FRZN M3' tags from my e92. Figured I'd play with it a bit before I just hang the tags on my wall.
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      10-14-2014, 08:01 PM   #8
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Looks great
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      11-17-2014, 02:59 PM   #9
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Love your work and it looks like it took a while! Question-did the Xpel Ultimate precut film have enough overlap for the front bumper? Other pieces have excess or overlap so the edges could be hidden? I'm debating getting the precut vs just ordering bulk and having a shop trim down....
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      11-17-2014, 04:50 PM   #10
robertg
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Do you recommend doing the carbon fiber roof?

What is the likely occurrence of rock damage on the roof area?
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      11-19-2014, 12:18 PM   #11
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can you PM me for pricing info. would like to do the same for my car once it gets here.
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      11-19-2014, 12:25 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by robertg View Post
Do you recommend doing the carbon fiber roof?

What is the likely occurrence of rock damage on the roof area?
Chances are slim but it does happen. That was one thing I regret not doing while I got my front end done before the unthinkable happen which it did. I received a small chip but not too bad and I got my roof wrapped right away.
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      11-19-2014, 07:18 PM   #13
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how much would this cost to do for a customers car?
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      06-22-2015, 10:28 PM   #14
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Garage List
Hey - thanks for the thread. I am in the final throes of making a decision to do Suntek/Opti Gloss/3M Crystalline

Did you tint your windshield? If so did it change the performance of any of the light sensors up near the rear view mirror?

Thanks in advance - I want my vehicle to look as awesome as yours when done......
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Loreley 2015 / //M3 6MT SO over full SO, Exec,Susp & Lighting, HK & Blk 19's - ED 15 May 2015, Redelivery 23 July 2015
My photography: WWW.PBASE.COM/VONMAYR
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Last edited by vonmayr; 06-22-2015 at 11:46 PM..
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