[pruettfan]

My car has about 3,200 miles on it and I live in AZ where the environment is pretty hostile to cars paint so I had Xpel put on the entire front of my car including the entire hood. On the rear haunches I had them remove the factory protective stuff and put a much larger piece of Xpel but I am now realizing that perhaps the most vulnerable area of the car is those lower rockers which flare out quite a bit in front of the rear wheels. For those of you who live in hostile areas or are a bit OCD like me and don't want chips you might want to consider having those rockers covered in your preferred protective film.

I will try to post some photos but it looks like rocks have blasted a small area of that rocker just before the rear tire and to a lesser extent behind the front so doing the whole rocker probably makes the most sense. Thought I would share it here rather than the cosmetic area because so many are getting new cars and might not make it over there.

[nd2002]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

My car has about 3,200 miles on it and I live in AZ where the environment is pretty hostile to cars paint so I had Xpel put on the entire front of my car including the entire hood. On the rear haunches I had them remove the factory protective stuff and put a much larger piece of Xpel but I am now realizing that perhaps the most vulnerable area of the car is those lower rockers which flare out quite a bit in front of the rear wheels. For those of you who live in hostile areas or are a bit OCD like me and don't want chips you might want to consider having those rockers covered in your preferred protective film.

I will try to post some photos but it looks like rocks have blasted a small area of that rocker just before the rear tire and to a lesser extent behind the front so doing the whole rocker probably makes the most sense. Thought I would share it here rather than the cosmetic area because so many are getting new cars and might not make it over there.

Exactly what my installer recommended also. It's ridiculous the car comes with such a small patch

[Prodigy.]

Am keen to see some pics, thankfully mine doesn't appear to be too badly hit in that area thus far however i had some additional film applied behind the rear wheels as this area was taking a bashing.

[2045]

had it done during my bumper protection film went on. it's a no-brainer. still amazes me how BMW would just throw a piece on the fender but leaving the rocker alone...

[Whatup]

Originally Posted by 2045

had it done during my bumper protection film went on. it's a no-brainer. still amazes me how BMW would just throw a piece on the fender but leaving the rocker alone...

I felt that piece wasn't even big enough for adequate coverage either. My installer also recommended a strip behind the rear wheel so definitely something to consider

[Detailers Domain]

Yes for sure do the rockers, the strip on the doors, and increase coverage of the rock guards, and of course at the least the rear bumper behind the rear tires.

These items are a must including your full front.

[swilliams]

So what I'm hearing is...wrap the entire car.

[Aust350z]

Is a "rocker" panel just the side skirt?

[///M-pressed]

Originally Posted by Aust350z

Is a "rocker" panel just the side skirt?

Yep!

[juyeop]

I'm planning to cover whole vehicle which likely be only 10% of the initial vehicle value. I think $5,000 will be worth of spending me being OCD about paint flaws and the hassle of possibly repainting the car later.

[mokrunka]

Originally Posted by juyeop

I'm planning to cover whole vehicle which likely be only 10% of the initial vehicle value. I think $5,000 will be worth of spending me being OCD about paint flaws and the hassle of possibly repainting the car later.

'Only 10%?' Don't get me wrong, I like clean paint as much as the next guy, but man, that is a lot to spend on a protective film...

[DCM2]

Originally Posted by mokrunka

'Only 10%?' Don't get me wrong, I like clean paint as much as the next guy, but man, that is a lot to spend on a protective film...

Depends how long you're going to keep this car. A few years? Probably not worth it. 5-6+ years? Then maybe. Up to the driver whether it's worth protecting the paint or not and the road hazards he/she encounters on a daily basis.

I plan to keep this car for at least a good 6-7 years so keeping the paint looking pristine with xpel is an easy choice.

[atxsk8r]

Originally Posted by DCM2

Depends how long you're going to keep this car. A few years? Probably not worth it. 5-6+ years? Then maybe. Up to the driver whether it's worth protecting the paint or not and the road hazards he/she encounters on a daily basis.

I plan to keep this car for at least a good 6-7 years so keeping the paint looking pristine with xpel is an easy choice.

What this dude said

I only keep cars for a few years so it's not worth it to me.

[Diver21]

Originally Posted by DCM2

Depends how long you're going to keep this car. A few years? Probably not worth it. 5-6+ years? Then maybe. Up to the driver whether it's worth protecting the paint or not and the road hazards he/she encounters on a daily basis.

I plan to keep this car for at least a good 6-7 years so keeping the paint looking pristine with xpel is an easy choice.

DCM2, let me know if you have any experience with XPEL dealers in Austin. I'm not sold on having it done yet, but am thinking about it. That said, I'm nervous about getting a marginal application done by some shop. Thx.

[atxsk8r]

Originally Posted by Diver21

DCM2, let me know if you have any experience with XPEL dealers in Austin. I'm not sold on having it done yet, but am thinking about it. That said, I'm nervous about getting a marginal application done by some shop. Thx.

Hit up confusion , he got his car wrapped in the ATX, he can tell you which shop he used.

[Rupes]

Maybe you can help me understand protective film. My experience has been that it almost always yellows slightly and creates a visible line over time as dirt gets trapped along the edge of the film. It also can't be removed without damaging the paint, right? think I'd rather a few touch ups than what is certainly going to be an eye sore 10+ years from now. Have things changed where these aren't really an issue anymore?

[Franzino]

Originally Posted by Rupes

Maybe you can help me understand protective film. My experience has been that it almost always yellows slightly and creates a visible line over time as dirt gets trapped along the edge of the film. It also can't be removed without damaging the paint, right? think I'd rather a few touch ups than what is certainly going to be an eye sore 10+ years from now. Have things changed where these aren't really an issue anymore?

X-pel is suppose to be good for 10 years and will not damage the paint when removing the film.

[Franzino]

Originally Posted by mokrunka

'Only 10%?' Don't get me wrong, I like clean paint as much as the next guy, but man, that is a lot to spend on a protective film...

I'm only doing the front bumper and the hood with X-pel...that is already freaking expensive and more then I ever did on any car. IMO more X-pel is not worth it as you see what the price of the M2 is... But there are a lot of OCD people who wash & wax there car every week and when they see a scratch then want to sell the car. So for them to spend $5.000 for full X-pel coverage is probably the best thing to have a relax life

[DCM2]

Originally Posted by atxsk8r

Hit up confusion , he got his car wrapped in the ATX, he can tell you which shop he used.

I believe he used Xpel Austin and got the full satin wrap and couldn't be happier with their work. I plan to do the same but Ultimate instead of Stealth.

[pruettfan]

Originally Posted by Rupes

Maybe you can help me understand protective film. My experience has been that it almost always yellows slightly and creates a visible line over time as dirt gets trapped along the edge of the film. It also can't be removed without damaging the paint, right? think I'd rather a few touch ups than what is certainly going to be an eye sore 10+ years from now. Have things changed where these aren't really an issue anymore?

The install makes a huge difference on Xpel or any of the protective films. Most get a partial hood done which creates a very clear line that cannot be hidden. I got the entire front of my car done including the entire hood. My guy wraps the edges so unless you know exactly where to look you cannot tell it has anything on the paint at all. If I lived in an environment that was friendlier to cars I probably would not go to this extent but I live in AZ and our cars get beat up terribly from the small rocks that end up on the road after monsoon rains. I didn't have my E90 protected and I ended up regretting it. I am 100% sure that what I have invested in Xpel will pay off down the road when in 8-10 years I peel that stuff off and have perfect (or near perfect) original paint on the front of my car. The cost of doing all of the work on my car is less than what it costs to have the bumper cover repainted from a good shop so for AZ it makes sense.

Xpel is guaranteed for 10 years, against yellowing or any fading, that guarantee includes labor. It's not a lifetime product its a 10 year product. You put it on for 10 years and than redo it if you want or enjoy perfect paint at the end of that 10 years when your car goes from daily driver status to something you cherish for weekend drives.

Within 48 hours of having my car protected by Xpel I had a rock come off a tow truck and go across my hood. Avoiding 2-3 chips on the hood of my brand new car was worth the cost.

[juyeop]

Originally Posted by mokrunka

'Only 10%?' Don't get me wrong, I like clean paint as much as the next guy, but man, that is a lot to spend on a protective film...

It is a lot to spend in a financial perspective, but I really really value clean paints with no flaw and that alone to me is worth of spending $5,000. I might go whole different wrap of color (Matte White prob) instead of PPF. Still debating on that.

[bim2er]

Originally Posted by Diver21

DCM2, let me know if you have any experience with XPEL dealers in Austin. I'm not sold on having it done yet, but am thinking about it. That said, I'm nervous about getting a marginal application done by some shop. Thx.

Would anyone in Austin consider going to Xpel directly in San Antonio rather than an installer?