[Dmarcen]

I'm taking delivery next Wednesday in Greenville, and talking w/ Extreme Colors to install. They have City Package and Highway package which has a $500 difference but if I'm correct only difference is the addition of door edges w/ the highway package. Both options are partial hood/fenders and full bumper. But I'm curious how noticeable is the line across the hood and fenders since it is only partially installed? I've seen one pic on a Porsche that look quite noticeable, but others I can't tell at all. I'm just not sure I can justify the increment up from $899 to $2K to do full just based on this "partial" factor.

any pics or experience would be appreciated!

[m2tek]

Originally Posted by Dmarcen

I'm taking delivery next Wednesday in Greenville, and talking w/ Extreme Colors to install. They have City Package and Highway package which has a $500 difference but if I'm correct only difference is the addition of door edges w/ the highway package. Both options are partial hood/fenders and full bumper. But I'm curious how noticeable is the line across the hood and fenders since it is only partially installed? I've seen one pic on a Porsche that look quite noticeable, but others I can't tell at all. I'm just not sure I can justify the increment up from $899 to $2K to do full just based on this "partial" factor.

any pics or experience would be appreciated!

For Suntek it is not noticeable unless you are looking closely. XPEL is a little bit thicker so it may be more noticeable. I'm fine with it though. Some of these prices (2-3k) for these installs far exceeded my personal threshold for what I was willing to pay. I'm OK with a little visibility as long as it provides the coverage. I did full bumper/hood but partial fender and its fine.

[MMMBRAP]

Great topic. I think some pics from owners who did Xpel Ultimate on their cars would be very helpful here.

[zenmaster]

Partial roof Xpel - not really possible to tell from over 2ft away, regardless of lighting conditions.
Photo below taken at ~18in distance.

[Jevi Javi]

im cheap so i did the Xpel bikini hood (partial hood). Saved my self hundreds of dollars
Its noticeable allright. But I dont care, im protected. You have to be really close to notice. Maybe a few feet away. heres a pic. The invisible line is right in the middle of the pic. U can barely tell from the pic though, but its there.

[CAVU]

I went with Suntek, full on the front, and any lines are difficult to see unless you get close to the car and are specifically looking for them. As others have said, Xpel is a bit thicker, and therefore perhaps slightly more noticeable. I might be more concerned about the rocker panels and rear fender flares than the aft areas of the hood and front fenders.

Here's a photo illustrating the rear area coverage on my car:

[DETRoadster]

Originally Posted by Jevi Javi

im cheap so i did the Xpel bikini hood (partial hood). Saved my self hundreds of dollars
Its noticeable allright. But I dont care, im protected. You have to be really close to notice. Maybe a few feet away. heres a pic. The invisible line is right in the middle of the pic. U can barely tell from the pic though, but its there.

Good Lord, man. How do you live with yourself? That looks horrible!

Joking. Only joking. That doesn't look all that bad. I was shying away from the partial coverage because of the line but your photos look totally acceptable. Thanks for posting.

[DETRoadster]

Not trying to jack the thread here, but for you guys who are doing Xpel right after taking delivery, is that OK to do? I thought the paint needed to cure for a couple months before doing the clear bra. if you are East Coast and doing the coverage as soon as you take delivery, that paint might be only 6 to 7 weeks old. is that still OK?

[swilliams]

Keep in mind what the car will look like in 3-5 years when the PPF has aged and taken a lot of abuse. That demarcation line may be even more noticeable. Yellowing probably won't be a problem but difference in wearability might. I'm a detail fanatic so I don't think I could live with the line because I would know it's there and see it immediately.

On my car, it's full hood or no hood. Front bumper-only is another option I've considered but my car will be a DD, so full front clip seems worth the extra up-front cost - but it's a very bitter pill to swallow @ $2k.

[Dmarcen]

Thanks for the feedback so far. The pics posted really don't show much of a line and to have the protection on the interstate I will be driving daily I think protection is necessary. But that $1200 difference to go full full hood and fenders could be used to get a ceramic coating instead... think that's where my head is at currently.

[Detailers Domain]

Originally Posted by Dmarcen

I'm taking delivery next Wednesday in Greenville, and talking w/ Extreme Colors to install. They have City Package and Highway package which has a $500 difference but if I'm correct only difference is the addition of door edges w/ the highway package. Both options are partial hood/fenders and full bumper. But I'm curious how noticeable is the line across the hood and fenders since it is only partially installed? I've seen one pic on a Porsche that look quite noticeable, but others I can't tell at all. I'm just not sure I can justify the increment up from $899 to $2K to do full just based on this "partial" factor.

any pics or experience would be appreciated!

go for the full front its just the better option. here is the bsm we did

http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1253766

[asmith918]

Originally Posted by Dmarcen

Thanks for the feedback so far. The pics posted really don't show much of a line and to have the protection on the interstate I will be driving daily I think protection is necessary. But that $1200 difference to go full full hood and fenders could be used to get a ceramic coating instead... think that's where my head is at currently.

I'm dropping my car off tomorrow and am currently leaning this direction as I've been quoted a few hundred dollars cheaper to do xpel partial (bumper) and opticoat pro for the entire car. If your in the Houston are I highly recommend giving John a call at Gulf Coast Auto Shield. He is going to show me some of the other cars with different options (partial/full and coatings) if he as them available before I make the final decision.

[Detailers Domain]

Originally Posted by Dmarcen

Thanks for the feedback so far. The pics posted really don't show much of a line and to have the protection on the interstate I will be driving daily I think protection is necessary. But that $1200 difference to go full full hood and fenders could be used to get a ceramic coating instead... think that's where my head is at currently.

you can always do the coating later, do the full front and even consider the rockers trust me on this one.

[David1]

I always do full front. I have full front, headlights, mirrors including the black base, A pillars with partial roof, full rockers, and behind the rear tires. Much of my edges are wrapped to limit the edges since they are a bitch to keep clean on a white car. Llumar self healing film. $1900.

[fun2drv]

It really depends on the color of your car. White will be the worse one and the film will be more noticeable. Darker colors (every other option in the M2) will hide the film edges better.

[SeanWRT]

Full car wrap or nothing.

[XPEL]

Originally Posted by Dmarcen

I'm taking delivery next Wednesday in Greenville, and talking w/ Extreme Colors to install. They have City Package and Highway package which has a $500 difference but if I'm correct only difference is the addition of door edges w/ the highway package. Both options are partial hood/fenders and full bumper. But I'm curious how noticeable is the line across the hood and fenders since it is only partially installed? I've seen one pic on a Porsche that look quite noticeable, but others I can't tell at all. I'm just not sure I can justify the increment up from $899 to $2K to do full just based on this "partial" factor.

any pics or experience would be appreciated!

We'd highly recommend doing the full front end, aside from seeing the partial line gather dust/dirt/debris, it just doesnt give you ultimate protection against rock chips. To offset the cost, some of our customer elect to do, full hood, partial fenders, headlights, bumper, mirrors.

On an M2, we highly recommend at least a full hood, bumper, and rocker panels at a minimum.

Originally Posted by DETRoadster

Not trying to jack the thread here, but for you guys who are doing Xpel right after taking delivery, is that OK to do? I thought the paint needed to cure for a couple months before doing the clear bra. if you are East Coast and doing the coverage as soon as you take delivery, that paint might be only 6 to 7 weeks old. is that still OK?

They are ready to go from the dealership. The paint is baked and cured by the time it leaves. The only issue is, if a used vehicle has been repainted since quality control may vary from bodyshop to bodyshop.

[BAN_M2C]

Unless you stop right in front of the car you wont notice it.

Pics in order show:

Door edge, Hood and fender, Hood

[WFS]

its about as noticable as the factory sticker on the 3/4 panel infront of the rear tyres.

Personal preference, and depending how OCD you are. Id say go which what you are comfortable paying, as there is always 100's of ways to waste (i mean spend) more money. I went for the full front XPEL to the windscreen (bonnet, wings, bumper, lights, mirrors).

[zenmaster]

Factory sticker edges are definitely more noticeable than Xpel edges, even when clean.

[oj34]

I decided to go with Bruxsafol STX 160 RC full front (fenders, full hood, bumper, mirrors).
Will get the car next Saturday
Lets see how the result will be.

[CSN]

Originally Posted by zenmaster

Factory sticker edges are definitely more noticeable than Xpel edges, even when clean.

Agreed. I just got mine done Thursday. You can see it up close but standing back you can not see it. Worth it. I wish I would have done something with the headlights. Day one I had a rock ship on headlight. Minor but still there. all of he sand from winter is terrible.