Paint Protection Films - which Gen 2 film?

Paint Protection Films - which Gen 2 film?

Author
Discussion

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Thursday 13th August 2015
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I've got a McLaren coming next month and I want to get PPF on it from day 1

I've had 3M Venture Shield on two Aston Martins and found it to be very good. This is a Gen 1 film, it is not "self healing", it does yellow over time (3 years on my second one) and the finish on the film is no where near as good as the paint.
Xpel Ultimate is a Gen 2 self healing film which doesn't yellow and is far more glossy & smooth in its finish.
Paintshield in Peterborough are well thought of and renowned for excellent installs of Xpel Ultimate to Astons and McLarens.
They have apparently just changed to Suntek as their Gen 2 film apparently gives a better surface finish than Xpel Ultimate.
I've just discovered 3M have recently launched Scotchgard Pro which seems to knock the socks off Xpel and Suntek.

https://youtu.be/kUPC1YVa5uk

Does any one have any experience of it or know of a good installer in the midlands?

MDMetal

2,775 posts

147 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
Comments in the video seem to expose some flaws. So hard these days to find decent reviews for things frown

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
Very true and just as hard to get an objective opinion from installers as well frown
Big investment to get wrong on a McLaren as well

paddy328

2,902 posts

184 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
Ignore the fact of where i spend a lot of time detailing cars, i always give an honest opinion on products and people.

The old ventudreshield did a job, but once it had any defects in it, you were stuck with them, however, they were possibly the thickest. The Expel stuff was good, but as soon as i saw the suntek stuff, it was night and day. To the untrained eye, you won't be able to see either films, i can and the suntek has significantly less texture and peel to the film. Not saying the suntek has none, but sometimes i have to look hard to tell if its on there. The 3m stuff by all accounts and initial testing isn't as good as the sunk either.

As for anyone else fitting the film. Ive seen the good and the bad on my travels and hand on heart, you don't want to go anywhere else than paintshield to have the film installed. They are the best and most experienced at what they do in the country. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Top end work and peace of mind. For example, some people charge £150 for a correction detail. Go and take the cheaper option and then when its all gone tits up, you'll end up back at the more expensive place anyway.

Also, there are many Expel installers popping up around the country. It seems if you go on a course for a few days, you're good to go. I suggest that anyone who is looking at getting it done, find out how long they have been doing it for and how they design the patterns. It shocks me to think there are still people out there who cut on the cars, rather than design them and have a computer cut the patterns.


mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
Paddy are you and Anne stalking me wink
Interesting the 3M Pro doesn't seem to stack up as well as they claim confused

paddy328

2,902 posts

184 months

Friday 14th August 2015
quotequote all
Lol. I know. Paintshield will always use the best film for the job, but from what I've heard, the 3m stuff isn't as good as the suntek. When a film comes out that is better, they will switch.

_Leg_

2,798 posts

210 months

Saturday 15th August 2015
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Paintshield. Simple as that. My Ferrari and both my Porsches have been Paintshielded since new. 7500 miles in a year in the fEz, including 8 countries in 10 days last year, 20,000 miles in one Porsche and 6000 in the other and they all still look brand new.

Wouldn't let anyone else touch em.

theAmerican

105 posts

121 months

Sunday 16th August 2015
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Suntek then XPel then 3M

I also think you're behind a generation. There's no way there have been only two significant revisions to clear films from the start buddy

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Monday 17th August 2015
quotequote all
theAmerican said:
Suntek then XPel then 3M

I also think you're behind a generation. There's no way there have been only two significant revisions to clear films from the start buddy
Anymore detail on the first comment?
I'm going by what the comments of two installers, a detailer and detailing world web site on the "generations"
Happy to be educated otherwise though!

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Tuesday 25th August 2015
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Decision made
I'm going for this!

MacLaren 650s Police car as seen at the Goodwood FOS 2015 by Nikonmania, on Flickr

Seriously - decided on letting Paintshield machine polish Bruce and then completely cover him in Suntek

paddy328

2,902 posts

184 months

Wednesday 26th August 2015
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wouldn't go with your colour lol

mikey k

Original Poster:

13,011 posts

215 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Finally picked up Bruce this evening
A couple of attempts at showing off McLarens volcano paint, Paddy's polishing and Paintshield PPF

Bruce is home by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

Bruce is Home! 041 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr