Discussion
PPF is great stuff and the new gen suntek film is awesome. Paintshield has just started to offer suntek ultra which has just come out and is the best I've seen to date, plus it has some hydrophobic properties.
The film that comes from the factory is a waste of time. I cant help with someone around your way, but i would only take my car to Paintshield. They are the most experienced installers in the uk and never cut on the car. Whoever you decide to use, make sure that they have the patterns for your car or are able to design that to fit. At no point do you want anyone near your car with a knife.
As for the film, you will have a few options, depending on where you go.
Expel, which is the most common due to them allowing anyone and everyone to become an installer after a 3 day course.
Llumar, which is pretty much suntek.
Suntek, which has less orange peel in the film compared to Expel, making it look better
Suntek ultra. the has only just been released and is the best film out there at the min, but expect to pay at least a 10% premium.
If you're getting the front done, always go for the full front or at least cover the whole bonnet, as you don't want to see a line across the bonnet.
The film that comes from the factory is a waste of time. I cant help with someone around your way, but i would only take my car to Paintshield. They are the most experienced installers in the uk and never cut on the car. Whoever you decide to use, make sure that they have the patterns for your car or are able to design that to fit. At no point do you want anyone near your car with a knife.
As for the film, you will have a few options, depending on where you go.
Expel, which is the most common due to them allowing anyone and everyone to become an installer after a 3 day course.
Llumar, which is pretty much suntek.
Suntek, which has less orange peel in the film compared to Expel, making it look better
Suntek ultra. the has only just been released and is the best film out there at the min, but expect to pay at least a 10% premium.
If you're getting the front done, always go for the full front or at least cover the whole bonnet, as you don't want to see a line across the bonnet.
paddy328 said:
PPF is great stuff and the new gen suntek film is awesome. Paintshield has just started to offer suntek ultra which has just come out and is the best I've seen to date, plus it has some hydrophobic properties.
The film that comes from the factory is a waste of time. I cant help with someone around your way, but i would only take my car to Paintshield. They are the most experienced installers in the uk and never cut on the car. Whoever you decide to use, make sure that they have the patterns for your car or are able to design that to fit. At no point do you want anyone near your car with a knife.
As for the film, you will have a few options, depending on where you go.
Expel, which is the most common due to them allowing anyone and everyone to become an installer after a 3 day course.
Llumar, which is pretty much suntek.
Suntek, which has less orange peel in the film compared to Expel, making it look better
Suntek ultra. the has only just been released and is the best film out there at the min, but expect to pay at least a 10% premium.
If you're getting the front done, always go for the full front or at least cover the whole bonnet, as you don't want to see a line across the bonnet.
OP, apologies for jumping in here. Paddy, great info. I'm considering covering the front of my DBS as it has suffered from the usual road rash. I have been trying to find exactly these details. What film would you recommend and roughly how much would I expect to pay...I can't seem to find anyone in the south with this much independent advice...they all seem to be pro 1 product over another and this is the first I have heard of Suntek. I thought Expel was the latest and greatest. Cheers The film that comes from the factory is a waste of time. I cant help with someone around your way, but i would only take my car to Paintshield. They are the most experienced installers in the uk and never cut on the car. Whoever you decide to use, make sure that they have the patterns for your car or are able to design that to fit. At no point do you want anyone near your car with a knife.
As for the film, you will have a few options, depending on where you go.
Expel, which is the most common due to them allowing anyone and everyone to become an installer after a 3 day course.
Llumar, which is pretty much suntek.
Suntek, which has less orange peel in the film compared to Expel, making it look better
Suntek ultra. the has only just been released and is the best film out there at the min, but expect to pay at least a 10% premium.
If you're getting the front done, always go for the full front or at least cover the whole bonnet, as you don't want to see a line across the bonnet.
I took my 07 V8V to Paintshield last summer.
I had my local ChipsAway man fill in and flat the few chips on the car beforehand. There has to be a 7 day curing period before the film can be applied.
Paintshield are extremely competent. They super-shampoo the whole car to remove old wax, tar etc and computer-cut the Suntek from templates to suit. Fitting is extremely accurate - there was less than 10thou clearance all around the Aston badge on the bonnet, and it was accurately centred in the film. There had to be a join around the headlamps, which I couldn't see, even after having it pointed out. They remove the front number plate before applying film, so there are no gaps around the plate.
Oh, and they lend you a car for the 2-3 days they have yours - a BMW 520d automatic no less. I must have looked trustworthy! Didn't like the car, though.
I had the full front treatment and can concur its desirability. There are NO edges, as all films are wrapped around bonnet, A-posts, wings etc. It's a bit more expensive, but well worth it
I had my local ChipsAway man fill in and flat the few chips on the car beforehand. There has to be a 7 day curing period before the film can be applied.
Paintshield are extremely competent. They super-shampoo the whole car to remove old wax, tar etc and computer-cut the Suntek from templates to suit. Fitting is extremely accurate - there was less than 10thou clearance all around the Aston badge on the bonnet, and it was accurately centred in the film. There had to be a join around the headlamps, which I couldn't see, even after having it pointed out. They remove the front number plate before applying film, so there are no gaps around the plate.
Oh, and they lend you a car for the 2-3 days they have yours - a BMW 520d automatic no less. I must have looked trustworthy! Didn't like the car, though.
I had the full front treatment and can concur its desirability. There are NO edges, as all films are wrapped around bonnet, A-posts, wings etc. It's a bit more expensive, but well worth it
Edited by huntsen on Friday 21st April 12:22
It's no secret that i do any detailing that is required before the film goes on at paintshield, but it doesn't matter what company I suggest, they have to be 100% trust worthy or the best at what they do in order for me to recommend them. It looks bad on me if it's not. I do product guides for many clients and friends and it made up of all different companies, not just Gtechniq, despite being authorised. As I'm mobile, I've seen work from all over the country and paintshield are the best I've seen. The amount of jobs they put right from other companies is quite surprising really.
Expel were the market leaders a few years back and were using paintshield's patterns until their relationship came to an end. Then suntek came along and there was a big difference in the clarity of their film. Expel are catching up with suntek now, but suntek have just brought out their latest film which makes them another generation ahead of expel.
Whoever you get to do your car, make sure they've been doing it years and doing it well. There are know god knows how many detailers offering ppf after they have been on a quick course with expel for a few days and off they go. To be at the top, you have to be doing it every day and not a jack of all trades.
Paintshield do a collection service if needed. It's also advisable that you get the car detailed before the film goes on, no matter who you use.
Expel were the market leaders a few years back and were using paintshield's patterns until their relationship came to an end. Then suntek came along and there was a big difference in the clarity of their film. Expel are catching up with suntek now, but suntek have just brought out their latest film which makes them another generation ahead of expel.
Whoever you get to do your car, make sure they've been doing it years and doing it well. There are know god knows how many detailers offering ppf after they have been on a quick course with expel for a few days and off they go. To be at the top, you have to be doing it every day and not a jack of all trades.
Paintshield do a collection service if needed. It's also advisable that you get the car detailed before the film goes on, no matter who you use.
Auto protek in ascot installed afull front suntek film on my v12 vantage s. It's been on about A year now and is excellent. Edges are wrapped under bonnet and the carbon bonnet louvres have also had individual pieces of film attached. Front end was completed in 1.5 days. They appear to do a lot of the Mclarens from the dealership around the corner.
Not too far from Basingstoke
Not too far from Basingstoke
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