DrJupeman

I had a bra on my BMW 330i with original paint for ~5-6 years and it took a chunk or two of paint off when it was removed. I'm wary.

H82BL8

I used a heat gun and patients to remove old 3m coating. No issues with the paint. What happened to me was the film stretched as I was pulling it off then retracted and ripped skin off my fingers. Skin regrows....paint ...no problem.

Mike in CA

Never had film before but had a custom job done on the bumper and hood on this car. Even with the un-covered fender and hood side by side, it is impossible for me to tell the naked paint from the film.

FWIW, I would never try to remove film myself. Pros put it on and I'll let the same pros remove it.

mooty

yes

that's what i thought at first. but the film isn't as cheap as you think. and the skill is not that easy. a pro makes it easy. $2000 for the front? that's FL price, $2000 here get u bumper!. try 2x that. and that's with discount.

i watched them pull. if film is new. like 2 months (mishap dont ask) it's easy peel. if it's a year or two, the finger strength, the even pull, the steam gun and heat gun, with two ppl pulling. it's quite a sight. i have not even lost any of the decals that's on the car when they pulled the film!

i track many of my cars. when i sell them, i like to put on new bras, full tank of fuel, and detailed so the new owner can enjoy it. i didn't install and peel 30x on the same car, sorry if i wasn't clr.

mwar99

Mooty - I have experience taking it off after a week. Two days after I got the film my hood on my S6 got hit with a nut from a tree. The PDR guy didn't want to try to fix it with the film on the car and I had to take it off. Did it myself with some help. Never again... Skin missing cramped fingers. We did not have the right technique.

Now I know better.

STG

New films like Suntek and Xpel stay clear for years.

Professional removal is suggested.

I wouldn't leave a film on for more than 5yrs if a daily driver.

Installation is key. You're better off with nothing than a bad hack job and razor cuts into the clear coat and paint. The key is the installer than the films out there now. I would just stay away from 3M.

The OEM stone guards are 3M and come yellow from the factory practically.

Mr. Adair

Love it when you put it straight Mooty...

My 20 year installer said 3M's newest product is great. As you said, pros and cons. Mine used a pre-cut pattern from Xpel for the 991 GT3 but used 3M. He likes the relationship he has with 3M in terms of training, support etc. that's what is really important. Simply follow instructions from your installer in terms of keeping clean with washes, do NOT wax, use spay shine with UV protection after washing and drive the hell out of your car. Any body tracking or DD on highways will be dead sick when they see a marble size rock take a spot on your hood down to bare metal...

mooty

not if your car is white !



right on.

this is funny, but true.

Fadi1

This maybe OT. Has anyone considered or have experience with the 3M or other products to wrap the car in other colors. I've looking into it ever I saw a Voodoo blue cayman GTS