Stupid question: new car detail then XPEL or XPEL then detail?

chillindrdude · 03-25-2015, 05:28 AM

I am taking delivery March 30th.

I have XPEL scheduled for Apr 1. (their 1st available appt)

Should I have the car detailed prior to XPEL install? I assume the XPEL installer (came recommended/reputable) will wash the area of the car anyways for good adhesion just prior to install anyways.

or should I have the XPEL installed, THEN a good detail/paint correction/seal?

Vectors2final · 03-25-2015, 06:50 AM

Paint correction must be completed in all the installation areas before you install Xpel if need be. Don't seal the paint, either. Just needs to be clayed and polished, but to ensure that the oils from the polish are removed and ready to accept the adhesive on bare corrected paint.

A good installer knows how to do this.

apexit · 03-25-2015, 09:58 AM

When I took mine in they told me not to use any wax/ sealant. You can apply it over the expel but not under.

playinJ30 · 03-25-2015, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vectors2final

Paint correction must be completed in all the installation areas before you install Xpel if need be. Don't seal the paint, either. Just needs to be clayed and polished, but to ensure that the oils from the polish are removed and ready to accept the adhesive on bare corrected paint.

A good installer knows how to do this.

what this guy said...

if you are sending it to a detailer to do this... don't go to some cookie cutter car wash place, they won't know what the heck you are talking about.

You need your paint completely clean and swirl free... but absolutely zero sealants, waxes or glazes.

You will be very ahppy with xpel. I just had mine done and the results are great.

Racer20 · 03-25-2015, 05:06 PM

Be careful of cheap detailers. A common trick is to do a half ass job with a rotary polisher to get the big scratches out. But this leaves lots of little swirls, so they go over it with a glaze to hide them. After a few washes, the glaze is gone and the swirls are back.

You'll want a true paint correction, not a "detail." Otherwise your swirls will be locked in under the xpel.

ddas · 03-26-2015, 04:12 PM

You're in Virginia. Just take it to Phil at Detailer's Domain. He can address all of those needs in the best order.

chillindrdude · 03-26-2015, 06:34 PM

I want to...but he's a haul for me. 4 hrs each way...

ddas · 03-27-2015, 09:11 PM

It's not a services that's performed once a year! Get it done by one of the best and then don't sweat it for years to come.

schnazzy · 04-02-2015, 04:43 AM

I am thinking of doing most, if not all of the car with XPEL. I was thinking of skipping the roof but maybe not now that I read the post.

My question is if I should have the orange peel cut (

) before applying the XPEL or will the XPEL hide the peel because of it's smoothness.

Anyone done this or otherwise how much orange peel do you still see after XPEL (more or less or the same)?

03-25-2015, 05:28 AM	#1
chillindrdude Lieutenant Colonel 1161 Rep 1,726 Posts Drives: anything with 4 wheels Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	Stupid question: new car detail then XPEL or XPEL then detail? I am taking delivery March 30th. I have XPEL scheduled for Apr 1. (their 1st available appt) Should I have the car detailed prior to XPEL install? I assume the XPEL installer (came recommended/reputable) will wash the area of the car anyways for good adhesion just prior to install anyways. or should I have the XPEL installed, THEN a good detail/paint correction/seal?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

03-25-2015, 06:50 AM	#2
Vectors2final Brigadier General 1342 Rep 3,340 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 YMB/SS ZCP Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, Tx iTrader: (0)	Paint correction must be completed in all the installation areas before you install Xpel if need be. Don't seal the paint, either. Just needs to be clayed and polished, but to ensure that the oils from the polish are removed and ready to accept the adhesive on bare corrected paint. A good installer knows how to do this. __________________ 2019 Ruby GT350 - Gen 5 Whipple on corn making 855RWHP. Sold: 2018 F80 Part Deux /DCT /YMB /Full SS /CF Trim /ZCP /ZEC w/Black 666M Sold: 2015 F80 /DCT /YMB /Full SS /CF Trim /ZEC /ZLP /HK /S&TVC- 18''///M
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2015, 09:58 AM	#3
apexit Captain 214 Rep 981 Posts Drives: 15 SO M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: northern nj iTrader: (-1)	When I took mine in they told me not to use any wax/ sealant. You can apply it over the expel but not under.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-25-2015, 05:06 PM	#5
Racer20 Major 1030 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: F80 M3, 228i THP, E46 ZHP Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	Be careful of cheap detailers. A common trick is to do a half ass job with a rotary polisher to get the big scratches out. But this leaves lots of little swirls, so they go over it with a glaze to hide them. After a few washes, the glaze is gone and the swirls are back. You'll want a true paint correction, not a "detail." Otherwise your swirls will be locked in under the xpel. __________________ 2015 M3, 2005 330i ZHP, 2015 228i 6MT Track Handling Pack, 2007 M Coupe (Sold)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-26-2015, 04:12 PM	#6
ddas Second Lieutenant 211 Rep 289 Posts Drives: 2018 Daytona Violet M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	You're in Virginia. Just take it to Phil at Detailer's Domain. He can address all of those needs in the best order.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-26-2015, 06:34 PM	#7
chillindrdude Lieutenant Colonel 1161 Rep 1,726 Posts Drives: anything with 4 wheels Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia iTrader: (1)	I want to...but he's a haul for me. 4 hrs each way...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-27-2015, 09:11 PM	#8
ddas Second Lieutenant 211 Rep 289 Posts Drives: 2018 Daytona Violet M3 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (0)	It's not a services that's performed once a year! Get it done by one of the best and then don't sweat it for years to come.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-02-2015, 04:43 AM	#9
schnazzy Lieutenant 227 Rep 597 Posts Drives: YMBSSM4 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: rain city usa iTrader: (0)	I am thinking of doing most, if not all of the car with XPEL. I was thinking of skipping the roof but maybe not now that I read the post. My question is if I should have the orange peel cut ( ) before applying the XPEL or will the XPEL hide the peel because of it's smoothness. Anyone done this or otherwise how much orange peel do you still see after XPEL (more or less or the same)?
	Appreciate 0 Quote