After buying a new car, the first few months are always characterized by extreme care. New car owners spend most of their time cleaning and maintaining their vehicles so that they can retain that showroom finish.
After a while, exposure to dirt, rock chips, stains, and many other elements leads to wear, and that’s when most car owners let down their guard.
What if we told you that it’s possible to ensure your car looks as good as new for the longest time possible? That’s the reason why paint protection films were invented.
Also known as clear bras, these are films designed to protect your vehicle from scratches, rock chips, and any other contaminants it may make contact with.
Several brands make paint protection films, such as 3M, LLumar, Suntek, and XPEL. Our focus today will be on the latter.
Out of all the many brands that make paint protection films, XPEL is the most expensive, and as a car owner interested in such a solution, you need to weigh your options.
In this guide, we will look at what XPEL paint protection film offers and whether it’s worth spending more money on.
Who is XPEL?
XPEL is a company that offers a wide range of services such as window tint films, residential and commercial window tinting, and antimicrobial protection films, amongst others.
However, their main product is automotive protection film. XPEL works through selected dealers worldwide, and their films receive a lot of praise in car forums and threads.
Their films are effective, durable, and come with a warranty. According to XPEL, when you install their protective films, your car will be shielded from rock chips, bird droppings, and anything else that can damage the clear coat and paint.
XPEL Offers Various Protection Films
Before we look deeper into what XPEL offers, we should list the different protective films you can get from this company.
Please note that each film has got its distinct features and benefits. If you will consider XPEL, ensure that you choose the one that has got features you prefer.
• Ultimate
This is the best film protection you can get from XPEL. It is ideal for classic, high-performance, and sports cars. The Ultimate Paint Protection Film features self-healing capabilities.
This characteristic will ensure this film serves your vehicle for the longest time possible. Unlike ordinary films, the Ultimate option can withstand any contaminant or stain without turning yellow.
It comes with a 10-year warranty, so you have nothing to worry about when you choose this film.
• Stealth
The Stealth is also another excellent protection film made by XPEL. Unlike the Ultimate, this one resembles satin paint or matte. However, it has all the features you will need from a clear bra.
This particular product possesses the unique ability to repair itself and provide protection to your car’s paint job against any harmful contaminants that may come in contact with it
• Armor
When creating protection films, XPEL did not forget about off-roaders and commercial vehicles often exposed to terrible conditions. The Armor protection film is suitable for heavy-duty cars.
It will protect these vehicles from rock chips, scratches, and stains. Because it’s meant for heavy-duty vehicles, the Armor protective film from XPEL is a bit thicker and requires professional installation.
• Xtreme
Every protection film from XPEL is unique in its way. The Xtreme is an ultra-thin paint protection film meant for light use.
The Xtreme film was developed for car owners that want to protect their finishes and don’t want a thick clear bra that may alter the aesthetics.
If you own a vintage or have a hand-painted custom design, this protection film will be perfect for you.
• Tracwrap
We have to hand it down to the team at XPEL for their creativity. They created the Tracwrap for car owners who may need short-term protection.
This film is perfect for you if you are heading to an event and want to shield your car from chips, debris, bug splatters, or bird droppings.
You can buy a Tracwrap kit and install it yourself. Once you come back from the event, you can strip it off and leave behind your untouched paint job.
Even before we get to the perks of XPEL protective films, we have to agree that no matter what your paint protection needs are, XPEL has got you covered.
What’s So Special about XPEL Protective Films?
You are already familiar with the different types of protective films made by XPEL. It’s time to look at the factors that distinguish XPEL from other brands.
1. High-Performance Protection
When you install an XPEL protective film on your car, you are assured of ultimate protection from tiny scratches, rock chips, mud stains, and anything else that your car will make contact with on the road.
Even though that doesn’t mean your vehicle is bulletproof, with XPEL, your paint job will be able to retain its showroom finish for the longest time.
When you also factor in the self-healing capabilities whereby tiny scratches on the XPEL film will disappear on their own when exposed to heat, you are assured of maximum protection from this film.
2. It’s Crystal Clear
If you have never had a clear bra, you may think that it will be visible after installation. Certain brands whose films are too thick that people can easily tell. With XPEL, however, the films are crystal clear.
They are almost invisible to the naked eye, especially if you choose the Xtreme option. A clear bra must remain transparent because if it’s opaque, it may affect the paint’s finish.
With XPEL, you don’t have to worry about that. Another thing that we love about this film is that it doesn’t yellow after long-term exposure to UV rays. When installed on your vehicle, you will always have a crystal clear finish.
3. Highly Durable
The material and technology used to make the XPEL are quite advanced. This ensures after installation. The film should serve you for years.
XPEL is warranted for ten years.
This means that they are confident about their films’ durability. Features such as self-healing properties also contribute to the durability of these films.
Don’t expect them to last for many years if you abuse these films. An XPEL protective film is an investment that should be taken care of so that it can serve you better.
How Does XPEL Compare to Other Brands?
The first thing you have to understand is that XPEL’s primary focus is paint protection films.
Compared to its competitors, such as 3M, whose attention is divided amongst various things such as window tint and adhesives. XPEL’s key focus is on protective films. This is why their films perform much better than the rest.
They are the first company to create a self-healing film. Isn’t that a clear indication of this company’s dedication to protecting car paints?
Besides that, XPEL has an excellent reputation among car owners and protective film installers. They manufacture a wide range of films for vehicles. You can be assured of choosing one that meets your expectations.
A Brief Overview of XPEL’s Performance
XPEL protective films do precisely what the manufacturer claims. It will protect your car paint from minor scratches, chips, stains, and contaminants.
Something we haven’t mentioned is how easy it is for you to remove XPEL films without damaging the paint beneath.
It can hold up well as long as it’s taken proper care of.
Go for the armor film if you love off-roading or own a heavy-duty commercial vehicle. It should be able to endure the roughest conditions.
This film has a 10-year warranty. Your car should receive around-the-clock protection for an entire decade with this film.
Is It Worth Spending Money on an XPEL Protection Film?
When you compare prices, XPEL films cost more than others. To some owners, this may be a setback. But, when you look at what this film can offer you, it shouldn’t be.
XPEL protection films are super effective. People have got nothing but positive things to say about these films if you read through reviews.
Not only do XPEL protective films outperform other protective films in the market, 3M included. Their films offer tons of benefits. They are scratch-resistant, durable, and provide car owners with an invisible protective layer.
When you invest in an XPEL protective film, you will benefit from the self-healing features and an extended warranty of 10 years.
Though pricey, this is a film worth considering. If you want to get the most out of your XPEL film, we recommend having it applied immediately after you buy a car.
That way, the vehicle will be able to retain a showroom finish for the longest time. The longer you drive your car without protection, the more it stains and gets scratched by chips. To be on the safe side, do it as early as possible.
Another thing, XPEL should be installed by an authorized dealer. When you do it yourself, you won’t qualify for the warranty, and this film holds up better when installed by a professional.