Has anyone tried a DIY XPEL installation?

I definitely think having XPEL (or possibly one of the other self healing) is desirable..

But the quoted costs I've seen from the installers just don't seem worth it. ($3K just for front and sides).

I've seen the XPEL precuts on-line... I'm thinking of taking a shot at it... I'm sure there is an art to it.. But I'm thinking I can take several shots at and still come out ahead..

No flames please, just looking for anyone who is reasonably adept and attempted..

 

no way , look how hard those damn screen protectors are on cell phones lol

 

I say try it.
Don't buy all the pieces at once.
First get the small pieces and do something easy, like the headlights, front bumper lights & mirrors.
Depending on how that goes, try the hood next.
If successful, you could probably pull off the fenders after that.
I expect the bumper would be hardest with the curves.

PPF will only shrink and not stretch so you have to learn how to work with that.

 

If you are handy, I suppose you can try it -- if you have the time and can put up with the frustration of not getting it right the first time, or the second time, or even the third time (or more). It takes the pros hours to get it done, and they know what they are doing. I had my hood done professionally and a few months later I tried putting a clear cover on my headlights. I gave up frustrated -- it was impossible for me to smooth our the curves. And that was only one headlight.

 

no way, tried that on my SUV, it was way harder than I thought... gave up frustrated. I tried on the mirrors and headlights first and could not get them right.......

they make it look easy on the videos, but I guess it needs some experience.

 

Did the same as mas with the same results.

I am a pretty handy guy, I work with vinyl quite a bit at my work, but I found that straight and curved pieces were easy, it's the compound curves to be impossible.

You could probably do the hood pretty well, the front bumper on the other hand...

 

I've done it, and if you are careful, it's not bad. Just keep in mind that the pre-cut pieces are NOWHERE NEAR as nice as job as a professional will do with custom work. You will definitely see seams and the coverage won't extend all the way to the edges, etc.

 

That was what I was thinking of trying myself..

I want to protect my car, but I'm not sure it is worth $3200.. For that much I'll deal with a bit of rash and get it sprayed in a few years..

I struggle, with this because the protection itself gets some rash. Sure it does have some healing capability, but it gets rashed as well (I've seen it).

So it's do I replace the clear bra after a few years or get it sprayed.. Either way I probably end up spending money after a few years... At least with the respraying I only do it once..

From what I understand it is the contours that are most difficult. I'm willing to invest a few hundred and see how it comes out.. Then try another section..

 

I paid $1400 installed by the best installer in town and got full hood, fenders, bumper, rockers, rear bumper, mirrors and headlights. He also used a high end film.

 

xpel is a great product, they made it look easy as pie at sema, with lots of lube but im sure its much harder than it looked.

 

Sounds like you got a great deal, the going rate for high end installers is more than twice that...

 

Benefit of being in Atlanta. This guy is good. Does all the cars for Ferrari of Atlanta.

 

In the end, you know what they say, give it the old college try. I've learned in life, sometimes the hard way, it's best to leave certain things to the pros. I can tell you on the 991, you'll have lots of curve ***** thrown at you...mirrors and bumper to name a few. As for getting a pre-cut kit from anyone, as mentioned already, you will have exposed edges, which over time, attract dirt and you'll eventually peel it off and redo.

But, it's not impossible. Just have realistic expectations. No matter how handy you are, it'll never look as good as someone that does this for a living on a daily basis. In the end, you buy a car that's $100K, spending 2-3% of the value and protecting the entire front end of the car for several years isn't a bad deal.

 

i tried it and gave up....a lot harder than it looks.

 

For what you're looking for you should be able to get it done for less than $1500. I just got the front of my dad's cayenne done with xpel for less that $1k with an awesome installer in my area, I would get some more quotes. I like to dyi some stuff but the bra is way beyond my skills.