Xpel Clear Bra film, dig it or no?

[d02808045]

Does anyone has xPel clear bra install on your Z? how is that compare to VentureShield?

Thanks

[Caravanshaka]

I have xpel...not throughly impressed with it to be honest. A little yellowing now a year later. it is slight, but I can notice it. It has also stained from some random things from daily driving, and I keep my car pretty clean.

It is also sealed with Zaino, so it's not wax yellowing.

[d02808045]

Originally Posted by Caravanshaka

I have xpel...not throughly impressed with it to be honest. A little yellowing now a year later. it is slight, but I can notice it. It has also stained from some random things from daily driving, and I keep my car pretty clean.

It is also sealed with Zaino, so it's not wax yellowing.

Wasn't xPel came out before VentureShield? do you think the yellow won't be too noticeable for dark color cars?

I found this forum: VentureShield or 3M clearbra? - M3 Forum 2010 2009 BMW M3 2008 BMW M3 BMW E90 M3 E92

Not sure if that true what the guys said about these film.

[HTP AutoWorks]

I have read that same review. Its good information but I do beelive that Xpel does not hold up well. I have seen yellowing and also cases where the finish did not hold up well.

[luvmyz]

Caravanshaka,

I dont think it is the film manufacturer who is at fault. I have been into auto detailing for awhile now. I think it might have to do with your Zaino.

There are two issues at play here.

1) There have been many documented cases where Zaino users have experienced yellowing when using it on paint protection film. These have come from users of different brands (3M, Avery, Venture, etc.), indicating that it has nothing to do with the film, but more an interaction between the Zaino and the polyurethane. Zaino is a fantastic product for paint, but thermoplastic polyurethane is not paint. Would you use Zaino on your carpet? Of course not, because it is not made for carpet, right? Use something on the film that is made for paint protection film and you will no doubt have better results.

2) Yellowing is also caused by embedded contaminates (usually hydrocarbons such as oils from the road, diesel smoke and other pollutants). If you want to keep the film clean, there are cleaners designed specifically for PPF on the market for that. Use the cleaner when you wash your car just as you would use bleach when you wash your whites in the laundry. This will prevent the contaminates from building up in the pores of the film, which will prevent discoloration.

E

[Mike]

I've been very happy with xpel. Had it on the corvette for two years with no degradation. Of course, my cars are black, so you can't see if it yellowed.

[HTP AutoWorks]

Originally Posted by luvmyz

Caravanshaka,

I dont think it is the film manufacturer who is at fault. I have been into auto detailing for awhile now. I think it might have to do with your Zaino.

There are two issues at play here.

1) There have been many documented cases where Zaino users have experienced yellowing when using it on paint protection film. These have come from users of different brands (3M, Avery, Venture, etc.), indicating that it has nothing to do with the film, but more an interaction between the Zaino and the polyurethane. Zaino is a fantastic product for paint, but thermoplastic polyurethane is not paint. Would you use Zaino on your carpet? Of course not, because it is not made for carpet, right? Use something on the film that is made for paint protection film and you will no doubt have better results.

2) Yellowing is also caused by embedded contaminates (usually hydrocarbons such as oils from the road, diesel smoke and other pollutants). If you want to keep the film clean, there are cleaners designed specifically for PPF on the market for that. Use the cleaner when you wash your car just as you would use bleach when you wash your whites in the laundry. This will prevent the contaminates from building up in the pores of the film, which will prevent discoloration.

E

I have been using Zaino... and recommending my clients use Zaino on VentureShield for the last 6 years. I have never had one come back due to yellowing... because Zaino will not yellow over time like wax will. I have also pulled film off of my mothers car with 5 year old ClearMask AR on it, it sat in the sun every day adn had numerous coats of Zaino applied over the years. The film looked brand new... no yellowing what so ever. I would be interested in seeing some documentation of this yellowing... you say is so commonly known. Any links???

[Caravanshaka]

My installer actually suggested zaino. I'd be interested to see the documentation as well

[o0javi0o]

+ 1 to see documents

[Mike]

my installer recommends xpel's own polish that they have recently put out.

[luvmyz]

As requested here is one example...

Here's one example: Zaino and PPF - Club Scuderia - UK Ferrari forum for chat, meets and events

There have been threads about this all over the internet for years, along with others that support the product. Naturally the ones that are supporting it have black, blue, red, yellow, etc colored cars, so of course it doesn't make any difference. Keep in mind, that I am not saying there is anything wrong with Zaino, just as I am not saying there is anything wrong with Windex. But I wouldn't use either of them on my carpet, because I have another product for that surface of the car that is designed for it.

If you have a white car, use Zaino on your paint, and find a purpose made product to use on the PPF. Otherwise you really have nothing to worry about anyway.

[HTP AutoWorks]

Originally Posted by luvmyz

As requested here is one example...

Here's one example: Zaino and PPF - Club Scuderia - UK Ferrari forum for chat, meets and events

There have been threads about this all over the internet for years, along with others that support the product. Naturally the ones that are supporting it have black, blue, red, yellow, etc colored cars, so of course it doesn't make any difference. Keep in mind, that I am not saying there is anything wrong with Zaino, just as I am not saying there is anything wrong with Windex. But I wouldn't use either of them on my carpet, because I have another product for that surface of the car that is designed for it.

If you have a white car, use Zaino on your paint, and find a purpose made product to use on the PPF. Otherwise you really have nothing to worry about anyway.

I went through and read your example. I am not sure it prooves anything though as one installer is not recomending it due to warranty issues. There are numerous customers in here though posting that they have had great success with Zaino... including a guy with a silver car. Like I said in my earlier post, I have been using and recomending the use of Zaino on VentureShield for all of my clients over the last 6-7 years. Not one single yellowing issue to date... and I have installed film on a lot of white cars. I have seen most of the warranty issues over the years stem from people using wax on film... or it was simply the adhesive on the films yellowing over time. 3M was notorious for this. I have yet to hear of anyone claim it was Zaino that caused their film to yellow. So as you have 1 example of someone making a claim, without photos or and evidence to back it up, I can show you numerous threads showing otherwise. I have also seen Venture that has had 5 years of Zaino applications... plus it sat in the sun often, and the film looked brand new... no yellowing what so ever.

By the way, Windex works very well on carpet. Especially for removing pet stains. It also kills the odor so when pups are going through potty training it will prevent them from using the same spot over and over.

[Zcott]

I've had the Xpel protection since June, and had no problems with it...