Has anyone used the 3M clear plastic on the front of their Crossfire?

A few Vette buddies have it on their cars and you cant even see it unless you really know what to look for. I was going to get it on the Z06 when it comes out of the paint shop, but since I am trading it in on a Crossfire as soon as it comes back I was thinking of putting it on the Crossfire instead. You can install it yourself if you know what you are doing, but I will have it professionally installed.

Just wondering if anyone has used it here. There is a kit at www.stongard.com if you are not familiar with it. There are also other brands out there but they are basically all the same 3M stuff, just slightly different patterns.

 

I have the Avery version of the 3M stuff. It is sold under the XPEL name. Go to www.xpel.com. The avery stuff is 6mil. I bet that the 3M is the same or very close. If you look at the website, you will see that they sell a pre cut kit with and without the hood indentations. The one without the indentations is much harder to put on, but I had an xpel trained installer do it. It has less perimeter to it, so it is the better choice (less perimeter means less wax to clean off of the edge). It came out perfect. . I would not recommend anyone to do it theirself. I got some extra left over to do behind each tire (on the fender) and was able to succesfully do that, but it just is not easy. I CAN NOT imagine how hard the entire grill and hood must have been. My installer said that many people try it, but swear they will never do it again. The stuff is expensive, and you do not want to be practicing on your own car. Again, my installer did it PERFECTLY, and she said that it took many, many attempts at the xpel training program she attended to get it that way

As to how it looks. It is pretty good. It is far from invisible, but fairly hard to spot. The edges get wax buildup that seems impossible to get rid of entirely. The thing that surprised me the most is the orange peelish look it adds to the paint. Not really bad, but noticeable. I would still highly recommend it though. It won't stop all chips, but so far I have none!

I have noticed that it has started to shrink a tiny bit (4 weeks now), and the wax line is easy to see again. I will have to toothpick it out again. Minor, in my opinion.

I will never own a new car again without it.

 

It's been covered before. I've got 3m, had it installed. Was not a pre cut kit. The installer made all the cuts and did it specifically for my car.

Bumper, hood, head lights, fog lamps, mirros, behind each tire.

As for wax lines talked about above, I use zaino, which doesn't leave a trace of polish on the lines. I guess chalk that up for another positive on the zaino usage 8)

 

Gotta love Zaino

 

Wait, wait, wait.

I use Zaino-exclusively-and it leaves a white residue exactly like all other waxes do.

It is everywhere. In creases, at the edge of rubber pieces, anywhere you dont get it all off!!

The clear bra provides miles of edge for the Zaino to leave the white powedery residue. And it does leave a residue.

I use Z2/ with the ZFX accelerator, with a Z6 gloss enhancer between every coat. I am up to 4 layers of Z2 and 1 layer of Z5. The stuff is awesome, but I do not know why you guys don't see the residue on the lines :?: .

 

I use Zaino on all my other cars and if you apply it properly and not too thick, then it wont leave a build up

 

Yep like Jeff said. Don't apply it on thick. Thin coats. It isn't like wax. You don't have to see it on there to know it is being applied. You can feel it.

In addition, my detailer suggested I apply it front to back on top of the car and top to bottom on the side of the car. Remove it in the same manner.

I have 3 layers of both z2 and z5 along w/ accelerator. Z6 I use after washes or polishing, which I hopefully don't have to do for another 6 months Thank god I won't have to claybar again!

 

the 3M film is installed in the pictures below.

i used xpel on the hood, fenders, bumper and headlamp/fog lamp areas. i used invinca-shield on the mirrors, windshield frame, rocker panels, grille, behind front tire and in front of rear tire and behind rear tire...30 some pieces in all. i am an installer...if you have any questions...let me know. i have installed the 3M film on 3 crossfires so far and about 100 other makes and models. look below pics for install process. cheers!




Stongard Installation Instructions
Items needed:

1. New large plastic spray bottle
2. Rubbing alcohol
3. Glass cleaner
4. Water
5. Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo (allows you to pull up and re-apply SG for flaws or bubbles during install)
6. Scissors
7. Heat gun / blow dryer
8. X-acto knife
9. Minimum of 2 people to install (required for large pieces)
10. Lots of patience!

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Use factory touch-up paint on any stone chips, apply with a toothpick. Allow paint to dry thoroughly.
2. Apply glass cleaner to paint surface, allow glass cleaner to soak. Re-spray and remove with a lint free towel. This removes any dead bugs on the paint surface.
3. Apply straight rubbing alcohol on a towel, apply to paint surface where Stongard (SG) will be applied. This removes any remaining wax.
4. Mix solution:  water,  rubbing alcohol, and a cap full of Johnson & Johnson�fs Baby Shampoo. Shake well.
5. Use scissors to cut out all pieces of SG from backing paper.
6. Start with smallest pieces first.
7. Saturate first area where SG will be applied on the car.
8. Spray finger tips with solution to avoid leaving print on the film.
9. Remove SG from paper and saturate adhesive side of film with solution, re-spray car surface. The wetter the better.
10. Line up SG, and saturate front of film.
11. Squeegee from the inside/out, pushing bubbles outward to the edge of the film.
12. Pull up if necessary to remove flaws, re-soak and re-squeegee.
13. Repeat for each piece.
14. Use heat gun/blow dryer for adhering loose edges. Squeegee. Be careful not to wrinkle film by using too much heat.
15. Apply largest pieces last.
16. Keep all surfaces wet/saturated at all times, until set in place.

Flaws will be present after installation, don�ft be alarmed. Park the car in the direct sunlight to aid with flaw removal. Don�ft be judgmental until at least a week after installation. Almost all flaws with evaporate with time.

Some trimming may be required on the edges. Use an X-acto knife to �glightly�h to score SG, lift edge and remove excess SG. Don�ft push too hard when trimming, you may damage, scratch or etch the vehicles paint.

 

Hi Guys

WHoevers kit you go for make sure they use the fewest possible pieces to avoid lines most quality kits will offer the bumper in one piece wherever possible. As for wax build up this is usually easilly removed by using an old toothbrush.

Also make sure you see their training certificates before letting them loose on your car, this is tough to do and you dont want anyone using an xacto knife on your car so make sure they use a pre-cut kit and find out whose kit they are offering.



Best Wishes


Tom Wakeford

 

Wrong! :shock: with a well designed Kit no trimming should be needed, do not let anyone near your car with knives or razor blades, they WILL damage the paint, get a written statement from them to ensure this is not going to occur and should you find cut marks when the film is removed I personally would suggest suing anyone that does this.


XPEL kits require no trimming on the vehicle, I cannot comment on others (other than the instructions above) www.xpel.com

 

even pre-cut kits "WILL" require some minor trimming...this is all i install are pre-cut kits and if you install a large one piece bumper kit (xpel...which i have on my xfire) it will be trimmed on some edges for a perfect end result. i'm a surgeon with the x-acto knife...i will give you a written statement...key words...score not cut...this is an art.

 

if you use a high quality wax and apply a thin coat going with the edge of the film...one should not have any wax build up. if one uses turtle wax or it's equivalent...wax build up will be a problem for any cracks, emblems or seams. i use zymol "concours" and haven't had any problems with this.

 

Hi Andew,
How does the 3M product look on a black Crossfire?
Any Reason why did you use 2 diffrent manufacturers of the 3M product?
Do you know of any good installers in Northern California?
Thanks for the info?

Alex

 

i used two different kits due to the best coverage area.

an installer must be very good on a black car b/c all flaws if any will show...but it can be done right...just ask to see any installers previous work before selecting him or her. invinca-shield.com will list installers in your area.

 

Ok im not trying to be a troll. But why are you trading your Z06 in on a crossfire? Please tell me youre gettin a SRT-6. If you can afford the z06 and if you can afford a crossfire i dont see why not keep the Z06 the drop in power will kill you as it did me. And i went from a low 13 1/4mi car to a high 14 car. You would be going from a high 11 car to a high 14 car. Man that makes me nauseous. Trading the zo6 on a crossfire is as bad as that guy who traded his STi in on A Scion Tc. Where is that smiley with the hammer when you need it?

 

i have never seen a Z06 run 11's at the track...mid to high 12's yes but 11's...no.

highly modified sure but not stock.

 

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for the information.
I'll wait until 3M release their new product that does not yellow.


Alex

 

the new product is available now...it was release early 04'