FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, you can wax over our PPF as you normal. Though I would take care not to go overboard rubbing wax/polish against the edges of the film. So not to disturb the seal of the material and to not cake up wax or polish and make more work for yourself. The many liquid spray waxes available nowadays are convenient in their ease of use and to avoid these types of issues OR ask us about our Xpel Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating service and alleviate the need to wax or polish altogether!

XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS Series Films are warrantied for 10 years. This warranty covers: yellowing, staining, delaminating, cracking, peeling, bubbling, and more.

Yes. The process is the same as with regular paint: wet the surface with a lubricant such as a detail spray or soapy water and then gently rub the surface with the clay bar. For stubborn insect, bird dropping, or hard water stains, use an all-purpose degreaser such as Simple Green as the lubricant for the detailing clay.

No special maintenance is required. However, the film will last longer and will be easier to clean if treated twice a year with a good sealant like XPEL Flawless Finish Paint Protection Film Sealant. Or with our Xpel Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating that lasts 4 years with one application.

XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS is warrantied for 10 years against a range of issues including yellowing.

The top layer, clear coat of the film is designed to repair itself from swirl marks and light scratches from car washes, etc. If that layer is penetrated, the film will not heal. The only way to fix this would be to have the piece of film replaced. The film’s clear coat is the self-healing layer and is approximately 13 microns thick. The clear coat uses a special polymer that flows even though it is cured. This allows the clear coat to find its natural level again after being disturbed on the surface. The time for a scratch to heal depends on the severity of the scratch and the ambient temperature. Minor scratches usually heal in one hour at room temperature (72°F). In warmer climates, healing time will be shorter. The healing process can be accelerated at any time by pouring hot water over the scratched area. With this technology, there is no limit to the number of times the clear coat can heal itself. As long as the clear coat is not penetrated it will heal over and over again. Depending on how the film is cared for the clear coat can last indefinitely.

Yes, but please wait at least 48 hours after installation to allow the film to dry completely.

Yes, pressure washers can be used on XPEL paint protection films, provided the film has completely dried after installation (typically 48 hours) and provided the high-pressure water is not pointed directly at the edges of the film. Damage to the PPF due to a pressure washer is not covered under warranty.

It is highly unlikely for paint protection film to harm OEM paint. Paint systems used on modern assembly lines today produce a minimum bond strength of 16 MPa and maximum of 25 MPa between the panel and the paint depending on color, iridescence and the system used. Our film’s bond to the painted surface at normal state (immediately following installation) is .0753 MPa. Even after years of heat and sun, the bond between the film and the paint increases to only 0.17 MPa. What that means is in the absolute worst-case scenario, the bond of factory paint to the panel is over 94 times stronger than the bond of our film to the paint. In the best case, the paint is 332 times stronger.

There are proper techniques to properly remove PPF and should be done by a professional. A non-OEM paint job if done correctly should not cause an issue with PPF removal down the line. The key phrase being “if done correctly”. If any paint is pulled from a vehicles surface when removing PPF this indicates a bad paint job and in no way will the PPF installer or PPF material itself be considered at fault. After all, the Paint should be bonded to the vehicle (is a part of the vehicle) not the PPF.

Yes. PPF can be applied over a vinyl wrap or graphics. However, if there are any hard edges that film must cross (as in the case of stripes), it could result in some air being trapped along that edge.

Yes, it can! PPF on headlights prevents the breakdown of the factory coating from road debris, where over time the lens can eventually become foggy or discolored. Considering the cost of headlights on today’s vehicles this is coverage should be a no brainer.

If ordinary car wash or soap and water will not remove a stain, there are a variety of products available to do the job. In most cases simple isopropyl rubbing alcohol will remove anything on the surface of the film. In cases of more severe staining, or where something has been left on the film for a long period of time, a sparing amount of acetone or lacquer thinner with a soft microfiber cloth can be used. Bug and tar remover available at any auto parts store is also effective. XPEL Film Cleaner is designed to remove dirt, grime and oils from paint protection film that lead to yellowing over time. Another cleaner, which works in the same way, that I have always used is Westley’s Bleche-Wite white wall tire cleaner. The trick is to gently apply the cleaner where needed with a soft microfiber cloth and then wash it off with your normal car wash soap and water. Over time stains will extract and “bleach” their way out. A little sun doesn’t hurt either to help the process. The key is a little patience.

While the edge of the film can be seen from certain angles, people generally do not notice it unless they are looking for it. However, if the car is dirty and dust and dirt can collect along the edge of the film, it will be more noticeable. Once the car is cleaned, it will be once again difficult to detect unless looking for it.

Waxes, sealants and protectants are typically designed to reduce the surface energy of the paint, making them easier to clean etc. A reduction in surface energy will reduce the film’s ability to adhere to the paint and could cause long term adhesion issues. Because of this, we recommend removing these types of products before installation. If these types of coatings are to be used, we recommend applying them AFTER installation of our paint protection film.

Yes, Coatings can be applied to the films. Adding a coating does not stop the film from self-healing. Coatings can add a protective layer over the film, which depending on the coating can provide different properties. That additional coating layer, depending on the coating applied, may or may not self-heal. Once the coating wears down and deteriorates, the self-healing qualities of our PPF will remain. We recommend XPEL FUSION PLUS Ceramic Coating. Our ceramic was specifically formulated for your vehicles paint and XPEL Paint protection film.

Yes, you can install a vinyl on top of the film. We recommend waiting 48 hours after installation before doing so. You may also remove the stripe without damaging the film, if removed properly.

No. The PPF allows UV to pass through the film and fade the paint underneath at the same rate as the exposed paint.

This is a very common occurrence with all Paint Protection Film. It has to do with the difference in refractive index between the layer of film and the paint on the car. It is most noticeable on compound-curved surfaces because the film must be stretched over these areas to allow it to be installed without wrinkles. When the film is stretched, it becomes slightly thinner in those areas which causes the phenomenon seen through polarized glasses. It can also occur on flat surfaces when the installer needs to use a drying solution (as opposed to a slip solution) such as alcohol and water to get the needed bond to the paint. This is due to the difference in viscosity of the fluids and their effect on the adhesive’s properties. Polarized glasses have this effect on several different multi-layer surfaces (not just paint protection film) made of glass or plastic.