meascom
Member
Bespoke Tint - Google Search
bespokeauto.business.site
Seattle Area PPF Installers
- Thread starter vraj83
- Start date
Thanks!
I was just quoted $6800 for full chrome delete + interior tinting minus front windshield by Northwest Auto Salon.
yhenry
Active Member
I’m new to this so take my observations with a grain of salt.
Of the few cars I saw, both shops tug in the edges in most areas, there’re places where I can see the edge at tight and less noticeable places from both shop. But I think Eastside Auto’s cut is a little cleaner because they look like from the template machine. +0.5 Eastside.
I saw small bubbles under the wrap from both places, they told me those bubbles would disappear after the film is completely dry. Again I think Eastside is slightly better in this regard. +0.5 Eastside.
Eastside auto have already done a few Lucid, but Bespoke have not. +1 Eastside.
Overall I suspect Eastside would have slightly better quality, but I’m not sure if the difference is going to be noticeable. But I’m a noob to this, so what do I know?
The wait time is longer with Eastside (potentially risk of paint damage driving to Vancouver while we wait) +1 Bespoke
The price is also better with Bespoke especially once I factor in the ceramic coating on top of PPF needed with XPEL. $7k vs $10k. +1 Bespoke
So at the end I see it as a toss up. I’m going to give Bespoke a try next week. I’ll report back how that goes.
Mawashi Geri
Active Member
I will wait to see how you like the results!
Mawashi Geri
Active Member
Can any Lucid owners here in the Seattle Area who have had their vehicles wrapped, ceramic coated, tinted or what ever else please give their input on what to do and where. I know that I am somewhat befuddled. It would appear that I have some good company on this topic. Thanks for any input.
I've had partial wraps of STEK on Teslas done by Metropolitan Detail, and they do a magnificent job - truly spotless, no bumps, edges well concealed. But they are kinda pricey.
yhenry
Active Member
My Lucid is at Bespoke right now getting the full wrap and ceramic for the glasses. I can't wait to get the car back to see the results. I'll test the 3M wrap which is supposed to be hydrophobic for awhile and warrantee for 10 years, but it's likely I'll add ceramic on top of that if it's not working out as well for me.
I came across this ScottHD youtube channel. He's been doing long term testing of various PPF and ceramic coatings products by exposing all the different products to the same outside element conditions and reporting on their performance overtime. He even tabulated the results for ceramic coating in a google sheet here.
The only problem is that most of these companies have updated their products before the long term reliability tests are completed. I definitely came away with a more realistic expectation.
I came across this ScottHD youtube channel. He's been doing long term testing of various PPF and ceramic coatings products by exposing all the different products to the same outside element conditions and reporting on their performance overtime. He even tabulated the results for ceramic coating in a google sheet here.
The only problem is that most of these companies have updated their products before the long term reliability tests are completed. I definitely came away with a more realistic expectation.
Mawashi Geri
Active Member
Thanks for all the input. Was in Silverdale over the weekend. Another new choice to add to the list. I checked out those other facilities last month. Hard to decide. As stated in another post I am slated for Eastside Auto Salon this month. Just so many choices and not being familiar with the facilities I have to question my choice. I know that PPF, the Ceramic process car/wheels/brake calipers, painted brake calipers will be costly. Need to spend the monies wisely.
meascom
Member
Agree on "realistic expectation".
After watching these videos in fact I have less interest in PPF now. Seems like most of the qualities (hydrophobic, self healing, scratch prevention) goes away within a year. Only benefit is the underlying paint is protected from many of the expected scratches/dings which do appear on the PPF. But then again, if the film is scratched but paint is not, now I'll have to remove the film to make the car look nice...thus no more protection.
Mawashi Geri
Active Member
I have to ask, what is a realistic expectation? Everyone on this forum seems enamored with the protective films. As I know nothing about the subject I am still struggling to spend the bucks on it. Just received my written estimate from Eastside Auto Salon. Lots of bank for the process. I even told the installer that. I find it very hard to get the various locations to call me. I complete all the requests on their sites and nothing. I have visited many of them but am clueless to what is fact and what is fiction. Tomorrow I will visit Imperial in Kirkland. Looking forward to everyone’s opinion on their wraps. Quite the journey. On a different note my Lucid Level 2 home charger just shipped. In additon, my cut to fit Weathertech rubber mats just shipped. Chose them over the MotorTrend as I hope they do not reek of rubber. Time will tell.
yhenry
Active Member
The weather of the pacific northwest has less sun/heat compared to Texas where those videos are made, our cars are unlikely to be outside 24/7 like those videos. So I'd expect the PPF to fair better than the video, I think of them as accelerated extreme cases. But you're right that the hydrophobic/self healing qualities would go away long before the 10 year warranty.
I'm doing PPF so that I can have a satin/matte finish, easier maintenance and have a peace of mind as I go about my days.
Where do you guys go to wash your cars, any recommendations?
KyleJohnstone
New Member
I have a guy near Portland who picked it up this past Friday afternoon for a full ppf. I picked up my completed car the same Sunday at around 5:00pm
Mawashi Geri
Active Member
Good points on the PPF. What I expect from the PPF is protection from door dings and other small damaging events. I know that rocks will damage the vehicle. I live off of I-90 and it sucks. Large rocks on it like a hiking trail. Car parts and peoples trash everywhere. Unlike Montana, Wyoming and the likes this state has terrible problems with roadside trash. PPF has its limitations.
Washing the Lucid. Thats a great question. Personally I find it relaxing to wash and detail the car. It’s the only part of my life that I have control over, unlike the home where kids, spouses etc contribute to the mess. I am however picking up a car dryer. The Esoteric line looks like it will do a great job. I use BROWN BEAR for my daily car. Funny how when you take your cars in for service the dealership gives you BROWN BEAR wash vouchers. Odd how may Porches, MB’s, Teslas, Range Rovers etc you see going through the wash.
meascom
Member
I have read and also been told by installers that you should not use automated car washes like Brown Bear if you have PPF...could void warranty
@Mawashi Geri - i have received quotes from most installers within a day through email or through direct call - Eastside, Midnight, Bespoke, Metropolitan. Eastside is obvly the farthest in terms of scheduling, and Met is pbly most expensive for full coverage
@Mawashi Geri - i have received quotes from most installers within a day through email or through direct call - Eastside, Midnight, Bespoke, Metropolitan. Eastside is obvly the farthest in terms of scheduling, and Met is pbly most expensive for full coverage
Can you link to the video that shows that scratch protection goes away after a year? I would think that since it's still a layer on top of the car, it would provide some protection no?
The way I think about PPF is that it's just a little more protection against common sources of minor physical damage, and after spending $125K for the car, the added cost is a bit more justifiable than say for a $50K car. I'm actually less concerned about making the car "glossy" or the paint look slightly better (it already look good enough for me for daily driving purposes) which seems to be the main reason behind ceramic coatings, although I am considering getting the glass treated to help better repel all the rain we get.
yhenry
Active Member
My understanding is that those touchless automated car washes is okay, but those with the brushes are quite damaging to the paint/PPF.
The link is in my comment about ScottHD youtube channel. The PPF would still protect the paint from the scratches, but the PPF would not self-heal after some period of time.
Makes sense, and that's still ok with me. If the PPF gets scratched and doesn't self heal, it's still on the PPF. Even if it doesn't look as good, it's still better than not having PPF and having the scratch directly on the car.
Similar threads
