S4 paint protection film thoughts.

T

t955daytona

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Hi all,
We have just ordered an S4 black edition in Daytona to replace a phantom black A1 we had as my wife's car. I was surprised by the amount of chips it had picked up after 10k miles and 12 mnths of A and B road use. I am now considering a protective film wrap on the front of the S4. I have been quoted by one company for full bonnet, bumper and lights but am looking for any advise by anyone who has had it done as the cost is not inconsiderable but if it protects it and is nigh on invisible would be worth it. Also would it be best practice to have it detailed first. Btw I am quite picky when it comes to my car and cleaning regime.

Thanks for any advice, Craig
 
I'm tempted to do the same as whilst my S3 has been used sparingly and never driven up anyone's chuff (exactly for this reason) it looks like it's been shot-blasted!

Black is ruthless for showing this sort of thing up, but I've resisted these things in the past as I hated the lines and dulling you experience when the film gets older. That said, it's better than an occasional respray.

Maybe the new films are better, but the old ones used to taint a bit (yellowing).

Are they expensive (if you dont mind me asking)?
 
Modern Audi's use a thin paint that is susceptible to chipping and scratching easily. Blame EU regulations for paint for that, although, some extra lacquer coating wouldn't go a miss by Audi.

The modern Audi's also use Aluminium more, and these show the chips and scratches more, but at least they don't rust. I would advise getting a good black wax that fills the smaller chips and scratches - can't remember name - but they exist. This is of course temporary, but then in 3 years, get the front resprayed which is cheaper and better looking than plastic on your paint. This can also make it harder to polish and wax, as the plastic can chip too and is more susceptible to bird droppings in quite a significant way.
 
Also - they usually use a razor blade to cut the plastic and I wouldn't let someone near my car with blades. If you go for professional fitted plastic that is precut - you may as well have it resprayed for the money, remembering this is also adding to your existing paint thickness.
 
I'm going for CQuartz Finest and a lot of finger crossing.

 
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I need to give Nick At DMC a quick call to firm up a date as I dare not do it until it went confirmed build (you know how Audi dates can slip).

Hopefully get it in to him in early June for CQuartz UK loving!
 
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warren_S3 said:
I need to give Nick At DMC a quick call to firm up a date as I dare not do it until it went confirmed build (you know how Audi dates can slip).

Hopefully get it in to him in early June for CQuartz UK loving!
Click to expand...

Totally forgot!
I have been speaking with Nick, well exchanging emails anyway.
We've managed to sort the logistics

I'm booked in for the 1st week of July for CQuartz
 
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Keef said:
Totally forgot!
I have been speaking with Nick, well exchanging emails anyway.
We've managed to sort the logistics

I'm booked in for the 1st week of July for CQuartz
Click to expand...

I'm booked in for the last weekend in July at the moment.
 
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We should all meet up there with the new metal at some point once the last car hits his garage. Seems a shame not too when we've shared so much waiting pain. Anyone up to meet in the last week in July at DMC to compare notes etc.????
 
t955daytona said:
Hi all,
We have just ordered an S4 black edition in Daytona to replace a phantom black A1 we had as my wife's car. I was surprised by the amount of chips it had picked up after 10k miles and 12 mnths of A and B road use. I am now considering a protective film wrap on the front of the S4. I have been quoted by one company for full bonnet, bumper and lights but am looking for any advise by anyone who has had it done as the cost is not inconsiderable but if it protects it and is nigh on invisible would be worth it. Also would it be best practice to have it detailed first. Btw I am quite picky when it comes to my car and cleaning regime.

Thanks for any advice, Craig
Click to expand...

I used Airstream at Chigwell for the application of Ventureshield Paint protection film to my new-to-me A5. Front of bonnet, bumper, headlight lenses, and wing mirrors. Took 6 hours to apply & cost £500-600, but I do keep my cars for 6-7 years. My previous Audi bumper was in a terrible state (way too late for film) when I bought the car second-hand so I decided to keep this one nice.
Matt is a meticulous worker and comes highly recommended.
 
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Last time I had it done (a good 5 years ago), it was around £400 because they have to blend into the wings. You may get it done cheaper, but that may mean compromises.
 
Rite that's not too bad, I would pay to have it done rite as I'm really picky lol cheers wil look in to it. :)
 
SI-W85 said:
Rite that's not too bad, I would pay to have it done rite as I'm really picky lol cheers wil look in to it. :)
Click to expand...

You are correct to point out the a respray before sale would cost about the same as the film. However, I will not have to look at a stone-chip while I own the car (unless I am very unlucky). I would point out that the film is more noticeable on dark cars apparently. I tend to buy light coloured cars, with the honourable exception of a dark pearlescent British Racing Green '99 A8.
 
beemerboy9 said:
You are correct to point out the a respray before sale would cost about the same as the film. However, I will not have to look at a stone-chip while I own the car (unless I am very unlucky). I would point out that the film is more noticeable on dark cars apparently. I tend to buy light coloured cars, with the honourable exception of a dark pearlescent British Racing Green '99 A8.
Click to expand...

What does the film look like when it takes a hit. Does it show abrasions?
 
i've had the front end of my S4 wrapped in 3M Ventureshield. The wrap usually comes in the form of a pattern for the various parts of the car that you wish to have wrapped, so the individual parts will always show a millimeter or two at the edges - the bonnet is wrapped over the edges so you don't see where it finishes - if you have a full bonnet wrap that is - if you have a partial bonnet wrap then you can see the line; the same applies to the wings. I chose to have a complete frontal wrap, including lights; bumper; mirrors and wings.

So far I can't see any signs of damage to the wrap, and would definitely recommend having it done.
 
beemerboy9 said:
You are correct to point out the a respray before sale would cost about the same as the film. However, I will not have to look at a stone-chip while I own the car (unless I am very unlucky). I would point out that the film is more noticeable on dark cars apparently. I tend to buy light coloured cars, with the honourable exception of a dark pearlescent British Racing Green '99 A8.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. The trouble with a respray, is that no sooner have you had it done you can start to accumilate stone-chips all over again. After handing-over £500 quid or so for a respray - deffo not for me.
 
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With correct detailing you won't see the chips and you have a better finish than plastic. To keep on top of the chips, you respray and each time, it adds thickness to the paint also, assuming you also laquer the paint too. The bonnet, front wings and bumper are easy to remove.

Anyone who has had plastic will tell you that it marks also and is hard to polish or wax out. It also affects the translucency of the paint. Bird droppings are caustic on the plastic - the plastic is way more sensitive to the bird droppings.

The plastic is not a better solution, only a different way to deal with the same problems - so don't see it as one or the other...

When I get my front resprayed, I will put a plastic bra on the front bumper (which is more vertical (seen less with direct light) and takes the worst of the stones), I will also get the very front of the bonnet covered and leave at that. The plastic can wrap under the bonnet and the bumper can get wrapped when it is off the car with black plastic bits removed. No razors needed.

I wouldn't have plastic added anywhere else, and just live with the marks plus wax.
 
t955daytona said:
Hi all,
We have just ordered an S4 black edition in Daytona to replace a phantom black A1 we had as my wife's car. I was surprised by the amount of chips it had picked up after 10k miles and 12 mnths of A and B road use. I am now considering a protective film wrap on the front of the S4. I have been quoted by one company for full bonnet, bumper and lights but am looking for any advise by anyone who has had it done as the cost is not inconsiderable but if it protects it and is nigh on invisible would be worth it. Also would it be best practice to have it detailed first. Btw I am quite picky when it comes to my car and cleaning regime.

Thanks for any advice, Craig
Click to expand...

No need to have a new car detailed - I didn't. The installer (if he's any good) will thoroughly prep the car before applying the vinyl.

Half the battle is choosing a good quality vinyl and finding a competent installer - do your research and get some recommendations. If you choose 3M vinyl the installers should all be charging the same rates, if you find one is charging more than another then he's trying to make a fast buck at your expense.
 
@Cyprio - I strongly disagree with your comments. You don't simply prep the car but repeatedly clean whilst you work on one section. It is so labour intensive to do this properly that I would expect hugely variable costs.

Also, very few companies do templated plastic as they have to pay a license fee to the Automotive company for the technical drawings. If someone is using off the roll / cut on the car methods, I would run a mile. If they say they use templates - check is official licensed templates and not unlicensed reverse engineered templates that never fit quite right to the mm and still need trimming.

If you want the cheapest, then take your chances, but what's the point of doing at all in this case. Just don't expect to pay a low price and not have particles under the plastic and razor blade marks on the paintwork.
 
Given the variable quality of paint finishes and dealer valeted quite a few of us have had to get paint correction details with new cars.

As my car is black the first thing I do is get it detailed and coated to protect the clear coat. If I went for protection film I'd want the paint to look its best before I went for the covering.

On current car the bumper and leading 1/3 edge of the bonnet are worst, just hate the thought of a line right across the bonnet....
 
Yup - detailing essential and I agree that the line across the bonnet is horrible, but make the plastic bra just the leading edge - you don't see it from the drivers seat. I may just do the bumper when its resprayed and live with having to wax the bonnet a lot
 
warren_S3 said:
Given the variable quality of paint finishes and dealer valeted quite a few of us have had to get paint correction details with new cars.

As my car is black the first thing I do is get it detailed and coated to protect the clear coat. If I went for protection film I'd want the paint to look its best before I went for the covering.
Click to expand...


go on ebay and search for paint protection vinyl for a4 b8 ,there is a company in america that sells it pre cut ,fantastic piece of kit less than £100 delivered including cutoms charges etc . bonnet,wing edge fronts ,bumper ,a pillars ,roof edge ,door handles,headlights .
the line you say across the bonnet ,get some wax ont he bonnet and you cant even tell its there
 
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