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      12-19-2011, 01:26 PM   #1
Jayda
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How can you tell if paint protection film is installed?

I have posted previously about wanting to get paint protection film on my car (front bumper only). I was looking closely at the bumper and I am seriously wondering if it is already installed. I can see and feel a slight edge at various wrap around points under the very lower lip of the front bumper as well as well the front most part of the wheel well. Is there an other way I could verify if the film is on the car? If it is installed that explains the totally pristine front bumper......and someone did a dang good job because I have washed (and waxed) the car several times and not noticed anything (it took looking very, very closely). If it is installed, it is clearly not on the hood, there is no half way mark. Thanks! (per my signature below, I bought my car slightly used and the first owner might have installed the film).
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      12-19-2011, 01:39 PM   #2
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I have it on my m3. The way it feels is very different, it's like rubber vs metal.
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      12-19-2011, 01:41 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ///MMB View Post
I have it on my m3. The way it feels is very different, it's like rubber vs metal.
Ok, the front front bumper does feel different than the back bumper......maybe I lucked out here. I almost would describe it as a "vinyl" feel.
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      12-19-2011, 02:31 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayda View Post
Ok, the front front bumper does feel different than the back bumper......maybe I lucked out here. I almost would describe it as a "vinyl" feel.
Thats what it is, vinyl.
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      12-20-2011, 01:15 AM   #5
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+1 Vinyl. Slightly less shiny (maybe), and less slick.
Some waxes are not so good for it.
You might want to read up about them, although you might first go to someone that does clear-bra installs and see if they can identify the brand for you.
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      12-20-2011, 08:25 AM   #6
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I had it on one of my cars only on the front bumper and front section of the hood. Hard to tell by eye, however, there is a slight difference in colour and you can tell by looking very close there is a slight step from the 3m vinyl coat to the normal car paint finish.

I am thinking of having it installed in the wheel well (only where there is paint of course) since sand and gravel from the road surfaces will damage the paint surface there over time.
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      12-20-2011, 08:35 AM   #7
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The color difference is tricky.....really hard to tell because my car is alpine white!
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      12-20-2011, 03:55 PM   #8
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I have it on my car, but I have it on third of the lower hood as well. There is no color difference. You have to look at it at an angle to see where the line of the vinyl ends on the car. It is only slightly raised and like I said can only be seen at certain angles.
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      12-20-2011, 03:57 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayda View Post
The color difference is tricky.....really hard to tell because my car is alpine white!
Get the car wet, and use your fingers, it will feel a bit like the end of a tape roll that has stuck back down, just a bit thicker
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      12-20-2011, 07:09 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckB View Post
Get the car wet, and use your fingers, it will feel a bit like the end of a tape roll that has stuck back down, just a bit thicker
I absolutely know it is not on the hood but I can see and feel and edge that wraps under the lower lip of the bumper and an edge that tucks into the front tiny painted portion of the wheel well (where the bumper wraps to the wheel well). Would the whole front bumper (including the area that wraps around the BMW roundel) be in one piece of film? I don't see any seams other than areas that wrap around. I tried to take a picture of a wrap around seam but it is tricky to see in a picture. I'm really not trying to beat a dead horse. I suppose I could just take it to BMW and they could verify. Like I said, it would be a real bonus if it were on the car. It sure seems like it to me plus the bumper is flawless (but then again the car has only about 5,900 miles on it at this point). Guess I could find a dump truck or two to drive behind and that would tell me.....kidding, I seriously avoid dump trucks
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Last edited by Jayda; 12-20-2011 at 07:31 PM..
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      12-20-2011, 07:25 PM   #11
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On my first M3 I had a leather front bra like this one ===> CLICK

I must admit I did not like the 3M vinyl coating on my last M3 very much at all there was a colour difference.

I plan to do a lot of driving so the leather bra for the long distance will work out just fine. Cleaning of the bra (on my first one) was always a pain in the bud, then cleaning is better then having the expensive paint damaged IMHO
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      12-20-2011, 08:17 PM   #12
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Picture!

Here is a picture that shows what I am refering to.....see the line that sort of wraps into the wheel well on the white paint. You can see a similar line that wraps under the lower lip of the front bumper.
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Last edited by Jayda; 12-20-2011 at 08:31 PM..
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      12-21-2011, 05:10 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayda View Post
Here is a picture that shows what I am refering to.....see the line that sort of wraps into the wheel well on the white paint. You can see a similar line that wraps under the lower lip of the front bumper.
Hate to post this, but I have the same line on my wheels wells, and no vinyl, and after almost 50,000 [autobahn] km the front bumper is still pristine, which can't be said about the hood or the headlight covers.
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      12-21-2011, 07:16 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckB View Post
Hate to post this, but I have the same line on my wheels wells, and no vinyl, and after almost 50,000 [autobahn] km the front bumper is still pristine, which can't be said about the hood or the headlight covers.
Crap...... How about a line that wraps under the lower lip of the front bumper about 2-3 inches back?....then I will rest my case and get on with my life
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      12-22-2011, 12:03 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayda View Post
Crap...... How about a line that wraps under the lower lip of the front bumper about 2-3 inches back?....then I will rest my case and get on with my life
Yup, there is a feelable line under the center section under the bumper, but nothing under the side sections where the splitters mount.
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      12-22-2011, 07:26 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckB View Post
Yup, there is a feelable line under the center section under the bumper, but nothing under the side sections where the splitters mount.
Thanks....answers my questions I guess!
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      12-24-2011, 03:35 PM   #17
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It certainly brings up an important point. I have installed the 3M clear bra on the last three vehicles I've owned, including my latest acquisition, a 2012 X5 35i. It is incredibly time-consuming and challenging to do, but SO worth it! A pro can do the install with a labor price between $500 to $1000 depending on the amount of film you choose to have. I did the entire front of the vehicle (including headlamps) and the mirrors. Unless you are standing within 2 feet of it, you can't tell it's on. It is completely clear and I've never noticed any fading, bubbles or yellowing on any of my vehicles. Highly recommended, but consider letting a pro do it, unless you are very patient and handy.
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      12-24-2011, 10:28 PM   #18
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To the OP:

Is it possible that the ENTIRE hood is covered? Obviously that way you would not feel the edge of the vinyl, and it would appear as if there is none applied. Yes? No? Some folks do have the whole thing covered.

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      12-24-2011, 11:41 PM   #19
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I had the entire hood covered on my other car and had the edges rolled underneath where you could not see the cut lines and it looked great but after a few months the underneath edges started to partially come loose so my installer replaced it free but this time cut it at the edge and did not roll it. The cut lines are visable but have to look very up close to see them.
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