I had it installed a couple of weeks ago with 700 miles on the RDX. Already had 2 little chips in the bumper (thanks Missouri roads).

I took pics but its kind of hard to see on the CGP paint

Total install cost was $725 (ouch) but it only took 2 1/2 - 3 hrs.

Got the front bumper, 1/2way up the hood, headlights, , mirrors, passenger door lower panel, door handles and door edge guards. They can't do the fog lights because they protrude too much. If you have the aftermarket fascia, that's a different kit.

All in all, I'm happy with the install. have one little air bubble on one side, but have to decide whether its enough to bug me to take it back for a re-do. Just took the RDX for a road trip to TN and was glad to have the extra road protection.

 

If it's done right, it's hard to see on any color paint

 

All I say is I won't drive any vehicle w/o it being on the front.. here's some close-ups of 2 locations

 

...and another of the mirror back

 

Can anyone recommend a good installer in the metro Atlanta area?

I have small scratch marks all around my door handle. I had these on my last car and thought it was from my keys becasue the car did not have remote entry. Now I'm thinking I must be scratching the door somehow with my ring. So, I may be looking into this for at least the front of the hood and the door handles.

 

True, but I took some of the pics when we were washing the car. ;-) Also included a pic of the RDX applique. I didn't have it done by the dealer and SHOULD HAVE. Wasted one applique on the first attempt. By the time I did the 2nd one, I could have just paid STLAcura to do it! DOH.

Here are the pics

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...AbsWbhw3atmLn4

Tonia, i found my installer via referrals from my SO's Porsche club and then talked to him at a European auto show. He had a TL there as a demo, and we had also inspected several installs on some high dollar Porsches. Figure if its good enough for them and some Ferrari guys, it would be fine on my little rocket!

You can find a location near you if you search for 3m paint protection on google, etc. I checked my installer's company but none in Atlanta. Nearest to you would be mid FLA or Charleston.

 

If you are very handy, you can do it yourself, even though the RDX is one of the tougher templates to apply the 3M for. I'd say 8.5 - 9.0 level of difficulty, and be prepared to work all day on it. If you have a lighter color it'll hide any small defects well enough that you won't be able to tell from farther than 2 or 3 feet away. I have a few pieces of lint, one or two 'defect' marks (usually a finger that isn't quite coated with enough solution) or stretching marks similar to leo's pics (all smaller than a dime), and about a 1/2" crease under one of the foglamps. After curing, there are no noticeable bubbles to speak of. The 3M lasercut sheets can be had for 200-250 from various vendors on eBay. It does apply similarly to window tint but requires more massaging and much more patience due to the body contours.

 

Ralonzo, you are right. I have made my own templates for window tint before on previous cars with no problem, but I didn't want to tackle this job. Am I handy?.. pretty much... am I patient ?.... NO

have a good one!

 

leoconnor I am in St. Louis. Can you tell me where you got this done.

 

Are the 3m kits made to fit or are they cut to fit? I.E. diffrent kits for diffrent cars?

 

sbtl21, the 3M kits you find on eBay and the internet in general are laser cut from sheets using specific patterns for different vehicles. You shouldn't be cutting your own patterns - it's pretty tough material, and I'm sure I'd never get the contours quite right. The patterns are pretty similar although there may be slight differences depending on the template (for instance mine didn't have that 'tab' that wraps in near the foglights).

The kits can be done by the fairly handy person with a garage - I did one. In my case I'd estimate I got 95-98% as good a job as the pro installs I've seen. From a few feet away there is no discernable difference. It really is almost invisible. I snicker at the folks with the leather bras now

 

Various different companies buy the 3M material on rolls, and use computer aided design programs for templates which are then laser cut. There appears to be a tiered structure where you have 3M as the supplier, the design and cut companies, and then the installers who get their designs from the design and cutters. Some installers, with enough volume, are networked to the design shops, and have the cutters in their shop that allow download of the pattern and cutting on site, rather than waiting for the patterns to come through the mail.

One of the big 3M design cut shops is XPEL. Use their site to find installers in your area. Also peruse the sites to understand the different patterns. XPEL usually has several patterns, and it may take 3 or 4 patterns to get full frontal protection (bumpers, partial hood, partial fenders, mirrors, etc.) and even more kits to get rocker panel, fender, rear bumper, etc.

XPEL
http://www.xpel.com/

ClearMask
http://www.clearmask.com/index.php

Not clear to me about Stonguard, whether they produce their own films or use 3M

http://www.stongard.com/

ClearShield is not 3M, but made by Bekaert. In actuality, the film is made in San Diego by a company MSC Specialty Films, bought by Bekaert, all design and manufacturing in done in California, and automotive films is just one of many products. I think their main business is architectural and industrial films. They seem to be less expensive than the XPEL products, both in product cost and installation, since, at least in the Washington DC area, XPEL products and their installers, seems to be the main suppliers new car dealers, who charge an arm and a leg on top of the XPEL installers cost.

http://www.clearshield.com/

 

How soon do you see the patterns after a new car hits the market. I am starting to do some pre work for the new '09 TL that hits next fall. I will have my RDX for the wife and a TL for me. I want a black one but want to protect it right away.
Thanks!

 

Anyone have their invisible shields for > 1yr? We got the Autobahd product, and it developed a whitish "haze" that was impossible to buff out. To boot, it was on a black car. Ugh, I ended up ripping $800 worth of plastic off.

 

ventureshield > 3M