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Since we usually keep our cars for a very long time, I decided to have our 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid wrapped in Xpel Ultimate Protection Film.
Our MDX is White, so I was a bit nervous doing clear bra. I was afraid the film would yellow after a few months.
But the Xpel Ultimate have an excellent 10 years warranty against yellowing, staining, cracking, blistering, and peeling.
I also compared Xpel against the leading competition like 3M and Suntek products. Xpel seems to be much better for white cars.
It doesn't yellow like the 3M or have the orange peel appearance and is much thicker than the Suntek film so it should protect much better.
I chose to do 1/4 hood, 1/4 front fenders, full front bumper, headlights, mirrors, all door edges, door sills, door cups, and rear bumper luggage area.
He even wrapped the front "Huge" Acura emblem. That thing is gigantic and is prone to rock chips
To those who don't know what Xpel is, it is a clear film that protect against scratches, rock chips, and everyday road hazard.
I can't even tell the film is on from a couple feet away. The guy did an amazing job!
I also tint two front window with 3M FX Premium 30 and did the windshield with 3M Crystalline 70. Yeah I know it's illegal in my State.
But my primary goal is to cut down on the heat in the car with Ebony leather inside, it does get a bit toasty in the full California sun.
I was afraid the FX PM-30 would be a tad too dark, but to my surprise it turned out a shade lighter than the rear factory tint.
Not a perfect match, but I hope it will keep the cops from pulling us over.
The CR70 was a bit steep in price, $300 just for the windshield, but the Infrared rejection (main cause of the heat you feel) is amazing. The car is much cooler now.
Me and the kids sat in the car while my wife was grocery shopping today. With the new tint, we were very comfortable sitting inside the car without the AC on.
And it's 80F outside, bright and sunny day!
I'll try to throw up some before and after pictures later. Too bright out now to take decent photos.
If anyone is in the Southern California area and interested in wrapping or tinting your car, I highly recommend this guy.
Scott Kim with Advance Auto Engineering. He's in Fullerton area. He's been in business for a very long time.
And he does many exotic cars. Last night in his shop I saw a brand new Porsche 911 Cab and Civic Type R
Those two cars are getting fully wrapped..at a cost of about $4000 per car!!! I didn't paid anywhere close too that much.
PM me if anyone is interested in Scott's info. Cool guy and does meticulous job! He worked over 10 hours on my MDX yesterday!
Just wanted to give a shout out to those who is thinking about wrapping or tinting your car.
Find the best installer you can in your area. It makes a huge difference when the installer is experienced like Scott.
LOL, I knew I'd get scolded for not posting pictures.
Actually was waiting for sunset to get some decent light.
White car on hot day, it's no good to bright light.
Will throw up some pics soon
Some pictures after the install. See if you guys can spot the clear film. Very tough to see and pick up on the camera.
Also couple shots of the Parking Sensors I had installed last weekend.
Now need to get Chrome Running Boards, then I'm done with the mods.
Scott originally quoted me $700 to Xpel Ultimate to 1/4 hood, 1/4 fender, full bumper, headlights, mirrors, and door cups.
I wanted to add the door sills, door edges, and rear bumper luggage area. So that was an extra $200
He threw in the front Acura emblem for FREE and I basically got the bottom rocker panel of the front bumper for FREE too.
He didn't have a template for the bottom rocker panel of the front bumper. He had to hand cut that part..took alot of time he said.
2017 MDX Sport Hybrid models have this portion body color unlike the regular gas MDX.
Tint two front windows with 3M-FX-PM 30 was $60.
Tint windshield with 3M Crystalline 70 - $300
So total was about $1300. More than reasonable for 11 hours of professional work. I was very impressed!
This was my "paint protection and comfort" package.
Much better and more cost effective than anything the dealership might try to sell to me.
And I have 10 years warranty for the Xpel Ultimate and Lifetime warranty for the 3M tint.
Looks clean! I was gonna clear bra instead Ceramic Coated with Ceramic Pro. Nice tint also! I used Suntek Nano Carbon 18% all around and 70% Nano Ceramic front windshield and 5% Sunroof.
I got the Opti Coat Pro paint guard protection as well as clear bra (1/4 hood, bumper, mirrors, door edges - pretty sure he did the emblem). The Opti Pro works great, but does not totally protect against chips. I did OptiCost first then Bra. Some people do reverse.
I got tree sap on the hood and it washed off with hose spray only.
I thought about doing clear bra to protect rock chip but I hardly drive my car on weekdays. I am more concern on water spots since its a black car so I opted for coating. I did a 3 layer coating that last for 5 years but since my MDX is a 3 year lease I just brought the material and had
my friend/detailer help me prep my MDX.
I suspect the products are similar. I had Opti Coat Pro put on my previous RLX (Black Pearl) for same reason. The Opti Coat Pro can only be installed by a certified installer. It comes with 5 year warranty as well. There's a DIY version, but much lower warranty
I like it on the Black paint, but it looks even better on White.
Looks clean! I was gonna clear bra instead Ceramic Coated with Ceramic Pro. Nice tint also! I used Suntek Nano Carbon 18% all around and 70% Nano Ceramic front windshield and 5% Sunroof.
Black looks so sinister with tint! We had our choice of Black or White, decided to do go with White since it's easier to keep clean. I had a Black 350Z once, PITA to keep all the swirl marks and scratches off the paint...never again.
I also thought about Ceramic coating, but it doesn't do anything to protect again rock chips. Besides, I like "auto detailing", somewhat of a hobby for me. I got a bunch of Chemical Guys products and most weekends I'm detailing my cars.
This weekend, I'm planning to put a coat or two of Rejex sealant on the MDX. Was waiting for the Xpel to cure completely before I give her a good first detail job.
I used to enjoy doing my own detailing as well. Now it just seems like a PITA. With the coating, I can do a rinseless wash and be done in less than 30 minutes.
I used to enjoy doing my own detailing as well. Now it just seems like a PITA. With the coating, I can do a rinseless wash and be done in less than 30 minutes.
Auto Detailing is a newly acquired hobby of mine. I don't know how long I will enjoy it. We got 3 cars in the family, two are big SUVs (4Runner and MDX). PITA sometimes too, especially when it's hot!
I'm hoping the Rejex sealant that I will apply to the MDX this weekend will do the same for me as your Ceramic coating. I don't mind reapplying it every few months. Amazon have good reviews for it.
Yes black color car is a PITA especially dust build up and yes, swirl marks. It took me 3 days fully detailed my car. I had some deep water spot prior picking up my car from the dealership. Took me 1 whole day to buff out all the water spots.
Then I have to wax and polish it. Took me almost 2 days. After that, I was going to do the coat on my own and I just give up. Too much work LOL
Yes black color car is a PITA especially dust build up and yes, swirl marks. It took me 3 days fully detailed my car. I had some deep water spot prior picking up my car from the dealership. Took me 1 whole day to buff out all the water spots.
Then I have to wax and polish it. Took me almost 2 days. After that, I was going to do the coat on my own and I just give up. Too much work LOL
LoL hope you're not doing all that buffing work by hand. A Random Orbital is a huge time saver. I picked up a TORQX from Chemical Guys, it's my new favorite detailing tool 😉
Mine not lease either, paid cash for it. I don't believe in Leasing or high interest Financing for that matter.
Doing a few minor mods on leased cars for appearances, I understand.
But people who do heavy mods on leased cars just to part it all out after a couple years...now that's nuts!
They're lucky if they can sell all that aftermarket stuff for 50% on the dollar that they spent.
Oh well, it's an addiction I guess.
My MDX is currently a lease. I'm a car enthusiast so I like to take care of my car or change car every 2 or 3 years. I don't mind spending extra here and there. On an average cost of tint, its like about $400 - $500. So you factor it out on a typical 3 year lease. That comes out to be like $14 a month right there. Or adding coating or clear bra an average price in our area is about $1750 and factor it out to 3 years that is like about $50 per month. For $50 a month, you could eat 1 less nice steak dinner right there.
On my pass 3 vehicles that I had leased, I have spent an excess of well over $20K - $30K. On those, I mod heavily due to show purpose as again I'm an car enthusiast.
Looks clean! I was gonna clear bra instead Ceramic Coated with Ceramic Pro. Nice tint also! I used Suntek Nano Carbon 18% all around and 70% Nano Ceramic front windshield and 5% Sunroof.
Like the way your MDX looks. If you have any more hi-res pics you should start your own thread. You do anything to the interior? CBP looks great, but must be a pain to keep clean!
Did you have any sensor calibration problems with your lane keep assist, collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, etc.?
Im planning on tinting my windshield, but I talked to a installer that told me when he tinted a customer’s MDX’s windshield that they had problems with their sensors working correctly. They had to take off the tint and have the dealer re-calibrate the sensors.
I’ve always had my vehicle’s windshields tinted and never had this problem. I just wanted to hear from another person with an MDX’s windshield tinted. Any response would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Frank C
2017 Acura MDX tech
Diamond pearl w/ Espresso interior
Did you have any sensor calibration problems with your lane keep assist, collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, etc.?
Im planning on tinting my windshield, but I talked to a installer that told me when he tinted a customer’s MDX’s windshield that they had problems with their sensors working correctly. They had to take off the tint and have the dealer re-calibrate the sensors.
I’ve always had my vehicle’s windshields tinted and never had this problem. I just wanted to hear from another person with an MDX’s windshield tinted. Any response would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Frank C
2017 Acura MDX tech
Diamond pearl w/ Espresso interior
So all your sensors worked fine? That’s awesome to hear! Just to make sure, you do have the 2017 Acura MDX, w/ Tech options right?
Yup everything works just fine. I tried Lane keep assist and radar cruise many times since doing the tint, all works. The windshield tint is very light, barely noticeable. Yes we do have 2017 Sport Hybrid Tech package.
Seems like my DM are limited so figured I post here. Just checking to see how this is holding up? Any yellowing or discoloring? How noticeable is it on the white? What are you doing to maintain?
Seems like my DM are limited so figured I post here. Just checking to see how this is holding up? Any yellowing or discoloring? How noticeable is it on the white? What are you doing to maintain?
I tried to reply to your message, but you're a noobie and the system won't allow it.
To answer your questions. It's holding up good, no yellowing at all. I just do simple maintenance once per year- wash, clay bar, wax and sealant. Once a month I put on some Bead Maker for some UV protection. That's it. It's invisible from 4ft+ away. Up closer, you can see it. A small piece on front end already have a tear in it. Wife must've hit some flying debris. But the PPF did its job of protecting the paint. PPF is torn, but paint is perfectly fine. I may have the front end redone one of these days.
You asked if this is worth doing PPF on a used '17 MDX. No, I don't think so. I'd do this only on new cars or freshly painted, so you can preserve the paint. Why bother to do PPF on a used car that may already have paint damage. Unless your MDX paint is perfect or you plan on repainting.
To protect my 19 MDX Hybrid I did:
- Suntek Ultra Paint film (full hood, full front fenders, side mirrors, a-pillars between windshield, rear bumper, fogs, and headlights)
- CQuartz Finest reserve Ceramic Coating for painted surfaces and on Suntek Ultra PPF
- Ceramic Pro for gloss black Berlina rims, exterior glass, and interior surfaces
- Plastic Dip Chrome Delete
Did you guys re tint the rear windows or just left the factory shade?
My tint guy is recommending to tint all 4 to have the UV protection and reduce heat. He says factory is not a tint, just a shade so there is no really UV protection.
No additional tint with my 19 MDX other than the front passengers. I just assumed the factory tint had UV protection. Might have to add some UV protection living in the southwest.
No additional tint with my 19 MDX other than the front passengers. I just assumed the factory tint had UV protection. Might have to add some UV protection living in the southwest.
We can only do 35% tint on front windows in New Mexico. We can do 20% for the rear side windows and rear glass.
3M Color Stable 35
40% Solar Rejection
99% UV rejection
56% Glare reduction
Got a question about the front clear bra. I was in a recent fender bender where I was hit form behind which forced my car to hit the car in the front. On the bumper, I have had the Xpel Ultimate, which needed to be redone given the damage. But my insurance said they cannot pay for it because I didn't register it as extra equipment when I first insured the car. It seems to make sense because the whole thing cost me over $1400 (I did other places besides the bumper). On the other hand, registering an extra equpment usually brings up your premium.
I got to thinking.... my body shop guys says, nowadays, they actually take your broken bumper (unless it's so mangled up that you have to get a new part) or just your existing bumper that has a lot of rockchips and melt it. Yep you heard it right. They melt it and make the chips go away first. Then, they put on new paint. I'm told this costs only about $1000. But you'd be driving a rental for about 4 days.
So, I think perhaps quartz coating (or something similar) may be better in terms of cost/usability......
Ceramic coating won't do a thing to prevent rock chips. If you want best protection, repair/repaint the bumper, wait 30-60 days for paint to cure properly (don't drive it or else you may get more rock chips) then do PPF again. If you do PPF too soon, you may risk damage to your paint when time comes to peel off PPF, I've seen it. You can do Ceramic coating on top of PPF afterwards. PPF just front bumper shouldn't be that expensive, a few hundred bucks at the most at least around here in SoCal. I'm thinking about redoing our MDX since wife managed to put a tear in PPF section near the fog lights. Flying rock must've made the tear. At least the paint is not damage, PPF did its job well. I too have XPel PPF, it's great. No yellowing at all after 2 1/2 years now.
I agree that ceramic coating won't do anything to prevent a rock chip. I'm just looking at the cost/benefit here. In a typical case, isn't it just better to wait until the rock chips make a noticeable difference in the appearance and do an actual repaint, which according to my calculation is cheaper?
10-01-2017, 06:39 PM
