Was excited to pick up my 2016 club coupe that I had waited months for the other night.

Despite a less than perfect 3m install by the dealer on a previous 911, I had the Dealer install Expel by their new installer to front fender, hood, quarter panels and rear bumper because they assured me that their new installer would do a better job than before.
I requested they prep the car properly, clay before wrapping to get it as clean as possible without machines or polishers.

Problem is that the new installer didn't have a steady hand, was heavy handed with the knife, and generally had bad technique and judgment. I also noticed that areas of black trim were white from polisher - on a brand new car.
The sales manager and installation manager assured me that they don't use knives, that the Expel was from computer cut templates. After taking a few pics and zooming in for them, they finally apologized for the knife marks and offered to repair the damage (thank you iPhone)

Every opening is not straight or round, has razor marks within on the paint, the film is not applied straight, method of install is incomprehensible.

Front Hood There is a cut around the crest,
and it is crooked Razor blade cuts in paint
Cut wrap at side of hood, close to seam on each side

Fenders
Wrap does not come to edges of panels consistently

Front Bumper
Openings for headlight washers are by an epileptic
Razor blade cuts within

Rear Bumper
One large, funny shaped cut for each line of lettering
Wrap edge varies by 3/4" from left light to right

This may seem petty to some, but I can't get over knife marks in a brand new car, damaging it, when the point of wrap is for protection, and in the process of a poor install the car is blemished.

I requested that they reimburse me to bring it to a third party for the removal of wrap, repair of paint, and re-wrap. At this point I especially don't want anyone in their shop touching the car, obviously they cannot be trusted.

The Sales Manager said it was their policy that they could not pay third parties for work and guaranteed that the damage would not be noticeable after repair.

I left with a "we owe you" slip outlining repair and re-wrap of certain areas, however they said that since this their best install, they could not do any better so would not attempt to re-wrap because they couldn't make me happy.

Questions are regarding filing a claim to get it repaired properly the first time. I took delivery of a dealer damaged car.
Second is, what would be the best method to repair?

 

Sorry! That is certainly one of the very worse clear bra jobs I have ever seen. Just awe full. Just get a full refund and take it to a third party clear bra specialist - they will remove and reinstall. It may wind up costing you more money - or maybe not as dealers severely overcharge for this type of work. If you want the name of a good installer, one I have been using for years, PM me.

 

Never ever ever let a freaking dealer install XPel. Ever. It is a difficult material to work with and get right.

Use a dedicated well known installer. The best in the game are Protective Film Solutions in California and Detailing Dynamics in Mineola, NY. All 3 cars of mine have been Xpled at Detailng Dynamics and you would never know it because the install quality is so good.

The best Xpel installers are expensive. But worth it. In the Xpel business you can get cheap or good but NOT both.

Dealers hire crap installers and push the work because they have a massive profit margin on it. Avoid dealer installs at all costs.!

 

omg my 14 year old can do a better job than that.....

 

By the way the proper technique for rear badging Xpel is to remove the original badging. Put Xpel over the entire body panel/bumper and then install new badging. This way NO cut lines.

Here is my car in the middle of a rear bumper Xpel Job and after at Detailing Dynamics (had to have rear bumper Xpel replaced when someone backed into my car during Goldrush Rally 7 -- XPel was only thing damaged as person backed into the car at about 1-2 mph

 

Sorry to see this.

These bad hack jobs have been well documented. If never trust a guy the dealers use and ask questions on forums for good references before the fact.

That being said, be present when the film is removed. This "pro" most likely put cut marks all over the paint too. These amateurs cut too deep and get into the clear coat too. That's where the real damage is with a job like this.

 

Even though you were understandably anxious to bring the car home, you should have refused to accept delivery of the vehicle or complete the sales contract. That would have given you a HUGE amount of leverage. By taking the car and doing the 'We Owe You' thing you unfortunately took a weaker position on having this rectified. A quick glance at CT laws pertaining to such things doesn't show much recourse in the way of a contractual return.

My suggestion would be to get them to refund you the price of the wrap job in full, and then be done with it. Yes, its a new car and it bugs you a little, but you will be the only one to notice it, trust me. If you take the car back to them, they will remove the film and sand down and repaint any blade nick areas. Now you have a re-paint and the paint mil thickness will increase. Then, at a later date when you go to sell or trade the car in, a paint meter will be used over the car and it will show thick paint in those areas. The buyer or dealer will assume the car has been in an accident and repaired, and no amount of your explaining will convince them otherwise.

Live and learn, and move on and just enjoy the car, or prepare to Lawyer-Up and go fight with them.

 

Just noticed the rear bumper too. My gosh, this dealer should be ashamed. Over 50% of the car probably had razor cuts into the paint. I'd tell the dealer keep the car and void the deal. What are you going to do, repaint the whole car?

 

I would remove the clear bra and enjoy the car. Repainting will hurt the resale value and nobody will notice the marks or know about them but you. The razor marks fortunately will not hurt the resale value.

 

Woah man **** I think I would be broken forever if this happened to my car. Your car is a ltd edition super special colour car too. So sorry for you.

I have just had my whole car covered with Paint Protection Film, they used both Suntek and Xpel. Suntek for the higher risk areas (as its slightly thicker) and Xpel on the rest.

All I really knew about the process before they started was that it is a very expensive process. I went to Topaz Detailing in London which is one of the top two detailers and PPF fitters in the UK.

The car had about 220 miles on it at the time of fitting..
Here is a run through of how it went.

The car had a full decontamination and wash.
It was inspected for paint damage, imperfections, stone chips, holograms etc.
It was then washed again.
Clay barred, machine polished.
It was then washed again.
Then moved into a dust free environment ready for PPF fitting.
All films are computer cut to pattern, nothing is cut on the car. Nothing at all, EVER.
The film is then fitted and the car is then cleaned up and dried off due to the wet method of installing.

It took 4 people 3 days to complete these tasks.

Don't wash your car for 7 days after installation, it takes this long for the moisture to evaporate from under the film, and washing could hinder 'the set'

 

that is so messes up... it definitely depreciates car value if you sell it with all the scratches. can you have the clear bra removed then have the paint 'corrected' before having a true professional installer put on another set? i know it'll be costly but short of bad yelp review, and social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram etc) 'harrassing' them to own up to their screw up, or contacting the state consumer affairs board and reporting them.
another option is to contact the local news station and see if they have a consumer help team, they will do a piece and share with the dealership misconduct. the idea is to bring as much bad press as possible to the dealer so they will man up and fix their problem regardless of 'policy'

 

Honestly if the dealer fu*ckedup my car like that I was probably demand they buy it back. This car will have to be repainted which will affect its value. I would probably get Counsel to send a demand letter.

 

Yes ^^^^ This

Forget the contact the news suggestion. Won't get sympathy there. I can see the headline now...

"As many Americans struggle with mortgage and food bills, this $150K Porsche owner has a lot to complain about. His plastic film to protect his paint wasn't installed correctly. Poor guy"

 

2 questions...

1. What is a typical cost?

2. Any recommendations in NC?

 

Correct. A complaint to news media could easily be turned around on the OP. Even if it is fixed the car's value will be diminished. I would definitely demand they buy it back. This is breach of contract and negligence. The dealer sold the services so they are responsible.

Let this serve as a warning to people to not let dealers apply Xpel. They just don't do a good job in almost all cases.

I have seen some horrific jobs even on 991 Turbos butchered by dealers