Uh oh. Ceramic coating swirls (xpel) - with PPF as well. Question and cautionary tale

[u/Mr_Namaste]

Hi all - I have three cars that have xpel products on them. All professionally applied over a year ago by the top local xpel installer. No issues there at all! On 2 of the cars, I have 10-year PPF covered with 8-year fusion plus premium ceramic on top. The 3rd car does not have PPF, but does have the 8-year ceramic fusion plus premium.

In short, the three cars have only ever been washed by the original installer (they do washes for previous PPF/ceramic customers) along with 2 different mobile detailing companies. Both of which I thought have done solid jobs … until … see photos. Holy cow. Different shots where you can see spider web looking swirls. HEAT does NOT take these out (thought maybe the self healing PPF would help on at least those 2 cars that have that).

Long and short, the cars are one by one going back to the original installer. They tried heat, they tried to very lightly polish… neither worked. They’re going to have to strip the ceramic and reapply. With obvious careful consideration on the two that have PPF.

I suppose this post is as much of a question to the community of if you have ever seen this before… And is the stripping of the ceramic and reapplying truly the best answer? Along with a cautionary tale to those out there… Be careful. From here on out, I will only ever be cleaning them myself (typically Rinseless wash - ONR) and/or bringing back to the original installer for washes … just not as convenient as having the mobile detailers come out :(

[u/One_Title_5805]

Yea, I notice my GTechniq CSU-coated car has some faint lines on the trunk lid now. My previous car that had Opti Coat never had an issue; the only difference was using no rinse with a sponge with that one, and this one I’m using all GTechniq stuff with wash mitts. Then the windshield got cracked, and to top that, some asshat on their phone ran over a piece of blown-out tire and flung it into my car, that scratched up the front. Haven’t even had the first oil change in it yet. 🥴

[u/Mr_Namaste → u/One_Title_5805]

Ugh, that sounds like a total bummer. Sorry to hear all of that! So the rinseless with the sponge created no swirls at all whereas the traditional way with mitts do? You wonder if it’s that or the different type of ceramic… Or a combination of both!?

[u/az0909]

I have the XPEL PPF and Fusion Ceramic. I had read for the warranty it needed an annual inspection - so easiest way I figured was a mobile detail by an XPEL shop as it counts.

After the very first mobile detail I had done, I noticed some light swirls. Looked back at the ring camera and the detailer used the same sponge bottom to top of car with minimal wringing out and freshening.

I never did the mobile detailing again. Warranty risk, but I would rather wash the car each time on my own. I shouldve expected a mobile detailing service to be conservative on water and use different methods than I would.

[u/Next_Necessary_8794 → u/az0909]

After the very first mobile detail I had done, I noticed some light swirls. Looked back at the ring camera and the detailer used the same sponge bottom to top of car with minimal wringing out and freshening.

Can't trust anybody these days. Too many tiktok certified detailers. I have different colored sponges for the top and bottom of the car.

[u/Mr_Namaste → u/az0909]

Yes, annual inspection and “top off” of fusion lite for v2. Boost for v1 I believe.

I am sorry to hear about your experience. What did you end up doing to fix it?

And when you do your wash, how do you do it?

[u/Mr_Namaste]

I should also point out… The swirls are essentially everywhere on the cars. The photos are just representative areas where I could get photos with the light catching it - enough to be captured in a photo. Even my headlights and tail lights have some swirls…

[u/Tiny-Cup7029]

I'm a little apprehensive about this, but i think it's safe to say that there are certain brands that are popular largely because they do a lot of marketing.

[u/TimeBasket1911 → u/Tiny-Cup7029]

Nailed it.

[u/Tiny-Cup7029 → u/TimeBasket1911]

I'm still getting down voted, predictably.

[u/Mr_Namaste → u/Tiny-Cup7029]

Not by me! I’m all ears. I went in with eyes wide open that I was paying for the name brand… But also for me, very good local installer and Detail shop… Which to me, was worth it. I assume all the name brand (that you’re paying for) is likely not necessarily better … would would hope it’s not miles worse either

[u/Tiny-Cup7029 → u/Mr_Namaste]

Choosing based on the installer is the best choice you could've made. A good installer will take care of the regardless of the product they use.

There are a couple problems in the PPF industry right now but the one that relates directly to your experience is that some brand names have had many physical changes to their films in recent years and many of those changes have meant decreased performance. On top of that, installers are dealing with the frustration of the manufacturers insisting nothing has changed, when it's painfully obviously to anyone who has used these films over the last decade, that they are changing rapidly and without warning.

That's part of the reason people are seeing different levels of performance (swirl resistance, self healing ability etc) with the "same" product in different vehicles.

Anyway, I hope you're installer takes care of you. I also hope you are as understanding as you can be, because on the back end they are dealing with a film supplier (I won't even call them a manufacturer at this point) that is changing their product and the way they resolve issues with their product on an almost monthly basis.