Not surprisingly a very happy client visiting his new baby during manufacture at Gaydon. This was the point we also begin to get excited with delivery imminent!. Starting to organise time in the dairy, enclosed transport, satisfying dealer requirements and opening dialogue with Xpel UK as at this point patterns were not available.
Although the car had some factory protection film applied the majority of the car was exposed so enclosed transport was employed to ensure safe arrival with us blemish free.
As previously mentioned some protection film was installed at the factory which once inspected fell some way short of the mark. Partially covered, gappy and poorly finished this had to go!.
Removal takes place via careful steaming with techniques employed to ensure issues are not created. Too hot and the material splits and leaves all its glue behind, too cold and the added surface tension risks disturbing the cars paint.
Its worth mentioning at this point that the bonnet "Wings" emblem is a technical masterpiece being manufactured at just 1 micron in thickness, something so delicate must be protected in every way possible.
With just 100mm of ground clearance, access to jacking areas could be challenging. Our flat entry ramp means we can safely elevate the car from underneath. This allows for wheel removal and for the very best access when installing both protection film and ceramic coatings.
Xpel's DAP pattern system is our go to for all our installations. In house we have the ability to select and then adjust any section to exactly our requirements. We then plot and install each and every part (which there are a lot!!) individually.
With so many parts involved and some incredibly similar to each other, identification is key to an installation of this type.
Its lights out and away we go!! A mixture of both gloss and satin finishes require those finishes to be maintained as intended, we do this by employing both Xpel's Ultimate plus and Stealth films.
Gull wing doors are super cool and even cooler when finished in satin carbon fibre!. Patterns were extended to allow all leading edges to be tucked underneath, ensuring both a pleasing aesthetic and super secure fitment.
Lights take just the same wear and tear as painted surfaces. The technologies carried within mean replacements are incredibly expensive so must be protected.
The reason I visit the chiropractor every month!!. All these intricate areas have just the same finishes as those "top side" and with the rotation of the wheels take even more of a battering. Getting in there and covering them is an absolute must.
Larger area's like rear quarter patterns are make or break when it comes to pattern accuracy. Edge alignment whilst navigating compound curves can be challenging. Matt and the pattern team got these millimetre perfect to the point I called on the phone and gave "compliments to the chef!).
Patterns edited to bring that front edge out and wrap underneath means these grill slats will never lose their looks or performance. The aerodynamic deflection in these parts is really quite something to see.
Access all areas when it comes to full coverage on these doors. Tops first in stealth, then gloss in the middle and finally back to stealth for the bottoms. Inner surfaces were also covered.
Side air intakes see a huge amount of action due to the intake charge being both forced in aerodynamically and drawn in via large fans just in front of the rear wheels. This takes all those little stones along for the journey and so must be covered.
Dry banding is a technique we don't often need to employ but here it was an absolute necessity. Sections butting up to each other are sealed across the seam for absolute security.
Looking top left we see a 5mm edge of film hanging down which is heated top right and then tucked up around the back of the panel and again heated down to form a perfect seal. This ensure even the slimmest of edges is fully secure and as you can see in the lower portion of the image you'd never know it had been done.
Never to be seen again but super important is ensuring all those edges have properly sealed and bonded. Whether its above or below it has to be done and done well.
A product that has gained real traction over the last few years is windscreen protection film (anyone would think the roads are buggered!). Utilising Xpel's WPF and plotted via the DAP this provides a sacrificial layer that can be changed as and when needed.
During our processes the vehicle may be raised or lowered at one end or the other to gain good access. Notes are made and original distances reset ready to reinstall the wheels. With carbon ceramic disks accuracy will always win out.
As always, Xpel Fusion ceramic coatings are our go to. With this car having both satin and gloss finishes, we have to accommodate that with a combination of two coatings, classic on the shiny bits and satin for stealth parts.
Final touches such as application of fabric protection means the inside is just as well looked after as the outside.
