Is Xpel Ceramic Coating Worth the Investment? Pros and Cons to Consider

What is Ceramic Coating?

Ceramic Coating is a flexible and thin, 9H nano coating that offers unrivaled gloss, superior hydrophobic protection, and improved scratch resistance with a single-layer application for paint, glass, wheels and calipers, plastic and trim, or upholstery on vehicles. If you are searching for a longer lasting, higher shine producing, and more user-friendly paint protection option, then using a professional ceramic coating is a good replacement for traditional car wax.

Why choose an Xpel Product?

XPEL FUSION PLUS™ is the most advanced ceramic coating that is designed to bond with paint protection films like XPEL Ultimate Plus™ to give you the best of both worlds, rock chip and abrasive protection with the gloss, shine and easy cleaning of ceramic coating! 

XPEL FUSION PLUS™ bonds at the molecular level to seal and protect the surface against our harsh Alberta environment, including fall out, UV rays fading your paint, and insects acids etching the finish. Its hydrophobic properties repel dirt and liquids making washing your car a breeze, you’ll save time and money all the while having the best looking paint on the block. Unlike other ceramic coatings, XPEL FUSION PLUS™/XPEL FUSION PREMIUM™ is applied in one coat, and only requires an annual maintenance with XPEL CERAMIC BOOST/XPEL CERAMIC LITE and a decontamination of the paint once a year.

Pros of Ceramic Coating: If you're still unsure about what the product offers, here's a jot list of advantages to ceramic coating your vehicle!

• Increases Colour Depth and Gloss, making the vehicle look better than it did in the showroom!

• Assists in maintaining “like new” condition

• Cuts wash time in half and time in between washes doubles, bug guts come right off (even when stuck to PPF)

• Protects against 99% of Harmful UV Rays, Oxidation, Insect Acids, Corrosion and other road contaminants such as tar, oil, salts, etc.

• Prevents discolouration (Paint Fade) from oils, pollution, and other environmental impurities.

• Repels Water, Dirt, Splash Marks, and Road Grime

• Leaves paint with a smooth/slick finish

Cons of Ceramic Coating:

Let's take a look at what ceramic coating can't do. Here are the most common complaints you'll hear.

• It doesn't magically make imperfections disappear. Scratches, swirls, water spots etc. Will all need to be taken out or improved upon with paint polishing, which will usually cost extra. That being said, once it's done and you ceramic coat it, it'll lock that in and stay looking perfect!

See Image Above for Finished Product of Polishing & Ceramic Coating

• It doesn't turn your vehicle into a tank. Unfortunately, despite some places advertising ceramic coating as a replacement for paint protection film, and claiming it's just as good at protecting against impact such as preventing rock chips. While it helps to a degree, to say it works the same isn't factual. This is why having a product such as Fusion+ that works in tandem with Xpel's Paint Protection line is so handy.

• Keeping your vehicle clean is important and washing regularly after coating is recommended. Ceramic Coating helps to make that process easier and quicker. With that being said, Drive Through Car Washes, touchless or not, are ill advised if you wish for the maximum longevity of the coating. Most use cleaning chemicals high in pH among other things that can deteriorate the coating.

• Water Spots/Swirl Marks Are Never 100% Preventable. A waterproof coating doesn't change this. However, water spots are less likely and much easier to clean. Most beads of water will roll right off after washing, which minimizes the likelihood of water spots. It's our recommendation to use a good, clean, drying towel after a wash! The formation of swirl marks on your car is also minimized by ceramic coating however just like water spots, they are also inevitable.

In conclusion, Ceramic Coating stands out as a game-changer in vehicle protection, offering an impressive array of benefits such as enhanced gloss, hydrophobic properties, and extended protection against UV rays and environmental contaminants. Its single-layer application streamlines maintenance, providing a durable, high-gloss finish. However, it's crucial to acknowledge its limitations, including the need for additional steps to address existing imperfections and the fact that it isn't a substitute for impact resistance like Paint Protection Film. Despite these considerations, the overall value of Ceramic Coating, particularly exemplified by advanced products like XPEL FUSION PLUS™, makes it a compelling choice for those seeking lasting aesthetic appeal and long-term protection for their vehicles.

Xpel Prime CS Window Tint

Xpel Prime CS

Welcome to my take on dyed window tint!

Today I'd like to go into the very basic of my favorite window tint brand Xpel Prime! Namely Prime CS.

CS stands for "Color Stable" and Color stable is another way to say that this tint uses a dye that is unaffected by UV! so it will never go purple or fade to clear! which is fantastic news for anyone looking for a budget friendly tint!

"When comfort and cost is key, dyed window tint won't let you down. PRIME CS BLACK can cut out the glare, protect your skin from harmful UV rays, and make any journey that much more enjoyable"

Some of the features of Prime CS are listed on Xpel's Website here, for those of you interested, but lets get a little more unbiased opinion and I'll walk you through the Pros and Cons of This film, starting with its UV protection

View Prime CS on Xpel's Website!

UV Ray Protection

UV Protection isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of window tint, but it really should play a factor when your thinking about which windows you want to tint in your vehicle.

Unlike heat rejection performance, you don't have to pick a dark, low VLT tint to gain the the highest performance! in fact, how dark your tint is has nothing to do with it! no matter how dark or light your tint is, you'll reap the benefits of blocking 99.9% UV A and UV B that can lead to numerous skin cancers, premature aging and skin cell damage. It works so well as a UV Protectant that is Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation

Dyed Tint blocks UVA and UVB!

Crystal Clear Signal

Something I never would have thought about before getting into this industry is selecting a window tint that wouldn't interfere with my Bluetooth, radio or cell phone. Some window tint film contains alloys and other precious metals that can interfere with all of the above in the name of Heat rejection performance!

Dyed Tint won't block any signals!

Dyed window tint like Prime CS from Xpel contains no metalized particles ensuring that it does not interfere with any of the signals you use on a daily basis.

Appearance And Warranty

This film always looks great from the outside of the vehicle! Prime CS Black especially matches the factory tinted glass from domestic vehicle manufactures very well! We've seen this tint on new Ford F150's and the match is almost Perfect!

The glare reduction is fantastic, and due to the color of the film it ends up looking a little darker then it's Carbon color counterparts from other manufactures which usually ends up coming through as a Green or brown color which I've never been a huge fan of.

A great perk is as we mentioned in the beginning of the article this tint utilizes UV stable dye! So it will never change color or fade to a lighter shade over time!

UV stable Tint installation

"XPEL, Inc. (the “Company”) expressly warrants to the owner that, for the life of your vehicle (the “Warranty Period”) from the date of initial installation. The Company will cover defects on the PRIME Automotive Window Film (the “Product(s)”) such as: discoloration, fading, bubbling, peeling, cracking, and delamination" - Xpel Website

The lifetime warranty is upheld through any Xpel dealer throughout north America! that means that even if you move across the continent, you'll be able to claim your warranty should a manufacture defect occur via their "find and installer" dealer locator! Awesome!

One down side though is that the film does carry a slightly blurry appearance, which makes it unfit for windshields and if you're picky enough, the front roll down windows.

Heat Rejection Performance

This is where the dyed window films tend to fall behind... They don't stop a ton of heat when compared to their Ceramic counterparts like Prime XR and XR Plus.

Looking at the performance table from Xpel we see that at its darkest, 5% you're seeing a modest 42% Total Solar Energy Rejection (TSER) which isn't substantial by todays standards, but that being said its better then nothing!

Xpel Prime CS Performance chart

In conclusion, Dyed window tint is a great option for those looking for UV protection, good aesthetics, Glare reduction and a more budget friendly option.

I hope you've found this article informative in my quest to educate and inform you all in what the options are out there for everything automotive protection!

How Much Does Window Tinting Cost?

As the owner of a window tint business, the first question I get asked on Facebook, Instagram or in person is "How much does window tint cost?"

Shopping for a service as specialized as window tint, you will always see a wide range of prices and package deals. Some shops will charge per window, some will charge by the type and age of vehicle.

One thing that is certain is with window tint, you get what you pay for. Many veterans of the industry use the term "Good tint isn't cheap, and cheap tint ain't good" So depending on your budget and the vehicle you are looking to tint the price will vary.

Here are a few tips and questions to ask when looking for a good value when shopping for window tint!

Google / Facebook Reviews

Do some research on the tint shops around you, check their reviews and star rating, this is a quick indication on the customer experience you may have and the quality of their tint installation. but not all reviews may be accurate so take your time to sift through them and also note the response of the company to negative reviews, this will help you see the companies dedication to customer service and quality.

A company with good google reviews may charge more then a company with negative, few or no google reviews, but you will save time and possibly a negative experience by going with a solidly established company.

Window Tint Brand

Most shops will directly advertise the brand of tint film they install, if not you can call and ask. A few reputable brands are listed here:

-Xpel

-Autobahn

-Suntek

-Llummar

-Hüper Optik

-3M

All these Brands have a proven track record and most offer a film with a lifetime warranty. But just like when buying a new vehicle there are "Good, Better and Best" trim options within the brand, not all product lines within these brands offer the same warranty or performance, so its best to ask not just what brand of tint they use, but also the type or construction of the tint film as this will effect the price of the window tint installation.

Which window tint is the best value for me?

We wont go to far into the different types of window tint in this article, but there are generally 3 types of window tint offered today.

Dyed Tint : This is a entry-level tint, great for those who only have privacy or glare protection as a concern.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $350 +/-

Metallized Tint : This is a mid-level tint, Good performance for heat control and glare reduction, But may effect GPS, Bluetooth, Cell phones.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $450 +/-

Ceramic Tint : This is a high performance tint. the best heat absorbing performance out of any tint, optically clear.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $700 +/-

Warranty

Warranty is a big plus when looking for a good value window tint and may not effect the price as much as you think. Many shops offer a lifetime manufacture warranty tint but one more good question to ask is what the installation warranty is... the tint maybe warrantied against fade, bubbling, delaminating and so on, but if the installation of the tint doesn't look good, or it peels up a few months down the road, you'll wish you asked, a lifetime warranty film is only good if it stays on the window.

You also may be required to register your warranty online so its not a bad idea to ask that question as well.

The take away is that there are quite a few options for window tint and depending on which option you choose the price will then vary on your car, truck, SUV or van. so best to get out there and ask the questions, read the reviews, and find the tint shop that checks all the boxes!

Happy Hunting!