Tank 500 – PPF film protection

Tank 500 Wrapped in Film

The massive and reliable Tank 500 crossover attracts car enthusiasts with many features, including excellent driving performance and luxurious design, all of which hint at an uncompromising desire to conquer any road. However, no matter how impressive the car looks after purchase, its appearance deteriorates over time. The culprit is gravel kicked up from the road, constant exposure to dust and dirt, and contact with tree branches and bushes. To prevent potential consequences such as scratches, chips, or stains from various chemicals, it is important to apply protective film to the Tank 500 in time. You can have this done at our CarEngineering detailing studio.

Protecting the paint with a film coating is one of the most effective ways to safeguard body parts. In our studio, this work is performed using high-quality materials, ensuring that the protection for the Tank 500 is reliable, long-lasting, and practical.

This goal is also achieved through the expertise of highly qualified specialists. Each of our professionals has at least 20 years of practical experience in detailing and styling. Additionally, we strictly follow the technological process, which consists of several stages.

In this review, we will explain in more detail the technology, the properties of the films we use, and the method of wrapping the car.

What wrapping options are available for the Tank 500? What’s the difference?

When you contact us, you can choose between two types of car wrapping: partial or full protection. These options differ in price and the level of protection they provide for the car body.

Here’s when each option should be chosen:

Partial film wrapping of the Tank 500: This includes applying film to areas such as door handle cups, mirror covers, front fenders, a strip on the roof, windshield pillars, and the front bumper.
Full protective film wrapping of the Tank 500: In this case, only areas with piano lacquer and the rear lights remain uncovered. This method provides full protection for all parts of the body.

In the first case, some parts of the car’s body remain unprotected. Sometimes ceramic coating is used to protect these areas, but it does not offer the same results as film wrapping. Ceramic coatings have water-repellent properties and reduce the risk of damage from chemicals and UV rays. However, unprotected parts may still suffer damage during use. Ceramic coating is applied to protect them.

With full film wrapping, the Tank 500 retains its paint protection for longer without suffering from scratches or other damage. All body parts are protected from fading due to UV rays. Polyurethane film preserves the car’s appearance even after frequent washes or exposure to strong chemicals.

Another advantage of full protection is the prevention of premature wear of the body and its paintwork.

What film to choose for wrapping

For wrapping any vehicle, including the Chinese-made SUV, we use original samples from reputable manufacturers. This guarantees quality.

Our specialists recommend wrapping the Tank 500 with polyurethane film. However, other options are available. The choice of film depends on your priority: maximum protection or altering the car’s appearance.

Vinyl film is ideal for styling. Its thickness is 100-150 microns, so it doesn’t provide as much protection as polyurethane. It only offers protection against minor damage. However, it comes in a vast array of colors, and you can combine multiple colors to create a truly unique design. You can also partially wrap the car’s body.
Vinyl film has additional advantages like thermal resistance. It withstands temperatures ranging from -30°C to +70°C and completely blocks UV rays, preventing the original paintwork from fading under the film.
Polyurethane film offers the best protective properties. Its main advantage is that it provides maximum protection for the body against various types of damage. It’s the only coating that can truly protect the car’s paint from scratches from branches, sand, stones, poor parking, driving on shoulders, or bumps with other vehicles. Polyurethane film will help keep the body of the Tank 500 looking like new.

Other features of polyurethane film include:

A temperature range from -70°C to +100°C, maintaining structural integrity;
Resistance to sudden temperature changes;
Allowing UV rays to pass through;
Self-healing properties, where small scratches on the film disappear after the body heats up under sunlight.

The paintwork will be reliably protected from stains after washing and exposure to chemicals. The polyurethane film also offers high protection from oils, tar, salt, bird droppings, or insect marks.

Regarding film types, we offer glossy and matte options. You can choose based on the desired effect.

The lifespan of each material also varies. Vinyl films are less durable due to their thinner and less robust structure, but they can last 2-5 years while providing protection and enhancing the vehicle’s design. Polyurethane films last longer, from five to ten years.

How anti-gravel film wrapping is done at CarEngineering

For quality work, we strictly follow essential steps: preparing the room and the car is a must at the start. To prevent defects during wrapping, we thoroughly clean the studio and ensure everything is spotless, eliminating the risk of even the smallest particles getting under the film. All work is performed in a temperature-controlled environment suitable for car protection.

We inform the car owner in advance that some body elements will need to be removed to ensure full access to all painted areas. Typically, door handles, moldings, and bumpers are removed.

Next comes the wrapping process itself, which includes:

Multi-stage washing using professional car care chemicals and special clay;
Applying the film;
Smoothing it with a squeegee;
Pressing the material to the body.

Once the surface is fully wrapped, the master trims the film with a fine blade. Then the edges of the film are tucked in, preventing it from peeling or tearing when exposed to stones or high-pressure water during a wash.

After the entire body is wrapped, the Tank 500 is left in the studio to dry until the next day. After drying, a final inspection is conducted, paying close attention to the seams and complex elements before the car is returned to the owner.

If you want the polyurethane wrap on your Tank 500 to retain its protective properties and keep the body in top condition for as long as possible, order the service at CarEngineering.