Tesla Model X – PPF film protection

Tesla Model X PPF film

The Risk of Damaging the Paintwork

There is always a risk of damaging the paintwork in any situation. Even during a regular drive, sand, gravel, and stones hit the body, damaging the bumper and headlights. Not to mention poor car maintenance, unfortunate parking, and vandalism.

The best solution to this problem is to apply a Tesla Model X film wrap.

Advantages of Film Over Other Coatings

There are many options for coating a car: film, ceramic, liquid glass, and others. However, film coating is the most effective for protecting the paintwork.

Ceramic coatings, for example, are merely sealants for the paint that protect only against UV exposure. Ceramic coatings prevent chemical damage but do not protect against mechanical impacts.

Imagine a scenario where a neighboring car scratches the side of your vehicle while parking. The result is a scratched door, damaged paintwork, and a lot of hassle with repairs. Even with a ceramic coating, the damage would still occur. But if the Tesla was wrapped in film, the paint would remain intact.

If vandals decide to scratch the car with a nail, it will damage the surface tension of the film and dull the gloss but will not affect the paint. Ceramic coatings are powerless in such situations. The film absorbs the impact, effectively protecting the car from scratches and chips. It is capable of preserving the paint from damage, as long as the right type of coating is chosen.

Which Film Is Best for Tesla Model X

Among the main types of film, polyurethane and vinyl coatings stand out. They differ in the following criteria:

Thickness.
Level of protection.
Stretchability.
Service life.

Vinyl Film

Vinyl is similar to plastic. It deforms only when heated and then hardens sharply. The film thickness ranges from 100 to 150 microns. Due to this, vinyl film does not protect the car as reliably as polyurethane. It will guard against minor scratches, branches, and sand grains, but if a chip occurs, replacement will be necessary.

Advantages of automotive vinyl include:

Protection against minor mechanical damage to the paint.
Protection against fading due to UV blockage.
Ability to create a unique design on the body using colored vinyl, including patterns and inscriptions.

Disadvantages of vinyl include a shorter service life of 3 to 5 years. Additionally, the adhesive under the film tends to yellow over time, making the coating visible to the naked eye.

Polyurethane Film for Tesla

Polyurethane resembles rubber more. It can easily recover from temperature changes and return to its original state. These films have a greater thickness—ranging from 150 to 300 microns or more. In Russia, the maximum thickness of polyurethane film used for car wrapping is 210 microns.

The level of protection provided by polyurethane is significantly higher than that of vinyl. Therefore, for wrapping a Tesla Model X, we recommend using polyurethane film. It will protect the car from flying stones, curb impacts, overgrown areas, and nail damage.

Polyurethane film on the Model X does not yellow with prolonged use. No one will even guess it is on the car since it will be completely transparent. Moreover, the film is easy to remove if needed, leaving no adhesive residue on the body.

Other features of polyurethane include:

Resistance to temperature fluctuations.
Service life of up to 8 years without restoration.
Elasticity and flexibility, preventing the film from becoming brittle at low temperatures or tearing.

The main disadvantage of polyurethane is its higher cost compared to vinyl coatings. Choosing the type of film for your Tesla is up to you. For coating, we recommend brands such as LLumar, SunTek, STEK, and Hexis. If you prefer, we can apply your film, or we can source films from official manufacturers and provide you with all receipts.

Full or Partial Tesla Protection

You can wrap your car in two ways: completely or partially. The partial option involves applying film only to the areas most at risk: bumper, hood, headlights, area under door handles, fenders, pillars, and mirrors. Full wrapping involves covering the entire Tesla Model X body and all its components.

Depending on your needs, we will advise on the suitable work package. For covering hard-to-reach areas, we will consider the thickness and stretchability of the film.

Environment and Temperature: Important Factors in Wrapping

Selecting high-quality film is just one part of achieving a beautiful result. External factors that affect adhesion also play a crucial role in wrapping a Tesla Model X.

We use a dedicated space for wrapping, avoiding other procedures like tuning, washing, or polishing. This helps minimize airborne dust and dirt, which positively impacts the wrapping result. Otherwise, dust particles might stick to the film, significantly affecting its appearance.

To maintain temperature and humidity, we use steam generators. This improves the quality of the film adhesion to the car. The temperature of the room and the car should be at the same level, around 20°C. Too low temperatures lead to film hardening, while too high temperatures cause aggressive adhesive behavior, which can result in uneven film application.

Such working conditions allow for high-quality wrapping, ensuring that the Tesla wrapped in film looks perfect.

Wrapping Process

The full body protection process takes 5 days. It includes:

Disassembling the car — 1 day.
Applying the film — 3 days.
Inspection after film drying — 1 day.

We focus on quality, adhering to each stage of the wrapping process and completing the work carefully.

Why Disassemble the Car?

Firstly, disassembly affects the quality of work. For example, if bumpers, moldings, mirrors, and door handles are not removed, debris will remain underneath. Later, it will be necessary to lift the film to remove contaminants.

Secondly, removing parts allows for film coverage with tucks, ensuring a more secure application.

Do not be afraid of disassembling the car. Manufacturers emphasize not just selling but also providing technical service, which includes disassembly. All car parts are designed to be removed, replaced, and reinstalled.

Preparation for Wrapping

Every car has areas that are not accessible for wiping by hand and are located in body folds. When wrapping the Tesla in film, we degrease these areas using a steam generator. This helps remove dirt, water scale, and wax, ensuring the film adheres as well as possible in the folds.

Film Application Process

When wrapping the Tesla Model X, we use the “wet” application technique. We apply a soapy solution to the surface where the film will be applied. After fixing the film, we use rubber squeegees to smooth out and remove excess air and liquid from under the film. If this step is not done, the film will not lay evenly on the car and may not provide reliable protection.

After wrapping, we allow the adhesive to dry to prevent peeling when exposed to moisture. On the 5th day, we conduct a final inspection, checking the folds and how well the polyurethane film has adhered. If the client does not notice the protective film on the car, the job has been done well.

Care for Transparent Film

The film adheres to the car within 3 days after application. Full curing takes no more than a week. If you have just wrapped your car in film, follow these rules:

Wash the car for the first time only a week after the wrapping procedure (in cold weather, wait 2 weeks).
Inform the car wash staff about the protective coating so they can adjust their cleaning methods: water temperature, distance from the nozzle to the body, pressure, and other parameters.

Wash your car regularly to extend the life of the anti-chipping film on the Tesla. Use microfiber towels to remove contaminants. If bird droppings or insects stick to the car, try to remove the stains as soon as possible to prevent any marks without additional polishing.