3M protective film

Scrounger · Jul 23, 2012

Has anyboby had the 3M protective film installed on the front of your Passat to hold down on the stone damage on the highway. Looking for advice on what it cost to have a shop install or can you do this as a DIY project and save serious cash.

pkiron · Jul 23, 2012

Scrounger said:
Has anyboby had the 3M protective film installed on the front of your Passat to hold down on the stone damage on the highway. Looking for advice on what it cost to have a shop install or can you do this as a DIY project and save serious cash.

Just did mine and it was for the hood, bumper and mirrors. 700.00

ChadS99SVT · Jul 23, 2012

I am going to piggy back onto your thread and ask about this stuff called Diamond Fusion. it's a windshield strengthener/rainX (similar). comes with a warranty against ever chipping and cracking.

anyone have expierence with this or heard of it? seems like a decent investment if I don't ahve to worry about replacing my windsheild, but I have done some research and it sounds like there is no huge following of how great this stuff is and most of the data/information is old news....

I Initially said yes to it but am having second thoughts.

In response to your question. i find the film to look tacky and distracting in appearance. As "invisible" as it is I can still see it and it bothers me. I will take my chances with rock chips etc that's normal for a car to have. If it got horrible I will get it repainted.

ColoradoDriver · Jul 23, 2012

Had the clear bra installed before taking delivery. Covered about 18" of hood, front portion of fenders, and backs of mirrors. Got the wholesale price of $169. Well worth it--especially when you live in the Rocky Mountains!

Driver_found · Jul 24, 2012

I just had a stone nail my windshield on the highway. I will now need a new windshield on my week old 2013 Passat.

ChadS99SVT · Jul 24, 2012

Driver_found said:
I just had a stone nail my windshield on the highway. I will now need a new windshield on my week old 2013 Passat.

Let me know what it costs to replace if you don't mind.

I'm still trying to get the dealer to send me info on this windsheild product I bought. I want to see the warranty and fine print.

kydsid · Jul 24, 2012

Been there with a brand new vechile and broken windshield. It sucks. Hope you have free replacement with your insurance.

Scrounger · Jul 24, 2012

ChadS99SVT said:
I am going to piggy back onto your thread and ask about this stuff called Diamond Fusion. it's a windshield strengthener/rainX (similar). comes with a warranty against ever chipping and cracking.

anyone have expierence with this or heard of it? seems like a decent investment if I don't ahve to worry about replacing my windsheild, but I have done some research and it sounds like there is no huge following of how great this stuff is and most of the data/information is old news....

I Initially said yes to it but am having second thoughts.

In response to your question. i find the film to look tacky and distracting in appearance. As "invisible" as it is I can still see it and it bothers me. I will take my chances with rock chips etc that's normal for a car to have. If it got horrible I will get it repainted.

That is sorta my thought on the paint film. On your windshield treatment, what does that run. My insurance will replace a windshield at no cost so it really doesnt apply to me.

Scrounger · Jul 24, 2012

ColoradoDriver said:
Had the clear bra installed before taking delivery. Covered about 18" of hood, front portion of fenders, and backs of mirrors. Got the wholesale price of $169. Well worth it--especially when you live in the Rocky Mountains!

That is one serious deal since they are going for over $700 around here.

ChadS99SVT · Jul 24, 2012

Scrounger said:
That is sorta my thought on the paint film. On your windshield treatment, what does that run. My insurance will replace a windshield at no cost so it really doesnt apply to me.

charging me $500. I am pretty sure I'm going to tell them to scrap it. hopefully it's not to much of a pain

TDI_Ryan · Jul 24, 2012

Driver_found said:
I just had a stone nail my windshield on the highway. I will now need a new windshield on my week old 2013 Passat.

That literally makes me sick to my stomach. Ugh. So sorry man.

RIP TDI · Jul 24, 2012

ChadS99SVT said:
I am going to piggy back onto your thread and ask about this stuff called Diamond Fusion. it's a windshield strengthener/rainX (similar). comes with a warranty against ever chipping and cracking.

anyone have expierence with this or heard of it? seems like a decent investment if I don't ahve to worry about replacing my windsheild, but I have done some research and it sounds like there is no huge following of how great this stuff is and most of the data/information is old news....

You probably saw this on their website:

"Diamon Fusion® does not provide any additional strength per se but rather resistance to impacts due to the lower coefficient of friction accomplished by its nanochemistry. Tests have shown that the weight of a debris particle required to crack a piece of glass that has been treated with Diamon Fusion® would need to be 10 times heavier than the weight required to crack an untreated piece of glass."

Now that is some claim. Because the friction coefficient of the glass is lower, a stone headed straight for the windshield at 70 MPH will slide laterally so fast that it won't impart it's full mass to the glass at the point of initial contact? That I would like to see.

Driver_found · Jul 24, 2012

ChadS99SVT said:
Let me know what it costs to replace if you don't mind.

I'm still trying to get the dealer to send me info on this windsheild product I bought. I want to see the warranty and fine print.

Only- $250. Whew!

CNNPress · Jul 24, 2012

Driver_found said:
Only- $250. Whew!

Just wondering... Is 250 OEM part or aftermarket?

bigred 7.3l · Jul 24, 2012

Driver_found said:
I just had a stone nail my windshield on the highway. I will now need a new windshield on my week old 2013 Passat.

That does suck. Better the windshield than the paint IMHO.

pruzink · Jul 24, 2012

I had the clear bra installed on my 2004 Jetta when it was < a year old. It is one of those things that if I had it to do over I wouldn't do it. The film membrane doesn't look as good as the paint. When you wax the car you tend to get a white edge along the membrane which is hard to clean out. After about 7 years the membrane just doesn't look that good & it is very, very difficult to remove after it has been on that long. Just my opinion FWIW.

FormerOwner · Jul 24, 2012

I recommend you purchase SAFELITE Auto Glass... I'm a 2x satisfied customer.

Driver_found · Jul 24, 2012

CNNPress said:
Just wondering... Is 250 OEM part or aftermarket?

Going to discuss that with the agent in the morning. Since the car is new. It should have new OEM parts. Needing to speak to someone who will sign off on it.

APT · Jul 25, 2012

I installed 3M paint protection film on my 2003 F150 when I bought it new. I sold the truck after 8.5 years to my brother and still get to see it. From 10', you cannot tell it is there. No yellowing, but dust does tend to build up there. The detailing products I sue do not leave residue, but I'm sure some do. Here is a picture I took when I installed it, only on the quarter panel before I did the hood.

I am considering ordering kits from Invisible Mask for my Passat. I'm not sure why I have not done it yet.

Syndicate · Jul 25, 2012

pruzink said:
I had the clear bra installed on my 2004 Jetta when it was < a year old. It is one of those things that if I had it to do over I wouldn't do it. The film membrane doesn't look as good as the paint. When you wax the car you tend to get a white edge along the membrane which is hard to clean out. After about 7 years the membrane just doesn't look that good & it is very, very difficult to remove after it has been on that long. Just my opinion FWIW.

Wraps have come a long ways from 2004. They don't yellow as much and the wrap itself is of better quality.

Even if it were to look a little off (eye of the beholder), just think of the savings when you go to sell… You just protected your paint from thousands of miles of sand and rock wear.

740GLE · Jul 25, 2012

How about laminx for just the head lights?

ttoplesstts · Jul 25, 2012

Scrounger said:
Has anyboby had the 3M protective film installed on the front of your Passat to hold down on the stone damage on the highway. Looking for advice on what it cost to have a shop install or can you do this as a DIY project and save serious cash.

We had the Xpel clear film installed on our Passat. I researched the web quite a bit between the 3M, XPEL, and others and most forums seemed to prefer the XPel product over 3M. I found a local installer here that works independently with the Porsche, Jaguar, and Ferrari dealerships to install the product as their vehicles arrive at the showroom. They did a great job and it has already protected our paint from some debris just in the first 13k miles.

We had the bikini-cut hood, front bumper, and quarter-panels covered for $600. I wish I had covered the top of the back bumper for inserting and removing items from the trunk. I'll probably go back and have that covered at some point. No rush as it doesn't get a ton of traffic or debris.

Driver_found · Jul 25, 2012

Update on windshield. Found out my insurance policy does NOT have OEM as a replacement option. From this point forward, that option is now checked... So I am getting the dealer to do it with OEM glass, and still get to send the bill to Insurance, and still pay @ $300 with the deductable when all is said and done. This dealer (Langhorne) does good work, so no worries.

VeeDubTDI · Jul 25, 2012

I'm glad you are going with OE glass from Langhorne. I'd be sick if you put an aftermarket windshield in a brand new car!

sc00byd00311 · Jul 26, 2012

So is aftermarket glass lower quality or does it look out of place or do you just need to see that little vw emblem at the bottom?

Driver_found · Jul 26, 2012

sc00byd00311 said:
So is aftermarket glass lower quality or does it look out of place or do you just need to see that little vw emblem at the bottom?

For a new car you want OEM. An older beater, maybe you can take your chances.

http://lustone.hubpages.com/hub/AftermarketVOEMGlassWhichisbetterinWindshieldReplacement

VeeDubTDI · Jul 26, 2012

There is also the quality of the installation. If they don't do it right or scratch the paint on the windshield frame, you will end up with leaks and rust around the windshield down the road.

Spend more now, save more later.

compu_85 · Jul 26, 2012

^^

Our insurance tried to get me to replace the whole windshield because of a small stone chip... I had them fill it instead. I do NOT want the glass cut out of our car with 7,000 miles on it!

-J

emmkayJuan · Jul 26, 2012

CNNPress said:
Just wondering... Is 250 OEM part or aftermarket?

Exactly. If you're going through insurance, they'll typically replace with OEM if the car is <12 months old ... but you have to ask.

ColoradoDriver · Jul 26, 2012

I doubt that there is after market glass available for the Passat yet. I know for my wife's Mercedes E350 there was none for at least the first two years.

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